The Final Countdown
By Scott Keith on 18 September 2023
(Ok, low hanging fruit on the subject line, I grant you.)
Just thinking about Danielson and his approx 1 year left. What do you think about this for an idea on how to close it out?
At some point he comes out and says he is in the final stages now, but he's still the best wrestler on the planet and so he declares that he is putting up his very career as an open challenge. Each show/week he'll face anyone who wants to step up, and when someone finally beats him, that will be his final match.
It'd be up there, imo, with any title open challenge in prestige; someone could be instantly pushed up the pile as “the man who retired Bryan Danielson” and if you play it right you potentially have an instant new top-level heel on your show. Danielson also gets to go out on his back, but in the process can elevate a few challengers who come close. You could throw in a few dream matches as well just to add extra spice.
Could be a genuinely compelling run and a great way for him to hang up his boots as a full time competitor.
I think the problem is going to be convincing him to win that many matches in a row. I bet they had to fight with him to beat Okada and Ricky Starks as it is.