The Kayfabe Chronicles 2.22.07: Danielson Sweeps Strong in Two-Match Series

CHICAGO, Ill. — Sadly, the sound of gunshots have become all too familiar to many residents of Chicago, but you can’t blame people near the Frontier Fieldhouse from being confused by the cracking sound of the chops against Ring of Honor Champion Bryan Danielson’s chest. Despite having his chest blister open from the impact of Roderick Strong’s chops, Danielson was able to escape the weekend with his title intact. It was the second close call for Danielson, who bested Strong on 10/29 in what is becoming one of wrestling’s hottest rivalries.

Strong provided the stiffest competition for Danielson thus far in his short title reign, taking the champion over the 30-minute mark twice and nearly upsetting him for the title on both occasions. In both matches, Strong utilized a series of backbreakers and blistering chops that forced Danielson out of the ring on several occasions. In the end, though, it was Danielson’s strategy of patience, execution and defense that won out on Saturday.

Roderick Strong’s “Stronghold” nearly spelled the end of Bryan Danielson’s title reign

Strong opened with a series of vicious chops and a dropkick that sent Danielson diving out to the floor for a breather. Danielson responded by ripping at Strong’s nose and becoming argumentative with the referee. Strong came prepared with new offensive maneuvers to counteract Danielson’s counters. Near the 11-minute mark, Danielson tried his dropkick counter to get out of a Strong wristlock, but Strong was ready and countered to a Majestral Cradle to catch the champion off guard.

The challenger continued his high-impact strategy over the next few minutes while dismantling Danielson’s arm. It’s a strategy that worked, keeping Strong on top for several minutes, before Danielson finally came back after weathering an intense storm.

Perhaps the turning point came when Strong went for the finish much too early by applying the Stronghold 20 minutes in before properly weakening Danielson’s back to a sufficient degree. Danielson became defiant, even in the face of Strong’s searing chops.

From there, Danielson began to adopt a tack that was both effective and humiliating. He targeted Roderick Strong’s back, hoping to beat him at his own game. It’s a strategy that confused and frustrated the younger man, forcing him to become careless and open to Danielson’s pinpoint offense.

Knowing he had the “champion’s advantage” should the match end in a draw, Danielson continued working defensively, isolating Strong’s leg to neutralize the challenger’s dangerous cache of backbreakers. Danielson never really looked back.

Strong would attempt one final desperate surge with the Stronghold, but his knee was so injured that he was unable to maintain the hold. With Strong exposed and helpless, Danielson was easily able to counter his backbreaker to a crucifix position and elbow Strong into unconsciousness at 47:18

The Mood Has Changed

Danielson’s win marks his third win over the Generation Next stable in as many tries as he avenged an earlier defeat to Austin Aries by getting him to submit to Danielson’s trademark “Cattle Mutilation” on 10/14. It’s a far cry from this past May when Danielson was so disillusioned by his inability to bring Aries’ reign to an end that he was prepared to quit the business altogether.

“After not winning the Ring of Honor title, everything [meant] nothing,” Danielson explains.

With his three wins this past week, Danielson has already set a mark of 5-0 as champion, a furious pace for a fighting champion. Such domination is a sign that Danielson is starting to adapt to the role that Austin Aries, CM Punk,

Danielson is on a blistering pace to surpass Joe’s streak of title defenses

and James Gibson never could: a successor to Samoa Joe. The 270-pound Samoan maintained a stranglehold on the ROH World Title for 18 months, creating a virtual one-man dynasty.

Along with his recent success has come a marked change in personality. A man that was once humble and respectful in the ring has become brash, cocky, and belligerent. Many times during his 11/04 match with TNA’s Chris Sabin, he mocked Roderick Strong’s style, sending a message to the would-be challenger that Danielson could perform Strong’s moves just as seamlessly as he could his own.

That change in attitude includes a new vicious streak that has been evident ever since he returned from his sabbatical. Many times during his recent matches, Danielson has resorted to ripping at opponents’ noses, teetering on the brink of disqualification before arguing with the official that he has until a five count.

While this newfound aggression may not sit well with fans, longtime observers like Chris Benoit see it as a key to Danielson’s success.

“I love Bryan Danielson’s style and he’s very talented. I think the day’s going to come when Bryan is a major star in the US,” says the former WWE Champion.

Happily Ever After?

Roderick Strong may not have the clothes or the looks to pull off the part, but

before his coach turned back into a pumpkin on Saturday, Strong was the Cinderella story of Ring of Honor, climbing progressively higher over the year to the point where he has solidified his main-event status.

As the 2005 campaign started, Strong was little more than a utility man, following the lead of then-World Champion Austin Aries. While being the right-hand man of the world champion might seem like a prime gig to some, Strong thought he could do more. He started by taking out the trainees of ROH legend Steve Corino and then challenging Corino himself.

He was so successful that Austin Aries started to use Strong to run interference before his title matches with Homicide and James Gibson. Strong lost both matches, but his main goal was not to win but to wear down and possibly injure the challengers. It worked. Aries was successful against both challengers.

Fans began to sit up and take notice, and so did the elite wrestlers in Ring of Honor. “Roderick Strong is the future,” CM Punk admitted after narrowly defeating Strong in June. Punk even granted Strong a title shot during his controversial reign over the summer, and while Strong failed to win the title in his first shot, he did take Punk to the limit, forcing him to resort to shady tactics in order to pull out a victory.

The message was clear, though: one day, Strong will hold ROH gold.