60-Minute Iron Man Match: MJF (c) vs. Bryan Danielson
MJF gets a special entrance, as a live orchestra plays the beginning of his entrance. He wears the same Devil mask he wore when he returned at AEW All Out 2022. MJF and Danielson feel each other out. Danielson gains the upper hand and wrenches him in a surfboard stretch. They trade counters as they go back and forth. They’re evenly matched. MJF leaves the ring when Danielson gains the upper hand. MJF gets back in the ring after he plays some mind games. Danielson outmaneuvers MJF and goes for a surfboard stretch. Danielson kicks MJF in the corner. MJF slams him face-first into the turnbuckle.
MJF flips off the crowd. Danielson hits a back body drop. MJF snaps Danielson’s arm on the ropes. MJF targets Danielson’s arm and pulls his hair to take him down. Danielson hits a dropkick. He goes for a dive, but MJF counters and sends Danielson’s arm into the barricade. MJF hits a Hammerlock DDT for a two count. MJF continues to hone in on the arm and slams the challenger onto it. Danielson powerbombs MJF and kicks him in the corner. Danielson hits a hurricanrana on the top rope. MJF stomps Danielson’s elbow. He powerbombs Danielson onto his knee. MJF goes for a dive, but Danielson moves, so MJF lands on his knee. Danielson dives onto him at ringside. MJF locks in his arm bar and transitions into a slam for a two count. They trade pin attempts and roll around the ring. They keep trading pins, and neither man gets a three count. Danielson floors MJF with a lariat. Danielson hits the running knee and gets the pin.
Danielson Leads 1-0
MJF hits Danielson below the belt and rolls him up for the pin. Danielson gets a point for a disqualification. He then pins Danielson again.
The match is tied 2-2
The match goes to the outside. Danielson slams MJF onto a chair. Danielson floors MJF with a running dropkick. Back in the ring, Danielson locks in a Figure-Four. MJF tells Danielson he hates him and slaps him. Danielson keeps up the pressure, and MJF reaches the ropes. The two foes battle on the top rope, and Danielson goes crashing down onto the ring apron. MJF hits a diving elbow drop through a table at ringside. MJF gets back in the ring, and Danielson barely avoids getting back into the ring in time. MJF gets Danielson back outside and hits a Tombstone through a table. MJF gouges Danielson’s open wound on his head. MJF hits the Heatseeker and pins Danielson.
MJF Leads 3-2
MJF punches Danielson when he’s down. He brings up his “Best in the World” nickname and tells him he sucks. He brings up Danielson’s children. He says he’s the best in the world. Danielson tries to rally, but he falls down. MJF blows his snot at him. MJF drops him with a headbutt. Danielson fires up and hits a running knee off the apron. Danielson dives onto MJF off the top rope. He dumps MJF off the top rope and hits a diving headbutt, and MJF is busted open. Danielson hits the running knee and locks in the Regal Stretch, forcing MJF to tap out.
The Match is tied 3-3
MJF catches Danielson and locks in the Salt of the Earth, but Danielson rolls through and goes for the LeBell Lock. He rolls through and locks it in, but MJF counters it and locks in the Salt of the Earth. He stops Danielson from reaching the ropes and wrenches his leg behind him, but Danielson uses his other leg to reach the ropes. The two enemies trade blows, and neither man goes down. They fall to their knees after they exchange more stiff shots. They fire up with more blows as the match hits the 55-minute mark. MJF hits the Heatseeker for a two count. Danielson hits hammer and elbow strikes. MJF hits a Tombstone off the second rope. He lands on his knee and clutches it. MJF pins Danielson, who kicks out and locks in a single-leg crab. He wrenches it in as the match is down to 60 seconds. Danielson keeps the hold for the entire last minute, and MJF taps after the bell.
The match ends in a 3-3 draw
The announcer confirms that the match ends in a draw, and MJF retains. Danielson is on his feet as MJF is being administered oxygen by the medical team. Tony Schiavone comes to ringside and says the match will be continue with Sudden Death rules.
MJF shoves the referee. Referee Bryce Remsberg shoves back, and Danielson gets a two count with a roll up. MJF hits Danielson below the belt and gets a near fall. MJF grabs his title, and Remsberg gets in his face. He convinces MJF not to use the belt. MJF goes to use his diamond ring, but Danielson drops him with a hurricanrana. Danielson gets a near fall with his running knee. Danielson wrenches MJF in a knee bar, but MJF reaches the ropes as he taps. Danielson thinks he has won as MJF rolls out of the ring. He grabs the oxygen tank and hits Danielson with it. He puts Danielson in the LeBell Lock, and Danielson’s arm falls twice, but he fires up at the last second. MJF keeps the hold locked in, and Danielson taps out.
MJF Wins 4-3
Winner and still AEW World Champion: MJF