This past Saturday at “AEW All Out”, “The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson successfully defended the AEW World Championship against (AEW TNT Champion) “The Scapegoat” Jack Perry. However, what happened after the match left the crowd at suburban Chicago’s NOW Arena in shock.
It started when the Patriarchy came to the ring. Christian Cage was planning on using his guaranteed AEW Title match (that he earned by winning the “casino gauntlet” match at “AEW All In”), but before he, Nick Wayne, & Killswitch could go after Danielson, Jon Moxley suddenly blocked their path. A few moments later, he was joined by the (AEW Trios Champions) Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, & “The Bastard” Pac. The Patriarchy backed off, then Moxley would enter the ring & hug his fellow Blackpool Combat Club member. Castagnoli, Yuta, & Pac would join the celebration, but it would be short-lived, as Castagnoli delivered an European uppercut to a shocked Danielson.
As Pac held Yuta back, Moxley would place a plastic bag on Danielson’s head & suffocate him for just over a minute. Marina Shafir would come to the ring to help prevent anyone from coming to Danielson’s aid. The crowd chanted “This is murder!”, as Moxley finally stopped suffocating Danielson. Moxley, Castagnoli, Pac, & Shafir left the arena through the crowd, as AEW’s medical team & Yuta tended to the fallen AEW Champion.
This incident was almost a replay of what happened, nearly 35 years ago. On September 12, 1989, at “Clash of the Champions 8: Fall Brawl ’89”, the main event was supposed to feature “Nature Boy” Ric Flair & Sting vs. Terry Funk & the Great Muta. However, Funk was allegedly injured days before the event, so “Dirty” Dick Slater replaced him. Near the end of the match, Muta blinded Sting with yellow mist. Slater used his cast to bust Flair’s head open, then Slater attacked the referee, causing a disqualification. Moments later, Funk arrived to place a plastic bag over Flair’s head & tie it up. Funk was originally fined $100,000 & suspended indefinitely, but Flair opted to pay the fine & demanded that Funk be reinstated.
The only thing we have heard from AEW is that Moxley’s suffocating of Danielson will not be shown on AEW television. That will be a good thing, because there has been plenty of backlash over this incident from people in AND out of the wrestling business.