Voices of Wrestling 2023 Match of the Year: #5 (Bryan Danielson vs. Zack Sabre Jr.)

Bryan Danielson and Zack Sabre Jr.’s technical classic finished #5 in Voices of Wrestling’s 2023 Match of the Year countdown.

VOICES OF WRESTLING 2023 MATCH OF THE YEAR ARCHIVES

• Introduction & Honorable Mentions
• Matches #100-76
• Matches #75-51
• Matches #50-26
• Matches #25-11
• Match of the Year Statistical Analysis & Top 10 Early Reveal (FlagshipPatreon.com)
• Match #10: Bryan Danielson vs. Ricky Starks
• Match #9: Katsuhiko Nakajima vs. Kento Miyahara
• Match #8: Fuminori Abe vs. Takuya Nomura
• Match #7: Tetsuya Naito vs. Will Ospreay
• Match #6: “Hangman” Adam Page vs. Jon Moxley

#5
Bryan Danielson vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
10/01
AEW

Overall Points: 491
Total Votes: 84
% of Ballots: 38.01%
3 First-Place Votes

“I’m admittedly a sucker for the style of Zack Sabre Jr., which I acknowledge is not for everyone. But he found an equal in Bryan Danielson – or, perhaps more appropriately, Danielson found an equal in Sabre. Their styles mesh so well and you can see that as Danielson winds down his full-time career, he’s more invested in these matches against hand-picked opponents. It’s no surprise Sabre would make that list.” -Greg Parks

“Two technical prodigies doing what they do best: wrestling at the highest level.” -Alejandro Gomez

“A technical wrestling dream match that was worth the wait. The only thing better than Bryan and Zack in the ring was Moxley on commentary, swearing up a storm and getting caught up in the excitement, just like any other wrestling fan would. There’s no better seal of approval for a match than Mox exclaiming “Holy shit” at the end of it.’ -Andrew Rich

“One of the best technical matches in recent memory. If you enjoy watching two masters of the craft approach pro wrestling through the way it’s meant to be, this is definitely for you.” -Eric Thornley

“A dream re-match that delivered more than it needed to. This is the match which proves that technical wrestling deserves to be on a big stage, as it got the crowd just as invested in it as any other big AEW style match. Danielson and Sabre simulatiously clash in personality, but slot together like lego in the ring.” -Adam Darwin

“We waited for this, for years. And finally we got what we wanted. Two of the best technical wrestlers, putting on a technical showdown. If someone wants to be a very good technical wrestler, they can study that match. I hear some people saying that, technical wrestling is boring. Well I think they didn’t had a chance to see it done properly. This match itself shows you, how good it can be if done properly. My only problem with the match was, the way it ended. It would be so much better, if it ended with a submission hold. Because the question was, who is a better technical wrestler, not who is a better striker.” -Kaan

“This is about as pure an example of the SPORT of pro wrestling that you can possibly find. Crisp, smooth, technical, vicious, and beautiful.” -Steve Case

“At stacked PPV shows, some technical classics threaten to lose the live crowd with their intricacy. However, Danielson and ZSJ perfectly walked a very difficult tightrope – keeping things complicated enough to wow the purists, but clearly demonstrating their thought processes and games of one-upmanship to the audience. Their ability to tell a complicated story in a simple way absolutely blew my mind, and reminded us all that we weren’t simply watching two of the best technical wrestlers in the world, but two of the best wrestlers full stop.” -Jack G. King

“If you hate technical wrestling, you will hate this match. If you love technical wrestling, you ascended to the heavens during this match.

What else is there to say except this is perfection at its finest? This is professional wrestling. So many little details go into this match, the clever reversals, the taunting, the cockiness, the application of submissions.

Two of the best in-ring worker of our time showing us exactly why they’re the greatest of their generation.” -James Carlin

“While highly technical matches are often a bit hit-or-miss when performed in front of US crowds, Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Bryan Danielson was one of the most extraordinary exceptions to that rule in recent memory. An intricate and beautifully worked match that exemplified why ZSJ and Danielson don’t merely rank among the best technical wrestlers in the world but among the best wrestlers in the world, period.” -Dylan Murray

“A phenomenal pro wrestling match! We get some amazing back and forth mat wrestling early on as both men look even in every way in terms of skills. Sabre starts to go after the previously broken right arm of Danielson to try and make an opening and Danielson responds with some brutal and violent looking Dragon Screws to the leg of Sabre. Fantastic back and forth counters into pinning attempts and submissions from both men. As the man goes on, Danielson’s arm starts to fail him and Sabre’s submissions start to get locked on deeper and deeper to the point where Danielson is unable to escape and has to fight to the ropes. Danielson still has his kicks though and nails a roundhouse to rock Sabre. Stomps to the head as Sabre tries to keep fighting out only to get dropped on his head by a Regal-plex. Busaiku Knee by Danielson but only 2! Danielson pulls down the knee pad and hits a second Busaiku Knee to end things! What a match! Danielson gets the win but wasn’t able to tap out or out-wrestle Sabre to do it. A damn near perfect match! ****3/4″ -Alex Kalil

“I know it was called WrestleDream in honor of Inoki, but this was a “WrestleDream” Match in itself. That delivered. (Get it?)” -Jon Rogers

“One of my big complaints with modern matches is how often wrestlers give free shots to their opponent. It takes me out of thinking it’s a fight. This match is a response to that. There are no free shots. There are no free motions. Inadvertent punches or kicks could lead to you squealing in pain on the ground in a joint hold. A match that gets better on a rewatch that is greatly enhanced by Jon Moxley and Nigel McGuinness on commentary. Zach and Bryan delight in contorting and locking each other into pretzels. Can’t wait for the rematch (and yes Mox needs to be on call again).” -Arturo Galletti

“I constantly forget how great Zack Sabre Jr. is. When Forbidden Door was announced, I constantly fought back against this being Danielson’s match because there were so many other names that I believed would be more blockbuster than this one. On Danielson’s turf in Seattle, these two spent over twenty minutes proving me wrong. This was a technical wrestling masterpiece, with these two tearing each other apart with holds. Danielson won with the running knee, leaving the door open for a rematch to prove who can tap the other out.” -Suit Williams

“From Wigan’s Snakepit to one of the biggest stages. So often, I’m embarrassed to tell people I like wrestling because I know they think of WWF Attitude era garbage. But this match is what I think of. Wrestling for wrestling fans, and a real dream match.” -Neil David

“A literal dream match. We were almost robbed of the opportunity for this match in 2022, but a technical masterpiece between Danielson and ZSJ was always bound to happen. I adore this match, I love almost every facet of it, especially that even in defeat, Zack has a leg to stand on in that Danielson had to resort to his striking to win the day.” -Slyguy46

“In a world where “dream match” gets thrown around like nothing, this one really delivered. I could watch these two wrestle for days. Everything was so crisp and technical. Great stuff.” -Brett Miles

“This was technical warfare at its best, and easily met the lofty expectations we all had for it. They were so smart to work in Danielson’s legit arm injury, as it was a natural target, and pairing it with offense focused on Sabre Jr’s leg provided a classic wrestling setup. They certainly didn’t hold back, and yet it still feels like they’d have a ton of material for a rematch.” -Theo Sambus

“The match that originated the Standing and Pacing gif will have you doing the same. 5 stars.” -SOM

“At a show titled Wrestle Dream this is literally a match that I’ve wanted to see for years. Bryan Danielson is winding down on his career and I’m so happy that this match finally came to fruition. Bryan Danielson and Zack Sabre Jr are perhaps the two best technical wrestlers alive today so the fact that this match hadn’t happened up until this point kind of surprises me. I remember watching this match live the night of the show. Honestly this show as a whole on paper didn’t intrigue me too much but this match is what made me want to see it. This match was well worth the price of the show in itself. Bryan Danielson was at his best on this night although now that I think of it when isn’t he? Zack Sabre Jr. was also in rare form as he turned up his usual dickheadedness to at least an 11. Zack Sabre Jr. as a heel is absolutely brilliant and he’s one of my favorite wrestlers going today. When I first saw him I almost wrote him off because honestly there’s not much to him on the surface. I had almost the exact same reaction to Bryan Danielson when a friend of mine showed me a match of his from the very early days of Ring Of Honor. However while these two wrestlers don’t have flashy characters and theatrics THEY CAN WRESTLE! That is what is important and that is exactly what this match ended up being from the opening bell these two put on a clinic. This match was pro wrestling at its finest and it checked all the boxes that I look for in a match as a fan of professional wrestling.” -Nathan Neumann

“Peak graps. It’s an overused cliche but Danielson and Sabre Jr put on a clinic here. Unfathomably smooth and fluid but never appearing choreographed, these two had us wincing in our seats as they unleashed sadistic levels of violence on each other without ever needing a weapon. This was knocked over the line into the number 3 spot by the incredible addition of Nigel McGuinness and Mox on commentary baying for blood and just about managing to hold themselves back from jumping into the ring themselves or throwing hands at the commentary table.” -Martin Hearty

“The technical dream match lived up to expectations.” -Bryan Rose

“A masterclass in technique, in using skill to damage and overcome the opponent intelligently. Perfect performance from both wrestlers.” -Fede Fromhell

“I watched this thing with a huge grin the whole time. It was everything I dreamed it could be.” -Elliot Imes

“Dream matches are tricky, and tough to pull off. But there is little more fun in wrestling than a dream match that delivers. This really did feel like the greatest display of technical wrestling I have ever seen and that is what I threw down my fifty dollars hoping to see when I bought WrestleDream.” -Casey Fiore

“A true dream match that we’ve been waiting years for to finally see Zack in his peak challenge Bryan Danielson. We get the wonderful, technical exchanges, but the real magic is in the character exchanges, in how Zack gets frustrated at Bryan having the better of him early doors, so he retaliates by throwing the first strike and goading Bryan into using his weaker, recently repaired arm. We were also treated to Jon Moxley on commentary to counter Nigel’s cheerleading of Zack.” -Ed Mills

“This was one of the most anticipated dream matches for Danielson when he was in WWE. It is safe to say the match over-delivered as it is my favorite ZSJ match ever and Danielson’s best post WWE. They put on a technical masterpiece and both wrestlers got to display their skill to the highest degree. Danielson having to revert to striking also enhances the story of this match. Sabre is the best technical wrestler in the world and Danielson was trying to prove otherwise. This sets up future matches.” -Rene Martinez

“Over the course of 2023 Danielson had the greatest 60-minute Ironman match and the greatest Strap Match, but in October he topped it all with the greatest technical wrestling master class of the year.

Zack Sabre Jr. a maestro of the technical field, an absolute dream pairing for the American Dragon. Bringing this style of wrestling to a wider audience, showing exactly what it is capable of in the greatest way possible. An inspiring match sure to have lit a fire under, I fully expect wrestlers of the future to point to this match as the moment their eyes were opened.

Exceptional, inspirational and it wasn’t even everything their able to give. Danielson and Sabre Jr. are just on a whole other level.” -Matt Maher (aka Imp)

“I’m boring. I like professional wrestling; I adore technical wrestling. This was maybe, simply the best technical wrestling match ever between the 2 best technical wrestlers on the planet. It flat out lived up to the hype, a dream match that delivered. This was maybe Zack Sabre Jr’s best match of his career and it couldn’t have come against a more fitting opponent. How great is Bryan Danielson? Sometimes you imagine how a dream match would go but rarely does it go exactly how you pictured it like this did. Through all of the nasty joint manipulation, submissions and intricate pin combinations, it was Danielson who had to resort to a little striking, a little Regal-Plex and a little Busaiku knee to get the W. Perfection.” -Noveliss

“A true masterclass of technical wrestling.

The best wrestler in the world against the best technical wrestler in the world.

Danielson and ZSJ went toe to toe (hold) and gave the crowd a simple contest of superiority. Everything in the match goes back to the question at the root of the issue: who is the best technical wrestler in the world? The tense grappling, the thoughtful limbwork, the all-timer of a Dragon Screw and the complete story told with nothing but in-ring excellence. A rare tip of the hat goes to the color commentary provided by the angel and the demon on Danielson’s shoulders, Nigel McGuinness and Jon Moxley, both giving even greater importance to every fleeting moment in the match.

And the best part? It’s not over. Nothing is solved. The match might have ended, but the question still lingers. Who is the best? The best sequel hook of the year.

There were a lot of matches I liked in 2023. There was only one that I truly loved.

This is pro wrestling at its very best.” -Semi Salmikannas

“Technical brilliance in another outstanding Danielson match that forces ZSJ to drop some of the showier ‘technical’ work for something which is much more grounded and really brought the best out of him” -Daniel Hill

“A truly dream match. What was only fantasy booking a few years ago has now become a reality. Beyond the technical aspects, the selection, and execution of maneuvers, I enjoyed the dynamics between the two characters in the ring. Danielson seemed ready to take Sabre’s “neck,” while the Brit sometimes appeared a bit hesitant and unable to capitalize when given the chance. This dynamic has practically left room for improvement for a potential rematch.” -Dan Duca

“Danielson and Sabre at their best — what more could you even ask for? In an era where “dream match” is thrown around far too casually, this was exactly the kind of dream match fans were salivating for when AEW and New Japan first began their partnership. This was some of the very best technical wrestling you’ll ever see, and I greatly look forward to Danielson and ZSJ facing each other again.” -TDE

“Zack and Danielson showed every Pro Wrestler and Fan how a simple technical wrestling style can work in 2023, and delivered a Technical Masterclass that will go down as a modern-day classic.” -Yannik Peps

“A match literally fifteen years in the making between the two wrestlers who have tied up the wrestling observer Best Technical wrestler award, aka the Bryan Danielson award for the last 18 years between them. An absolute masterclass with a finish, that while clean, still left the answer of who is the best technical wrestler in the world open.” -Chris Gannon

“A technical masterpiece. Plus the ending has left the feud open ended. More please.” -Jack Atkins

“The term dream match is thrown around a lot, but few times it makes sense. Hell, even when it makes sense it might disappoint. But not with Sabre and Danielson. They had wrestled before, but not at this level in their careers and I felt like Moxley on commentary. It was pure, awesome classic pro wrestling from beginning to end by two of the best in the world, a feat that is hard to make bad. The slaps, kicks, and submissions were felt over here. At the end, Danielson won decisively but Sabre did not shake his hand. Obviously, we are getting more, and I for one can’t wait till I get a second helping.” -Abraham Delgado

“It’s these guys. It was amazing and a mat clinic. To hell with grapplef*ck, give me DragonTekkers all day, and twice on Sunday.” -Jake Nelson

“Awesome. A dream match, many ‘true graps’ fans had clamoured for, for years. Much like Ospreay Omega, this match, the story told, completely surpassed all prior expectations. Utterly unique, in an industry ruined by lift and shift, matches, characters and stories. Beyond refreshing.” -Mark O’Brien

Voices of Wrestling 2023 Match of the Year
Full List