Voices of Wrestling 2024 Match of the Year: #3 (Bryan Danielson vs. Swerve Strickland)

Bryan Danielson reaches the pinnacle of AEW in this Wembley classic against Swerve Strickland—#3 in Voices of Wrestling’s 2024 Match of the Year!

VOICES OF WRESTLING 2024 MATCH OF THE YEAR ARCHIVES

• Introduction, Voters & 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: Hangman Page vs. Swerve Strickland
• Match #9: CM Punk vs. Drew McIntyre
• Match #8: Swerve Strickland vs. Will Ospreay
• Match #7: Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay
• Match #6: Kazuchika Okada vs. Bryan Danielson
• Match #5: Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Bryan Danielson
• Match #4: Will Ospreay vs. Konosuke Takeshita
• Match #3: Bryan Danielson vs. Swerve Strickland

VOICES OF WRESTLING MATCH OF THE YEAR ARCHIVES

• 2023
• 2022
• 2021
• 2020
• 2019
• 2018
• 2017
• 2016
• 2015
• 2014
• 2013
• 2012

#3
Bryan Danielson defeats Swerve Strickland
08/25
AEW

Overall Points: 823
Total Votes: 112
Percentage of Ballots: 55.17%
14 First-Place Votes

“An absolutely sensational match that, while perhaps not as technically proficient as Danielson v Ospreay, bridged that very small gap with sheer emotion and electricity. ” – Martin Hearty

“The second match to make me tear up this year. Danielson just makes you FEEL during his matches. You can buy that when this dude says he’s done, he’s done. That wouldn’t happen here though, and what a ride they took us on. The entire stadium was behind Danielson, and Swerve, proving that he belongs at the top of any company he’s ever in, played the heel beautifully. The man who really showed that if you are just undeniably great at this, you’ll reach the highest of highs anywhere you go, got another well deserved moment. ” – Steve Case

“The most uplifting moment of 2024 with Bryan Danielson winning a big one (for the last time) in an iconic venue. Swerve Strickland deserves as much credit too for passing the baton in such compelling fashion.” – Jack G. King

“If I ever have the chance to scream “I LOVE YOU SO MUCH” to my family while my face is bloody and someone is kicking me in the chest, I can thank Bryan Danielson for paving the way.” – Andrew Rich

“Dreams do come true. Danielson’s goodbye for 2024 saw him selflessly giving us the big World Championship win that we’ve wanted. Swerve came out of this looking all the more a star, with that dropkick evasion making him look all the more undefeatable. Pure wrestling spectacle.” – Corey Michaels

“Billed as the potential last stand of Bryan Danielson, this is one of those rare matches where both competitors bring out something beyond their limits. Swerve & Nana played their roles as scoundrels looking to embarrass Danielson in the final moments of his career to perfection, while Danielson put in an incredible performance that somehow topped a career of incredible performances. The build-up, the drama, the stakes, the chemistry, this is absolutely a match that will still hold up long after 2024.” – Nick Johnson/Awes0max13

“Bryan Danielson finally winning the AEW title, if only for a brief title reign before his indefinite hiatus, proved to be the promotion’s crowning moment in the second half of 2024. Danielson had one of the greatest (if not the greatest) babyface comebacks of all time towards the end of this bout, and the 54 thousand strong in attendance lost their minds for everything he did.” – Lionmark Luke

“Wow.

Seeing this live is one of the greatest things I have ever had the pleasure to experience. From the opening package going through Bryan’s career, there was an edge of unpredictability that you never see in wrestling more. With most matches you kind of get the feeling you know who’s going to win – this match… nothing. Nobody could guess. Moments like these are why I’m so thankful that AEW exists, even despite its faults, it has given us incredible matches like this.

I’ve never heard anything as loud in my life as everyone shouting “it’s the Final Countdown” both in the entrance and postmatch.

Both Swerve and Bryan play their part so perfectly throughout, so much so that I could never put my eyes down. While the in-ring isn’t as great as something like truly unbelievable as Okada vs. Omega at WK11, I think this is the closest that you can get to perfection in modern day wrestling taking into account the time gap between these two matches. Just unbelievable how good this is. It was like getting A+ on TEW in the biggest show you can run.

As soon as it was over, I knew this was match of the year… and maybe for me the second greatest professional wrestling match of all time.” – James Carlin

“Best culmination for Swerve’s AEW World title run. The match was perfectly laid out having me on the edge of my seat. Bryan’s selling and fighting from under is unmatched and Swerve being the great heel he is during this match was perfection. The result of the match had me in tears seeing Danielson become world champion again in front of a large crowd like 10 years ago during WrestleMania 30.” – FAR

“Great moment as a long time Danielson fan. Also Swerve proved he delivers in the main events. I would of added him and Swerve as well.” – Conrad Kushman

“It may not be my Match of the Year but it is definitely my Moment of the Year. Seeing Danielson winning the big one for the last time in front of 50k was surreal. That’s not to take away from the match though, still one of the best in-ring performances of the year from Swerve.” – Jon Rogers

“A truly amazing pro wrestling match! Things start off nicely with both wrestling a very technical and mat based style. Danielson wants to go after the arm of Swerve to set up for the LeBell Lock. Swerve responds back by being violent and hits a Death Valley Driver onto the ring bell on the apron! Danielson’s neck is very hurt now and he is busted open. Great heat by Swerve as he works over Danielson and even attacks him in front of his family in the front row! Brilliant! Danielson is able to stay alive with some great counters like blocking a Swerve Stomp into a Regal Stretch. Danielson goes high risk and hits a goddamn Tiger Suplex off the top rope! Insane! Swerve goes back to the neck of Danielson by countering out of Cattle Mutilation into a Cop Killa! Nasty! Danielson is trying to wrestle Swerve while Swerve wants to put Danielson down. Swerve Stomp and a series of House Calls on a barely standing Danielson but he still kicks out! Danielson sees his family in the crowd as Swerve kicks at him and Danielson fires up, standing up as he says he loves them! Chills! Danielson slaps the hell out of Swerve! Busaiku Knee by Danielson but Swerve laughs it off! Big Pressure by Swerve! Danielson STILL kicks out! Wembley is rocking! Swerve looks to end it but Adam Page comes to ringside and tries to attack Swerve. Security drags Page off as Danielson hits a distracted Swerve with a Busaiku Knee. Kick out! MY GOD! Swerve tries to fight back only to roll into a second Busaiku Knee! Danielson locks in the LeBell Lock! Swerve is fighting and tries to break the grip. Danielson snaps Swerve’s fingers and locks in both arms. Swerve taps!!! Danielson is the new AEW World Champion! YES! What a match! Perfect wrestling and counters from both men. The crowd was so behind Danielson trying to win and save his career and Swerve played a perfect villain here trying to stop him no matter what. A beautiful wrestling match. This is everything I want from my wrestling. Pure Wrestling Magic!” – Alex Kalil

“This was a great wrestling match but more than that it was about the drama and the emotion of the all time great Bryan Danielson putting his full time career on the line against Swerve Strickland in from of an awesome crowd at Wembley Stadium. Both men put on a great performance but this was all about Danielson who gets the emotional victory to not only win the AEW Championship but to continue his epic career.” – Jason Turner

“The perfect capstone to Danielson’s AEW career; the only blemish is that Swerve hasn’t quite been the same since losing to Danielson here. ” – Greg Parks

“Just perfection. The greatest Wrestler of all time getting his personal moment, with the greatest Entrance theme ever playing… gorgeous.” – Akash Merten

“The use of Danielson’s family in this match could have been really obnoxious but i thought they perfectly walked the line. They played to the family just enough to add an extra layer to the match without making the whole thing about Brie and Birdie. The rest of the match was incredible and Danielson closing out Wembley is probably the best “moment” of the year. ” – Swarles

“Huge moment with an incredible atmosphere for the match. Danielson’s selling was great without going to the fake neck injury stuff he had been doing too often. This elevated the match and you never wanted it to end. ” – Kevin Skiffington

“This match was special for two reasons, the first being that it was during Swerve Strickland’s AEW World Title run which was outstanding and it was one of Bryan Danielson’s key matches of the year. This match was Bryan Danielson’s wrestling career vs. Swerve Strickland’s AEW World Title the highest stakes a match probably ever had throughout AEW in the entirety of 2024. The two feel each other out early on and the opening sequence ends with Bryan dropping Swerve on his shoulder signs of things to come if you know Bryan Danielson at all. Early on they go to the outside of the ring and Danielson hits a springboard dive very early on you could tell during this match that it was must win for Danielson because he had a sense of urgency if this match had taken place anywhere else Danielson may not have had the same sense of urgency that he did here which is something that AEW does very well. Strickland in his own right was very ruthless in his approach to this match literally as I type this he just hit Danielson with a Death Valley driver on the ring apron. They got everything right in this match from the wrestlers involved right down to the booking. My only gripe with the match is that I feel it happened too soon, Swerve was right in the middle of a great reign with the World Title I feel like the legs were cut out from underneath him by losing to Danielson here. That didn’t hurt my enjoyment of the match or the rating I gave it because I gave it the number two spot in my overall top ten of 2024 but if this match would have happened a few months later then Swerves reign could have lasted longer and maybe a Danielson win would have meant even more than it already did. It kind of felt rushed that all aside this was an excellent match that I couldn’t wait to see and it more than delivered on my personal expectations to be absolutely great. Had Danielson not wrestled Ospreay earlier in the year then this would have finished at number one for me but here it is at number two. What an excellent match!” – Nathan Neumann

“Yes I am biased because I was there live, but even going back and watching this on TV, man this is so good. If Strickland wasn’t cemented as a true main event guy before, he was a made man after this one. He looked like a killer, and he made BRYAN’S DAUGHTER CRY OH MY DAYS. However, Bryan screaming “I LOVE YOU” at his family, covered in blood, while 50,000 people are rallying behind him is something that moved people to tears and I honestly don’t blame them. Was this the right move in hindsight? Probably not, but Bryan Danielson deserved this moment because he is the greatest of all time and you WON’T change my mind” – Sam Palmer

“Bryan Danielson getting that title finally in this company was emotional and culminated Swerves reign and solidified it.” – Mike Charlip

“Being there in the building for this match was just unreal. The energy alone would have put this in the top three, but the work in this match was overflowing with emotion. So much so that even I, sat all the way back in the lower bleachers with 70% visibility of the ring let alone ringside (there wasn’t even a tron I could see without looking behind me), could see Bryan’s struggle and passion clear as day.

Even though I did watch this back on Triller.tv my lasting memory of this match the atmosphere and I always view it through my own eyes, screaming at Swerve to tap at the top of my lungs like if my own mother was drowning in a tsunami (or something just as traumatic). Anyway, that night will always hold a special place in my heart and is probably my favourite day of my life so far.” – Adam Darwin

“The beginning of the end but the best wrestler in the history of the world, Bryan Danielson had a hell of a 2024. This was special” – Jeff Schwartz

“To me, it doesn’t get better than this. The most pure wrestler (in both senses) and the most evil individual clashing in Wembley Stadium. Even if AEW’s 2024 left me unsatisfied and wishing for a better handling of, well, absolutely everything, I can always count on the American Dragon to breathe a new fire into a soulless wrestling scene.” – Roma Faliani

“The growth and development of Swerve Strickland in 2024 has been a thing of beauty, leading to this climactic match against one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. In the cynical world of professional wrestling, it’s rare for a title vs. career match to feel like the stakes are real, but that feeling was achieved here. This is a rematch that needs to happen in 2025.” – George Atsaves

“Danielson vs. Strickland should not be judged on Danielson’s subsequent reign. It should be judged on how well worked both men played to their characters and Danielson’s incredible ability to play the inspirational face. This was a great match and the capstone to Danielson’s run in AEW.” – Kim Wong

“A match that reminds you just how good professional wrestling can be.” – Dylan Murray

“Danielson is one of the best and this main event is perfect as a big happy moment in his final full time year. From him suffering in front of his family and his comeback, you are just riveted here from beginning to end. Plus, you can’t help but smile at the end.” – Abraham Delgado

“Swerve Strickland had an all-time performance. Bryan Danielson had an all-time performance. And with that, they created magic in AEW’s biggest show of the year. Looking back, Strickland should have kept the world title around his waist or faced someone completely different — but the moment to end this match with Danielson finally winning the AEW World Championship will forever be one of AEW’s great moments. ” – Scott Edwards

“No matter how much you try, the spirit of the American Dragon cannot be broken. You can be at him down and make him bleed in front of his family but that only makes him stronger. The visual of Bryan getting his ass kicked but yet yelling toward his daughter how much he loves him gives me the energy to run through at least a thousand walls. A match that reminds you how great wrestling can be. That’s what Bryan Danielson does. He pulls you in, he gets you invested and it makes you want to see him succeed. Not that Swerve doesn’t get any credit though, I believe this is his best performance since the Texas Death match. A traditional heel that wants to kick the hero to the side and take back his crown. Swerve already is an amazing wrestler but when you’re in the ring with Bryan Danielson, his mind spreads to his opponent. When Bryan gave that busaiku knee to Swerve, instead of just running towards Bryan, Swerve decided to give Bryan that moment of realization. That realization that Swerve is much stronger than Bryan thinks he is. He’s the World Champion after all. But it takes just an easy distraction for everything to crumble down. And Bryan uses Hangman’s stunt to gain the advantage, tapping Swerve out in the middle of the ring. And Bryan’s career continues. ” – Nathan Heslip

“It was the right time for Swerve to drop the title. Bryan Danielson can make everyone look great, however Swerve who I praise a lot deserves credit. He perfectly evolved into a star, all by himself. I am glad Bryan completed his full time AEW run by winning the title. A prefect fairy tale ending only cut short by Mox.” – Kaan Ünverdi

“Danielson’s fourth match in my top 10. Everyone (me included) talked about Will Ospreay’s amazing year but Danielson was not that far behind. Given the stage and the stakes, this might be the most memorable match of the year. It’s either that, Sting’s retirement or Cody finishing his story. Say what you want about their business and declining TV ratings and attendance but in terms of inring, AEW is head and shoulders above everyone else with 6 of the top 10 matches of the year from me. ” – Paul Fontaine

“One of the best story-based matches in AEW history, on the biggest stage and with the perfect ending.” – Joe Towner

“This match will be on many a list this year but I feel that I need to talk about what made this match so great and that was Swerve the Eighth. Playing the heel, the final boss and the man with the goal of printing his name into stone, Swerve Strickland was the perfect foil for Danielson’s last great moment in wrestling (we think) He made a child cry, he brought intensity to the match and he even played Superman when he literally brushed off the Busaiku Knee.

Danielson’s performance was electric too of course. The comeback which started with Danielson absorbing the pain of Swerve’s kicks while telling his family that he loves them evoked a reaction which was pound for pound one of the best that Wembley Stadium has heard under the arch but in my opinion, Swerve makes this match so great and deserves the love for a match that will surely rank so high” – Peter Edge

“Bryan Danielson’s incredible 2024 climaxed with capturing the AEW World Title from Swerve Strickland in an awesome main event of AEW’s 2nd Wembley Stadium show. The two Washington State natives put on an incredible match that featured awesome wrestling and great emotion from Danielson as he fought for the World Title with his family sitting at ringside. While people like Danielson, Ospreay, and Takeshita deserve a ton of praise for their in-ring work in 2024, Swerve is a guy who had a very strong year as well, with a number of high-profile main events during the summer months. It was during this run that he really took a step up and solidified his role as a headliner in AEW going forward. Even though Danielson’s reign was relatively short (and not super memorable, if we’re being honest), getting to see him celebrate with his family at the end of the night was a moment fro 2024 I won’t soon forget.” – Sean Sedor

“Wonderful match. The only thing I didn’t like was the I LOVE YOU hulking up which I understand what they’re going and it’s very modern wrestling in how it screams dialogue at you so it’s impossible to miss the story, but I thought it was a little ludicrous in execution. Apart from that, I loved it, how could I not love the GOAT winning the world title. Great performance from Swerve who was over during his entrance but then ramped it up nicely to get the heat. The early ringbell spot was a crucial dickmove in achieving that. Loved Bryan throwing the lariat as Swerve was showboating to his feet. Just the right amount of interference from Hangman to cost Swerve the match but still have Bryan earn the win. Brilliant scenes at the end with the BCC bringing the kids into the ring, Buddy chasing the confetti and PAC standing there arms folded because he’s still the bastard. ” – Ed Mills

“They said Bryan didn’t need the World Title, but we did get this amazing match at any rate!” – Ryan Ciocco

“It’s the final countdown. Bryan Danielson shows the world for one more time why he is the greatest wrestler in the world. Strickland is at the top of his game here, best he’s ever been as he’s brutalizing Danielson in front of his family and shrugging of offence that has beat many a man before him.

But this is not his night. Danielson takes the 50 000 people at Wembley on his back and the people respond. One more stadium level babyface performance. When a bleeding Danielson slowly rises up as he’s getting kicked in the chest, looks at his family, yells about how he loves them and proceeds to slap the shit out of Strickland… man, that’s pro wrestling. ” – Semi Salmikannas

“One of the greatest main events and endings to an AEW show of all time. The visual of Danielson yelling at his family that he loves them while Swerve lays kick into his chest, will forever remain in my memory. Swerve’s excellently built title run culminates in this iconic AEW moment. The peak of AEW in 2024. ” – Lawson Leong

“I’m sorry, but the Hangman interference docked it slightly for me. I know it makes sense, but the fact is, I don’t trust AEW anymore. Because of that, as soon as I saw Page, I got nervous that the match was going to be ruined. It was not in any way, but still, it took it down a peg for me.” – Jeremy Sexton

“This match solidified Swerve Strickland as a bona fide main event star in AEW. Strickland’s smooth, confident style proved to be the perfect foil for Bryan Danielson’s unmatched intensity and technical brilliance. On a mission to retire Danielson, Swerve pulled out every trick in the book, even mocking Danielson’s children as they watched their father endure a brutal beatdown. But with 53,000 passionate fans at Wembley Stadium willing him on, Danielson found another gear. Fueled by the energy of the crowd, he mounted a gutsy comeback and ultimately defeated Swerve. This emotionally charged rollercoaster of a match stands as one of the greatest title bouts in AEW history.” – Jeremy Donovan

“For a moment, I genuinely thought that I might be seeing the last hurrah of Bryan Danielson. Swerve and Danielson put together a classic, with genuine emotion and dread that I was seeing the end of the career of the best wrestler of all time. When he triumphed in the end, I am not ashamed to admit that I got misty eyed.” – Slyguy46

“Bryan Danielson is the best professional wrestler of my generation and, unless someone better ever manages to come around, the only wrestler that I would rank so highly that I can truly say I was able to follow his career in real time as it happened, (mostly) start-to-finish. I mourned his retirement and got to the point that I was able to come to terms with it – but Bryan Danielson didn’t. His comeback was a gift for us all and the AEW run of it was clearly a man taking care of his unfinished business and going out on his terms. This match was Danielson’s final magnum opus and his own loving tribute to professional wrestling and his family that supported him through all of it. Although my write-up makes this seem like a one man show, Swerve Strickland plays his part perfectly and deserves all the accolades possible for his years of grinding, improving, taking risks, betting on himself and snatching opportunities to be a viable counterpart for Bryan. Life is full of awful things that happen to good people. But we need reminders that sometimes the good people can win when they fight for their dreams. This match is that reminder.” – Travis McNeill

“The build to this match wasn’t particularly strong until the final week or so, but when it was time to have the match, boy did this feel important. Danielson winning the title and celebrating with his family after was a nice feel-good moment. It would spell doom for him a few months later, but on that night it was a strong ending to AEW’s biggest show of the year.” – Bryan Rose

“Probably got the live bump with this one. The crowd was electric and bought every near fall and my pals were hugging each other when the match was over. Bryan fuckin Danielson does it again” – Jake R

“Two multi-year character arcs peak and intersect at the same time for one of the best climaxes in AEW’s history. Danielson’s long quest to win the world title before his career winds down runs up against Swerve Strickland’s dedication to prove himself as the most dangerous man in wrestling. Danielson is known as the best wrestler in the world, but he doesn’t know how long he can keep calling himself that without the world title. Swerve wants to claim Bryan’s career to build his own legacy but also must win to prove that everything he’s sacrifice was worth it, every line he’s crossed was correct. In the end, Bryan’s love of his family is what gives him strength and Swerve’s old demons come back to haunt him just enough to make the difference. Besides the excellently built booking and storytelling, this match was just phenomenal. Swerve’s work torturing a bloodied, broken Danielson in front of his family perfectly sets up Bryan’s defiance and his furious comeback. This is AEW at its best, two of the smartest wrestlers in the business today weaving their best in-ring and character work together with a story that’s been executed perfectly by the booking, culminating at their biggest show of the year. ” – Jeff Ahmed

“I’d normally accuse myself of live bias as I was at Wembley Stadium for this one, but it was actually even better on a rewatch, and benefitted tremendously from experiencing the emotion up close on camera. This was the potential retirement match for Danielson, and the build-up did a fantastic job in planting the seeds of doubt on whether or not Danielson would be able to walk out with the championship. Having the American Dragon’s family at ringside contributed a ton, and the moment that he’s being stomped in the head repeatedly by Swerve, eyes locked on his family, screaming that he loves them…chills! It wasn’t all the Danielson show either – Strickland was a sadistic man on a mission, beating down Danielson in front of his family, and using the Vertebreaker for a glorious nearfall that every single fan in the arena bought. More than that, Swerve brushing off the Busaiku knee was absolutely beastly and served as a tremendous sendoff to his title reign. When it came to the final 1, 2, 3, this was solidified as an all-timer, and I’m not ashamed to say I had a little tear running down my cheek as the Final Countdown played. Because real men cry over wrestling…right?” – Theo Sambus

“It’s hard not to be stirred being in the building live for the last World Title win for Bryan Danielson.
It’s hard not to watch this match and be drawn in by the two men and their stories.
To feel the weight and the emotion of the challenger putting in everything he as and raging against the dying of the light.
To feel the champion who earned his position as a beloved top guy reach down to slay a Dragon.
To feel the tears rise in your eyes as Our Guy overcame the odds one last time.

We are lucky to have lived in the time of Bryan Danielson, and this match was the final triumph in a glittering career.” – Dave Ryan

“Bryan Danielson does it again. He proves to be the best wrestler of all time. This was an incredible match. Swerve also did a great job in his heel role. The story of Danielson overcoming injuries and wanting to prove that he can still be the top guy was beautifully told. This did not feel like a step down for Swerve either. He showed that he can excel in either role. His offense was brutal and intense. Danielson’s triumph would not have felt so earned if not for Swerve’s performance so he deserves as much credit as Bryan. He is the future of AEW and this performance just solidified it. Danielson is the most versatile wrestler of all time. I’m not just talking about his in-ring skills because those just speak for themselves. His fluidity in playing any role, whether it be scrappy underdog, a technical master or a dickhead heel is unmatched. He displayed all that in this match alone. He continues to do it over and over and now as his future in this business is up in the air, we may never see the like of him again. ” – Rene Martinez

“An emotional masterclass in storytelling while still maintaining the quality of an in-ring spectacle. Bryan Danielson in my opinion is the greatest pro wrestler of all time and this was the perfect way to top off his ridiculous AEW run. The moment where Danielson was eating the kicks from Swerve while yelling “I love you” to his family at ringside was an all time high as far as storytelling goes in wrestling for me. Let’s not overlook Swerve. In my opinion Swerve was just as good at what he does as Danielson was here. The perfect champion, the perfect enemy, the perfect final wall for Danielson to run through to get to his family on the other side. Classic.” – Noveliss

“While the outcome was obvious, they made you believe otherwise. When Swerve landed that fourth drive by, I truly thought that was the end of Danielson. The two had a great set of exchanges through the entire course of the match, with Swerve really owning the crowd. He went at Danielson’s family early on when stomping him on the floor, always pressuring them to look away. Danielson though took the family and used it in a great way, as he was being pummeled with kicks, to which he would just stare and say I love you to his family. The fans were into this from the start. While the Hangman run in at the end hurt this just a small amount being where it’s placed on this list, the fact he didn’t touch anyone made it doable, and put this in a list of amazing match this year.” – Ryan S Cooke

Voices of Wrestling 2024 Match of the Year
(305-11)