Jon Moxley wins the AEW World Title, ending Bryan Danielson's career with AEW WrestleDream

Jon Moxley won his fourth AEW World Championship, ending Bryan Danielson's full-time wrestling career at WrestleDream 2024. The end of Danielson's career was one of – if not the – The – the biggest stories across AEW programming this year, with the “American Dragon” himself confirming he will compete in 2024 ahead of last year’s Continental Classic. Despite the impending retirement, Danielson captured his first AEW title from Swerve Strickland at All In and defended the title a week later before Moxley's betrayal set the stage for his WrestleDream match.

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After promising after winning the title that he would continue for as long as he holds it, Moxley fought not only for the title but also to be the one to get his Blackpool Combat Club co-founder out of wrestling and sets about his own task with brutal determination. Much of the fight was fought outside the ring, with Marina Shafir peeling away the padding on the edge of the ring to expose the concrete floor while Moxley worked his opponent against the ring steps. However, it was the challenger who was first to feel the concrete when he saw an attempted pile driver end with his body slamming backwards onto the ground.

Despite this, Moxley remained in control for most of the ensuing fight, offsetting Danielson's bursts of energy with vicious and often underhanded offense. Shafir was thrown out of the fight by referee Bryce Remsburg when he finally noticed her crafty interference. Ultimately, however, their absence did little to alleviate the disadvantage for the champion: three Busaiku Knees failed to defend the title, a Tope Suicida turned into a Death Rider onto the concrete, and a Gotch-style piledriver allowed Moxley to hit Danielson to choke Secure the referee's interruption.

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