Bryan Danielson submits Kazuchika Okada at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door

Bryan Danielson defeated Kazuchika Okada in the “dream match” main event of Sunday’s AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door pay-per-view in Toronto. 

Danielson scored a surprising submission victory over Okada with a modified LeBell Lock, using his legs to tie up Okada’s shoulders to force a tap out in front of a stunned Scotiabank Arena crowd. 

Prior to the submission finish, Danielson kicked out of Okada’s Rainmaker finisher.

The match incorporated a spot where Danielson faked going into convulsions, playing off Danielson’s history of seizures as a result of concussions that forced him to retire from the ring from 2015 to 2018. 

The clean submission victory presents the opportunity for a rematch on a big stage down the road, with NJPW’s Wrestle Kingdom a potential destination for a second bout. 

Another surprise in the main event segment came when Danielson entered to Europe’s “The Final Countdown,” his longtime Ring of Honor entrance song.

Okada vs. Danielson capped a pay-per-view event that set AEW’s all-time gate record as they ran for a second consecutive night in Toronto. 

Earlier in the evening, Will Ospreay defeated Kenny Omega in another “dream match” to regain the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship.

Our full report from Forbidden Door can be found here.