American FUCKING Dragon

[pholby]

I used to not have a favorite wrestler. I loved wrestling, and watched as much of it as I could, but when questioned as to my favorite, I had no answer. Chris Benoit, I'd say. No wait, Kurt Angle. No wait, Tajiri. And then I saw Dragon. Now I answer without hesitation. American Dragon is my favorite wrestler, and he should be yours too.

Reading the year-end awards on the main page has been somewhat difficult. Best Wrestler: Kurt Angle, Shawn Michaels. Best Technical Wrestler: Chris Benoit, Samoa Joe. No no no, I think to myself. Those categories belong to American Dragon, Bryan Danielson. It doesn't matter if you've never seen him. He's still a better wrestler than anyone you have seen.

Dragon is a bastard. He's an elitist prick. His swagger, his smile, everything about him says "I am the best in the world." But I can't fault him for it, because it's true. No one embodies wrestling perfection like Bryan Danielson. His grasp of psychology is impeccable, and always seems effortless. It's so ingrained in everything he does that the stories gradually build from a hundred tiny touches into something beautiful and grand.

American Dragon isn't technical for the sake of being technical, like some douche bag wannabe-European wrestlers. He doesn't spin around on his back a half dozen times just to get out of a wrist lock. (He twists his opponent's arm to fake him out, then just knocks his arm to break the hold, then slaps his opponent in the face.) But back to his use of technical wrestling, it's not pretentious. He's technical because being technical is being precise, and a precise armbar punishes his opponent more, and that's how he gets his kicks. And technical wrestling isn't the only thing he can do; look at his Best of 5 series with Homicide. A taped fist match, a crazy falls-count-anywhere brawl, and culminating in a brutal cage match where he showed he can use the ghetto fork as well as he can take it. From 74 minute 2/3 falls classics with Austin Aries to the aforementioned brawl and cage match, there is nothing American Dragon can't do.

Some people will tell you that American Dragon is pale and boring. The pale part is pretty much true, but faulting him for that probably makes you some kind of bigot. As for the boring part, well, this is one of those times when the argument of 'everyone has an opinion' covers the entire spectrum of opinions to include those that are uninformed and frankly, just fucking wrong. American Dragon is not boring. He has an astronomical amount of wrestling charisma, and that 'wrestling' bit is key. He's not going to star in a movie or record an album, but in that ring, he is incredible. From the obvious things, like taunting the section of the crowd that's been booing him with a little gyration in his hips, to other things, like cursing at Roderick Strong while he rains elbows on his head.

Strong knocked Dragon out for a moment in a recent match, and Dragon responded by waking up and immediately slapping on a brutal armbar, making Roderick tap instantly. In the rematch, Dragon pinned Roderick's arms beneath him and just elbowed him in the head until the ref was forced to stop the match. Roderick put on a good show, but sometimes you just don't have what it takes. That's Dragon's MO as champ, to either bust out a new submission (Crossface Chickenwing to win the title against James Gibson, aforementioned Fujiwara armbar), or just throwing bolos until he knocks someone the fuck out. And I couldn't be happier with it. Every match they announce for Dragon is met with a smile, and the thought "Dragon's going to murder him."

There was a decent debate a little while ago on the ROH forums about who was the better wrestler, Samoa Joe or American Dragon. Dragon's previously mentioned ability to do anything, and the new "knock you the fuck out" style he's brought as champion exemplify why Dragon is better. In ten years, Samoa Joe will still be Samoa Joe. He'll still do the bootscrapes, and the stiff slaps, and I'll still love him. But I have no idea what American Dragon will be doing in ten years because Dragon adapts and changes and has an ever-evolving greatness.

When I am an old man, and my grandchildren ask me what I was doing when I was 20 years old, I will tell them I was sitting in National Guard Armories and on Basketball Courts watching American Dragon in all of his glory. "American Dragon is a stupid name," they'll say, and I will knock one out with a forearm to the face and lock the other in a key lock for a quick submission. And when the one I forearmed wakes up, I will sit them down and teach them about how everything Dragon did just worked. When I lean over the guardrail and cheer as loud as I can for Dragon, he doesn't respond. He doesn't point at me and smile, like other wrestlers will. Because he doesn't need me. He's the best, and he knows it. The cockiness, the knockouts, the submissions, the plain ring attire, it all just fits together so perfectly.

American Dragon is the greatest wrestler on the face of the earth, whether he makes your year-end list or not. Whether you like it, or you don't like it, you better learn to love it, because it's the best thing going today.
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"You're a pussy, Strong!"

"Woah woah woah."

[Rogue]

Did you write that? I assume you did, but that thing about the main-page awards was kinda confusing, unless THOG is suddenly awardin' awards to their fav rasslers and jokin' that Rodney would totally get pinned by even Gillberg.

I gotta say though, I pretty much agree with you. For awhile, I didn't care much for Dragon; he was certainly good, but not interesting enough for me to get behind or care about. Kinda like Roddy Strong today. But then he started the so-frustrated-and-pissed-off-that-shaving-is-unnecessary beard phase, and started to grab my attention. Since returning and winning the World Title, he's really grown on me. And as he got more and more dickish, I found myself more and more entertained by him, and find myself more and more interested in his matches. At this point in time, I think I would be hard-pressed to think of two or three wrestlers I like more.

I can't wait until Vendetta is released so I can see Dragon elbow Strong to absolute death; same with Final Battle and his match with Marufuji, only that one seems to have less blatant elbow action. That anticipation is probably as good a sign as any that Danielson is now one of my top favs, if not my #1 fav of all.

[pholby]

The year end award bit can be taken to mean the year end awards at virtually any wrestling website.
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"You're a pussy, Strong!"

"Woah woah woah."

[Jim]

AHHHHHH!!!!! So I'm totally stoked about seeing AmDrag and Co. this Friday. He and Jay Lethal are taking on GeNext for the tag straps. Would I have prefered to see him (AmDrag) in a singles match? Of course. But I think the tag match will be kickass. Also, Joe v. Fallen Angel in an Ironman match? Get the fuck outta here. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!
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[dlomyhero]

I expected you to say "FalAnge" to continue what you started with "AmDrag" and "GeNext". But then we might think you were talking about fingers.

Also, I didn't know Weird Al liked wrestling.

I'M KIDDING MY FRIEND, YOU LOOK SEXY.
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Asked yesterday whether it would eventually release a revised edition of "Opal Mehta," a little brown spokesman declined to comment.

[SundownMotel]

OH MY GOD YOU GUYS

Lance Storm vs. Bryan Danielson Signed
1/24/06
ROH

Lance Storm has won titles everywhere he has gone from Japan to SMW to ECW to WCW to WWE. He retired from the ring last June with no reason to ever return. Now Storm has the itch and it is all because of one athlete. He has found his love for the sport of pro wrestling again and it is because of ROH World Champion Bryan Danielson.

Storm and Danielson came face-to-face at "Steel Cage Warfare" on December 3rd. Storm told Danielson that if he were ever to come out of retirement it would be to wrestle someone like him. Since that time the itch began to grow in Storm and he felt the need to return to the ring to compete against Danielson.

Storm has signed one of Bryan Danielson's open contracts for a World Title shot. It will be Lance Storm vs. Bryan Danielson for the ROH World Title on April 1st in Chicago (ROHwrestling.com, 215-781-2500, Ticketmaster outlets for tickets and info). Of course, Danielson must still be champion on April 1st. Even if Danielson loses the belt, it will still be Danielson vs. Storm on 4/1 in Chicago.

"After a 10 month absence, I will be returning to active competition April 1st to challenge the current ROH World Champion Bryan Danielson," Storm said. "I now have 10 weeks to get myself in the best shape of my life. I have never been more focused or set in a direction as I am right now. My only hope is that he is still the Champion come April 1st as a World Title run is the only thing that has eluded me in my career."
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And this is a promise, because this is true. This is real. This is Straight Edge.

[Jim]

Yeah, that's gonna be fan-fucking-tastic.

Also, the 4/22 main event in Philly. Danielson v. Low Ki v. Daniels. These guys have only gotten better since The Era of Honor Begins. That should be insanely cool.
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[Ragingape]

OH DAMMIT!!! That's the day I leave for Europe. I can't believe I'm going to miss two of my favorites in my own city. It's still good to hear and Lance should still be in good ring shape as he is running a wrestling school now.

[dlomyhero]

Lance is going to show up and be all "April Foooooooolsssss!" because he seems like he'd be like that in real life.
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Asked yesterday whether it would eventually release a revised edition of "Opal Mehta," a little brown spokesman declined to comment.

[betholution]

I just wanted to add that AMERICAN DRAGON WILL CHOP YOU SO HARD.

And he's made of 100%, medical grade awesome.
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That's Sandy Frink? What the hell was I thinking?

[Lindy]

Of course he is. Tonight I got to see him fight AJ Styles. Highlights include Styles spitting into Dragon's hand instead of shaking it and Dragon countering by later cornering him, climbing up on the turnbuckles, putting him in a hold and spitting in his face (possibly right into his mouth, I couldn't see from my seat).

Dammit he is so fucking great.
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shrieking raccoon on a jetpack

[SundownMotel]

/jealous
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And this is a promise, because this is true. This is real. This is Straight Edge.

[betholution]

*is jealous too!*

Dragon is pretty much the only current wrestler I haven't seen wrestle live that I REALLY REALLY WANT TO SEE LIVE. And AJ vs. Dragon, you can't ask for better than that.
_________________
That's Sandy Frink? What the hell was I thinking?

[Lindy]

I've been spoiled as far as live wrestling goes. My first main event was Joe vs Kobashi and Dragon vs Styles was my second.

Just watching Dragon drop to the mat and kick Styles mimicing Inoki vs Ali was well worth going to the show.
_________________
shrieking raccoon on a jetpack

[betholution]

Hah, yeah, that's pretty spoiled. Experiences like that in the formative stages of attending live wrestling will ruin you for WWE shows, though. Once you go indy, you never go back.
_________________
That's Sandy Frink? What the hell was I thinking?