Bryan Danielson was set to confront a rival in person overseas.
Following Kazuchika Okada’s victory in his match at the Power Struggle pay-per-view, a video package aired inside the Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium. The American Dragon appeared with one eye heavily bandaged, blaming Okada for the broken orbital bone. Looking for vengeance for this and the previously broken arm, Bryan Danielson issued the challenge for a rematch at Wrestle Kingdom, which will be his first in almost 2 decades. After the video stopped airing, Okada accepted the challenge. According to a new report, the original plan would have been an even bigger surprise.
According to Sports Illustrated, Danielson was originally supposed to travel to Osaka and confront The Rainmaker in person. However, due to the nature of the injury sustained, travel was not a possibility and the audible was called to issue the challenge via video.
It should be noted that although an accident in a match with Andrade El Idolo caused Danielson to break his orbital bone, the storyline explanation is that it was suffered at the hands of Okada, doubling down on the previous accidental injury at Forbidden Door.
When Will Bryan Danielson Return?
Although The American Dragon has been confirmed for a match at the biggest show on the NJPW calendar, his return date still remains uncertain. During a recent promotion of an upcoming episode of Dynamite, Tony Schiavone announced that Bryan Danielson had undergone successful surgery and would be back later in the year. With Wrestle Kingdom 18 taking place on January 4th, there is a possibility that Danielson could make an appearance at the upcoming World’s End pay-per-view on December 30th.
Recently suffering a broken orbital bone, Bryan Danielson originally refused treatment.