Jack Perry entered from his black Scapegoat bus and was met by the Young Bucks who had his TNT Championship and goat helmet. Perry was walked to the ring by masked security clad in all-black uniforms.
Predictably, when the “Final Countdown” music hit the crowd erupted for Danielson.
Perry and Danielson were in no rush to lock horns, instead taking in the electric atmosphere the Chicago crowd provided. Perry won the initial collar-and-elbow with an armdrag and then taunted Danielson with slaps to the head after the next exchange.
After another armdrag and taunt, Perry left the ring to regain himself. When he returned he engaged in the test of strength with Danielson, which Perry tried to win with a kick to the midsection. Danielson showed his impressive mat technique and started to pick apart Perry with submission holds, including the flying surfboard.
Overmatched, Perry escaped outside but there was little room to breathe as Danielson hit a dropkick through the ropes and a springboard flip onto the challenger. Danielson continued to stalk Perry on the outside, but a leap from ring apron was met with a superkick from the challenger. From there, Perry landed a draping DDT and sent Danielson into the barricade twice, the second time with a running dropkick.
Back in the ring, Perry continued his assault, mainly with punches and chops, but scored a near-fall after a neckbreaker on the champion.
Perry’s momentum was halted as he climbed to the top rope. Danielson escaped and flipped position on Perry, deliver a series of elbows before a massive belly-to-back superplex. Danielson delivered his patented kicks to Perry, but before he could land the final one, Perry ducked and scored a jackknife pin. Danielson had an opportunity for a backslide but instead opted for a submission that Perry eventually forced the champion to break.
Danielson was caught in one of his own submissions, the Cattle Mutilation, after a drop toe-hold counter from Perry. Danielson fought to his feet but Perry smartly landed a pair of Snap Dragon suplexes. As he went for a third, onto the ring apron, Danielson fought back and a slugfest ensued, which the champion won with a major maneuver onto the floor.
The aggression ramped up as Danielson returned to the ring, finally completing his kick sequence and setting up his flying knee finisher. With Perry in his sights, Danielson went for it but the challenger was able to counter into his Snare Trap submission. Danielson forced the break by reaching the bottom rope.
Perry went for his finisher, but Danielson rolled him up for a near-fall. Perry retreated to a corner and Danielson went for his finisher, the Psycho Knee. Perry pulled referee Bryce Remsburg into harm’s way and the Young Bucks ran in to help Perry, landing a TK Driver on the champion. Finally, Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta came to chase away the AEW Tag Team Champions.
Perry woke up the referee, delivered a knee to Danielson and went for the pin, but the champion kicked out at 2. Enraged, Perry added insult to injury by mocking the champion’s signature moves and celebration. As Perry sprinted toward Danielson, he was met with a Psycho Knee. Both men crawled to one another and met head-to-head, exchanging blows on their knees and eventually returning to their feet.
After several slaps from Perry, Danielson went for a release German suplex, but Perry landed on his feet. Danielson hit another Psycho Knee, but Perry kicked out at two yet again. Danielson stomped out Perry’s head — twice — and set up a third Psycho Knee. Perry allowed himself to be hit and Danielson pinned him to retain his title.
Bryan Danielson defeats Jack Perry in 27:57 to retain the AEW World Championship.
