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The man who should be named PWInsider Wrestler of the Year for 2006 likely won’t be. Unfortunately, in wrestling - as in any other form of entertainment - exposure is the key to perception. It’s the reason a show like The O.C. goes on and on, and a show like Deadwood is cancelled after just three seasons. In the end, it’s the overall viewership that counts; quality comes a distant second.
Next to World Wrestling Entertainment and Total Nonstop Action, Ring of Honor only has a small following. They have no national television outlet, and nor do they require one. They fill a niche gap in the market for people who (like me) enjoy logical, episodic feuds wrapped around a core of athletic competition. And they do so very well. Their in-ring product is the best in America; every show has the potential to be a blow away. They have names on their roster like Samoa Joe, Homicide, A.J. Styles, Austin Aries (Starr), Colt Cabana, Roderick Strong and Christopher Daniels. And yet even with this wealth of talent, the man I’m about to nominate stood out in 2006; not only as the best ROH had to offer but, in my opinion, the best professional wrestling had to offer as well.
‘American Dragon’ Bryan Danielson held the ROH World title from September 17th 2005 to December 23rd 2006.  His reign may have fallen six months short of Samoa Joe’s legendary run, but in that period - thanks to an increase in ROH live events - he defended it twelve more times (thirty-eight title defenses, altogether). Thirty of those defenses were made in 2006, and in 2006, there was no such thing as an average Bryan Danielson match-up.
Danielson was a throwback to heel champions of old. What made him a heel? Not liking the fans. And like Harley Race or Vader in their prime, he didn’t have to runaway or cheat to put an exclamation point on it. He simply outwrestled his opponents, all the while rubbing how good he was in the fans faces. It was simple, yes, but also very effective. Danielson did his talking in the ring, both literally and figuratively. His banter with the fans became a staple of his matches; his mid-match boasts of “Best wrestler in the world!†gained more credence as the year wore on.
Aside from long-standing rivalries with Samoa Joe and Homicide, Danielson had three major programmes in 2006 vs. Roderick Strong, Nigel McGuinness and Colt Cabana. All three of these men were elevated by their contests with him; many of their matches went 60 minutes, many of them were Match of the Year candidates. Every defense of the crown brought about the very real possibility of a title change; he became the master of the false finish. He merged the finest components of his trainers - Shawn Michaels and William Regal, among them - and gave them a distinctly 21st Century feel. Like Michaels and Ric Flair in their respective primes, he had the innate ability to bring out the best in his opponents. At ROH’s UK debut in August, he added a historic twist to his reign, beating Nigel McGuinness in a brutal, must-see classic to unify the ROH World and ROH Pure titles. He also scored huge wins over Samoa Joe, Lance Storm, Pro-Wrestling NOAH’s Naomichi Marafuji (in ROH’s last show of 2005) and KENTA. For Danielson to be given victories over this level of competition was a tribute to his work ethic and believability in the ring. His versatility, like his pacing, was a thing to behold; any one match might have seen him adopt the role of grappler, flyer and striker. He won matches by pinfall, submission and - as in the aforementioned unification bout - stoppage.
During November, this seamless stylistic blend bagged Danielson his first go around with Pro-Wrestling NOAH. That he completed this notoriously hard-hitting tour - and the last four months of his ROH World title reign - with a separated shoulder was testament to his supreme toughness and commitment to his trade. His year ended on an emotional and artistic high on December 23rd, dropping the ROH title to hometown boy Homicide amidst unforgettable scenes in New York City. It was a soaring end to an outstanding year for Danielson; when he returns from shoulder surgery (hopefully in April) his stock will be at a high.
So while Bryan Danielson might not win the Wrestler of the Year award here on PWInsider.com, perhaps it’s a blessing in disguise. So long as he remains veiled from the masses in the U.S., he’ll continue to have the kind of matches on which his legacy’s been founded. He’ll continue to pull in the independent dates in America and hopefully increase his stock in Japan. He is, after all, the logical successor to The Dynamite Kid and Chris Benoit; both stylistically and in terms of work rate. The last thing I want to see is him cramming his arsenal into a minute-long TNA match. Or worse - far worse - sent to OVW for ‘re-education’ then dished up as fodder for The Boogeyman.
Lee Morgan is an English-born musician and author, stupid enough to have caught the wrestling bug at the age of seven. He last year completed his first novel, Hung By Mistake, and recently completed his first studio album, Lovebleeds & Nose Ballads. Samples of all his work can be found at the following link: Lee Morgan’s Myspace Music Page.
