After signing for All Elite Wrestling in October of 2021, I'm not sure viewers expected Daniel Garcia to become one of the most compelling characters within the company. From AEW: Dark, to teaming with 2.0, to going viral because his hips don't lie, Daniel Garcia's story in AEW is truly an interesting one. However, in this piece, I want to focus on the timeframe that would truly put him on the map as a top young talent in the company and a future star: 2022, The Summer of Daniel Garcia.
Appreciation Society
While Daniel Garcia had been lighting it up on the independent scene around this time (especially his work in PWG), Garcia and 2.0 (Angelo Parker and Matt Menard) had mostly been relegated to working on AEW: Dark or AEW: Dark Elevation. This, however, would be changed after Revolution 2022.
After losing to Eddie Kingston at Revolution, Chris Jericho would attack Proud n Powerful (Santana and Ortiz) and Kingston with the help of 2.0, Jake Hager, and Daniel Garcia. This would see the end of the Inner Circle and the formation of a new group. The following week on Dynamite, Chris Jericho would announce his new group of "sports entertainers": The Jericho Appreciation Society. This segment would not only give us one of my favorite clips in wrestling history, but would also form a group that would help push some quality talent to the forefront of AEW television.
But, things were just heating up for the freshly formed band of sports entertainers. Due to them attacking Kingston, Ortiz, and Santana, the trio was forced to seek aid from another group that had recently formed to even out the playing field. Kingston and PnP would turn to the Blackpool Combat Club for help. This is because Kingston knew Jon Moxley to be one of very few people in the company that he trusted. This would set up the BCC vs the JAS for the first-ever Anarchy in the Arena match at Double or Nothing 2022. Though Garcia would pick up a loss to Eddie Kingston prior to the pay-per-view, the JAS stayed relatively strong in tag action winning both of their matches (with Garcia involved) as a unit. At Double or Nothing 2022, the Jericho Appreciation Society would defeat the Blackpool Combat Club in one of the most thrilling matches of the year.
However, this was not quite the conclusion to the feud. For the sake of shortening this article, the Blackpool Combat Club would go on to defeat the JAS in a Blood and Guts match the following month on Dynamite. The feud would essentially continue for the summer but would mostly focus on two things: Eddie Kingston vs Chris Jericho, and both groups playing tug of war for Daniel Garcia.
Eternal Foes
Daniel Garcia vs Wheeler Yuta. A rivalry that goes back as far as 2021, well before either man would sign to All Elite Wrestling. Wheeler Yuta joined the Blackpool Combat Club on the April 8th edition of AEW: Rampage after a fantastic, bloody warfare with Jon Moxley. But, Wheeler was not a part of the Anarchy in the Arena match as he was in Japan competing in NJPW's Best of the Super Juniors tournament. Wheeler would compete in the Blood and Guts match that took place the next month, but looking past the faction warfare, there was something Wheeler had that Garcia wanted: the Ring of Honor Pure Championship.
Wheeler Yuta beat Josh Woods at Supercard of Honor 2022 to win the ROH Pure Championship, but would only defend it once before leaving for Japan. Upon returning, Wheeler was embedded right back into the heated warfare taking place between the JAS and the BCC. This would set the stage for Wheeler Yuta and Daniel Garcia to cross paths once again.
The pair would battle it out, bloodied and battered, in the brutal Blood and Guts match. But why would Daniel Garcia, a self-proclaimed sports entertainer, want the Pure title? A title that represents wrestling in its purest form: grappling, striking, and mat-based combat. To put it simply, Garcia wanted to spit in the face of Wheeler Yuta and what the Pure title stood for. Garcia wanted to show that not only could a sports entertainer be a better pro wrestler than the supposed "best pure wrestler in the world", but also to show Wheeler that he was not on the level of the men who held the title before him (we're looking at you, Danielson). If you really want a closer look at the rivalry between these two in the buildup to this match, then I suggest you watch the interview Caprice Coleman did in the countdown to Death Before Dishonor.
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find the match anywhere no matter how hard I tried, so, I cannot give a very detailed breakdown like I usually do. Despite that, what I can say is that it was a very good match between two very technically sound competitors. Garcia dominated the match early before Wheeler would stake everything on protecting his title and fighting back valiantly. My favorite statistic from the match is that after ten minutes had elapsed neither competitor had used a rope break yet (Pure rules only allow three rope breaks if you were not aware). Garcia was showing that a sports entertainer is just as capable as the violent and crude wrestlers of the Blackpool Combat Club. But, Garcia's efforts just were not enough as Wheeler Yuta would ultimately win the match with the Seatbelt Clutch pin attempt (hooray for Best Friends lore).
After the match, Daniel Garcia would leave the arena in a very sour manner, flicking off Wheeler who offered a handshake, and rightly so. He pushed the supposed best pure wrestler on the planet to the limit and was only beaten by a surprise pin attempt. Add to that he was slightly outclassed and embarrassed by having to use a rope break while Wheeler did not use a single one. Overall, this was a fine match that you should go out of your way to watch (if you can find it); however, it was not quite the end of the Daniel Garcia and BCC saga.
You're a Wrestler
Before we continue from the DBD match with Wheeler, let's flash back to February 23, 2022. Bryan Danielson had been preaching about showing AEW "real violence", and he was in search of young talents that would be able to handle it. Danielson was searching for a protege of sorts, someone he could raise as the next great technical wrestler. So, on this edition of Dynamite, it would be Daniel Garcia vs Bryan Danielson. No Blackpool Combat Club, no Jericho Appreciation Society, just two wrestlers and a ring. And, as one could surmise, it was a very good match. The two would exchange strikes, suplexes, and submission holds in a match that would see the American Dragon come out on top.
In a post-match promo, Danielson would look Garcia in his eyes and say: "that is exactly what I wanted to see". Before he could say anything else, though, 2.0 would come out and attack Danielson leading to Mox making the save. In the buildup to the formation of the Blackpool Combat Club, it was quite clear that Daniel Garcia was the man Danielson wanted and many fans would agree he was a perfect fit. We would come to find out in October 2023 that Daniel Garcia was slated to be a part of the BCC before Chris Jericho intervened (sigh). But, even after the BCC had formed, along with the additions of Wheeler Yuta and Claudio Castagnoli, Danielson still had his eyes on Daniel Garcia.
Dragon Slayer
Just four days after his match with Wheeler Yuta at Death Before Dishonor, Daniel Garcia would face Bryan Danielson at AEW's 2022 Fight for the Fallen edition of Dynamite. This would be Danielson's return match after he suffered a concussion in the Anarchy in the Arena match earlier in the year. Danielson was looking to return and hit the ground running while simultaneously handling the JAS threat that still loomed. Garcia, on the other hand, was looking to defeat a man he idolized growing up but was now standing toe-to-toe with in a heated rivalry. There was an internal conflict of sorts. Garcia still idolized and respected Danielson to some degree, and deep down he knew that he was an amazing wrestler. But, here he stood as the antithesis of his whole career up until this point and the person he looked up to: a sports entertainer. Garcia was committed, though, and wanted to show that even as a sports entertainer he could hang with one of the greatest wrestlers in history.
Thankfully I was able to find their Fight for the Fallen match, so, though I will keep things brief, I want to recap the match. Before his music even stopped, Danielson would run and attack Garcia before the bell had rung. Danielson started the match hot with the crowd chanting "YES" to every hit he threw. Danielson dominated the opening couple of minutes before Garcia was able to string together some strikes and rock Danielson. Throughout the match, Garcia worked Danielson's head and neck as he wanted to take advantage of Danielson just returning from a concussion. They battle outside the ring for a bit which would see Danielson get some momentum back, but a missile dropkick onto Garcia would backfire and leave Danielson stunned on the mat. Garcia saw his opening and struck. But, before he attacks you can almost see a hint of remorse and hesitation in Garcia's face. As the match progresses, Danielson is able to gradually steady himself on his feet and put some offense together (that transition into the cattle mutilation was *chef's kiss*).
Even though Garcia absolutely batters him for a good portion of the match, Danielson comes very close to winning with a Busaiku Knee and LeBell Lock attempt that Garcia is able to wriggle out of. Slight interference from Jake Hager would allow Daniel Garcia to hit a nasty piledriver on Danielson before locking in the Dragon Tamer. Danielson would pass out in the submission hold, ultimately losing the match and shocking everyone watching. Not only did Daniel Garcia just hang with the best wrestler on the planet, but he beat him (with a submission hold at that). This match was excellent and truly solidified Daniel Garcia as one to watch anytime he is on AEW television. However, the score between Danielson and Garcia was now 1-1 and there was no better way to settle things than in a best 2-out-of-3 falls match.
As time progressed, the internal struggle within Daniel Garcia continued as Bryan Danielson and fans alike would continue to tell him that he was a wrestler, not a sports entertainer. Though he was embedded into the core of the Jericho Appreciation Society, his mindset began to waver. Garcia was unsure of who he was and where his loyalties lie. On the one hand, you have Chris Jericho who took a chance on you and helped propel you into the next level of AEW, while on the other hand, you have Bryan Danielson who you idolized and is now attempting to bring you into his faction. "Who am I?" seemed to be the question that Daniel Garcia needed to answer, and fast as he had a 2-out-of-3 falls match scheduled with Bryan Danielson just a few weeks after their previous encounter. This match would take place on a special House of the Dragon-themed episode, with the opening contest between the American Dragon and the Dragon Slayer with special guest Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat.
This encounter opens hot and fast-paced once again with Danielson and Garcia trading holds as they attempt to take control of the match. As the two go back and forth, a slap from Garcia wakes up the American Dragon. The pair trades strikes for a bit, but Garcia would ultimately have his chest and head caved in by Danielson. Moving along, Daniel Garcia is able to transition into an armbar before Danielson makes a transition of his own into a Regalplex and a submission. The battle spills outside of the ring for a bit before they get back in the ring and Garcia takes control, locking in a beautifully executed Dragon Sleeper for the first fall.
As the second fall gets underway, Jim Ross makes a great point about how the ref starts the fall before Danielson has even recovered. This would allow Daniel Garcia to take control of the match and would retain that momentum throughout most of the second fall. As the match goes outside the ring once again, Danielson tries to fight back but is planted with a DDT onto the exposed concrete. With every attempt to fight back, Danielson is countered by Daniel Garcia. However, a clever roll-up pin would allow Danielson to win the second fall.
This would anger Garcia, which would ultimately be to his detriment. Danielson hits an Avalanche German Suplex, followed by a Missile Dropkick, and then a tope suicida to the outside to finally pick up some momentum. A tug of war on the ring post would see Daniel Garcia busted open and Bryan Danielson having the wind knocked out of him. Despite that, as the two get back in the ring, Garcia tries to strike Danielson with everything he's got but Danielson eats every single one for breakfast. A fantastic back-and-forth closing stretch ensues with a forearm spot that was a callback to their first encounter. In the end, Danielson is able to kick Garcia's f'n head in and cinch in the LeBell Lock for the victory.
Danielson would show respect to Garcia and get the fans on their feet to applaud the spectacle they had just witnessed. Daniel Garcia is still stunned after the bell and backs away in fear from Danielson as he approaches, but stops in his tracks when Danielson offers a handshake. Would Daniel Garcia take his hand and cement himself as a wrestler and new member of the Blackpool Combat Club, or, refuse the handshake and remain a sports entertainer? Welp, Chris Jericho would make the answer for Daniel Garcia as he attacked Danielson before he could decide. Garcia would shove Jericho, furthering the building tension between the two. As chants of "you're a wrestler" rain down from the crowd, a very conflicted Daniel Garcia exits the arena with Chris Jericho to the dismay of Bryan Danielson and the fans in attendance.
Pure Intentions
Though he had just lost to Bryan Danielson, there was no way Garcia would slip down the card after such strong performances against the American Dragon. This would be made clear as, just a few weeks after the 2-out-of-3 falls match, Garcia would be out for revenge against Wheeler Yuta in another challenge for the ROH Pure Championship. However, this time things were different. Daniel Garcia wasn't the annoying, sports entertainment-spewing heel he was in the previous encounter. Along the same lines, Wheeler Yuta was now more vicious than he was previously, having trained with the BCC for quite some time. The lines between heel and face were blurred, and ultimately switched between the two competitors. The cherry on top? Daniel Garcia would be competing in front of his hometown of Buffalo, New York. So, now the scene was set for the September 7, 2022 edition of AEW: Dynamite.
Wheeler Yuta entered in typical fashion, while Daniel Garcia entered the arena flanked by Westside Gunn who was performing his song DR Birds. The match started out very back and forth with neither man able to get the upper hand. Despite that, the crowd was roaring in Daniel Garcia's favor. What I love about DG and Wheeler's rivalry, as with many great rivalries, is that you can tell that deep down they truly respect one another but they would rather die than lose to the other person. It's even funnier that, in an alternate timeline, we could have Garcia and Wheeler teaming under the BCC banner as one of the most brutal and technically sound tag teams in the company. The pair would trade strikes, suplexes, and submission holds (oh my!... gotta keep the bit going) in a grueling battle worthy of closing this edition of Dynamite. After going back and forth for about 16 minutes, Garcia would lock in the Dragon Slayer to get the win and claim the ROH Pure Championship.
After the match, Wheeler and Garcia would finally shake hands, and Bryan Danielson would come out and strap the title to Garcia's waist as the Buffalo crowd cheered on their hometown hero. Garcia would then shake Danielson's hand as Chris Jericho came from the back outraged at what he had just witnessed.
Sports Entertainer
Tensions would continue to mount between Chris Jericho and Daniel Garcia in the following weeks as the Ocho felt disrespected by Garcia's actions. It was a tale of the classic saying, "don't bite the hand that feeds you". With his allegiance still in the air, a tag match was slated for the October 5, 2022 edition of Dynamite: Le Sex Gods vs Daniel Garcia and Bryan Danielson.
The match was... solid. Nothing too spectacular, but also not bad which would be borderline impossible with the level of talent in the ring. This match felt more like a plot device than anything, a way to progress the story towards its finale. Of course, the highlight of this match is watching Garcia and Danielson sync up their offense and work in tandem like they were destined to. The main talking point of the match, however, was the ending. With the Dragon Tamer applied to Sammy Guevara, Daniel Garcia is on the verge of getting a victory over his stablemates. But, Chris Jericho blasts Garcia in the head with the ROH World Title allowing Sammy Guevara to get the easy pin. Garcia was left in the middle of the ring devastated as the rest of the JAS celebrated at the top of the ramp. How could his mentor stoop this low just to defeat him? Anger? Jealousy? Was it all worth it? Well, what follows this is a very... interesting booking decision.
The following week on Dynamite, it would be Bryan Danielson vs Chris Jericho for the Ring of Honor World Championship in Jericho's home country of Canada. This is where things go left. Towards the end of the match, there was a ref bump (woo) that would open the door for some Chris Jericho shenanigans. However, before Jericho could hit Danielson with the ROH title Daniel Garcia would stop him. This allowed Danielson to hit a Busaiku Knee before... Daniel Garcia hit him with the ROH Title... This is still a very head-scratching decision that, to this day, I feel like sapped a lot of the momentum Garcia had going for him. I mean, how could you take the side of the man who just clocked you in the head with a title seven days prior? In the end, Garcia would re-align with Chris Jericho and the JAS and would remain a sports entertainer.
In the following weeks, Daniel Garcia would basically be relinquished back to AEW: Dark to defend the ROH Pure Championship. A far cry from his position in the preceding months, this was a very poor way to handle one of the hottest stars in the company. Alas, Daniel Garcia would end up dropping the ROH Pure Championship back to Wheeler Yuta in December 2022 at ROH Final Battle, ending a very meh reign from Garcia (to no fault of his own). Garcia would fall down the card a bit heading into 2023, but as we reach the end of the year it seems the fans are once again behind the former Red Death. With his new hip-thrusting dance going viral and becoming a hit with the fans, Garcia now has more character for fans to get behind along with his magnificent in-ring ability. It is unlikely that things will change drastically in the next month, but hopefully 2024 will be the year for Daniel Garcia.