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The first-ever singles bout between Bryan Danielson and one of his all time dream opponents, lucha legend Blue Panther will take place Friday 4/5 in Mexico City for CMLL. Danielson challenged Panther last night after The Blackpool Combat Club lost to Team CMLL, including Panther, last night.
The back story behind the match is that back in 2014, lucha writer Apolo Valdés recorded a message from Panther where he thanked Danielson for saying that Panther was his idol and told Danielson that he also wanted to have a one-on-one match with him. Danielson was shown the message over Wrestlemania 30 weekend, getting emotional and was also presented with a personalized and signed mask sent to him by Panther,
After the match was made, Panther specifically thanked Valdés, who wrote on his Facebook page:
"Last Friday, something unexpected happened to me. After the show at Arena México ended, I approached the tunnel where Blue Panther was. I saw him taking photos, and Carlos Acosta of SÚPER LUCHAS told me to take a picture with him because I had helped make the match between Panther and Danielson happen through a video I made with Éric Salinas for Mediotiempo at WrestleMania 30.
"Honestly, it made me feel embarrassed, and even though I know the video played a role, I've never really taken credit for it because ultimately it was the companies that made it happen, something I thought would remain a dream. However, when I approached Panther, he immediately recognized me and said, "I've been looking for you for years (it had been about 5 years since I last interviewed him), I asked everyone about you. I want to thank you because it's thanks to that session and video we did at the Coliseo that this is happening. You are responsible for this."
"Honestly, it choked me up because even though others have said similar things, as I mentioned, I've never truly taken that credit. But for Blue Panther to say it meant a lot. This video is just a small part of the whole conversation we had. He introduced me to his wife and son, saying, "He was the one who gave Danielson the mask and made the video; because of him, we're here."
"I don't know if it was a job well done or just luck, but undoubtedly those words are among the best I've heard in my journalist career."
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