The wrestling universe is in a collective puddle of tears and beer as Daniel Makabe, indie darling and purveyor of fine wrestling violence, has announced his retirement. The 40-year-old Canadian sensation took his final bow on July 12 at the Scenic City Invitational in Red Bank, Tennessee. In a match against Kevin Ku from Violence Is Forever, it was a brutal showdown, filled with enough blood to make a vampire blush. Makabe walked away victorious, presumably riding off into the sunset. But wait, folks! There’s a plot twist!
In a moment that can only be described as “M. Night Shyamalan meets pro wrestling,” Makabe grabbed the microphone post-match and, through his victory sweats and possible mild concussion, declared his eternal gratitude to fans. Then he dropped a bombshell bigger than any finisher: he’d only consider coming out of retirement for one man and one man only—AEW star Bryan Danielson.
“There’s an asterisk we’re all aware of,” Makabe told Joseph Montecillo in a recent interview. “It’s Bryan Danielson. Bryan Danielson is the asterisk. If he comes calling, I will come back for one match with Bryan Danielson. Barring that, July 12 will be my last professional wrestling match ever.”
Known for his soccer jersey-clad persona and technical prowess, Makabe has left an indelible mark on the indie wrestling scene. With notable achievements like winning the Scenic City Tournament in 2019 and the AMBITION tournament in wXw in 2020, his career is one for the history books. Not to mention, his epic trilogy of matches with Timothy Thatcher at 3-2-1 BATTLE! culminating in the ACTION Wrestling “DEAN!!!” event this past April.
So, wrestling fans, get ready to flood Bryan Danielson’s Twitter feed. It’s up to him now to summon the retired warrior from his self-imposed exile. Until then, we bid adieu to the great Daniel Makabe, forever etched in our hearts and highlight reels.