10 Best Daniel Bryan Matches Since His WWE Return

It never seemed like this match was going to happen. The dream match between Brock Lesnar and Daniel Bryan felt impossible after his retirement, and even after the return due to Bryan's noted concussion and head injury issues. It wasn't going to happen, it was too much of a risk. When the match was announced after Bryan's shock heel turn and world title victory, it still felt like something too good to be true. Many people feared that it would be safe punishment for Bryan's refusal to work the Crown Jewel show. So many were worried that Bryan would be undermined.

For a while, all the fears of Brock Lesnar matches were out in spades. Bryan spent minutes being beaten down with sadistic terrifying suplexes, with Bryan selling them like every bone in his body was being shattered. The arena was filled with tension and an uncomfortable aura for each suplex thrown, it was difficult to watch after a while. And then it all changed, one mistake and Bryan took advantage, going for a low blow on Brock and changing the entire dynamic of the contest. Within the next 10 minutes, Bryan and Lesnar put on the best main roster match of the 2010s.

Bryan's impossible fight against the odds method of storytelling has never been more effective than it was here, with his work on Lesnar's lower body damaging the big man enough that he couldn't stand up properly to deliver the F5, sending him plummeting to the ground. Bryan taking advantage, putting in the Yes Lock and savagely attacking Lesnar with elbow strikes was the moment that everyone knew that Bryan was truly back with us, and better than he'd ever been. It didn't even matter that he lost moments later. What an absolute classic contest.