10 Emotional WWE Moments That Made Fans Cry

Wrestling is a dramatic business.

Its main purpose is to provoke a reaction within those who watch it, and while said reactions often involve a heavy dose of frustration these days, there's a reason the sport is often likened to a soap opera. You're supposed to feel something during wrestling's biggest moments, and that'll forever be the focus.

WWE's storytelling doesn't always have the desired outcome (see: Roman Reigns), but fans are here for the rollercoaster ride. Wrestling's high points produce a sense of euphoria unlike anything else in the world, but on the other end of the spectrum, its emotional lows can be absolutely crushing, and in some cases, tragic.

No matter how cynical and aloof the sport makes us, every single wrestling fan has succumbed to their emotions at one point or another. In some cases, these moments hit us so hard that yes, we might share a tear or two. Sometimes this comes at the end of a perfectly executed story, but in others, the circumstances are far more tragic.

Either way, the sport's propensity to hit us right in the feels has never waned, and its history is littered with incidents that had us reaching for the tissue box...

This wasn’t supposed to happen.

Famously branded a “B+ Player” by Triple H, Daniel Bryan was too short and too ordinary to fit the role of WWE’s prototypical ace, despite his impeccable skillset. He was always one of WWE’s standout wrestlers, but the company continually refused to push him as “the guy,” even as his popularity soared. Bryan was regularly misused and mistreated throughout his run, starting with his shocking dismissal after choking Justin Roberts during the Nexus' debut, and peaking with his 18-second loss to Sheamus at WrestleMania XXVIII.

Bryan became a folk hero. His support snowballed over the years, and he earned it through grit, determination, and the strength of his performance. The frustrations manifested as “The ‘Yes!’ Movement,” and with every further disappointment, Bryan’s supporters only grew louder.

The backlash hit fever pitch when Bryan was bewilderingly excluded from the Royal Rumble in 2014, but the greatest moment of his career was right around the corner. DB overcame Triple H, the corporate avatar for those holding him back, then progressed to the WrestleMania XXX main event, where he fought for the WWE Championship.

The relatable everyman hero finally scaled the mountain top, capping his incredible triumph with a huge outpouring of joy felt around the world.