10 Fascinating Facts About WWE In 2014

1. Brock Almost Squashed Daniel Bryan

Batista CM Punk WWE 2014
WWE.com

A lot of folks are still annoyed over Brock Lesnar squashing Kofi Kingston during SmackDown’s FOX debut in 2019, but that would’ve been foreshadowed by what was meant to go down five years prior. Get this: WWE's original plan for SummerSlam 2014 was Lesnar vs. Daniel Bryan, and Brock was supposed to kick the living crap out of the babyface hero just like he’d end up doing to John Cena.

Daniel’s injuries ended Vince McMahon's hero-squishing hopes here.

The question must be asked though. Was this some sort of weird punishment to fans for daring to clamour for Bryan in the first place? Lesnar was always cast as a monster, but Daniel was on fire as WWE Champ after WrestleMania and wasn't a fixture of the upper deck like Cena - he might not have survived being squashed.

John Cena was teflon, and could bounce back quickly. Bryan? Hmm, that's up for debate. Brock beating someone like Dan then only working one more match in 2014 wouldn't have gone down well with fans who had campaigned long and hard for Bryan's main event status.

It almost happened.

What other fascinating facts do you know about WWE in 2014? For more wrestling, check out 10 Wrestling Moments More Terrifying When You Know The Truth and 20 Wrestlers Who Won World Titles In The Fewest Matches

Watch Next


Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.