10 Greatest In-Ring Promos Of All Time

2. Daniel Bryan's Retirement

With the illusion of wrestling's legitimacy having long since faded, the power of pre-planned promos to draw the interest of fans has all but evaporated. There's the rare exception, but on the whole, it's only when there is a vein of truth coursing through the heart of a segment that people truly get on board.

In some cases, theses promos are permeated by just a sliver of reality providing the spark of intrigue - Shawn Michaels' "Sunny days" quip, for example. In others, an authentic situation is embellished to essentially construct a second layer of kayfabe, allowing booker and performer to pull the proverbial wool once more, à la CM Punk's historic 'pipebomb'.

However, nothing can compare to those rare occasions when the reality on display is absolute, as was the case with Daniel Bryan's retirement speech last February. There was no payoff, no angle, no intention to sell a show: just a sincere valedictory to an adoring public. It was one of the most heartfelt segments to ever air on WWE programming, and as a result, one of the best.

Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.