10 Incredibly Creative Ways WWE Stars Got Themselves Over

2. Daniel Bryan Started The "Yes!" Movement

Daniel Bryan was never supposed to make it in the way he did.

Management had a vision in their minds of how his career would play out. He’d be a goofy, lovable, doofus who wasn't meant to be taken seriously. At best, he’d appear in the main event of the show for the night - but only to be struck down by a top babyface. As we saw, he wildly exceeded those expectations. Still, management wasn’t biting. He was too short. He was too weird (he doesn’t own a TV? He's a vegan?). He was the consummate "B+ player."

Bryan fought on and started acting like even more of a fool by raising his hands in the air before, during, and after his matches. Even in defeat, he would yell “Yes!” over and over again. His infectious energy made the incredibly silly chant storm throughout the wrestling world and millions were caught up in its path. Still, management wasn’t impressed. They greatly undervalued his worth and connection with the audience and booked him to job to Sheamus in 18 insultingly short seconds at WrestleMania XXVIII. It didn’t damage Bryan’s enthusiasm in the least.

Through that tone deaf booking decision, his revolution grew stronger. The chants became more visible and louder at every arena WWE ran. More and more fans joined in on his simple display of raising his hands in the air. In unison, it was a fantastic visual that spread beyond the world of wrestling.

Bryan would have likely become a star eventually without the chant (if he didn’t have to retire early) but there’s no doubt it played a key role in helping him become one of the biggest wrestling sensations of the modern era.