10 Most Fascinating Stories In WrestleMania History
3. Daniel Bryan's Journey
Daniel Bryan first entered the WrestleMania stage without even entering it; a pre-show castaway at WrestleMania XXVII, relegated from his own relegation, his United States Championship challenge resulted, somehow, as a Great Khali Battle Royal win. WWE attempted to dwarf him years before this toxic mentality changed the course of both his career, and the very company.
One year later, he graduated from castoff to embarrassment after suffering his iconic 18 second indignity at WrestleMania XXVIII. And so began his improbable journey to the pinnacle; having recovered as 2012's awesomely vile heel and breakthrough babyface, Bryan followed a quietly very good tag team match at 29 with an ascent as shocking as it was unwanted by management.
Bryan got over huge not as a mere underdog babyface but the true sports entertainment polymath we demanded to see elevated, in a meritocracy, to the main event. Bryan was the face of the company. He didn't just enter awesome, technical barnstormers. We weren't adamant of reshaping WWE in Bryan's image; Bryan, through his stint in Team Hell No, had conquered every aspect of WWE's sporting, comedic product. He was the Guy.
"B+ Player" Bryan was relegated from his own promotion, of course, but we know how that story ends - because we wrote it.
Bryan, in poetry penned by fate, returned to New Orleans after orchestrating his own, impetuous downfall in 2015 - but was relegated in his story. The stretcher job was too cute a callback, and it reflected his unimaginative 2018 return at large. 2019 promises an entirely new chapter. By February, WWE hadn't settled on his opponent.
By March, Bryan enters WrestleMania as part of the hottest storyline going.