https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=homIySegNx4 Thankfully, fans didn't have to wait to see Daniel Bryan vs. CM Punk in WWE as long as they did for Daniel Bryan vs. Seth Rollins. The two had been in the company together for just about two years before they had their premier singles match on the Jan. 30, 2012 edition of Raw, just one day removed from when both independent scene sensations were successful in retaining the WWE and World Heavyweight Championships, respectively, at the Royal Rumble. In this rare champion vs. champion match, Punk and Bryan went all out in contesting the matchup they were capable of, igniting the audience with their fantastic chemistry. This was also around the time Bryan in the midst of his slow-burning heel turn, so he was the perfect antagonist for the ultra-beloved Best in the World. The momentum constantly shifted between the two for nearly 15 minutes before Chris Jericho surprisingly arrived and cost Punk the match by disqualification. The win gave Bryan something to gloat about, kicked off the highly anticipated Punk vs. Jericho feud, and planted the seeds for a Punk vs. Bryan rivalry down the road. Their pay-per-view matches are more memorable, but this match was more effective in a variety of ways. Not to mention the "Code of Honor" handshake from Ring of Honor at the start of the matchup was a very nice touch.
Since 2008, Graham has been a diehard pro wrestling fan and, in 2010, he combined his passions for WWE and writing when he joined Bleacher Report. Equipped with a master's in journalism, Graham has contributed to WhatCulture, FanSided's Daily DDT, Sports Betting Dime, and GateHouse Media. Along the way, he has conducted interviews with wrestling superstars like Chris Jericho, Edge, Goldberg, Christian, Diamond Dallas Page, Jim Ross, Adam Cole, Tessa Blanchard, Ryback, and Nick Aldis among others.