10 Times WWE C-Shows Were AMAZING

3. Daniel Bryan Vs. William Regal - Superstars, November 10, 2011

Daniel Bryan William Regal Superstars 2011
WWE.com

WWE creative is inept - perhaps not then, but certainly now and forever.

The paths between teacher William Regal and student Daniel Bryan crossed over a period of three years, and the company failed to get beyond the first draft of a story they barely had to write. The thing wrote itself, even for a single-PPV programme; Regal, not yet willing to make way for his student, had one last lesson to teach him. Even in the twilight of his WWE career - perhaps even especially - Regal was capable of telling spellbinding in-ring stories. Both are hugely entertaining presences on television. This automated awesomeness was incompatible with WWE's virus-ridden machine, but we were treated to one cracking night in Liverpool, at least.

Best remembered as the night of an infamous rib - the production truck piped in Regal's legendarily awful Real Man's Man theme - this affectionate tone wasn't mirrored in the ring.

If WWE refused to exploit the shared history, Regal was far smarter than that: using his student's physical prime against him, Regal slinked away using his veteran nous, remonstrating the pupil with a coy waggle of the finger. Regal really was great, and deserved a more high-profile swansong than this; as Bryan, outwitted again, shoved back at him in frustration, Regal smiled sagely. This was what he wanted to see out of him.

Like a great conductor, Regal raised the volume in song with the intensity as the battle became a war of attrition. Regal lost; Bryan won by mercilessly targeting his teacher's ravaged knee.

Lesson learned.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!