10 Times WWE Caved To Public Pressure
6. Tie Game...
Largely considered the first time Mattel flexed their own muscle in WWE's direction, Daniel Bryan's surprising June 2010 sacking was a bombshell considering his involvement in one of the company's biggest angles in years just days earlier.
Instructed to annihilate anyone and anything at ringside, The Nexus created memorable carnage with a violent destruction of John Cena and the Monday Night Raw main event canvas he'd almost solely commanded for the last half-decade. Bryan himself spat on 'The Champ' in an ultimate sign of disrespect towards the company figurehead. The future WWE Champion was really into it on the night - he'd already brutally strangled ring announcer Justin Roberts with his own tie as part of the beatdown.
WWE.com confirmed his exit within days, whilst the character was hastily removed from further Nexus conversation as the weeks progressed. He wouldn't return until August (this time back on board with Cena and the company), after the dust had settled on an apparent ugly response received by Vince McMahon from the high-rolling sponsor.
Like Finlay's firing the following year, the brief redundancy helped WWE illustrate the lack of blurred lines for talent in years to come. Follow advertiser-friendly rules, or pay the ultimate price.