10 Totally Soul-Crushing WWE Title Changes
8. Daniel Bryan Vs Sheamus (WrestleMania 28)
Though the company pounced on the moment in order to set a narrative for tear-jerking Daniel Bryan documentaries, his WrestleMania World Heavyweight Title squash from Sheamus wasn't ever intended to kick off a movement that would lead him back to the promised land two years later.
Latching on to his self-aggrandising 'YES!' chants as he entered for the evening's opener, the Miami crowd were beyond devastated when Bryan was struck with a single surprise Brogue Kick from the challenger to end his night and enjoyable reign after just 18 seconds.
Literally overnight, the murmurings of the monosyllabic call-to-arms throughout the remainder of WrestleMania turned into an out-and-out protest vote on the evening's typically rambunctious Monday Night Raw. In truth, the company were fortunate that it remained loud and strong enough for them to repurpose the following year in time for Bryan's push towards SummerSlam 2013 with John Cena.
Keeping Daniel a heel and literally insisting he screamed 'NO!' in response to the crowd, the company tried and failed multiple times to break the inexorable connection between the performer and the fans, with the audience's stubbornness winning out once and for all shortly after the disastrous 2014 Royal Rumble. A flat-out refusal from the fanbase to tolerate his 18 second mistreatment started it all.