10 Worst Anticlimaxes In WWE History

The previous year at the biggest show of the year, Sheamus and Daniel Bryan had been feuding over the United States championship. People expected great things: Bryan was an indie darling with a fast, intense style, and Sheamus was a big bruiser of a man, a heel brawler with great timing. As it stood, the match was relegated to the pre-show due to timing issues with the show as a whole, and then turned into a lumberjack match… one which ended on a no-contest when the lumberjacks turned on each other.

Fastforward twelve months, and Daniel Bryan was now the heel, holding the world heavyweight championship. Sheamus had turned babyface the previous summer and won the Royal Rumble in January, giving him the opportunity to face whichever champion he chose at Wrestlemania XXVIII. With the Irishman choosing Bryan, fans were excited. Finally they’d get to see the two square off properly at ‘Mania! It was a little disappointing that the match would open the show, but what a way to warm up the crowd...

Nope. WWE had other plans… namely, breaking the record for the shortest match at Wrestlemania, previously held by Chavo Guerrero and Kane. Distracted by a good luck kiss from his (kayfabe) girlfriend AJ Lee, Bryan would eat a Brogue Kick and be pinned to lose the second biggest title in the company in just eighteen (18) seconds.

Fans in attendance were stunned: around half cheered the big fella’s win, while the other half looked genuinely annoyed that they’d been cheated out of the match for the second year in a row. Sheamus, the Royal Rumble winner, feted for months as the next big thing, was made to look like a chump, a babyface who picked up a heelish victory. Meanwhile, arrogant heel Bryan was made to look sympathetic… and the crowd certainly sympathised.

It continued the theme of Bryan being perceived by the office as less than he really was, and the fans had had enough. This was the moment that the YES! chants truly began in earnest.