10 Wrestling Matches That Ruled With Builds That Sucked
5. CM Punk Vs Daniel Bryan (WWE Over The Limit 2012)
A contest that'd be a renewed mega-drawing dream match today was but a midcard (WWE Championship) banger in 2012, but independent wrestling legends CM Punk and Daniel Bryan were at least permitted to go out and steal Over The Limit after weeks of company-branded bullsh*t getting in the way.
"Let the wrestlers wrestle" is perhaps too wishy-washy a request of the Sports Entertainment company, but there were few that had proven how little they needed the fluff more than the former World Heavyweight Champion and existing record-setting title. Especially when the story in question was a love square.
They'd battle again as per the rules of WWE's longer feuds, but these too were polluted with the inclusion of a battle for AJ Lee's heart and - because WWE - Kane. 'The Big Red Machine's involvement in this angle was reminiscent of Paul Heyman's SmackDown stewardship in the early-2000s - there as a compromise to Vince McMahon so he can get his class matches out there.
If it was the intention of the writers nine years later, it didn't work as well. The feud never headlined a pay-per-view, and nor did Champion Punk until he re-entered John Cena's orbit that summer.