10 Wrestling Storylines Totally Different To How You Remember

3. The Yes! Movement

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WWE.com

How you remember it:

A captivating period of WWE television, even if it wasn't by the company's explicit design. Daniel Bryan was so ablaze as the fan's choice that WWE had no choice but to push the man they didn't want to push. He was the best wrestler in the world, and was so undeniable that WWE couldn't do its preferred brand of sports entertainment. Eventually, when Batista proved so unpopular, they had no choice but to give in and present itself as a stadium-sized super-indie, if only for one night.

What it was actually like:

It was more boring and oppressive than all that. Also, and this is written by somebody who paid money to fly across the Atlantic and actually watch the coronation, so it is in completely good faith: Bryan was actually hotter and better in the first half of 2013 than the second. The fatalistic booking was to blame, obviously; his three PPV matches with Randy Orton weren't on the level of their TV bangers, and WWE interpreted their own deflating f*ck finish policy as a sign that fans were losing interest in Bryan himself. Only when it felt that all hope was lost, during the Wyatt Family demotion, did they roar back to life.

WWE didn't listen to the audience either, not really; had CM Punk not walked, Bryan was doing 10 minutes with Sheamus.

 
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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!