10 WWE Superstars Who Won By Losing
9. Daniel Bryan (WrestleMania XXVIII)
Ah, the famous 18 second match.
For the second year in a row, in 2012, Daniel Bryan vs. Sheamus was booked for WrestleMania. Their WrestleMania XXVII encounter from 2011 was bumped to the pre-show the day of the event. By the time 2012 rolled around, the two superstars were in much better standing, battling for the World Heavyweight Championship.
WrestleMania XXVIII was supposed to be the crowning achievement for super babyface-hopeful The Great White, Sheamus, as he was to squash Bryan for the title in record time. Fans regurgitated the outcome, however, and booed the new champion when he was announced the winner.
Although the match was no technical classic (at 18 seconds, how could it be?), it served as a rallying point for Daniel Bryan fans. The Miami faithful cheered the former World Heavyweight Champion the next night on RAW, and it led to the biggest push of Bryan's career, culminating 2 years later at WrestleMania XXX.
At WrestleMania XXVIII, Sheamus was the mn who was supposed to be catapulted to immense popularity; instead, it was Bryan's career that changed in 18 seconds.