10 WWE Undercard Matches That Outshone The Royal Rumble

8. Daniel Bryan Vs. Bray Wyatt (2014)

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If you're being honest with yourself, you probably don't even remember what happened in the opening match of the 2014 Royal Rumble. There, Bray Wyatt beat Daniel Bryan, and everybody in attendance fully expected Bryan would the Rumble later that night. You probably do recall that this didn't happen.

Instead, Batista returned and won the thing. Even poor Rey Mysterio (taking the spot of #30) was booed heavily for having the audacity to steal a Daniel Bryan entrance that was never coming yet everybody desperately hoped would. Oh, for the record, Rey Rey lasted just over 2 minutes and that only infuriated fans more.

The Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh had come unglued for Bryan earlier on the card. He was the one everybody doted on, and it was he who people wished to see pushed into the WrestleMania headline slot. They'd get their wish, and yet it was never planned during the Rumble.

Somehow, despite only having an above-average match against Wyatt, Bryan's kinship with the audience ended up stealing the show.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.