100 Greatest WWE Matches Of All Time (Ranked)
44. John Cena vs. Daniel Bryan (SummerSlam 2013)
Recent retirement king John Cena was sporadically hit with brutal chants of, "YOU CAN'T WRESTLE" throughout his peak run on top as WWE's poster boy. By 2013, many fans had started to grow weary of 'Super Cena' on top, and that patience wore out completely once they clapped eyes on magnificent technician Daniel Bryan. He, the people had decided, should be wrestling epic matches atop WWE cards more than most.
Few will ever know for sure just how deliberate it was, but the company made everybody wait until WrestleMania XXX for Bryan's true coronation. There was a teaser the prior summer at SummerSlam 2013 though. There, DB beat JC in a fabulous main event that was complemented by Triple H's understated work as special guest referee. Seriously, 'The Game' did a sterling job of picking his spots here.
Looking on with his striped shirt, Trips marvelled at Bryan's poise and Cena's ability to meet him halfway. This was the kind of bout which shut those blasting John with pesky chants right up. Of course, those folks then unfairly made themselves feel better by claiming that Daniel carried Cena to a top match. Nope, this was a masterful performance from Cena too, and no amount of smarky pretence could change that.
Some might be a bit put off by Randy Orton's post-match MITB cash in (aided by a crafty swerve from Hunter mid-celebrations with Bryan), but that booking choice shouldn't detract from one of the best SummerSlam headliners ever. Only a match of this calibre could've topped what CM Punk and Brock Lesnar achieved earlier on the same show.