100 Greatest WWE WrestleMania Moments
4. Daniel Bryan Beats Everybody (WrestleMania XXX)
Whether they wanted to or not (they really didn't), even WWE bosses had to admit that Daniel Bryan's popularity amongst fans was something unique as 2013 gave way to a new year. It was also worth capitalising on come the most lucrative quarter on the calendar. So, once CM Punk thumbed his nose at the McMahons and walked out in early-2014, it was all systems go on Bryan's 'Mania XXX sprint.
Oh wait, no it wasn't. Batista was the plan, not Bryan. It took ceaseless fan pressure to force WWE into seeing what everybody else could see: Dan was the man, and he offered a longer-term strategy than big Dave; Batista was dancing back to Hollywood following a short run anyway. That pressure told enough for Bryan to beat Triple H in the opening match at WrestleMania, then win the WWE Title in a three way battle with Batista and Randy Orton in the main event.
People power paid dividends, and it changed Bryan Danielson's life.
The "Yes Movement" wasn't some carefully created WWE marketing ploy. It was a real thing. A ground swell of support built and built for Bryan, then Vince McMahon, Triple H and others had no choice but to go along for the ride. It felt like a victory for pro wrestling and pro wrestling fans when Daniel held the WWE's top prize aloft as confetti fell and pyro exploded in New Orleans.
Select fans reminisced about Eddie Guerrero and Chris Benoit (less so the latter for obvious reasons) doing the same 10 years before. 2014's annual showcase belonged to one of the greatest pure technicians to ever grace WWE rings. The people demanded it. The people made it happen. The people got it.