15 Awesome WWE Sagas To Binge-Watch On Netflix Over Christmas
8. Daniel Bryan Forces WWE’s Hand
Elements of Bryan Danielson's AEW run could be considered top tier, but nothing the man ever does could match his impressive against all odds rise up the ranks between 2012-2014. If you need an appetiser for the greatness to come, then dig out some of his tag-team work alongside Kane in Team Hell No. That's when WWE fans really latched onto Daniel Bryan as one of their own.
By 2013, there were calls for Bryan to headline the company's biggest pay-per-views. Management clearly disagreed, and in fact wanted to palm off Daniel as "a B+ player" in segments opposite Authority duo Triple H and Stephanie McMahon. It didn't work. Neither, mind you, did attempting to replace Bryan with Big Show. What in the name of technical wizardry between the ropes were they thinking of there?!
Bryan became leader of the ‘Yes Movement’ between 2013-2014, and everything came together when he won the WWE Title at WrestleMania XXX. Those were incredible scenes, not least because WWE didn’t want to push him. Fan pressure, CM Punk's departure after Royal Rumble 2014 and more combined to change destiny.
Binging Bryan’s rise up the ranks is exhilarating, because there are so many stunning matches to witness. Favourites include a cracker with John Cena at SummerSlam 2013, a cool titular cage effort from Hell In A Cell 2013 vs. Randy Orton, the sheer depth of fan hatred towards WWE pushing Batista ahead of him at the 2014 Rumble, and definitely his double duty at 'Mania XXX.
Say "Boo-tista". Bryan forever.
Top Recommendation: Go with his wins over Triple H and then in a 3-way vs. Randy Orton and Batista at WrestleMania XXX. Watch that confetti fall!