15 Best Matches To Ever Take Place At Royal Rumble
7. Daniel Bryan Vs. Bray Wyatt (Royal Rumble '14)
A year ago, immediately following the Bryan vs. Wyatt match that surprised everyone by both its length and overall quality, some members of the WWE Universe proclaimed it the greatest match in Rumble history. That will be up for time to decide. There is stiff competition for that honor, some that has aged incredibly well. It has, no doubt, jumped right into the conversation, though. The crowd, you may recall, was so rabidly in support of the Yes! Movement that everything that happened in that match was met with thunderous ovations. The two wrestlers worked their tails off, cutting a frenetic pace that people expected of Bryan but were not yet aware of for Wyatt. It was an emotionally investing match that sucked you into its story and did not let you go until you were dejected by its conclusion. Historically, it could end up becoming quite significant, which will help the bout's standing. It was Wyatt's coming out party. We knew he could talk, but his in-ring action had been limited to throwaway matches, tag team bouts, and needlessly gimmicked environments (such as the Inferno match at Summerslam 2013). What he showed himself capable of accomplishing at the Royal Rumble was nothing short of astounding. You would have had to have seen him in a place other than the WWE main roster to know that he could do that. He was brilliant in all aspects of the game. It was like seeing Aaron Rodgers come off the bench in his first meaningful game in 2007 and play like a Pro Bowler and future MVP. Where did that come from, you might have asked. For Bryan, it was the night that his movement grew strong enough to cause WWE to scrap WrestleMania plans and put him where so many thought that he belonged: in the main-event. His loss was with met with the exact reaction you'd expect from an all-time level top babyface getting pinned. The pacing, the psychology, the execution, the spots, the selling, and the climax all came together wonderfully in a 21-minute package wrapped with an unexpected bow and a tag that read classic.
"The Doc" Chad Matthews has written wrestling columns for over a decade. A physician by trade, Matthews began writing about wrestling as a hobby, but it became a passion. After 30 years as a wrestling fan, "The Doc" gives an unmatched analytical perspective on pro wrestling in the modern era. He is a long-time columnist for Lordsofpain.net and hosts a weekly podcast on the LOP Radio Network called "The Doc Says." His first book - The WrestleMania Era: The Book of Sports Entertainment - ranks the Top 90 wrestlers from 1983 to present day, was originally published in December 2013, and is now in its third edition.
Matthews lives in North Carolina with his wife, two kids, and two dogs.
