By the end of the Summer in 2013, Daniel Bryan's popularity in the WWE had already reached a fever pitch. He was clearly one of the most populars superstar in the company, and going into the big SummerSlam match for the WWE title with John Cena, both he and Cena had been receiving all kinds of publicity due to both of their girlfriends starring on the new, surprise hit television show Total Divas. The real life relationship that viewers had seen blossom between Bryan and Cena would come full circle when the two faced off for the WWE's most important title at the second biggest WWE event of the year. Triple H was made special referee of the match-up, starting off a feud between he and Bryan that would not climax until WrestleMania XXX over seven months later. Cena and Bryan went out and had an all time classic, one of the best matches of Cena's career in fact. The match ended with Cena laying down clean for the rising young star by way of the running single leg high knee. Bryan was overcome with joy, holding up the WWE title to the fan's delight for the very first time. Then, out of nowhere, Randy Orton's theme music blasted throughout the arena as Orton walked to the ring with his Money In The Bank contract in hand. As a distracted Bryan waited for Orton to enter the ring, Triple H turned him around and gave him the Pedigree. When Orton entered the ring, he made the easy pinfall on the short lived champion and earned the WWE title in the process. The stage was set for a feud between Orton, Helmsley, and Bryan that would last for several months, right up until WrestleMania XXX.
