8. Vs. Daniel Bryan - SummerSlam 2013
A top contender for Match of the Year 2013, this clash arrived with heavy anticipation. The incredibly popular Daniel Bryan was finally getting a main event opportunity after months of unrelenting support from fans - in the main event of the 26th annual SummerSlam no less, against the companys top star for the WWE Championship. For Bryan to even be placed in this position was thrilling for the fans, but the idea of him actually defeating Cena was still a long way off, even with reports circulating of Cena possibly needing time off for an elbow injury. The ensuing match was a spectacular fight, including a slap battle taken straight from the books of traditional Japanese contests and heart-stopping near-falls. The idea of Daniel Bryan actually pulling off the victory was becoming real. Perhaps he would score a lucky roll-up or reverse the STF, trapping Cena in a pin? In the end, Daniel Bryan flattened Cena with a running knee, a finisher he hadnt used until then, and pinned him in the middle of the ring. The fact that not only did Daniel Bryan do the unthinkable by defeating John Cena, but to do it in such decisive fashion was flabbergasting. The crowd reflected this with their stunned silence, before jubilance took over. Although what happened next often eclipses this match, Bryans victory here remains a rare clean loss for Cena.