One MIND-BLOWING Secret From Every Year Of WWE History
13. 2012 - No, WWE Didn’t Actively Try To Bury Daniel Bryan
At WrestleMania XXVIII, Sheamus infamously squashed Daniel Bryan in just 18 seconds to capture the World Heavyweight championship.
This scanned as a burial, and in defence of the cynics, most things did in that era. Bryan had been accused of being a vegan nerd devoid of charisma throughout his first year as a main roster act, and was subsequently depicted as a blissfully unaware incel. You were meant to think it was funny when the Bella Twins fought for his affections (in the funniest possible punchline, he ended up marrying Brie in real life).
The initial WWE/Bryan relationship was inscrutable. Did they hate him or not?
They called him Daniel Bryan; by 2010 standards, a nod to his indie act was a reverent showing of respect. He also went over the Miz on pay-per-view. Still, Michael Cole seemed to hold a personal vendetta against him that went above and beyond his (dire) heel schtick.
The idea behind the ‘Mania XXVIII finish wasn’t to kill him - but the real idea was still dumb. WWE wished to replicate the success of Bruno Sammartino, who won his maiden title in under a minute.
Vince was even further behind the times than you may have realised.