WWE: 10 Best Opening PPV Matches Ever

2. Daniel Bryan Vs. Triple H @ WrestleMania 30

It's one of those matches that was tremendous when I was there in person to see it, then it looked even better a few days later watching it on WWE Network and it's even better now. Maybe that's because Daniel Bryan's been out of action so long that he is missed so much. I'm not sure the reason, but if you watch the match again you should be able to appreciate how awesome it was. The PPV portion of the WrestleMania 30 broadcast actually started with Hulk Hogan doing a promo along with Steve Austin and The Rock. They were out there for about 20 minutes before the first match actually started, but since this was the first match on the PPV it counts as the opener. Normally a match like this wouldn't be an opener because of the names involved. However, they had to do it that way since Bryan was wrestling in the main event as well. They had the longest match of the night with Triple H working a slow, methodical pace, which was smart to do it that way because whenever Bryan came firing back the people went crazy for it. There was nothing Bryan could do wrong. Additionally, there was so much drama in this match: Hunter's offense was perfect, Bryan was tremendous at selling, and that is precisely why there was chemistry between them even though they hadn't wrestled before. They know what they're doing out there. When Bryan hit that running knee a lot of us didn't think it was over, but Hunter stayed down and that was the finish. What a reaction for it too. Wow. Gives me chills just remembering how loud we were in the Superdome. This was a match that could have headlined a WrestleMania yet here it was in the opening match. Stephanie McMahon also deserves praise because she was incredible outside the ring. Post match it didn't stop with Hunter attacking Bryan to weaken him before the match. Fundamentally it boiled down to a great story mixed in with a tremendous matchup.