You know how the story goes. Daniel Bryan won the WWE Championship at Summerslam 2013, only for Triple H to immediately turn heel and cost him the title, beginning the Authority storyline that continues on to present day. It was an emotional roller coaster of a saga, featuring times when it seemed that the WWE would never fully get on board with Bryan as a top level, main-event player. The investment that fans made in Bryan proved to be the game-changer, as the people refused to allow their guy to be left out of the Mania main-event when it seemed that there was no more compelling a tale to tell. B+ player he could no longer be considered after rising to the occasion and proving himself in the last eight months, culminating in one magical night in April 2014. What an incredible match between Trips and Bryan to kick start Mania XXX! They delivered in spades and told a story that will be difficult to rival, historically. WrestleMania is all about such stories. Psychologically and technically, it was the best match that Mania had seen in quite a number of years. It was reminiscent of The Games bouts with Chris Benoit from a decade ago. When working against wrestlers of smaller statures, it allows Hunter to open up his playbook and do some things that most people have forgotten that hes capable of doing. The Tiger Suplex, for instance, was an awesome move to target Bryans injured shoulder, which Trips did well to attack throughout the match. The intensity of the execution was top notch and the crowd, predictably, was more invested in this bout (and the main-event later on) than any other. It was Bryans night from beginning to end and, though the finish was an incredible moment that no one who had been on this journey with him will ever forget, what will stand out most, one might suspect, about WrestleMania XXX will be its opening match. The climax was outstanding, the near falls incredibly dramatic, the intangible qualities brought to the table by Stephanie McMahon enhanced the presentation, and the pure elements were flawless. This was one of the greatest matches in Mania history. In all likelihood, time will be very kind to this match. It may very well move up the list.
"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.
