Wrestlemania XXX - Part 1
|
The set of Wrestlemania XXX |
April 6th, 2014 will be a day that we will look back on for 5,10,30 years from now. This is the event we will tell our children and our children's children. The day that the Swiss Superman lifted a giant off of his feet and over the top rope. The day that Daniel Bryan overcame all odds and won two matches in the same night to be WWE World Heavyweight Champion. The day that the streak died. When the Reality era ends and a new era begins; Wrestlemania 30 will be the event that defines what the Reality era was.
10 years ago I witnessed my very first Pay-Per-View, Wrestlemania XX. Now I witnessed my first WWE Network live event, Wrestlemania XXX. It's almost unbelievable that for the past decade I have been watching the same show week in and week out and not getting bored of it. There is always something new that I didn't see before. Wrestlemania 30 may be one of the best Wrestlemanias of all time. Usually every WWE PPV there is a match that I didn't care for and had no interest in watching it. Not this one; every match I was invested in. Every match told a deeper story not only in promos but in the ring wrestling. This will be a multiple part series where I go through each hour of Wrestlemania XXX and talk about the matches in those hours. The first hour consisted of only one match so here it is.
Daniel Bryan vs. Triple H
Winner goes into the triple threat match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
|
The King of Kings - Wrestlemania XXX |
How do you dethrone a king? A king that has a long list of accomplishments. 13 time World champion, 2 time European champion, 5 time Intercontinental champion, 3 time Tag Team champion, the 1997 King of the Ring, 2002 Royal Rumble winner, won 3 Slammy Awards, is the seventh triple crown champion, and the second grand slam champion. He is also current COO of the WWE. He is the cerebral assassin, he is the king of kings, he is the game, he is Triple H. Hunter Hearst Helmsley achieved all of that in a 19 year career in the WWE. How do you combat that? Simple, the people.
|
Occupy RAW - WWE RAW 3/10/2014 |
This has been the narrative that started 2 years ago. Depending on how you are, even longer than that. Daniel Bryan joined the WWE in 2010 by being on the first season of WWE's new wrestling reality show NXT. Known in the indies as "Bryan Danielson", had 10 years of experience under his belt before WWE. So any fans he had were appalled at the idea that he had to be on a show about rookies competing for a WWE contract and a title match. Contestants received help from a "WWE Pro". To add more insult is that Daniel Bryan's pro was The Miz. A man who started his career as the host of Friday Night Smackdown!. Bryan was eventually eliminated with Wade Barrett winning season 1 of NXT.
On June 7th, 2010 during a main event on RAW between John Cena and viewer picked CM Punk, All 8 contestants of NXT season 1 surrounded the ring and attacked Cena, Punk, and everyone else around ring side. Brian went so far as choke ring announcer Justin Roberts with his own tie and spit in Cena's face before kicking him in the head. During this time WWE's owner Vince McMahon's wife, Linda McMahon was running for Connecticut Senator and WWE was a very PG program. The WWE deemed choking as too violent and could hurt Linda's race so they fired Brian. Luckily Daniel was rehired and made his return at Summerslam 2010.
2 years later Daniel Bryan was World Heavyweight champion and in the main event of Wrestlemania 28 against Sheamus. This was his first Wrestlemania actually shown on PPV so everyone was excited, especially me. The World Heavyweight championship at that time always the B level championship. Now as good as the WWE Championship but better than the Intercontinental championship. So WWE often opened Pay-Per-Views with the World Heavyweight championship match. This was the case with Wrestlemania 28.
|
Fans supporting Daniel Bryan - Wrestlemania XXVIII |
Many fans were showing their support for Bryan that night, many bringing signs with his catchphrase "YES!". I was watching Wrestlemania 28 with a friend of mine and his dad and was excited to have them witness Daniel Bryan, the wrestler. The match started off with Bryan's then storyline girlfriend AJ Lee giving him a good luck kiss. Sheamus hits a brogue kick, 1,2,3. Daniel Bryan lost the World Heavyweight championship in 18 seconds. I wasn't upset with him losing, just the way he lost. Both the fans and him were cheated out of a quality wrestling match. Ever since that match, more and more fans were beginning to chant "YES! YES! YES!" for Daniel Bryan.
|
John Cena selects Daniel Bryan as his Summerslam opponent
- WWE RAW 7/15/2013 |
On July 15th, 2013 RAW GM Brad Maddox announced for later that night John Cena can choose whoever he wants as his opponent for the WWE Championship match at Summerslam. John Cena chose Daniel Bryan. This cause Mr.McMahon to come back to TV and criticize Bryan for not having the "look" to be a WWE Superstar. Triple H, the COO, was in support of Bryan, going so far as call him the future of the company. Vince McMahon wanted RAW GM Brad Maddox as the special guest referee for this match. Maddox previously refereed the CM Punk/Ryback Hell in a Cell match at Hell in a Cell 2012 which he was the crooked referee. Triple H wanted a clean match right down the middle so he pedigreed Maddox and placed himself as the special guest referee. The stage was set for Daniel Bryan, the Professional Wrestler versus John Cena, the Sports Entertainer for the richest prize in the whole company, the WWE Championship.
This match was fantastic! If you have the money go and buy the DVD/Blu-ray for Summerslam 2013 as this match is really good. It also helps the whole Pay-Per-View was good as well. Now I'm not going to go into a beat for beat breakdown of the match but one key moment during the match was when Bryan and Cena went into a slap fest in the ring. Prior to this match, Daniel said in a promo on RAW that slapping someone in the ring is a way to fire someone up to give their best performance. It's a show of respect instead of the common show of disrespect as someone would think. The match ended with Bryan hitting a running knee, which became his new finisher after this match. With the swift count of 1,2,3, Daniel Bryan became WWE Champion. As he celebrated, Randy Orton came out looking to cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase. However Bryan looked ready for Orton's cash in so Randy started to walk back up the ramp and deciding to cash in at a better time. Triple H, who has been a fan favorite since 2006 spun Bryan around and hit a pedigree on him. Orton then cashed in the briefcase with Triple H counting the pinfall on an unconscious Daniel Bryan. Vince, Randy Orton, and Triple H were all working together.
|
The Authority standing tall over Daniel Bryan
- WWE RAW 8/19/2013 |
The next night on RAW it was relieved that Vince McMahon, Stephanie McMahon, Triple H, Randy Orton, and The Shield (Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, and Dean Ambrose) all formed a new alliance called The Authority. The McMahons and Triple H as the bosses of the WWE, The Shield as the bodyguards of the Authority, and Randy Orton as the ideal WWE Superstar and champion. Randy was a A+ player while Daniel is a B+ wrestler. This is where the buildup for their match all began.
Daniel's quest for the world title has been ongoing for 8 months. Be it a fast count from a crooked ref, or Shawn Michaels super kicking him, or the Wyatt family targeting him, he never quit. The people never lost faith in him. At Royal Rumble 2014 Daniel lost to Bray Wyatt, which I was upset about. But I was content with it because I assumed Brian was going to win the Royal Rumble match and headline Wrestlemania! As each entrant comes out, the more worried I was. The fans want to see Brian finally get one last proper shot at the title, fair and square. #30 was going to come out, many knowing it would be Brian in their hearts. "4! 3! 2! 1! *BEEP* Booyaka! Booyaka! 619!" Now Rey Mysterio is a good guy but the crowd was booing like if Rey Rey was a bad guy. Not because they hate Mysterio, but the crowd wanted Daniel Bryan as #30. This is why Batista was booed even though this was his return match as a good guy. People didn't want Batista as champion, they wanted Bryan to be the champion. This is not what the WWE was planning.
Just imagine if the people didn't cheer for Bryan, just imagine it. Wrestlemania XXX would not be the same, guarantee it. The main event would be Randy Orton vs. Batista. Triple H would have wrestled CM Punk, granted if Punk didn't take his ball and go home. That would leave little Daniel both out of a match with the man who constantly screwed him over AND would not have been wrestling for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. He maybe would have wrestled Sheamus or someone in a non-title, non-revenge-giving match. However the people booed good guy Batista. They would constantly chant for Bryan. This is what the WWE named the Yes Movement. The Yes Movement held up RAW by filling the ring in an amazing sight akin to Stone Cold Steve Austin driving a zamboni to the ring. The Authority had no choice but give Daniel and the people what they wanted. Daniel Bryan versus Triple H, winner goes against Randy Orton and Batista in a Triple Threat match for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
|
Daniel Bryan makes his entrance with 75,000 members
of the Yes Movement - Wrestlemania XXX |
|
Triple H working the shoulder of Daniel Bryan
- Wrestlemania XXX |
This match was very old school in it's structure. Prior to the match, Bryan had an injured shoulder. He suffered this when Triple H had fake cops fake arrest Bryan so he can easily attack and hurt him. This was a weak spot for Daniel and Triple H worked it all match. Stephanie was there at ringside but didn't interfere at all. She was just there to give moral support for Hunter and berate Daniel. There was a few times Bryan looked like he landed on and snapped his neck. That's what art Pro Wrestling is all about. Making things look like they hurt WAY more than they actually do. I'm not saying the moves don't hurt, a basic suplex doesn't look that fun landing on your back, but hitting someone with a clothes-line and it looking like their head was going to fall off and bounce into the crowd, who would then start playing volleyball with it, is something special.
|
Triple H locking in a crossface similar
to Chris Benoit - Wrestlemania XXX |
Triple H was ruthless in this match, rightfully so for a 13 time world champion. Taking someone from a standing position and slamming their arm onto a commentators table making them fall on top of the table is not from someone who cares and has good sportsmanship for their opponent. What I liked that Triple H did is that he paid tribute to the wrestler of Chris Benoit. Yes, I know what Chris did was horrible but he was a damn fine wrestler in his time. Triple H locked Daniel Bryan into a crossface in the middle of the ring. As Bryan tried to get to the ropes, he rolled through trying to pin Triple H so he can break the hold. Unfortunately for Daniel, he still had the crossface locked in. This is exactly how Chris Benoit made Triple H submit at Wrestlemania XX to a T. I'm glad while Benoit the person doesn't exist anymore to WWE, Benoit the wrestler still exists vicariously through Daniel Bryan. I mean they both do/did a flying headbutt and a crossface as a finishing move. Daniel Bryan performed all of his move effectively and efficiently. What was a highlight in the match for me that Bryan did was counter of the pedigree into a pin, but Triple H still had his arms hooked. So instead of getting into a pedigree position again he refused to get up. I'd never thought of countering that move that way. It makes sense, why would you get up if you know you're getting pedigreed. The ending of the match was great with Bryan countering a back suplex by landing on his feet, and landing that running knee on The Game for a 1, 2, and 3! The same move that defeated the great 14 time World champion, John Cena, also defeated the COO of the company, Triple H. Brian did it, he's going into the main event for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. 8 months ago Triple H screwed the leader of the Yes Movement and vowed to destroy it at Wrestlemania. Now he has to taste defeat.
|
Daniel Bryan getting his hand raised by the ref
after defeating WWE COO Triple H - Wrestlemania XXX |
Winner: Daniel Bryan
After the match an enraged Stephanie McMahon went into the ring and slapped Daniel Bryan across the face multiple times. Angry that the solid B+ player beat the all mighty and powerful "King of Kings" on the grandest stage of em' all. Even though a slap does hurt, she just couldn't get rid of the smile Daniel had on his face. This was just a distraction though. Keeping with the old school feel, Triple H attacked Bryan from behind and slammed his arm into the ring post. To top it all off, the cerebral assassin grabbed a steel chair and hit Bryan's shoulder between in and the solid steel ring post. Daniel Bryan already was not 100% going into Wrestlemania XXX. Now after a 20+ minute match and a cheap attack, he is DEFINITELY not 100%. This diminishes his chances of beating two men who between them have 18 world championship reigns. Will Daniel Bryan fall or will he overcome all odds and end Wrestlemania as champion? This is the story going into the main event for Wrestlemania XXX!
|
Triple H sneak attacking Daniel Bryan
after their match - Wrestlemania XXX |
|
Triple H celebrating the beatdown of
Daniel Bryan - Wrestlemania XXX |
If you enjoyed reading this, make sure to...
Follow me on Twitter to keep up to date on my latest posts and videos: @Steven_Yes_Duda
Or watch me on Youtube to support me and entertain yourself: Youtube Channel