Ranking Daniel Bryan's Top 5 Best WWE Matches

By Thomas Brunt

It is the end of a chapter, a career, a special one. Former WWE World Heavyweight champion and WrestleMania main eventer, Daniel Bryan announced his retirement in front of his hometown in Seattle, on Monday Night's RAW. Bryan may not have been the prototype big and buff wrestler like a Brock Lesnar, but what he lacked in size he more than made up for in ring, as he proved this many times.

​Without further ado, here is my list of the best of the best  Daniel Bryan matches from his WWE career. ​

---

​5. Daniel Bryan vs, CM Punk (Money in the Bank 2012)

This one had all the elements of a classic wrestling match, and it delivered. Not only were the two arguably the best mat wrestlers as they had already proven before that year, but throw in the addition of a no disqualifications stipulation and a hint of unpredictability with AJ Lee as the special referee.   


4. Daniel Bryan vs. Randy Orton and Batista (WrestleMania 30)

Probably one of the most memorable main events to take place at WrestleMania, and what a WrestleMania it was, too. The build up now, reminds me of the weak link storyline in that Bryan was proving himself here once again, only at the grandest stage. The match ended with Bryan making Batista tap out. This match was not perfect, but like I said a quite memorable one.   


3. Daniel Bryan vs. Sheamus (Extreme Rules 2013) 

After losing his (then) World Heavy Weight Championship to Sheamus on the grandest stage of them all, many were hoping to get a classic out of these two at some point. Despite not being at WrestleMania, the Celtic Warrior and Bryan did just that at the following PPV in an instant 2/3 falls classic.  


2. Daniel Bryan vs. CM Punk (Over The Limit 2012)

I first started watching WWE in 2012, and immediately gravitated towards these two guys because,  they were pure wrestlers as far as an in ring standard goes.  Anyway, enough about me.  Pro Wresting fans were dying to see a feud between CM Punk and Daniel Bryan in WWE, and thankfully got one.  Maybe the feud itself left some to be desired, but there is not any question this match fixed that. 


1. Daniel Bryan vs. John Cena (SummerSlam 2013)
 
John Cena, once again proved that he capable of wrestling an awesome match, and you have to give just as much credit to his opponent, Daniel Bryan. Really, my only gripe about this match is that it was a predictable one, as we expected Cena was temporarily leaving for triceps surgery, and I do not think Randy Orton cashing in was a stunner to fans, either. If you have not seen this match, you definitely should.


Thanks for reading, and thank you Daniel Bryan for sacrificing so much. We love you (as wrestling fans) and wish only the best in whatever you do next!

---