The announcers might have sold it like an upset–or even a “miracle”–but anyone who followed the Road to WrestleMania knew it was coming.
When the 30th WrestleMania exited the airwaves, Daniel Bryan was the proud holder of the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
After defeating Triple H in the show’s opening match, Bryan successfully defeated Randy Orton and Batista to become the company’s champion. The moment, which ignited immense support from the “Yes Movement” in attendance, ended the show on its expected happy note.
That happy note was particularly needed this year; earlier in the night, WWE fans were gutted when Brock Lesnar defeated The Undertaker to end the seemingly unbreakable streak.
The moment, which featured tens of thousands chanting “Yes,” was exactly what WWE wanted. It was also exactly the moment about which Daniel Bryan had dreamed when he got into the business.
But while Bryan’s win made perfect sense and seemed predictable throughout the WrestleMania build, it would not have even happened had CM Punk not unexpectedly departed WWE earlier this year. Prior to Punk’s departure, the original plan was for CM Punk to wrestle Triple H at WrestleMania. Daniel Bryan was to be relegated to a mid-card match with Sheamus.