By Ryan Frye
Professional wrestling is an industry built on creating moments. But a moment would be nothing but a distant memory without a camera to capture the energy, emotion and electricity of that moment forever. Perhaps that's why they've always claimed that a picture is worth a thousand words. And that very notion is the reason for the existence of this series: Picture Perfect.
Professional wrestling is an industry built on creating moments. But a moment would be nothing but a distant memory without a camera to capture the energy, emotion and electricity of that moment forever. Perhaps that's why they've always claimed that a picture is worth a thousand words. And that very notion is the reason for the existence of this series: Picture Perfect.
SETTING THE SCENE
The 2014 Royal Rumble ending was very much deja vu from the previous year. The winner, supposedly a protagonist, awkwardly pointed to the WrestleMania sign in the rafters as jeers cascade down towards them.
In 2013, Batista was the victim. The crowd wanted their handpicked hero Daniel Bryan to win the match and go onto main event WrestleMania, but, when it became clear that Bryan wasn't even in the match, the crowd picked a new favorite: Roman Reigns. Reigns would be the last man eliminated in the match and would watch as the disastrous aftermath unfolded.
Fast forward a year and Reigns was the man that found himself in the eye of a Philadelphia storm. Even his cousin The Rock couldn't save him from getting booed out of the building. And the catalyst for all this was again the fans' love of Daniel Bryan who, this time, was unceremoniously dumped from the match early on.
In 2013, the WWE's response was to turn Batista heel and eventually give in and give Daniel Bryan his WrestleMania moment. But in 2014, the WWE was hellbent to make Roman Reigns the new face of their company with the keyword being face.
The 2014 Royal Rumble ending was very much deja vu from the previous year. The winner, supposedly a protagonist, awkwardly pointed to the WrestleMania sign in the rafters as jeers cascade down towards them.
In 2013, Batista was the victim. The crowd wanted their handpicked hero Daniel Bryan to win the match and go onto main event WrestleMania, but, when it became clear that Bryan wasn't even in the match, the crowd picked a new favorite: Roman Reigns. Reigns would be the last man eliminated in the match and would watch as the disastrous aftermath unfolded.
Fast forward a year and Reigns was the man that found himself in the eye of a Philadelphia storm. Even his cousin The Rock couldn't save him from getting booed out of the building. And the catalyst for all this was again the fans' love of Daniel Bryan who, this time, was unceremoniously dumped from the match early on.
In 2013, the WWE's response was to turn Batista heel and eventually give in and give Daniel Bryan his WrestleMania moment. But in 2014, the WWE was hellbent to make Roman Reigns the new face of their company with the keyword being face.
Many fans had suggested that it was simply too soon to go all in with the former enforcer of The Shield, but the WWE seemed to think otherwise... Or did they?
Daniel Bryan would goad Roman Reigns into putting his number one contendership at WrestleMania on the line, but The Authority first made Bryan defeat Seth Rollins for right for it to compete against him which he would successfully do.
Had the WWE seen the error of their ways? Were they going to pull back on the seemingly full speed ahead push of Roman Reigns on the Road to WrestleMania 31? Or was one going to conquer all and face Brock Lesnar for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at the Showcase of Immortals?
PAINTING THE PICTURE
Both Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns had legitimate claims to the number one contendership. Officially, that status belonged to Reigns for winning the Royal Rumble. However, Bryan never lost the WWE World Heavyweight Championship to begin with.
Unfortunately, only one man would leave the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee with their ticket punched to go one-on-one with the Beast Incarnate.
Daniel Bryan would goad Roman Reigns into putting his number one contendership at WrestleMania on the line, but The Authority first made Bryan defeat Seth Rollins for right for it to compete against him which he would successfully do.
Had the WWE seen the error of their ways? Were they going to pull back on the seemingly full speed ahead push of Roman Reigns on the Road to WrestleMania 31? Or was one going to conquer all and face Brock Lesnar for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at the Showcase of Immortals?
PAINTING THE PICTURE
Both Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns had legitimate claims to the number one contendership. Officially, that status belonged to Reigns for winning the Royal Rumble. However, Bryan never lost the WWE World Heavyweight Championship to begin with.
Unfortunately, only one man would leave the FedEx Forum in Memphis, Tennessee with their ticket punched to go one-on-one with the Beast Incarnate.
The bell sounded, and the two combatants sized each other up before locking up. The stronger Reigns unsurprisingly got the upper hand, but the veteran Bryan leaned on the ropes to force a break.
In the ensuing minutes, we witnessed quite the feeling out process.
Bryan possessed the speed and experience advantage while Reigns had the power advantage. This would play itself out early on as Bryan would try to frustrate Reigns, but, just as he got him in a compromising position, Reigns powered out. Bryan was trying to get the larger man off his feet to cut off his power supply, but Reigns' raw strength was too much for Bryan to counter.
Reigns took control by manhandling Bryan, tossing him into the corner, laying in a stiff right jab to the jaw and with stomps, but Bryan would reverse a whip with a backflip off the turnbuckle. From there, Bryan tried to quicken the pace but ate a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker instead.
Bryan looked for reprieve, creating distance by backing up to the ropes, but Reigns sent him up and over with a clothesline.
No rest for the weary, as Reigns followed Bryan to the floor. He'd drive him kidney-first into the barricade then the ring apron before slamming him back to the barricade.
Reigns tossed Bryan back inside the ring but would pay for his slow entrance through the ropes as Bryan downed him with a kick to the hamstring. He'd kick it again and again before applying a submission that Roman would break free of with vicious forearms to the face.
In the ensuing minutes, we witnessed quite the feeling out process.
Bryan possessed the speed and experience advantage while Reigns had the power advantage. This would play itself out early on as Bryan would try to frustrate Reigns, but, just as he got him in a compromising position, Reigns powered out. Bryan was trying to get the larger man off his feet to cut off his power supply, but Reigns' raw strength was too much for Bryan to counter.
Reigns took control by manhandling Bryan, tossing him into the corner, laying in a stiff right jab to the jaw and with stomps, but Bryan would reverse a whip with a backflip off the turnbuckle. From there, Bryan tried to quicken the pace but ate a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker instead.
Bryan looked for reprieve, creating distance by backing up to the ropes, but Reigns sent him up and over with a clothesline.
No rest for the weary, as Reigns followed Bryan to the floor. He'd drive him kidney-first into the barricade then the ring apron before slamming him back to the barricade.
Reigns tossed Bryan back inside the ring but would pay for his slow entrance through the ropes as Bryan downed him with a kick to the hamstring. He'd kick it again and again before applying a submission that Roman would break free of with vicious forearms to the face.
Reigns attempted a bodyslam next, but Bryan weaseled out and hit an uppercut followed by a kick to the back of Roman's knees. Bryan sent Roman for the ride, but Roman reversed only for Bryan to deny a backbody drop. Bryan failed with a sunset flip instead eating a hangman off the top rope into a Samoan Drop.
Reigns hit a leaping clothesline and awaited as Bryan got to his feet. A drop toe hold sent Reigns into the bottom turnbuckle face-first, and Bryan kicked the rope to startle his opponent. Bryan tried to capitalize but failed to and ate another massive clothesline from Reigns instead. The cover to follow resulted in a two count.
Reigns continued with three suplex variations. Bryan, who had a history of concussions along with neck issues, landed on the back of his head, but Reigns had no time for remorse. A WrestleMania main event was at stake. Therefore, Roman hit Bryan with his patented Drive By from the floor.
Back inside the ring, Roman was poised to hit the Superman Punch, but a roundhouse to the liver served just as effective as kryptonite. Particularly considering Reigns was just months removed from hernia surgery.
Like moments previous with Reigns, Bryan had no time for remorse, thus he hit multiple knees to Reigns' liver in the corner to immobilize him. Then came three consecutive running boots to the face of Reigns before returning to the roundhouse kicks to the liver.
These repeated liver shots had Reigns practically paralyzed in the corner, unable to defend himself. And Bryan was well aware of what was going on; he knew he was closing in on a second WrestleMania main event in as many years.
Bryan placed Reigns atop the turnbuckle, laying in a few punches before setting up a huricanrana. Reigns, however, had other plans and powerbombed Bryan off the top rope. Cover: 1, 2, kickout!
Perhaps the last gasp effort on the part of Reigns who was still in great pain, and Bryan kicked out.
A desperate Reigns leveled Bryan in the corner with repeated clotheslines before placing him on the top rope and jabbing him with a stiff right hand. He'd climb up top for a superplex, but Bryan slipped out and crotched him to open things up for a suplex from the second rope. Cover: 1, 2, no!
Bryan remained calm, knowing he still had the biggest ace up his sleeve: The Yes Lock.
Reigns hit a leaping clothesline and awaited as Bryan got to his feet. A drop toe hold sent Reigns into the bottom turnbuckle face-first, and Bryan kicked the rope to startle his opponent. Bryan tried to capitalize but failed to and ate another massive clothesline from Reigns instead. The cover to follow resulted in a two count.
Reigns continued with three suplex variations. Bryan, who had a history of concussions along with neck issues, landed on the back of his head, but Reigns had no time for remorse. A WrestleMania main event was at stake. Therefore, Roman hit Bryan with his patented Drive By from the floor.
Back inside the ring, Roman was poised to hit the Superman Punch, but a roundhouse to the liver served just as effective as kryptonite. Particularly considering Reigns was just months removed from hernia surgery.
Like moments previous with Reigns, Bryan had no time for remorse, thus he hit multiple knees to Reigns' liver in the corner to immobilize him. Then came three consecutive running boots to the face of Reigns before returning to the roundhouse kicks to the liver.
These repeated liver shots had Reigns practically paralyzed in the corner, unable to defend himself. And Bryan was well aware of what was going on; he knew he was closing in on a second WrestleMania main event in as many years.
Bryan placed Reigns atop the turnbuckle, laying in a few punches before setting up a huricanrana. Reigns, however, had other plans and powerbombed Bryan off the top rope. Cover: 1, 2, kickout!
Perhaps the last gasp effort on the part of Reigns who was still in great pain, and Bryan kicked out.
A desperate Reigns leveled Bryan in the corner with repeated clotheslines before placing him on the top rope and jabbing him with a stiff right hand. He'd climb up top for a superplex, but Bryan slipped out and crotched him to open things up for a suplex from the second rope. Cover: 1, 2, no!
Bryan remained calm, knowing he still had the biggest ace up his sleeve: The Yes Lock.
Bryan locked it in in the center of the ring, but Reigns quickly started clawing across the ring to the ropes. He'd make it there, and Bryan relinquished his hold at three. But how much damage had been done to Reigns?
The answer was quite a bit, evidently.
Reigns scurried to the outside to lick his wounds, but, even there, he wasn't safe from Daniel Bryan. Bryan would nail a pair of suicide dives, but, when he got greedy with a third, Reigns caught him and hit a belly-to-belly suplex. Reigns would get greedy as well, going for a spear that Bryan avoided, causing the Royal Rumble winner to crash into the steel steps.
Both men would beat the referee's ten count to continue the match: Bryan at eight, Roman narrowly at nine.
Bryan went up top and dove straight into a Superman Punch. Cover: 1, 2, Bryan kicked out!
Roman backed up into the corner and unleashed a roar before attempting another spear that was again avoided with a small package: 1, 2, no!
Reigns would reach his feet, only to be knocked back down with a roundhouse to the back of his head. This would set Bryan up for his flying knee—the knee that had won him the WWE Championship once before. Could it secure him the opportunity at that same title this time around?
Bryan hit the flying knee, into a cover: 1, 2, no!
No one had ever kicked out of the flying knee, and, as it turns out, nobody ever would again. But on this night, Roman Reigns did, and Daniel Bryan couldn't believe it.
Bryan looked at the WrestleMania sign in the distance and appeared to be on the verge of tears. He had the greatest moment of his career at WrestleMania, but, like a drug, he wanted more. He craved more of that moment when he chanted YES! in unison with tens of thousands of people. But with every kickout, with every failed cover, that dream was fading.
Bryan channeled his frustration that was boiling up to the surface with roundhouse kicks to a kneeling Reigns. Some to the back, some to the chest. But the final one to the head was caught. Reigns powered through numerous slaps, but Bryan reversed. Initially into an arm bar then into the Yes Lock.
Reigns, though, again powered through. Not just with physical strength but with will power. And afterwards, he'd pound Bryan in the face with a series of nasty forearms.
Bryan would then lock an unsuspecting Reigns in a triangle choke, but Reigns lifted him up and slammed him back down to break free.
Both men were down but, at the count of eight, began exchanging blows from the canvas. Bryan with kicks, Reigns with forearms. It was an exchange that Bryan ultimately won, and followed up with hitting that final roundhouse to the head that he'd failed to hit moments earlier.
Now, he reached back in the well. He went for a second flying knee because, if it didn't work the first time, it'd surely work a second time. Right? Wrong.
Reigns reversed into a spear! Cover: 1, 2, 3!
Roman Reigns was headed to WrestleMania! Could he slay the beast, or would the beast slay his dreams instead?
SPINNING IT FORWARD
Roman Reigns wouldn't hoist gold at WrestleMania. Neither would his opponent, Brock Lesnar, for that matter. Instead, Mr. Money In the Bank Seth Rollins cashed in during the match to become the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
Over the course of the next year, Roman Reigns climbed back up the mountain. He'd reach the pinnacle twice but be knocked right back off both times by Sheamus and Triple H respectively. It was a fight that Daniel Bryan knew all too well. But during this past year, Bryan had a new fight.
Bryan would hoist gold at WrestleMania—the Intercontinental Championship—but he would defend his title just once and be sidelined with a concussion soon thereafter. Months went by, rumors swirled, his future was left swaying in the wind up until weeks ago.
In his hometown of Seattle, Washington, he announced his retirement. After a storybook sixteen year career, his dream had ended.
Roman Reigns, however, continues chasing his dream.
Much like last year, Roman Reigns fights for the right to main event WrestleMania at this year's Fast Lane. This time, against his former Shield brethren Dean Ambrose and the all too familiar face of Brock Lesnar. And it will unfold, this Sunday, live on the WWE Network.
The answer was quite a bit, evidently.
Reigns scurried to the outside to lick his wounds, but, even there, he wasn't safe from Daniel Bryan. Bryan would nail a pair of suicide dives, but, when he got greedy with a third, Reigns caught him and hit a belly-to-belly suplex. Reigns would get greedy as well, going for a spear that Bryan avoided, causing the Royal Rumble winner to crash into the steel steps.
Both men would beat the referee's ten count to continue the match: Bryan at eight, Roman narrowly at nine.
Bryan went up top and dove straight into a Superman Punch. Cover: 1, 2, Bryan kicked out!
Roman backed up into the corner and unleashed a roar before attempting another spear that was again avoided with a small package: 1, 2, no!
Reigns would reach his feet, only to be knocked back down with a roundhouse to the back of his head. This would set Bryan up for his flying knee—the knee that had won him the WWE Championship once before. Could it secure him the opportunity at that same title this time around?
Bryan hit the flying knee, into a cover: 1, 2, no!
No one had ever kicked out of the flying knee, and, as it turns out, nobody ever would again. But on this night, Roman Reigns did, and Daniel Bryan couldn't believe it.
Bryan looked at the WrestleMania sign in the distance and appeared to be on the verge of tears. He had the greatest moment of his career at WrestleMania, but, like a drug, he wanted more. He craved more of that moment when he chanted YES! in unison with tens of thousands of people. But with every kickout, with every failed cover, that dream was fading.
Bryan channeled his frustration that was boiling up to the surface with roundhouse kicks to a kneeling Reigns. Some to the back, some to the chest. But the final one to the head was caught. Reigns powered through numerous slaps, but Bryan reversed. Initially into an arm bar then into the Yes Lock.
Reigns, though, again powered through. Not just with physical strength but with will power. And afterwards, he'd pound Bryan in the face with a series of nasty forearms.
Bryan would then lock an unsuspecting Reigns in a triangle choke, but Reigns lifted him up and slammed him back down to break free.
Both men were down but, at the count of eight, began exchanging blows from the canvas. Bryan with kicks, Reigns with forearms. It was an exchange that Bryan ultimately won, and followed up with hitting that final roundhouse to the head that he'd failed to hit moments earlier.
Now, he reached back in the well. He went for a second flying knee because, if it didn't work the first time, it'd surely work a second time. Right? Wrong.
Reigns reversed into a spear! Cover: 1, 2, 3!
Roman Reigns was headed to WrestleMania! Could he slay the beast, or would the beast slay his dreams instead?
SPINNING IT FORWARD
Roman Reigns wouldn't hoist gold at WrestleMania. Neither would his opponent, Brock Lesnar, for that matter. Instead, Mr. Money In the Bank Seth Rollins cashed in during the match to become the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion.
Over the course of the next year, Roman Reigns climbed back up the mountain. He'd reach the pinnacle twice but be knocked right back off both times by Sheamus and Triple H respectively. It was a fight that Daniel Bryan knew all too well. But during this past year, Bryan had a new fight.
Bryan would hoist gold at WrestleMania—the Intercontinental Championship—but he would defend his title just once and be sidelined with a concussion soon thereafter. Months went by, rumors swirled, his future was left swaying in the wind up until weeks ago.
In his hometown of Seattle, Washington, he announced his retirement. After a storybook sixteen year career, his dream had ended.
Roman Reigns, however, continues chasing his dream.
Much like last year, Roman Reigns fights for the right to main event WrestleMania at this year's Fast Lane. This time, against his former Shield brethren Dean Ambrose and the all too familiar face of Brock Lesnar. And it will unfold, this Sunday, live on the WWE Network.