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Though largely forgotten, one must look at one of the greatest moments in WWE Smackdown over the past decade when The Shield suffered their first defeat at the hands of Kane, Randy Orton, and Daniel Bryan. The Shield, who were undefeated for many months, lost on a June 14th, 2013 episode of Smackdown after months of feuding with Team Hell No and Randy Orton. Because of this monumental moment, The Shield's first defeat in WWE was not only a crucial moment for the legendary faction but served as a catapult for the rise of Daniel Bryan.
The Shield Becomes Unstoppable
Since arriving on the scene in late 2012, The Shield's been an unstoppable force by racking up many crucial victories to build their credibility. The Shield, which consisted of Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and Dean Ambrose(Jon Moxley from AEW), was immediately pushed as top prospects after making their debut at Survivor Series 2012.
Defeating the likes of John Cena, Daniel Bryan, Randy Orton, Big Show, and even The Undertaker in six-man tag matches, The Shield would establish themselves as main-event level talents right away. It's worth noting the bouts The Shield had leading towards their eventual defeat were stellar classics. One of the reasons why The Shield was beloved by WWE fans from the start was their excitement in the ring. Their debut match at TLC 2012 against Team Hell No and Ryback, for instance, was regarded as one of the best six-man tag matches of the decade.
Because they garnered the attention of WWE fans from such an early stage in their career, any superstar that works a program with them could drastically elevate their careers in the process. That elevation was what Randy Orton and Team Hell No, specifically Daniel Bryan, received when delivering The Shield's first loss on Smackdown. One must also not forget that The Shield was one of the most protected acts during this time, which made their first defeat seem more important, as having a protected heel act in today's WWE is very rare.
RELATED: The Shield's Final 10 WWE Matches, Ranked From Worst To Best
Team Hell No and Randy Orton's Alliance Against The Shield
The Shield wasn't the only tag team that was thriving in 2013. Team Hell No, which consists of Kane and Daniel Bryan, was very popular with WWE fans. Kane and Daniel Bryan not only clicked as a comedic duo but, like The Shield, were victorious in most of their matches.
As the two were once Tag-team Championship, they carried it until dropping it at the hands of Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns at Extreme Rules 2013. It ultimately started the storyline revolving around Daniel Bryan wanting to prove he wasn't the "weak link." Team Hell No eventually allied with Randy Orton, who also had ongoing problems with The Shield, and got involved in many matches with The Shield members over the next few weeks.
RELATED: Roman Reigns & Daniel Bryan: A Great WWE Tag Team Everyone Forgets
Daniel Bryan Defeats The Shield And Rises To Stardom
On the June 14th episode of Smackdown, Team Hell No and Randy Orton finally scored a victory over The Shield in a highly-anticipated six-man tag match in the main event. Daniel Bryan came off looking strong in that match, as he utilized the "Yes Lock" finisher to submit Seth Rollins for the victory. If one were to rewatch it back, one would notice the crowd's enthusiasm throughout the match, especially towards the ending. The moment where Kane threw Seth Rollins into Randy Orton's RKO finisher had the audience come unglued, as they knew The Shield losing would become a reality.
This victory was a positive turning point for Daniel Bryan's career as WWE began to push him further as a top babyface among John Cena and CM Punk. From that point, Daniel Bryan's stock was at an all-time high as he became massively popular among the WWE audience. Even though he was already beloved by many fans, beating The Shield shows he can be taken seriously as a main-even level talent.
Less than a year after his first win over The Shield, Daniel Bryan's push led him to become a multiple-time World Champion, including a main-event win for the WWE World Heavyweight Champions at Wrestlemania 30. Daniel Bryan has established himself as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of his generation, as beating The Shield for the first time helped kickstart his legendary career.
RELATED: AEW’s Booking Of Daniel Bryan Is What WCW Should Have Done With Bret Hart
A Memorable Moment For Professional Wrestling
It's moments like this that wrestling fans mustn't forget. It shows that even some of the greatest moments in professional wrestling get unnoticed, even moments that positively impact one's career. Daniel Bryan and The Shield were involved in countless special moments throughout their respective careers, and it's even more special when their moments intertwine together. There are good and bad moments in professional wrestling, and there are good moments that remind people why they enjoy professional wrestling in the first place. The Shield's first defeat at the hands of Daniel Bryan is among those very moments.
