United States Champion The Miz vs. Daniel Bryan

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United States Champion The Miz vs. Daniel Bryan

WWE Superstar The Miz has always been vocal about his self-proclaimed “awesomeness,” particularly during his reign as United States Champion. However, Mr. Money in the Bank’s former NXT Rookie Daniel Bryan hopes to silence his one-time mentor at Night of Champions, when he challenges The “Awesome One” for the U.S. Title.

Even while paired together as Rookie and Pro on the inaugural season of WWE NXT, Daniel Bryan and The Miz didn’t exactly see eye to eye, with Daniel Bryan preferring to let his in-ring actions – not his words – do the talking as he vied to become WWE’s next breakout star. Week after week, The Miz voiced his dissatisfaction with his Rookie, sentiments echoed by WWE NXT and Raw announcer Michael Cole. It was perhaps that constant, unwarranted criticism that convinced Daniel Bryan to align himself with his fellow Rookies in The Nexus, taking part in the nefarious group’s initial Raw invasion on Viewer’s Choice Night. However, Daniel Bryan was soon ousted from The Nexus due to clashing ideals, leaving WWE in the process. The Miz couldn’t have been happier.

 

The WWE Universe likely thought they’d seen the last of Daniel Bryan, making his return at SummerSlam as a key member of Team WWE all the more surprising. Daniel Bryan helped Team WWE defeat his former Nexus allies, much to the chagrin of would-be Team WWE member The Miz, whose ego had only grown during Daniel Bryan’s absence. To The Miz, Daniel Bryan had stolen his rightful spot on Team WWE, along with its accompanying accolades.

With his new, like-minded NXT Rookie Alex Riley by his side, The “Awesome One” has tormented his season one Rookie at every turn. However, he’s also more than once found himself on the receiving end of Daniel Bryan’s excruciating submission maneuver, the LeBell Lock.