6 Most controversial moments in SummerSlam history

#2. Daniel Bryan's SummerSlam moment gets stripped away in 2013

It's ALWAYS a perfect time to run back this #SummerSlam classic between @WWEDanielBryan and @JohnCena . ⬇️⬇️⬇️https://t.co/C2KeJfmv43 pic.twitter.com/MfoRWZPGIl

— WWE (@WWE) July 26, 2020

Daniel Bryan was the hottest he had ever been heading into SummerSlam 2013. There had been no denying who the superstar of the year was up to that point and even WWE Champion John Cena couldn't deny it.

Cena personally chose Bryan as his SummerSlam 2013 opponent, much to the approval of the fans. The stage was set and the clash between two of the company's top stars took place in the main event of The Biggest Party of the Summer - with the industry's biggest prize on the line.

In an underrated SummerSlam classic, John Cena and Daniel Bryan had a great match, with the latter winning the WWE Championship clean. Cena acknowledged him, with his four-month WWE title reign coming to an end.

Just rewatched Daniel Bryan V John Cena SS 13' . INSTANT Classic. #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/Kt5T4DzJd5

— TWC - #BigDaddyCiampa (@TheWrestlingCov) July 28, 2017

This was Bryan's first WWE Championship reign but his second World title overall in the promotion. This victory, however, felt sweeter as it came from him being a babyface who beat the face of WWE clean.

That moment was controversially stripped away from him when special guest referee Triple H turned on him and hit him with a pedigree. This led to the set-up where Randy Orton cashed in the Money in the Bank briefcase, deflating the WWE Universe in attendance.

The decision to have Randy Orton cash in at the pay-per-view was controversial, but it resulted in the long-tem storyline that culminated with Daniel Bryan's win in the main event of WrestleMania 30.