5 times Daniel Bryan has been involved in a Special Guest Referee match

Speculation has been running wild recently as Smackdown General Manager, Daniel Bryan, has inserted himself in the Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens vs. Randy Orton & Shinsuke Nakamura tag-team match at this Sunday night's pay-per-view, Clash of Champions. He won't be the only one wearing the black and white stripes, however, as his fellow Special Guest Referee is his boss, the Smackdown Commissioner, Shane McMahon.

Many rumours are flying around, stipulating that Daniel Bryan could be at the heart of not only the 'Yes Movement', but also the 'Yep Movement', introduced last Tuesday night by Owens and Zayn. Could Daniel Bryan be turning on his boss by helping Owens and Zayn in this match? Anything could happen in a Special Guest Referee match.

Yes, we've seen plenty over the years, with twists and turns along the way. So has Daniel Bryan, having been involved in several Special Guest Referee matches in the past. With him putting on the customary striped shirt, let's commemorate this moment by taking a look at the top 5 times Daniel Bryan has been involved in a Special Guest Referee contest.

Shall we begin? Yes...Yes...Yes.

---

#5 Raw 23 April 2012 - Sheamus vs. Mark Henry w/Daniel Bryan as Special Guest Referee

Times before the Yes Movement and before Sheamus looked stupid

Daniel Bryan was not always one of the most popular WWE Superstars of all-time. During his first World Heavyweight Championship reign, after cashing in his Money in the Bank contract against his former buddy, Big Show, he made a transition into an arrogant heel character whilst mistreating his storyline partner, AJ Lee.

Meanwhile, Sheamus won the 2012 Royal Rumble and therefore had his sights set on Daniel Bryan and challenged him for his World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestlemania 28. After 'The Celtic Warrior' defeated Bryan within 18 seconds at 'The Show of Shows', Bryan challenged Sheamus at Extreme Rules in order to regain the Championship.

On the Monday night Raw before Extreme Rules, Sheamus would have a one-on-one singles match against Mark Henry, with the number one contender, Bryan, as the Special Guest Referee. This match concluded with Daniel Bryan screwing over Sheamus by fast-counting him and rewarding Henry with the win.

This feud culminated at Extreme Rules 2012, as Sheamus successfully defended the World Heavyweight Championship against Bryan, who then went on to feud with CM Punk.

#4 Money in the Bank 15 July 2012 - Daniel Bryan vs CM Punk w/AJ Lee as Special Guest Referee

I'll save you from that mad bearded man, AJ, now go to sleep

After failing miserably at Wrestlemania 28 against 'The Celtic Warrior' after just 18 seconds, then losing again at Extreme Rules, Bryan entered a feud with CM Punk. Fans had been waiting for this moment, as two of the best wrestlers in the world and standout stars from ROH, were now fighting inside a WWE ring.

They squared off for Punk's WWE Championship at Over The Limit in May, which was not a conclusion to their feud, but instead just the beginning of what was setting up to be a classic. This feud was far from being one-dimensional, as AJ Lee became a large part of it.

AJ Lee (who incidentally became CM Punk's real-life wife) was looking to avenge the embarrassment that Bryan caused her by publicly dumping her. AJ also had her sights set on Kane, who was also battling for Punk's WWE Championship at the time.

The three men fought in a triple-threat match at No Way Out, resulting in a win for Punk after AJ distracted Kane. Punk and Bryan's feud ultimately came to a head, at Money in the Bank 2012, Punk defending his WWE Championship against Bryan in a no-disqualification match, with AJ Lee as Special Guest Referee.

AJ would have some significant moments in the contest, messing with the heads of both competitors. Punk eventually came out victorious.

#3 Raw 1 July 2013 - Randy Orton vs. Kane w/Daniel Bryan as Special Guest Referee

Team Hell No, I don't want to give up!

A year on from his feud with CM Punk and unbeknown to him, Daniel Bryan was going to become one of the most beloved superstars in the industry. Before this however, after being forced to coexist with 'The Big Red Machine', Bryan found himself reluctantly working together with 'The Demon', as they quickly became the WWE Tag Team Champions.

Their reign would last for an impressive 245 days, being beaten by The Shield (Rollins and Reigns) at Extreme Rules on 19 May.

Bryan carried on unsuccessfully battling the Shield for the WWE Tag Team Championships, alongside his partners Kane and Orton, but did, however, manage to end The Shield's unbeaten (pinned and submitted) streak. The trio began a feud with each other, as Bryan and Orton battled a couple of times one-on-one.

On the July 1st epsiode of Monday Night Raw, Bryan found himself as the Special Guest Referee in a singles match between his two former allies, Kane and Randy Orton. With ulterior motives, he ended the contest by fast-counting Orton down for a three count after just moments before, stopping 'The Viper' from hitting the RKO on Kane.

The second time Bryan has fast counted as the Special Guest Referee.

#2 Summerslam 18 August 2013 - Daniel Bryan vs John Cena w/Triple H as Special Guest Referee

The Champ is over there, but the Beard is Here!

Just over a month later and the 'Yes Movement' was becoming one of the most influential movements in the past decade, as the fans appreciated Bryan's talents even when others didn't (Vince McMahon). Cena was the WWE Champion and Bryan was picking up fast momentum. John Cena decided he wanted his opponent at the Biggest Party of the Summer to be Daniel Bryan.

This began Bryan's long and gruelling battle against the Authority, which was about to form. Vince McMahon did not see Bryan as a top contender, not fitting with 'the look' a top Superstar should have. The fans and Triple H disagreed entirely, acknowledging Bryan's ability and heart.

At Summerslam 2013, Triple H made himself the Special Guest Referee in Bryan's WWE Championship match against 'The Franchise Player', ensuring that the match was going to be a fair encounter.

Bryan successfully defeated Cena and won his first WWE Championship title, having previously held the World Championship. Maybe karma struck as Bryan was screwed out of having his glorious moment in the sun at Summerslam, as Special Guest Referee Triple H, back-stabbed Bryan.

After the contest, 'The Game' hit the Pedigree on Bryan, which allowed Orton, the Authority's new golden boy, to cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase and steal the WWE Championship away from Daniel Bryan. How dare they, Daniel Bryan would never use his Special Guest Referee authority to cheat a superstar!

#1 Hell in a Cell 27 October 2013 - Daniel Bryan vs Randy Orton w/Shawn Michaels as Special Guest Referee

Surely The Showstopper would have called the match down the middle

The 'Yes Movement' vs. 'The Authority' was now in full swing and it was a feud for the ages. Daniel Bryan was now adored by the entire WWE Universe and was the most popular feature in the entire organisation. Heel Randy Orton played the Authority's chosen 'Face of the Company' perfectly, as their battles continued until through to Hell in a Cell 2013.

Prior to Hell in a Cell, Bryan struggled against the force of the Authority, but somehow managed to defeat Orton on 15 September at Night of Champions. Triple H however, stripped Bryan of the WWE Championship the night after, claiming that the referee was working against the Authority alongside Bryan, vacating the championship and firing Scott Armstrong in the process.

Bryan also failed to claim back the championship at Battleground on 6 October, after Big Show interfered and rendered the contest void.

Finally, Bryan would get his chance again, in what seemed to be a fair encounter, locked inside a Hell in a Cell with 'The Viper', with the unbiased Shawn Michaels as the Special Guest Referee. Although Michaels, of course, had ties with Triple H, he also mentored Bryan years before and was considered impartial.

This wasn't the case, however, as after a hellacious battle inside the steel structure, Shawn Michaels hit the Sweet Chin Music on Bryan, allowing the Authority's Golden Boy to pick up the victory.

Bryan would however go on to once again become WWE World Heavyweight Champion, as the power of the 'Yes Movement' helped place Bryan in the main event of Wrestlemania 30. Bryan went on to reach the top of the mountain on the grandest stage of them all.