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#6: Summerslam Return
With Bryan fired, the Nexus continued on a tear through the WWE for the next two months. They attacked babyfaces and heels with the same viciousness, constantly using the numbers game to their advantage. Nexus made many enemies during their time but remained primarily at odds with John Cena throughout their run as a faction.
As Summerslam approached in mid-August 2010, John Cena assembled a team of superstars who were at odds with the Nexus to take on the team of rookies in a traditional 7-on-7 match in the main event.
On Raw prior to the event, the Nexus took out Team WWE member The Great Khali, leaving a void in Cena’s army. U.S. Champion The Miz, Bryan’s Pro on NXT, offered his services but decided to wait until Summerslam itself to officially declare whether or not he would enter the match.
The decision would be taken out of his hands, though, as Cena and Team WWE reached out to a man from Nexus’ past, Daniel Bryan. The crowd erupted as The American Dragon returned, making his impact felt on the match, eliminating Darren Young with the LaBell Lock to start the match and being one of the last two members of WWE before The Miz interfered, knocking out the man who stole his spotlight and nearly costing Team WWE the match.
The match was the beginning of the end for the Nexus, as their momentum faltered after losing the Summerslam match to Cena in a booking decision that is still questioned to this day. While Nexus was beginning its descent, the story of Daniel Bryan was just beginning, as he would enter into a feud with his former mentor that would truly establish him as a WWE Superstar and a champion.
After Summerslam, Bryan was announced as a member of the Raw roster. He continued his feud with the Miz, leading to a U.S. Title match at Night of Champions. Despite having his new NXT rookie, Alex Riley, by his side, Miz was unable to overcome his former rookie.
Bryan forced The Miz to tap out to the LaBell Lock to win his first championship in WWE. Bryan would hold the title for 176 days, successfully defending against The Miz, John Morrison, and Ted DiBiase before losing the title to Sheamus on Raw.
The true highlight of his United States title run came at Bragging Rights 2010, where he had his first great match in WWE against IC Champion Dolph Ziggler in a Champion vs. Champion match, which Bryan won.
