GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links.

Will Daniel Bryan Wrestle in WWE Again? Triple H Clarifies Company's Stance

"There is no exception, medically."

8 Comments

It was 2016 when Daniel Bryan retired as a professional wrestler in WWE due to injuries sustained in the ring--specifically concussions. Since then, Bryan has been very open about his speaking with multiple doctors specializing in brain injuries with hopes of one day competing for WWE again. Thus far, though, he's been unable to get cleared by the company's medical team.

Speaking at the Television Critics Association winter press tour panel for the 25th anniversary of WWE Raw, Triple H, who serves as a WWE executive in real life, shed a little light on the situation and what it would take for the company to allow Bryan to compete. "There can be no exception, medically," he says. "If the belief is that he's not healthy enough and it is a risk for to perform, then I don't know why we would ever allow him to step in the ring unless it can be proven otherwise."

No Caption Provided

Triple H continues, "We have some of the best medical people in the world working for us. Our wellness policy, our concussion programs, out protocols--I'll put them up against any on the planet."

Thus, the company is standing by their own doctors, regardless of the specialists Bryan sees on his quest to wrestle again. "The medical experts will make the determination of whether Bryan can set foot in that ring or not," Triple H explains. "Personally, for him, I know it's something he loved doing and I hope he has that opportunity. But at the same point in time, he's married and has a child. We serve the human being first."

For his part, Bryan recently said in an interview that he would likely step away from his current role at Smackdown Live general manager once his contract expired, should he not be cleared to wrestle again. "When my [WWE] contract is up, I would wrestle elsewhere if WWE would not clear me," he admitted on Rosenberg Radio.

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

Join the conversation
There are 8 comments about this story
8 Comments  RefreshSorted By 
GameSpot has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to toxic conduct in comments. Any abusive, racist, sexist, threatening, bullying, vulgar, and otherwise objectionable behavior will result in moderation and/or account termination. Please keep your discussion civil.

Avatar image for mcnichoj
mcnichoj

1881

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I've heard a lot of shitty things about some of the WWE medical staff. They'll slap a bandaid on a dislocated shoulder and send you out to get body slammed by a 400lb guy the next night. So if they're saying you're unfit to wrestle, that should mean something.

3 • 
Avatar image for Blk_Mage_Ctype
Blk_Mage_Ctype

1086

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

Edited By Blk_Mage_Ctype

It seems short-sighted of Daniel Brian to consider leaving the WWE because the medical team won't clear him to compete due to concerns with his health. If WWE won't clear him, then Daniel Brian should just accept that he isn't well enough to compete and just be happy being Smackdown Live's General Manager until he's cleared, regardless of how long that may take. Obviously if he were well enough then WWE would clear him knowing full well how much hype the in-ring return of Daniel Brian would generate for the brand, they wouldn't just hold back Daniel Brian if it was safe for him to step back into the ring, and he ought to know that.

4 • 
Avatar image for glickmam
glickmam

2

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

@Blk_Mage_Ctype: The only reason why WWE hasn't cleared him yet is because old dog Vince McMahon does not want to accept the fact that Daniel Bryan does not fit the mold that McMahon wants, that is, a conventional, white bread, babyface wrestler who has stereotypically big muscles and who looks absurdly photogenic.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Blk_Mage_Ctype
Blk_Mage_Ctype

1086

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

@glickmam: If that were true then Brock Lesnar wouldn't be Universal Champion, nor would Enzo Amore be Cruiserweight Champion, unless you honestly feel that Brock Lesnar is "absurdly photogenic" and Enzo Amore is both "stereotypically big muscled and absurdly photogenic".

Furthermore, why are guys like Samoa Joe and Braun Stroman keep getting pushed? They don't fit the cookie-cutter mold you seem to believe that Vince Macmannon is enforcing with an iron fist to keep Daniel Brian from wrestling either. Heck, there are plenty of guys on the roster who are shorter, less fit, and considerably less handsome than Daniel Brian, and while they may not all be champions, you'd think that since Vince so graciously allows them on the roster that he'd at least be willing to let Daniel Brian wrestle even if he didn't think that he was championship material.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for glickmam
glickmam

2

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

@Blk_Mage_Ctype: Okay then, how do you explain Bryan constantly being screwed over while The Authority was in command and the company was always constantly trying to push Roman Reigns as WWE Champion when it was pretty clear that the fans wanted either Dean Ambrose or Seth Rollins instead? Mr. McMahon not only wants a certain type of wrestler on his roster, he is also a very delusional man with a constant need to try to recreate the Attitude Era, without properly understanding how the Attitude Era angles actually worked. If Mr. McMahon actually tried to follow Triple H's lead with how he runs NXT, the company would be in a whole lot better shape

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Jigen32
Jigen32

273

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@Blk_Mage_Ctype: If 1 corporate doctor says you shouldn't but 10 private say it's not a problem to do the thing you love who do you trust.

2 • 
Avatar image for Archangel3371
Archangel3371

47509

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 0

Hopefully he gets healthy enough to safely compete in the ring again.

Upvote •