WWE News: Daniel Bryan says he will quit if WWE don't let him wrestle again
What's the story?
Daniel Bryan isn't allowed to wrestle anymore and it really is a shame because not only is he incredibly good at it, but he also really wants to.
His contract is up next year and if things don't change when it comes to being cleared to perform by WWE's Dr Maroon, it looks like he won't be sticking around, if his conversation with Peter Rosenberg is any indication of things.
In case you didn't know...
Daniel Bryan is not only a pro wrestler but he is also a family man. Since he and wife Brie Bella brought baby Birdie Joe into the world, he now has something else to consider.
Therefore, if he gets another negative test result concerning being medically cleared to compete it's likely he won't test his luck by working the independent wrestling scene, but it doesn't sound like he'll be sticking with WWE either.
The heart of the matter
Daniel Bryan seemed a bit frustrated with the idea that WWE won't clear him to compete. But all of the blame can't be placed on WWE because they are just acting in his best interests. But he also reiterated the fact that at this point with the treatments he's done on his own, his brain would stack up with many Superstars currently working today.
"If you look at some of the people who perform now, and so, this is one of my things too. And so I also need to say this because it comes across as 'argh, WWE!', but that is not the case at all. WWE is trying to protect me, right? And they're also trying to protect their company, but I don't know how many people on the roster, just in total, if you had them do all the brain testing that I've done that their tests would be as good as mine."
He also admitted that if he isn't cleared for an in-ring return he wouldn't continue with his role as General Manager of SmackDown Live. It would just be too painful for him to be around the business he loves so much without being able to compete. Bryan said he needed a transition out of the business which is understandable from a guy who spent so much time dedicating his life to pro wrestling.
"If I get a bad test somewhere along the line, I won't wrestle. But I also, will probably, when my contract is up, I'd probably, if I'm still General Manager at that point, I'd probably step away from that part of it because just being around it, I love it a little too much and I need to transition. I need to get this focused because I'm very good at focusing on one thing, right? But then, I need to switch that laser focus to something else like saving the starving polar bears. So yeah, assuming everything continues as it has been going, when my [WWE] contract is up I would wrestle elsewhere if WWE would not clear me."
It's pretty important to note how Daniel Bryan reiterated the fact that if things keep going as they are when it comes to being cleared by his own doctors, he will wrestle once again when his WWE contract is up next year.
What's next?
It seems that Daniel Bryan could be teasing a lot by stepping in the ring with a referee shirt on at Clash Of Champions. Bryan seemed right at home among the action as part of the Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn vs Randy Orton and Shinsuke Nakamura match and he took a spill during the match as well. If his clearance for an in-ring return is the destination at the end of this journey then that would be an amazing thing.
But no matter what Daniel Bryan does, he will always do what is best for his career and his family.
Author's take
Daniel Bryan is one of the greatest wrestlers to ever lace up his boots and if his days are really finished in the pro wrestling ring then it could be understandable if he wanted to step away entirely.
But the pro wrestling business often calls people back so there's no telling how far Bryan's contributions will continue after he's had enough time away to transition into something else for a while.