WWE News: Triple H comments on the potential in-ring return for Daniel Bryan
What's the story?
WrestleMania 34 is right around the corner and it seems that one of the biggest rumors heading into the event is that SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan will be returning to the ring for the first time in more than two years.
Bryan's medical clearance has been one of the main thing holding him back and it seems that WWE COO Triple H has finally given the WWE Universe an update WWE's status when it comes to Bryan.
In case you didn't know...
Daniel Bryan was forced to retire from WWE back in February 2016 when it was revealed that he was struggling with the same kind of neck injury that forced former WWE Champion Edge into retirement.
Bryan is someone whose entire life has been about wrestling and so WWE found a way to bring him back to the company as the General Manager of SmackDown Live a few months after his in-ring retirement.
Over the past few months, there has been growing tension between SmackDown Commissioner Shane McMahon and his second in command which has led many of the WWE Universe to believe that Bryan could be set to return to the ring to face the former Hardcore Champion at WrestleMania.
The heart of the matter
Triple H made an appearance at the Television Critics Association winter press tour panel to promote the 25th anniversary of WWE Raw and the question of Daniel Bryan wrestling at WrestleMania 34 was raised.
He said: "There can be no exception, medically," 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."
Many of the WWE Universe have begun believing that Bryan could be allowed to make his long-awaited return to the squared circle before his WWE contract comes to an end, but Triple H's comments seem to give the opposite impression.
"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. The medical experts will make the determination of whether Bryan can set foot in that ring or not, personally, for him, I know it's something he loved doing and own 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."
What's next?
Daniel Bryan himself stated that he was going to step away from his current role as the SmackDown General Manager when his contract comes to an end later this year. He is also quoted as saying that if WWE doesn't allow him to return to the ring, he will wrestle elsewhere. Since he was cleared by his own doctors, just not WWE's, many of the WWE Universe are hoping that the former World Champion is given the send-off he deserves from WWE.
Author's take
Daniel Bryan is one of the most popular WWE wrestlers of the current generation and if he wants to wrestle again then WWE would want to cash in on this rather than allowing Bryan to head to an Independent promotion and allowing them to make money off Bryan's lucrative return. WWE is a wrestling business and conflicts on-screen are always settled in the ring, which means that WWE obviously started the current storyline with Bryan and McMahon with an ending in mind.