There has been much speculation of late as to the status of Daniel Bryan. The former WWE World Heavyweight Champion was forced to relinquish his coveted championship in order to undergo neck surgery some months ago. Since that time there have been conflicting reports about whether or not the superstar would require a further surgical procedure, with Bryan himself unsure of the situation. Bryan has spoken of the potential for further surgery in countless interviews. He has stated that while his neck surgery went well and has been healing, doctors are concerned with the lack of returning strength in his arm. These medical professionals have since flip-flopped about whether or not to further operate on the wrestling star, unsure if another neck surgery or operation on the arm would be necessary. Its now being reported by David Shoemaker of Grantland.com that Daniel Bryan will indeed be going under the knife again. According to Shoemaker, who tweeted about the situation, Bryan will soon undergo Tommy John surgery. Tommy John is the popular name for an ulnar collateral ligament -- or UCL -- operation, named for the famed baseball player who first had the procedure done. The surgery itself is widely connected with the sport of baseball, as numerous pitchers have had the operation over the years. The procedure itself sees the damaged UCL removed and replaced with a tendon from elsewhere -- often coming from the subjects forearm or from below the knee. The ulnar nerve is usually moved as well, because scar tissue from the operation can often put pressure on the nerve, thus causing more pain. Whats interesting to note from Shoemakers tweet -- who is often considered a very reliable source in the wrestling industry -- is not the surgery itself, but the timetable given for Daniel Bryans return. Shoemaker indicates that this surgery would see Bryan out for an additional three months or so. However, in the case of most MLB pitchers, the average timetable is closer to a full year. In most cases, athletes cannot even begin rehabbing the arm until a month after surgery. The three month timeframe is not completely out of left field, however. Its quite possible that Bryan could be back in that short amount of time, given the fact that his arm is not and has not been under the amount of stress that star pitchers would be. This may mean that in Bryans case, he would not be out nearly as long as one would typically expect with this procedure. Hopefully, if Tommy John surgery is required, Daniel Bryan will be having it done soon, as the former champ is likely getting a bit restless with his current situation. Bryan will no doubt look to rehab his arm and his neck as swiftly as possible, but hopefully, not at the expense of his own long term health. While fans undoubtedly want to see Bryan back in a WWE ring as soon as possible, no one wants to see him return before he is truly ready. Let us know your thoughts on Daniel Bryan and the possibility of further surgery in the comments below.
Douglas Scarpa is a freelance writer, independent filmmaker, art school graduate, and pro wrestling aficionado -- all of which mean he is in financial ruin. He has no backup plan to speak of, yet maintains his abnormally high spirits. If he had only listened to the scorn of his childhood teachers, he wouldn't be in this situation.
