7 Big Talking Points For Daniel Bryan Wrestling In 2018
SmackDown's GM is hell-bent on competing, but is it a good idea?
The subject of Daniel Bryan potentially wrestling again has popped up numerous times since he retired in 2016. The latest instance came earlier this week, when his wife, Brie Bella, claimed that she wouldn't stand in his way if he did decide to return to the ring, telling him that "if WWE doesn't allow it, go somewhere else."
Bryan himself has made no secret of his desire to compete again. In July, he tweeted at Ring Of Honor Champion Cody Rhodes, challenging him to a bout next September. When The Miz told him he "can't wrestle anymore" on a March episode of Talking Smack, Daniel replied: "we'll see in a year and a half." He keeps dangling the carrot, and there's no reason to believe he isn't being serious.
The idea of this era's most beloved performer competing again has generated excitement and trepidation in equal measure. Many would love to see him return, but for some, the health concerns are too much. It's a tricky subject rife with underlying issues, and no matter how the situation pans out, it'll continue to be a source of debate.
Let's take a closer look at the key issues surrounding Bryan's possible comeback.
7. Where Would He Go?
There isn't a wrestling promoter in the world who wouldn't want to book a healthy Daniel Bryan. If he gets medical clearance, he'll be the most sought after performer in the world, and should, in theory, be inundated with offers. He has mentioned returning to Japan, spending some time in Mexico, and working the US indies again, and ideally, he'll have the opportunity to do all of this.
But it's not as simple as that. His employment opportunities are shrouded by what-ifs, particularly regarding his clearance.
It has been widely reported that Daniel was told "no" by WWE's doctor, but "yes" by everyone else. Many assume that this means that he's seen a dozen or so doctors and all but one cleared him, but this isn't the case. By all accounts, Bryan has only seen three or four experts total, so while the "all but one" statement is true, it's too small a sample size to suggest he'd definitely be cleared to compete by others.
NJPW are thought to be just as stringent as WWE when it comes to booking wrestlers with such injuries, and then there's the question of whether or not promoters would feel comfortable booking somebody with his record. They're not the arbiters of whether or not he should be allowed to participate in the sport, but it'd be hard to fault their concerns.