10 Highest Profile Injuries In WWE History

5. Daniel Bryan Breaks His Neck For His Passion

10 Flying Finn Balor Seth Rollins SummerSlam
WWE.com

When Daniel Bryan defeated Triple H, then felled Batista and Randy Orton in the main event of WrestleMania XXX to become the WWE World Heavyweight champion, it appeared as though the company as a whole was entering into a new era.

It was to be an era where the best wrestlers were celebrated and fans rebelled against the same old s*** that had plagued the product for the better part of a decade. Unfortunately, its face would not have the run as champion he deserved.

Years of wear and tear, not to mention an incredibly intense and physical style of wrestling, had taken its toll on Bryan's neck. Just one full month after capturing the prize he worked so hard to attain, he was forced to forfeit it in a moment that deflated fans and forced WWE to reshuffle its plans.

Bryan only returned briefly in 2015, winning the Intercontinental Title, before his health became a cause for concern. In 2016, just before WrestleMania 32, he announced his retirement from the sport, robbing himself and fans of a spirited run at the top of an industry he helped revolutionise with his size and technical expertise.

Contributor
Contributor

Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.