10 Wresting Title Reigns That Were Ruined By Injury

Few wrestlers have experienced the same level of heartache as Daniel Bryan did throughout his professional wrestling career, and while this wasn’t the first time he’d had to relinquish gold through injury, it was hugely depressing.

Returning to the ring in December 2014 after a gruelling injury recovery, Daniel Bryan was installed as an early fan favourite to win the 2015 Royal Rumble. This didn’t materialise, however: Bryan was eliminated disappointingly early as Roman Reigns claimed the victory, and while WWE attempted to make amends with a short Reigns/Bryan feud, Reigns was victorious, and Bryan was left behind in the midcard.

Bryan was entered into WrestleMania 31’s Intercontinental Title ladder match, and with him winning the belt on the same night that John Cena became United States Champion, it looked like WWE were finally bringing prestige to their mid-tier belts. Sadly, Bryan sustained injury while wrestling Sheamus shortly after: he gave-up his belt in May, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Bryan’s surrendering of the IC Title was the beginning of the end of his professional wrestling career. Amid reports of multiple concussions and seizures, Bryan was never medically cleared to return to the ring, and the hugely-popular grappler was forced into an early retirement in February this year.