WWE superstar Daniel Bryan, who is currently on the injured list, may never return to the WWE as an active wrestler, if reports are to be believed.
Daniel Bryan underwent neck surgery in May, but it has surfaced that the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion will now require elbow surgery, also known as Tommy John surgery. Initially, Bryan was supposed to make a comeback by November, but the new surgery puts off his return indefinitely.
On WWE's weekly show SmackDown! this week, The Big Show announced that Bryan would be needing further surgery and hence would not return to the ring any time soon. Now, WWE is reportedly working on the assumption that Bryan may never return to the ring, as the rehabilitation time for these surgeries is extremely long and leaves a wrestler considerably at risk if he wrestles.
It has to be remembered that Bryan won the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in a triple threat match against Randy Orton and Batista, at Wrestlemania 30 in April. A month later however, he would be sidelined with a legitimate injury.
Daniel Bryan was not the origial choice for the Wrestlemania main event. The main event for the title was supposed to pit Randy Orton against Batista, but fan outrage forced the WWE to insert Bryan into the match. Thus, Bryan first defeated Triple H to qualify for a spot in the match, and later went on to win the title at the annual mega event. The rumour was that Bryan was originally supposed to begin a feud with Sheamus, who beat him in 18 seconds at Wrestlemania 28.
Daniel Bryan was, at the time, being described as the most popular superstar in WWE since Stone Cold Steve Austin and the Rock. A growing number of fans hijacked WWE events with 'Daniel Bryan' and 'Yes!' chants. At the annual Royal Rumble event, fans booed most of the Royal Rumble match and jeered the eventual winner Batista, chanting for Bryan, who was not supposed to be part of the match. This led to Batista being turned into a heel and Daniel Bryan being pushed into the main event at Wrestlemania.
