On Tuesday, the WWE made a shocking announcement that SmackDown Live general manager Daniel Bryan was cleared to return to the ring:
It was a lengthy journey for the wrestling legend, as Bryan had to spend nearly three calendar years away from in-ring competition. He announced his retirement in Feb. 2016, following the advice of doctors after suffering multiple concussions plus a cut on his brain.
Many questions arise from this news. Just how did Bryan get cleared in a short span of two years? What made doctors decide he could wrestle again? How often will Bryan be able to compete in the ring?
Well, Dave Meltzer explained everything on Wrestling Observer Live. As it turns out, Bryan had to approach WWE doctor Joseph Maroon, who provided him with a number of other medical experts to seek. This included a doctor at the University of Michigan, who gave him the green light to return to the ring.
On top of that, Bryan does not have to follow a strict limit. That is, he can wrestle as much as he or the WWE wants him to. And on top of that, the plan is for Bryan to team up with Shane McMahon in a tag team match against Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn at WrestleMania 34 in New Orleans.
Though Bryan reluctantly retired two years ago, he was never really that sold on having to hang up the wrestling boots for good. He and wife Brie Bella worked extensively together in traveling around to get different medical opinions. There were concerns that WWE would never officially clear him, but that's all changed.
Bryan's retirement at the time was a sad moment for the WWE and its fans, given his status as one of the most popular superstars in history, and in the middle of his prime. But Bryan never gave up, and there are plenty of more chapters to write in his epic WWE career.