SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan and Commissioner Shane McMahon have seemingly opened up a feud over the past few weeks that many of the WWE Universe believe could only be resolved inside the ring, at WrestleMania 34.
Speculation has been rife over the past few months when it comes to Bryan returning to the ring for the first time in more than two years at this year’s Showcase of the Immortals.
Bryan retired from in-ring competition back in February 2016 because of a recurring neck injury and because WWE’s medical staff refused to clear him to compete. The former World Champion has since been forced onto the sidelines, but it seems that once again it is the medical staff who are standing in the way of him and his dream WrestleMania return.
Triple H appeared at the Television Critics Association winter press tour panel to promote the upcoming 25th anniversary of Raw, where the question of a Daniel Bryan in-ring return was asked.
He said: “There can be no exception, medically, if the belief is that he’s not healthy enough and it is a risk for to perform, then I don’t know why we would ever allow him to step in the ring unless it can be proven otherwise.”
Daniel Bryan was originally cleared by his own doctors, but it seems that the company will only trust the clearance of their own medical team.
“We have some of the best medical people in the world working for us. Our wellness policy, our concussion programs, out protocols–I’ll put them up against any on the planet.”
“The medical experts will make the determination of whether Bryan can set foot in that ring or not. Personally, for him, I know it’s something he loved doing and I hope he has that opportunity. But at the same point in time, he’s married and has a child. We serve the human being first.”
Daniel Bryan himself has talked about making a return to the ring and recently stated that he would be stepping away from his role as General Manager when his contract runs out later this year. He also revealed that if WWE won’t allow him to wrestle again then he would head back to the independent circuit where he first found fame.
It seems that this wasn’t quite the update that the WWE Universe was hoping for, but with Shane and Bryan’s current feud definitely heading somewhere, fans will keep their fingers crossed that it is a singles match on the Grandest Stage of Them All.
