Daniel Bryan hasn’t seen in-ring World Wrestling Entertainment action since last April, and is still eagerly awaiting medical clearance by the company’s doctor.
Well, is the former WWE World Heavyweight champion one step closer to receiving that green light to return to action?
PWInsider.com has confirmed, via multiple sources, that Bryan is scheduled to meet with WWE doctor Joseph Maroon in Pittsburgh later to week to go over his status on a possible medical clearance.
Speaking to IGN last October, Bryan said that an independent neurologist, specializing in concussions, had already granted the ex-champ medical clearance and he is only awaiting the same word from WWE’s medical doctor over his neck injuries.
“One neurologist who specializes in concussions — who was the neurologist for the Super Bowl last year — cleared me with no limitations,” Bryan said at the time, months removed from suffering another serious neck injury in April. “All my testing came back excellent. But the WWE’s medical doctor is skeptical, because of my history of concussions and that sort of thing. So they will not clear me.”
Bryan was forced to relinquish the Intercontinental championship belt during a May 2015 episode of Monday Night Raw … painfully at the height of his career.
Now, however, if Bryan is medically-cleared to return to WWE this week, it sets up the possibility of him making an appearance and having a crucial role in Sunday’s Royal Rumble pay-per-view event.
If such is the case, he could also appear in WrestleMania 32 this April.
What’s your gut feeling? Will Daniel Bryan be cleared by WWE to get back into the ring?