5 reasons why WWE Universe is excited for Daniel Bryan's return

Daniel Bryan is all set to compete at this year's Wrestlemania and the news has got wrestling fans around the world excited about seeing him back in action.

The Smackdown Live general manager's match at Wrestlemania was confirmed after Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn attacked him on-air this week.

However it has been almost three years since Daniel was last an active in-ring performer - so what is it that kept him going and what are his biggest achievements with the company?

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#5 Devil May Care Attitude

Daniel Bryan retired from wrestling three years ago but was still an active part of the show as WWE kept him on TV thanks to his show 'Talking Smack' and later elevating him to become the general manager of Smackdown Live!

Despite his own doctors telling him on multiple occasions that he was all clear to compete, WWE weren't convinced. Daniel Bryan stayed true to himself and the fans as he often mentioned how he was being kept away from the thing he loved the most - 'wrestling'.

His determination to keep going even in the face of adversity is about to pay off as millions across the world will once again stand in solidarity with the beard in New Orleans this WrestleMania.

#4 The 'Yes-Movement'

Bryan became one of the most popular superstars of all time and the 'Yes movement' was a proof of his popularity with the WWE universe

Daniel Bryan burst onto the main-event picture out of nowhere and it was mainly because of how the fans saw him as an underdog - someone they could relate to, someone who was not given what he deserved.

WWE tried desperately to bury him just like they did with Zack Ryder after the 'Broski' managed to self-push himself to a United States title win.

However every tactic that the company came up with fell short as the more they tried to pull him down the more support he got from the fans. Countless hijacked segments on TV followed and finally, WWE had to give-in before Bryan had to unceremoniously retire.

Many wrestlers tried to emulate Bryan including Rusev with 'Rusev Day' and Cesaro with the 'Cesaro Section' but they didn't reach the success that Bryan achieved.

#3 Back In Style

All it took for Bryan to prove his critics wrong was 30 seconds as the former WWE champion dropped a string of dropkicks

As soon as reports came out that Bryan would be making a comeback to in-ring action, fans were quick to speculate that the former WWE champion would be more conservative with his moves given how he had to spend three years on the sidelines.

Though Bryan was in no mood to keep things on the sunny side as all it took was 30 seconds for him to prove the cynics wrong.

Bryan went on the offensive as he hit a German-suplex followed by a series of his trademark dropkicks and just like that the 'Yes Man' was back in business.

The Smackdown Live! general manager has proven time and again that he is not someone to back-down from a fight.

#2 'B+' Phenomenon

Randy Orton and John Cena have fallen down the pecking order since Bryan last competed in a WWE ring

At the peak of his popularity in 2013-14, Bryan was adjudged a 'B+' by the Authority comprising of COO Triple H and Chief brand officer Stephanie McMahon.

Bryan was undoubtedly the most popular full-time star at the time but he was deemed unfit to be the top-guy by the bosses at WWE - given that they saw guys like John Cena and Randy Orton as the top dogs.

However the two are currently nowhere near their best at the moment and the WWE seems to be full of B+ guys with the likes of Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, Finn Balor, Rusev and The Miz all failing to fill the void at the top.

Even the 'Chosen One' Roman Reigns is a long way off from being the top dog as he is still getting booed out of stadiums week in and week out. Bryan's return will certainly help the management fill the void at the top and push another youngster to the top with Bryan's help.

#1 Changing The Game

Daniel even forced Vince McMahon to change himself as WWE made drastic changes in their talent acquisition policy since Bryan's elevation as a top star

Daniel Bryan along with CM Punk was the main catalyst behind the WWE making drastic changes in the company policy after a disastrous run from 2009 to 2012.

The period saw the company go through some of the poorest TV ratings in its history and a show so boring it pushed even the most hardcore fans away.

However, things started to change in 2011 with the Rock's return and the summer of Punk. But it was Daniel Bryan's feud with the Authority that forced Vince McMahon into changing and accepting the new reality where a top star was not an overly muscled and jacked-up performer, but an in-ring performer who could make the fans gasp like Shawn Michaels once did.