Daniel Bryan’s retirement is undoubtedly the biggest thing to happen in the WWE, and the recent RAW being the most emotional by a mile since the advent of 2016.
PWInsider notes that Daniel Bryan’s retirement news was a closely guarded secret until he dropped the tweet that left the wrestling community in complete shock. A handful of officials backstage knew of the development, and the WWE production team worked in frantic pace in putting together the tribute videos that we witnessed on RAW.
According to Wrestling Observer, Bryan tried to quit earlier, but WWE refused and told him that he didn’t have the right to give a notice. Bryan apparently wanted to return to the indies which Vince McMahon opposed, naturally, and convinced him for a non-wrestling role.
Bryan noted on RAW that while he thought he was fit to return to the ring, something just wasn’t right in his head. That was in reference to the brain tests he took the Thursday before Royal Rumble in New York.
Backstage word is that it was Bryan’s decision to hang up his wrestling boots and there was no pressure on him to go ahead with the move. As of now, Bryan’s contract is frozen due to inactivity, but he still gets paid the guaranteed downside similar to the Rey Mysterio situation back in 2014.
The future role of Bryan in the WWE is still a mystery, but the chances of Bryan being used in a non-wrestling capacity is a big possibility.
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