Why Daniel Bryan will wrestle again

WWE gave Daniel Bryan a send-off on RAW fit for a Hall of Famer. After months of uncertainty, the company finally closed the ongoing issue of Bryan’s likelihood of returning to a ring. In private they made it clear they were never going to clear him to wrestle. But that doesn’t mean the former World Champion is finished with wrestling.

It’s been a standoff that has dragged on for months. Bryan has been cleared by a multitude of private doctors but has been unable to convince WWE medical staff that there is no danger after years of consecutive concussions.

The writing was on the wall for him when they failed to give in to his demands despite Vince McMahon’s outfit suffering injury after injury to top level stars. There must have been a temptation to agree with Bryan’s private doctors. But the WWE is currently being sued by former wrestlers (that never made the main roster) for concussion injuries. They just couldn’t take the risk.

Vince no longer sees the point of in-ring dangers, or even entertaining storylines, his risks are all on the stock market. The days of making the best product to ward off WCW have been replaced by keeping profit margins up. This method is bearing financial fruits; there was no reason to take a risk that could have cost him millions.

Bryan is somewhat tied to WWE. They handled his autobiography release and helped market it. His wife works for the company on the active roster and they both feature in Total Divas. His unique connection to the WWE Universe forced the company to elevate him to the main championship.

But before all this he is a wrestler.

Severing ties with WWE was his way to seek his thrills elsewhere. In July 2015 he told Sirius XM 92's: “I told them, regardless of them, if they won't clear me . . . we're independent contractors, in theory . . . I will wrestle again. I am cleared by the neurologist in Phoenix that I've been going to see. It's not like he's a quack doctor. He was the neurologist for the Super Bowl.”

That was a not-so subtle warning to WWE: “Use me or lose me.” After much deliberation they have decided to let him go.

Why they took so long only Vince can answer honestly – and probably never will.

Did they want to ensure they had all the facts and gave the docs enough time before axing him? Did they want to kill his momentum before he competed elsewhere?

It’s likely a little bit of both.

One thing’s for sure, even though WWE said, “No!” to a return we’ll see Bryan back in the ring before he retires for real.

Am I happy about this?

“Yes! Yes! Yes!”