Backstage News on What WWE’s Current Plans for Daniel Bryan Are

The latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter has provided some backstage news on what WWE’s current plans for Daniel Bryan are, given that he has three years remaining on his current contract. As previously reported, Bryan, who suffered a concussion in April, claims that a neurologist has cleared him to return to in-ring action, but WWE will not clear him at this time.

Likely viewing his history with concussions as a liability, especially in the wake of multiple lawsuits regarding the issue against the company, WWE has known Bryan’s been cleared for weeks, if not months, and has still not allowed him to return to action. Bryan recently discussed meeting with WWE CEO Vince McMahon and WWE Executive Vice President of Talent Relations Triple H, where he said that wrestling is his passion, saying, “Hey, this is my passion. I understand why you guys wouldn’t clear me, but we only get, as far as we know, one life. And you’re not going to let me do my passion.”

Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter says that WWE doesn’t currently have plans to put Bryan back in the ring any time soon. He writes,

“Danielson has about three years left on his current contract. It becomes a tricky situation with WWE. They could release him if they don’t have anything for him and he wants to leave. Right now the plan is to keep him busy with other projects, such as his current role as a judge on “Tough Enough.” 

But if he is determined that he will wrestle again, then he is going to do so. If he was released, he would be able to make a good living as a pro wrestler, as he would likely get a deal with New Japan and be able to charge a high price for indie dates.

While he wouldn’t earn what he made in WWE, he could very reasonably clear $500,000 or more a year without WWE if he hustled at merchandising, and with far less road expenses because on the indie scene his transportation and hotels will be paid for. It’s a harder life being your own booking agent, but it would be relatively easy for him, given he lived that life and already knows the key people. 

But WWE wouldn’t want him working for an opposition promotion, particularly one that has national cable. The Styles/Young Bucks pattern of New Japan, ROH and indies, would make sense. But it’s very doubtful WWE would release him. The question becomes if they don’t want to clear him, and want to pay him to sit for three more years, versus his wanting to wrestle again.

If he sits out for three years and his contract expires, he can go wherever he wants at that point. He will still be a star, but it won’t be like he had been in WWE recently so his value would diminish. This is one of the reasons WWE tried to keep Rey Mysterio under contract as long as possible, because they didn’t want him to go from directly being a WWE star to working for opposition.

It’s the same reason they attempted, although failed, to keep Alberto El Patron and C.M. Punk from going anywhere with claiming to them that they are going to hold them to long non-competes. But both had leverage on WWE and got their full releases.”

Editor’s Note:

It’d be a shame to not see Bryan back working inside of a WWE ring. I really hope that all this press about the situation will convince WWE to let him wrestle.