Update on Daniel Bryan's Injury and Return

It’s a sobering sight to look back at the year that Daniel Bryan has had. From January through March, his name was the hottest in professional wrestling. When April arrived, his rise was culminated at WrestleMania XXX, where he well and truly stole the show and was crowned the new WWE World Heavyweight champion. The very next week he married Brie Bella. Bryan was on top of the world.

However, just days after returning from their honeymoon, his world was rocked by the tragic news of his father’s unfortunate death. Ever the consummate professional, though, Bryan fulfilled his duties as champion and bravely battled on.

Until, of course, he was informed in May that he would require immediate neck surgery—thus necessitating a lengthy lay-off. During his time recovering, he and Brie were the victims of a robbery before his worsening year was compounded, as it was revealed he would require a second surgery.

Brie Bella reportedly said in a media interview for Total Divas this past week that her husband Daniel Bryan will not need a second surgery as expected. Doctors made their decision this past week.

Brie added that Bryan is going through rehab and is slowly regaining strength in his right arm. There's still no word on when he will be back in action but WWE officials are hoping for three months from now.

As great as this news is for a Superstar whom fortune hasn't favoured, let's try to clear up this “second surgery” business.

While many assumed this to be another form of neck surgery, this doesn't seem to be the case. Per Grantland's David Shoemaker, the procedure in question is reportedly Tommy John surgery—a practice that involves a surgical graft to the elbow and, in Bryan’s case, seems to have been a result of a separate nerve issue that the original neck surgery had caused. (This explains why the above article refers to Bryan regaining strength in his right arm.)

Of course, such detail might now be superfluous, as the Tommy John surgery is apparently no longer required. So now that we’ve got the science out of the way, let’s talk wrestling.

The article goes on to say that officials are hoping for a return in three months—a number that the aforementioned Shoemaker agreed with. Such a time frame would take us to early December, just days before the Dec. 14 Tables, Ladders and Chairs pay-per-view.

But while I’d love to see Bryan back as soon as possible, I don’t think this would be the right course of action.

Not only would there be the risk of rushing him back from injury too soon, how much more fitting would it be to have Bryan return the following month at the 2015 Royal Rumble? After the shambles that was the 2014 instalment, a surprise return and victory next time round would be the ultimate pay-off for the once-maligned Bryan.

But when the stars align as they have with Bryan, this could be an opportunity not to be missed. The WWE may not see it this way, but if nothing else, it throws up a hugely intriguing possibility for fans to ponder in the coming months.

Until then though, let’s just be thankful that a piece of good news has come Bryan’s way after the tremendous yet tumultuous year that the former champ has endured.

Here’s hoping that his rehab continues unhindered.