Daniel Bryan Officially Retires From Wrestling

Daniel bryan

“The flame that burns Twice as bright burns half as long.”

It actually happened. I was holding out hope that it would be one big swerve when Daniel Bryan announced his retirement on social media, like Mark Henry with his sublime pink jacket all over again. My ears were pricked for the sound of an iconic gong throughout his speech or, better yet, a certain sexy boy’s music.

It wasn’t to be. Daniel Bryan has officially retired from wrestling at the age of 34 on last night’s Raw.

Speaking to the YES! Movement, Bryan, real name Bryan Danielson, thanked them all for their support over his long and storied career. Known for his stiff style of wrestling, Bryan attributed his retirement to one concussion too many after recently speaking to doctors.

Daniel Bryan has won many titles throughout his WWE career, despite his stature and image never really fitting their corporate brand. His status as an underdog won him many fans, culminating in his insertion into the Wrestlemania 30 main event after fan backlash.

He went on to win the WWE World Heavyweight Championship in that match in one of the most historic moments in wrestling before being stripped of his title due to injury. He made a long-awaited return to the company many months later, winning the Intercontinental Championship at Wrestlemania 31. Sadly, recurring issues with his neck meant that he would have to be stripped of the title once again, leaving him on the sidelines and his future unclear before last night’s retirement.

Daniel Bryan’s rise to the top was the one thing that drew me back into the WWE after falling out of love with it for the better part of a decade. He was the fan’s fan, a regular guy who loved his audience and what he did, constantly putting his body on the line.

His time at the very top of the company might have been short, but it was an unforgettable period for professional wrestling and surely one of the greatest.

Some of the coverage you find on Cultured Vultures contains affiliate links, which provide us with small commissions based on purchases made from visiting our site. We cover gaming news, movie reviews, wrestling and much more.

Editor-in-Chief