Daniel Bryan Injury: Updates on WWE Star's Neck, Elbow and Return

Daniel Bryan's reign as a WWE star has come to a halt due to neck and elbow injuries, and it doesn't seem like the former WWE World Heavyweight champion is going to get better anytime soon.

Latest Updates from Tuesday, Oct. 28

Greg Beck of Wrestlingnews.co has the latest on Bryan's status:

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Big Show kicked off the Smackdown tapings tonight and told the fans that Daniel Bryan would need another elbow surgery. Show led the fans in a “YES” chant. They will be sending a video to Bryan to support him with his comeback.

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Original Article From Tuesday, Oct. 14

WWE Superstar Daniel Bryan hasn't competed since May, and a new report suggests that it could be months before the former WWE World Heavyweight champion returns to action.    

According to Brad Davis of SEScoops.com, Bryan's nerve strength in his arm has not returned since undergoing minimally invasive neck surgery. Because of that, it is possible that he will have to undergo Tommy John Surgery.

That could keep Bryan out of the ring anywhere between six and 12 months, which would likely force him to miss both the Royal Rumble in January and WrestleMania XXXI in March. Per Davis, there is even some concern that the leader of the Yes Movement will never be able to wrestle again.

F4WOnline (h/t WrestlingInc.com) paints a more optimistic picture by ruling Bryan out for the Rumble, but reporting that he is not currently in danger of missing WrestleMania.

This news comes on the heels of Bryan's wife, Brie Bella, revealing that her husband would not need a second surgery during recent promotional work for Total Divas.

Bryan's status has been somewhat of a roller-coaster ride, however, as Bryan said during June's Money in the Bank Kickoff show that a second surgery was possible:

If Bryan is forced to miss an extended period of time in addition to the five months he has already been dormant for, then one can only assume that it significantly alters WWE's plans. Bryan was likely a co-favorite to win the Rumble match along with Roman Reigns with the winner potentially going on to main event WrestleMania against Brock Lesnar.

Missing the Rumble would probably sink Bryan's chances of main eventing WWE's biggest show, and sitting out WrestleMania would most definitely hurt the level of star power on the card.

Bryan was arguably the most popular person in wrestling prior to his injury, so it couldn't have possibly come at a worse time. With the product currently floundering, WWE officials and fans alike are undoubtedly hopeful that the ultimate underdog will find a way to defy expectations and return ahead of schedule.

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