Daniel Bryan injury update: WWE champion likely out 6-8 weeks, could return at SummerSlam

WWE Champion Daniel Bryan; RAW May 12, 2014

Photo Credit: WWE.com

As seen on Monday night’s edition of RAW, WWE World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan came out an announced to the crowd, and the entire world watching on television, that he will be undergoing neck surgery this Thursday. The news leaked just before RAW went on the air, and Bryan just confirmed that news with his promo on Monday.

Since then, though, there have been a lot of questions surrounding not only his status, but the status of the title, and PWInsider has some new information regarding that.

While the procedure that Bryan will be undergoing is minor, the injury itself is not. According to the report via WrestlingRumors.net, Bryan has a small fracture in the neck that they’re going to be repairing on Thursday.

"PWInsider has provided a major update on the situation with Bryan. The word backstage is that Bryan is suffering from a broken neck. However, the fracture is described as minor and something that will not require complex surgery, like neck fusion surgery. Instead, Bryan’s procedure on Thursday is expected to be a simple one."

When news of the injury first got out, there was optimism that Bryan could return for the Payback special event on June 1. However, if this is a fracture, the best-case scenario that the company is looking at is a return in time for SummerSlam this August.

"The website also echoes our previous report from F4WOnline that Bryan will likely miss the next six-to-eight weeks of action. On May 12, at “Monday Night Raw,” WWE officials were eying for Bryan to return at “SummerSlam.”"

While all injuries in the professional wrestling business are serious, neck injuries are a whole other animal. Stone Cold Steve Austin, Rick Rude and countless others have had their careers cut short by neck issues. Therefore, Bryan should take all the time that he needs, even if it forces the company into taking the title from him.

Hell, in the end if the recovery goes perfectly, there’s a flawless storyline put in place for when Bryan is healthy and ready to take back the title that he never lost in the ring.