Let’s all exhale together: Daniel Bryan is medically cleared

Given his history, any reports of Daniel Bryan being injured are enough to make fans nervous. But after three weeks on the shelf, he’s finally cleared for action.

Daniel Bryan hasn’t been seen in a WWE ring since he lost the WWE Championship to Kofi Kingston at WrestleMania. The culprit was some form of undisclosed injury, and given his history of neck surgery and concussions — and both Bryan’s and WWE’s silence on the matter — there was ample reason to be worried about the nature and severity of whatever was ailing him.

While we have no further information on Bryan’s recent injury, we do know that he’s healed enough to return to action. According to the Wrestling Observer, Bryan was medically cleared this week, which means his return to the ring and to SmackDown Live appears imminent.

The Observer also notes that Bryan’s injury and absence resulted in a change of plans for creative. Kevin Owens, who spent a week as the fill-in for Big E (who himself is shelved after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus) and honorary member of The New Day, had his heel turn accelerated. What this means for storylines going forward is unknown, beyond Owens facing Kingston for the WWE Championship at Money in the Bank on May 19.

Bryan had been advertised for upcoming editions of SmackDown, as well as the company’s May United Kingdom and European tours, but without word about his status, it all felt like wishful thinking. The mantra in pro wrestling is, after all, “card subject to change.” But WWE’s optimism was warranted; Bryan’s medical issue, whatever it was, appears to have been resolved.

Bryan — without his eco-friendly hempen WWE Championship belt and likely with his heavy, Rowan — should reemerge on SmackDown soon, perhaps as early as this upcoming Tuesday. Now, we can stop speculating on Bryan’s health and start wondering what direction his character will go now that Kingston is champion and Owens his most immediate foe.