In an appearance on the official Bella Twins Podcast, WWE SmackDown Superstar Daniel Bryan announced that in a few months he will retire as a full-time competitor. Bryan's contract is up later this year, leaving many wondering what is next for the leader of the "Yes!" movement.
Although Bryan says he will "always love wrestling" and wants to continue "to do wrestling," his in-ring career may soon transition into a part-time routine. While it will be disappointing to see less of the "Yes!" man in the future, all in all, fewer Daniel Bryan appearances may create greater rewards for everyone.
First and foremost, a part-time Daniel Bryan keeps him healthy, mentally and physically. It was only three years ago when medical issues stemming from concussions forced Daniel Bryan to retire from the ring. While he may have come out of retirement in 2018, after being medically cleared, the seriousness of his prior concussions cannot be understated. For Bryan, the risk of suffering another concussion is high, not even counting all the other injuries Bryan has already sustained over the years. With a part-time schedule, Bryan can minimize the risk of injury and prolong his wrestling career.
Shortening Bryan's WWE schedule will not only ease the wear and tear on his body, but lessen his mental stress as well. Bryan is a father now and has another child on the way. With a part-time schedule, he can spend more time enjoying his newfound passion of being a dad. A full-time WWE schedule is extremely difficult, especially for wrestlers trying to spend time with their family. With a part-time schedule, much of this mental stress will be alleviated. He'll have more time to spend with his family and will be able to enjoy a semi-normal life at home instead of a restless one constantly on the road.
While this part-time change will certainly be beneficial to Daniel Bryan, the rabid wrestling fan won't feel abandoned. Bryan said he'd still like to wrestle maybe once even month or two, and even an annual match at WrestleMania should satisfy his hungry fans. Considering the reaction to returning superstars like Edge, John Cena and Goldberg, a Daniel Bryan return could become just as exciting as those have been. Imagine the excitement of a returning Daniel Bryan facing a rising full-time superstar, much in the same vein as the anticipation generated by the Cena versus The Fiend or A.J. Styles versus The Undertaker matches. Less is more in WWE, and keeping him from being overexposed would make a Daniel Bryan match feel like a special attraction.
While the preservation of his mental and physical health are the major benefits, extending Bryan's in-ring mileage allows him to permanently retire on his own terms. Injuries forced retirement upon him in 2016, but a part-time schedule leaves a greater chance for him to eventually walk away from the ring for good when he wants, against the opponent he wants. Retirement matches such as Steve Austin versus The Rock at WrestleMania 19 and Shawn Michaels versus Ric Flair at WrestleMania 24 were both special attractions for the WWE and emotional events for the participating superstars. Protecting his health helps make a future retirement match for Bryan a stronger possibility, and one that a superstar of his caliber deserves.
Granted, there are plenty of passionate fans that loathe the part-time superstar "taking the spot of a full-time superstar," and some of those arguments are valid. However, this isn't about taking someone's spot on the card, it's about Daniel Bryan's health. Bryan's long list of injuries not only put his wrestling career in danger, but threatened his very life itself. Certainly, fans would rather see Bryan wrestle on a limited basis than not at all, and, certainly, fans would rather see Daniel Bryan healthy rather than afflicted with a serious, life-altering injury. For those still pondering if a part-time schedule for Daniel Bryan has more benefits than not, the answer should be a resounding "YES! YES! YES!"