Not a dry eye in the wrestling world held together today as WWE superstar Daniel Bryan ended his in-ring career on Monday Night Raw with an emotional speech.
The 34 year old turned to the audience in Seattle in his home state of Washington as his vale farewell. He shared some startling details about his injury history.
“I’ve been wrestling since I was 18 and in my first five months I had three concussions,” said Bryan, who was famous for his technical yet risky style.
Various others were added to that count over the years: “At some point you are 16 years in and it adds up to many concussions”. Bryan also added that he had been told many times previouslyt that he should no longer compete.
Bryan also recalled how long he had been fighting against the said judgment of the WWE neurologist Joseph Maroon – among others he had the charge of the head injuries specialist and Super Bowl doctor from 2015 as well as doctors at the University UCLA consulted who allegedly gave him both the release.


The WWE however relied on Maroon, certainly because of the particular sensitivity of the head injury.

“I took a test that said that maybe my brain isn’t as ok as I thought it was.”

Another study recently may have been what finally brought Bryan to decide on retirement. “But, a week and a half ago, I took a test that said that maybe my brain isn’t as ok as I thought it was. And, I have a family to think about, and my wife and I want to start having kids soon…”
His final speech is extremely real and full of emotion, without typing the entire transcript of his speech it is best summed up in his conclusion: “Grateful. I am very grateful. I am grateful because wrestling doesn’t owe me or anybody back there, it doesn’t owe us anything. WWE doesn’t owe us anything. Nobody owes… you guys don’t owe us anything. We do this because we love to do this. And then, it was strange because I did this because I love to do this, and then all of a sudden you guys just got behind me in a way that I never thought was possible. In a way that fans shouldn’t necessarily get behind a guy who is 5’8 and a 190 pounds. You guys got behind me in a way that made me feel that I was more than just me, and for that I’m grateful.”


He went on to talk about his father who passed away not long after his wedding: “My dad was sitting right over there where the guy with the goat mask with the ‘Daniel Bryan’ sign is standing right now. And, my dad got to see that. His son getting that kind of reaction from all you people… And that was the last time my dad got to see me wrestle, and you guys made it special for him and for me and for my entire family. I am grateful.”
Bryan was subsequently hugged by his wife Brie Bella, in his final moment as a WWE wrestler he led the crowd in one last Yes! chant before leaving to begin his new life outside the ring.


Thank you Daniel Bryan.