Daniel Bryan announces his retirement on twitter.

[Death From Above]

Literally moments ago through twitter.

 

https://twitter.com/WWEDanielBryan/status/696757295879819264

 

Sad news but obviously you have to take care of your health first.

[MFoy]

I'm not sure if this should go in the WWE section, but I feel like it deserves its own thread at the very least...

 

https://twitter.com/WWEDanielBryan/status/696757295879819264

[Strummer]

hopefully they give him free reign in his promo tonight. No heel interruption bullshit either. Sad but expected news

[Matt D]

It's wrestling. Every single person here will have that tinge in the back of their mind of "Is it a work?" until it happens, logic be damned. It's the best and the worst thing about wrestling.

[Death From Above]

I take it at face value because Bryan's twitter hasn't been very wrestle-y in quite a while. A lot of shots of home life, VEGETABLES, stuff like that.

 

A real shame but you have to do what's best for your health.

[Strummer]

if he's interrupted by by a heel it's obviously a work. My first inclination is that's its legit but I wouldn't be surprised if it was a work

[Coffey]

Every single person here will have that tinge in the back of their mind of "Is it a work?" until it happens, logic be damned.

 

Yeah, this is definitely where I'm at.

 

Edit: An hour and forty-five minutes later, I definitely no longer think a work is a possibility, sadly.

Edited February 8, 2016 by Coffey

[C.S.]

Devastating but inevitable news. When he wasn't cleared and brought back after ALL those other injuries, I think we all kinda knew this was the end of the road for Daniel Bryan. The haircut and shave all but confirmed it.

[Loss]

Yep. I suspect it's the real deal, but in the back of my mind, I also think it would be a HELL of an angle to set up a big Wrestlemania match. A heel antagonizes him just when he seems ready to finally walk away.

 

Still, that's not what this is. It's in the back of my mind, but this is the real deal.

[Strummer]

it sounds trivial but yeah I think cutting his hair was him finally realizing it was over

[Microstatistics]

The right decision (assuming it is real), health should be the priority and we don't want him to end up like Dynamite Kid or worse, Misawa.

[The Chief]

It's worth noting that you can mark the steep decline in the quality of the shows with when Bryan stopped appearing on them. What a kick to the gut. This sucks, but that's life. Hope he lives a long, healthy life.

[Strummer]

Coach just tweeted Bryan will be on ESPN Tuesday at 9 PM. Yeah def. leaning that this is legit

[Migs]

The immediate setup in the Tweet of "tonight on Raw..." gives me some hope for a work.

[Edwin]

I'm almost certain this is real, even though I'm hoping it's a work.

 

The only reason I can see anyone believing it's a work is because why would he announce it on Twitter instead of just making a surprise appearance and having him announce it as a surprise.

[Loss]

I guess because they already did a tease like that at the end of 2014 and didn't want to get everyone's hopes up.

[Death From Above]

I'm almost certain this is real, even though I'm hoping it's a work.

 

The only reason I can see anyone believing it's a work is because why would he announce it on Twitter instead of just making a surprise appearance and having him announce it as a surprise.

 

My response to that is why should WWE pass on popping a rating for Bryan's "last" (haha) appearance? Real sports do this constantly TUNE IN TO SEE PLAYER X'S LAST GAME. No reason wrestling should work any differently on this.

 

Down the road I could see Bryan being a good face Authority Figure. I also see him being a guy that could take the Shawn Michaels once-a-year-or-so guest referee spot.

[Matt D]

I guess because they already did a tease like that at the end of 2014 and didn't want to get everyone's hopes up.

Maybe when news got out that he'd be on the show, they felt like they had to control the message quickly.

[Benbeeach]

Might chop onions tonight

[Frankensteiner]

Wasn't there just news about Bryan trying to give notice to WWE only to find out he couldn't because of an injury clause? I don't keep up with news very much so that could be bullshit... but if he wants out, would announcing his retirement be another avenue to get out of the contract?

[Loss]

Dave clarified this on his breaking audio today. He asked for the release months ago and was told he couldn't ask for one by Vince. It's just that it was only recently reported because that story only recently got out.

[Grimmas]

Wasn't there just news about Bryan trying to give notice to WWE only to find out he couldn't because of an injury clause? I don't keep up with news very much so that could be bullshit... but if he wants out, would announcing his retirement be another avenue to get out of the contract?

Meltzer said he asked for release, but was denied.

[Mando]

Anyone recall what his last televised match was offhand?

[Luchaundead]

Anyone recall what his last televised match was offhand?

 

 

Tag match with Kid and Cesaro I think on a smack down forgot his partner (edit it was Cena THE BELLA BROS!!!)

[Al]

Sucks, but I'd much rather see him retire than wrestle longer and end up hurt.