As expected, WWE fans are still buzzing about the news that WWE has finally cleared Daniel Bryan to return to in-ring competition.

It’s not something many thought would happen, as it seemed like Bryan would see out the remainder of his WWE contract as the SmackDown LIVE general manager before leaving to another promotion to return to in-ring action.

CLEARANCE

While he might still leave when his contract expires in September, fans are looking forward to the inevitable WrestleMania comeback where he’s expected to team up with Shane McMahon to battle Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn in a tag team match.

CREATIVE PLANS

According to Ringside News, the reason this was brought forward was because the plan was to have Bryan’s evaluation on March 27, before SmackDown. However, this would have given the company only two weeks to work on their WrestleMania creative plans if Bryan has been unable to receive medical clearance.

Had Dr. Joseph Maroon not cleared Bryan, WWE’s creative team would then shift their focus away from his WrestleMania plans and instead begin working on plans to write him off television as the SmackDown LIVE general manager.

Ringside News have also made a note from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter than it was likely that Vince McMahon himself is the one who made the decision to have the medical evaluation a week earlier than planned.

This is so that they would have more time to build any angles featuring Bryan, whether it was his WrestleMania plans or ways to get him off television and wait for his contract to expire in September.

With Bryan now able to compete, fans will be hoping he signs a new deal so he can take part in some huge matches in WWE.

What do you make of WWE’s reasons for having Daniel Bryan’s medical evaluation one week sooner than planned? Have YOUR say in the comments section below.