Following his retirement on Raw a few weeks ago, there has been online speculation that Daniel Bryan might have used retirement as a way to get out of his WWE contract.
It’s no secret that Bryan wanted to return to the ring prior to his retirement, and we reported that he even asked WWE for his release so he could return to the independent scene if WWE wouldn’t clear him to return.
Dave Meltzer of F4WOnline.com shot down speculation that Bryan might have used retirement to return to the ring outside of WWE, and Meltzer added the following:
“If you think Bryan outsmarted Vince by retiring to end the freeze on his contract, well, I can tell you for sure you’re wrong on that one. Retirement had no affect on the terms of his deal.”
Daniel Bryan
WWE Superstar Daniel Bryan!
Daniel Bryan
DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 08: WWE Superstar Daniel Bryan flys off the ropes during the WWE Smackdown Live Tour at Westridge Park Tennis Stadium on July 08, 2011 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Steve Haag/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
Daniel Bryan
DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA - JULY 08: Daniel Bryan (Bryan Danielson) (R) and Tiger Raj Singh (Jinder Mahal) in action during the WWE Smackdown Live Tour at Westridge Park Tennis Stadium on July 08, 2011 in Durban, South Africa (Photo by Steve Haag/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
Daniel Bryan
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - AUGUST 13: Daniel Bryan attends WWE SummerSlam Press Conference at Beverly Hills Hotel on August 13, 2013 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Valerie Macon/Getty Images)
Daniel Bryan
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - AUGUST 15: Wrestler Daniel Bryan attends WWE & E! Entertainment's "SuperStars For Hope" at the Beverly Hills Hotel on August 15, 2013 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for WWE)
Daniel Bryan & Brie Bella
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - AUGUST 15: (L-R) WWE Diva Brie Bella and wrestler Daniel Bryan attends the WWE SummerSlam VIP Party at Beverly Hills Hotel on August 15, 2013 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Earl Gibson III/WireImage)
Daniel Bryan
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - AUGUST 15: Wrestler Daniel Bryan attends the WWE SummerSlam VIP party at Beverly Hills Hotel on August 15, 2013 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic)
Daniel Bryan
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - AUGUST 13: WWE Superstar Daniel Bryan attends the WWE SummerSlam Press Conference on August 13, 2013 at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Barry King/FilmMagic)
Daniel Bryan, John Cena & Triple H
BEVERLY HILLS, CA - AUGUST 13: (L-R) WWE Superstars John Cena, Triple H and Daniel Bryan pose at the WWE SummerSlam Press Conference on August 13, 2013 at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Barry King/FilmMagic)
Daniel Bryan & Brie Bella
LOS ANGELES, CA - AUGUST 10: WWE Diva Brie Bella (L) and WWE Superstar Daniel Bryan attend FOX's 2014 Teen Choice Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on August 10, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
Daniel Bryan & Brie Bella
NEW ORLEANS, LA - APRIL 03: Daniel Bryan (L) and Brie Bella attend WWE's 2014 SuperStars For Kids at the New Orleans Museum of Art on April 3, 2014 in New Orleans. (Photo by Josh Brasted/WireImage)