WWE star Daniel Bryan says he's retiring, announces Raw appearance

WWE superstar Daniel Bryan, who has not been an in-ring participant with the company since April 2015 due to complications from neck injuries and concussions, announced Monday on Twitter that he will be retiring "effective immediately."

Bryan, who did not specify whether he was retiring from WWE or ending his career as an active wrestler, said he will appear on tonight's WWE's Monday Night Raw television program (8 p.m. ET, USA Network) to elaborate on his decision.

A WWE spokesman confirmed to CBS Sports that they were told Bryan's scheduled announcement on Monday from Seattle (his hometown is Aberdeen, Washington) is a "legitimate" one.

Due to medical reasons, effective immediately, I am announcing my retirement. Tonight on Raw, I'll have a chance to elaborate. #gratitude

— Daniel Bryan (@WWEDanielBryan) February 8, 2016

The timing of Bryan's decision is certainly interesting with him reportedly being approved to return to athletic competition by UCLA doctors, per The Wrestling Observer. WWE doctors had previously banned Bryan from returning to the ring due to his neck trauma and complicated concussion history, so he sought second and third opinions from specialists in hopes of getting cleared by the company's doctors and receiving a thumbs up from WWE chairman Vince McMahon.

Those involved closely with the industry have speculated that Bryan could attempt to leave WWE in order to continue wrestling elsewhere, but he remains under contract with the company. WWE has also reportedly made a number of offers to feature Bryan on television in a variety of ways outside of the ring.

Bryan, whose real name is Bryan Danielson (a flipped version of his ring name), became a popular professional wrestler during a stint with the Ring of Honor promotion in the early 2000s. His immense following and high-risk in-ring style landed him a developmental deal with WWE, where he quickly became one of the company's most popular performers.

Eventually winning the company's world heavyweight championship in late 2011, Bryan was thrust into the spotlight but was still seen by upper management as one of WWE's second-tier superstars. It was not until 2013 and a feud with WWE standard-bearer John Cena that Bryan's popularity began to explode.

His "Yes!" chant became mainstream as NFL stadiums and college basketball arenas alike would yell it during action, and Bryan's relationship with WWE diva Brie Bella earned him crossover attention in the entertainment industry.

Bryan's undeniable appeal to the masses, coupled with a variety of other major factors, gave WWE no choice but to find a way to thrust him into the main event of WrestleMania XXX and eventually have him walk out of the match as the company's champion.

A neck injury Bryan suffered at some point over the next two months eventually required surgery, and his inability to return to action in a timely fashion resulted in his title being stripped in the WWE's storyline.

Seven months after his first surgery, Bryan returned to the ring and was featured by WWE as the new face of its intercontinental title, which had largely lost relevance and been featured less prominently over the years. He won the belt in a ladder match at WrestleMania 31 but was once again unable to take advantage of the opportunity. Due to concussion-related injuries, he was forced to relinquish the title in May 2015 and has not stepped in a ring since one month prior.

At 34, Bryan will be the second WWE superstar in recent years to retire at a young age should he go through with the plan as he noted on Twitter. Adam Copeland, better known as Edge, was forced to retire in 2011 at the age of 38 due to injuries to his neck and spine.

Bryan's departure from the WWE certainly stings as the company struggles to find new top-tier superstars. Cena and fellow former world champion Randy Orton remain sidelined with injuries, as does Cesaro, another fan favorite who appeared on the cusp of being elevated into the main event picture.

WWE has done its best to book WrestleMania around these injuries, introducing independent legend A.J. Styles, bringing back Chris Jericho and announcing The Rock will appear at the show in some way, but the company is certainly stuck in a rut right now as it looks to reach a level of popularity it has not enjoyed in nearly a decade.