WWE Intercontinental Champion Daniel Bryan has been pulled out of WWE shows through the end of June and the company released a statement saying it doesn't know when "The Beard" will return.
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Less than a month after winning the Intercontinental Championship in a seven-man Ladder Match at WrestleMania 31 as part of the WWE's efforts to make its midcard titles mean something again, Bryan was pulled from the European tour and then written off of last Sunday's Extreme Rules event.
It's unknown what ails Bryan, but it likely has to do with the neck injury that sidelined him for most of 2014 following his big WWE World Heavyweight Championship victory at WrestleMania XXX.
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WWE.com posted an article about Bryan's health and while the update was vague, the feature pondered whether the title should be taken off of Bryan.
"Perhaps The Authority should, in fact, step in," reads WWE.com. "Bryan himself has proclaimed that a titleholder needs to be a fighting champion, always ready to give the WWE Universe the show they deserve. If the bearded Superstar can't provide that level of competition due to injury or otherwise, even he would argue it's only fair that he should step aside for someone else who can."
The article also stated that perhaps Bryan will be fine and return quickly from the latest post-WrestleMania setback.
"It's very possible that this swell of speculation is all for nothing. Certainly, The Beard could emerge on Raw or SmackDown, this week or the next, to clarify that he's ready to return - be it after a few more weeks of recoup or, better still, that he is good to go now," the company wrote. "In that case, there then would remain one more very important question: Should Bryan come back to defend the title, will he be the same athlete that we have come to know?"
The article also commented on the rumors that Bryan may have to tone down his in-ring style should he return.
"For instance, could a reemerging WWE's "Yes!" Man be forced to change his style in order to continue to compete? Might he take on more of a brawling style rather the oft-aerial technical specialist we have come to know and love? Though we are sure Bryan himself would answer his naysayers with a resounding "No!" until a clear answer is provided, the WWE Universe waits with bated breath to see its Intercontinental Champion restored and fighting to the tune of "Yes!" in mass unison. Will WWE fans learn of Daniel Bryan's (and the Intercontinental Championship's) fate ahead? Stick with WWE programming and WWE.com for the latest updates."
It remains to be seen when exactly Bryan will be back in the ring.
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