WWE Superstar Daniel Bryan underwent successful neck surgery on Thursday in Pittsburgh, Pa. with Dr. James Maroon, and the company is eying an August return for the WWE World Heavyweight Champion.

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WWE announced on its official website that Bryan was already out of bed following the successful surgery on Thursday and that he was in a soft neck brace. Bryan expects to leave the hospital within 1-2 days.

According to the company's report, a lingering nerve issue in Bryan's neck caused a need for the creator of the "YES! Movement" to undergo a cervical foraminotomy in order to decompress the root of the nerve. Bryan sustained a minor broken neck from constant wear and tear over the course of his career due to his in-ring style.

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The doctors went in through the back of Bryan's neck and performed the procedure to stave off the eventual collapse of a spinal disc. While the WWE hasn't provided an official timetable for his return, the surgery usually sidelines athletes from physical activity for two-to-three months.

While they aren't officially announcing it, the WWE is working under the impression that Bryan will return for the Aug. 17 SummerSlam event.

It was initially believed that Bryan would hang onto the WWE World Heavyweight Championship despite missing 2-3 months with the injury, but the WWE will announce the status of the belt on Monday Night RAW this week.

It's been an up-and-down time for Bryan as he won the title at WrestleMania XXX on April 6 and then married Brie Bella, but upon returning from his honeymoon he learned of his father's passing and shortly after lost his friend and fan in young Connor "Crusher" Michalek to cancer. The neck injury is the newest set-back for the WWE Champion.

A definitive timetable for his return and the status of the title isn't known yet, but Bryan at least underwent successful surgery and is on the road to recovery.

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