Daniel Bryan revealed on Monday Night RAW this week that his timetable for a return from his latest setback is unknown and as a result he forfeited the WWE Intercontinental Championship.
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Bryan won the belt in a six-man Ladder Match at WrestleMania 31 on March 29, but his latest injury has caused his reign to be cut short. Bryan also had his WWE World Heavyweight Championship reign end prematurely last year after WrestleMania XXX due to his neck injury.
According to Wrestlingheadlines.com, the decision to have Bryan vacate the Intercontinental Championship was made on May 8 following an MRI he underwent on his shoulder.
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The organization was hopeful "The Beard" would return to action by the end of May, but after the MRI results came back it became apparent that it's not possible.
After appearing on RAW this week, it isn't expected that Bryan will be on SmackDown, though there are rumors he will be live at Payback this Sunday at the Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, Md. It's likely his appearance will serve as a way to start the storyline process of crowning a new champion.
The WWE announced on its website that the vacant Intercontinental Championship and the Tag Team Championships will be decided when the Elimination Chamber event returns May 31 in Corpus Christi, TX, but further details have yet to be released.
Bryan's wife Brie Bella spoke on RAW Fallout this week about Bryan having to forfeit the gold.
"You know, it's been such a hard time," Bella said. "You know like my husband said, this is exactly what he went through last year. He accomplished his biggest dream, main eventing WrestleMania. He won the WWE World Heavyweight Title and then he lost it due to an injury and it's so sad to see him yet again have a great WrestleMania moment and then have to drop the title again just for an injury. And I will tell you one thing, my husband is the most brave, the most positive man you will ever meet. And the fact that he went out there and he really wanted to do it all because he wanted the fans to know that everything he has done this whole time here at WWE, his whole entire career is thanks to them. And that's just a man right there so for me I couldn't be a luckier woman to be with such a strong man. And you know, just like Daniel said, thank you. Thank you, WWE Universe for allowing my husband to live his dreams. And you know what? It's not the end of him. You know, with a lot of prayers we just hope we can see Daniel Bryan back in the ring."
Bella also took to Twitter to comment on Bryan's decision to forfeit the gold:
So grateful for @WWEDanielBryan he's taught me that I can overcome anything, all I have to do is believe in myself ❤️ pic.twitter.com/IFeOesaYXb
— Nikki & Brie (@BellaTwins) May 12, 2015
Coming out of RAW, here is the updated card for Payback:
WWE World Heavyweight Championship Fatal 4 Way Match
Seth Rollins (c) vs. Roman Reigns vs. Dean Ambrose vs. Randy Orton
WWE United States Championship I Quit Match
John Cena (c) vs. Rusev w/ Lana
WWE Tag Team Match 2-out-of-3 Falls
The New Day (Big E & Kofi Kingston) w/ Xavier Woods vs. Cesaro & Tyson Kidd w/ Natalya
Singles Match
Dolph Ziggler vs. Sheamus
Singles Match
Neville vs. King Barrett
Pre-Show Tag Team Match
Macho Mandow and Curis Axel vs. The Ascension (Konnor and Viktor)
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