http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/14749702/wwe-superstar-daniel-bryan-leaves-lasting-legacy
https://twitter.com/WWEDanielBryan?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
Due to medical reasons, effective immediately, I am announcing my retirement. Tonight on Raw, I'll have a chance to elaborate. #gratitude
Daniel Bryan is widely beloved by fans and is regarded as the most popular wrestler in the modern era. This news came to a shock to most fans who thought he would return to the ring after two successful concussion exams. But after a new test in New York, one using a more modern procedure, he finally decided to retire. His brain was more injured than expected and, wanting to build a family and good future, decided to hang the trunks up (or in his case shave the beard).
For those of you who are fans, I'm sure we are all sharing our pain but giving respects to the great man and wishing him a great future out of the ring. For those of you who aren't, well there is another matter for you to indulge and debate.
Daniel's retirement sheds new light on the matter of concussions in contact sports, such as MMA and American Football. The test he took showed more damage that previous tests didn't show and his decision to retire shows the seriousness of this damage. This test could change the face of contact sports forever. It's a given that most contact sports athletes have received a concussion before, but how much damage has been done to their brains? Would players consider retiring early to save their minds? How will sports team owners deal with players when they are in effect risking their mental health? Will there be more safety and rules to deal with head injuries?
In pro wrestling, at least, its easy to mitigate head injuries. Being more show than sports, they can avoid head shots and moves that attack the head. But MMA? When one of the ways to win is to knock your opponent out (give them a concussion), you can't avoid it. And how will American Football handle it?
In this way, another chapter in the history of concussions has been added, and I'm not sure how contact sports are gonna deal with this.
So, what say ye NSG? Ban contact sports forever ?