WWE star Daniel Bryan has admitted that he was disappointed not to have won Sunday's Royal Rumble.

Bryan was forced to vacate the world heavyweight title last year due to a neck injury, and spent nine months on the sidelines before returning earlier this month.

The former Ring of Honour star said that a Rumble triumph would have been the perfect scenario to set up a WrestleMania clash with current champion Brock Lesnar.

Bryan said on Monday Night Raw: "This entire time I've been injured, I've been aiming for the Royal Rumble and I'd been thinking: 'Brock Lesnar - what a perfect opponent, right?'

"I never lost that title, I never lost it. And he's the ultimate Goliath and I'm the ultimate David, and this is a perfect story put on a silver platter and I thought, 'Man, this is my perfect opportunity.

"I was disappointed Roman Reigns won - but not because it was Roman Reigns, because it wasn't me. Now granted, I didn't have The Rock helping me out. Granted, WWE didn't ever 'feed me as a kid'. But Roman Reigns took advantage of the whole situation."

Bryan won the title at WrestleMania XXX last April.