Daniel Bryan may be forced to vacate the WWE world heavyweight title after revealing that he is due to undergo neck surgery.
The world champion will go under the knife on Thursday, and informed fans of the planned operation during a segment on Monday Night Raw.
Bryan neglected to offer a timetable for his return to action, and while the company have yet to officially announce the title situation, it is likely that he will have to drop the belt during his convalescence.
The 32-year-old captured the title in a triple-threat match against Batista and Randy Orton at Wrestlemania XXX last month.