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VIDEO: Daniel Bryan confirms retirement from WWE on 'RAW'

WWE/Twitter

It wasn't a work. It wasn't used to further a storyline. It wasn't done to troll fans.

WWE superstar Daniel Bryan has officially retired as an in-ring competitor, just like he said he would on his Twitter account.

The 34-year-old gave his retirement speech in front of a hometown crowd at the Key Arena in Seattle during "Monday Night Raw" on Monday.

Bryan continuously emphasized how grateful he was for his legendary wrestling career, but due to a series of concussions and the risk for long-term brain damage, he needed to step away from the industry he held so near and dear to his heart for over 16 years.

"The truth is, I've been wrestling since I was 18 years old, and within the first five months of my wrestling career, I'd already had three concussions," Bryan said. "For years after that, I would get a concussion here and there ... and then it gets to the point when you've been wrestling for 16 years, that adds up to a lot of concussions. It gets to a point where they tell you that you can't wrestle anymore. For a long time, I fought that, because I'd gotten EEGs and brain MRIs and neuropsychological evaluations, and all of them said this: I was fine, and I could come back and wrestle."

"A week and a half ago, I took a test that said maybe my brain isn't as OK as I thought it was. I have a family to think about; my wife and I want to start having kids soon."

The former WWE World Heavyweight Champion had his mother and sister sitting ringside as he shared his final moments with the WWE universe in front of a sold-out crowd. He was eventually joined by his wife, Diva Brie Bella, who joined her husband in a "YES!" chant as "Raw" went off the air.

After the cameras stopped rolling, the entire roster came out to the stage to show their respect to one of the most popular superstars WWE has ever had. Even chairman Vince McMahon was present for the farewell, giving Bryan a giant hug before he headed to the back.

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