Daniel Bryan laments 'Royal Rumble' result

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.