WWE

YES! YES!! YES!!!

Four-time WWE world champ Daniel Bryan is BACK -- medically cleared to return to the ring after over 2 years away from pro wrestling ... the WWE just announced.

The 36-year-old was forced into an early retirement in Feb. 2016 after suffering "at least 10" concussions and post-concussive seizures ... but the WWE says he's got the green light to strap on the boots after seeing a number of leading neurosurgeons and neurologists, as well as WWE's Medical Director.

Bryan has been serving as the General Manager of 'SmackDown Live' ... but this effectively opens the door for him to be an active competitor at WrestleMania 34 in April.

Anyone dumb enough to call out Brock Lesnar -- like UFC star Francis Ngannou -- is gonna end up with a 1-way ticket to the ER ... so says Brock's advocate.

We got Paul Heyman in Dallas after 'Monday Night Raw' ... just hours after Lesnar laid a VICIOUS beating on WWE superstar Roman Reigns -- which got Reigns carted off on a stretcher.

Heyman told us that's the fate that awaits Ngannou, and any UFC and WWE heavyweight that steps up to The Beast.

"It's one thing to ask for a fight with Brock Lesnar. It’s a whole different story when you actually have to FIGHT Brock Lesnar. Just watch the footage," Paul told TMZ Sports.

We did. It's nasty. That said, we've also seen Francis nearly decapitate a man inside the Octagon.

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson admits he's got daddy issues -- as in, getting his dad a brand new whip ... on doctor's orders.

His father, retired pro wrestler Rocky Johnson, posed next to a shiny brand new Cadillac Escalade ... which Dwayne purchased. As The Rock explained, "My pops just had his hip replaced and called me and said 'Hey Mr. D the surgeon really feels like I should have a bigger car since my hip rehab.' I cut my dad off and just started laughing because I knew what he was hustling for."

Dwayne says he told the senior WWE legend to pick out whatever car he wants ... and a few hours later, he sent this pic flossing next to his brand new ride.

He admits his dad used to kick his ass around the gym, and says, "I hated it when I was a kid, but grateful for it as a man." Dwayne called the SUV a small thank-you for the ass kickings his father gave him in the gym when he was growing up.

It's hip to be The Rock's Pop.

WWE Hall of Fame inductee Hillbilly Jim says he'd be PUMPED if his old mentor, Hulk Hogan, enshrined him into the Hall ... since he owes his career to the Hulkster.

"When I first came into the business, to get brushed up against the guy that was the most popular wrestler on earth ... it was wonderful what he did for me," Jim told TMZ Sports.

Hillbilly was just announced as part of WWE's 2018 HOF class ... and he told us the news was so shocking, it damn near knocked him on his ass.

HBJ says the only thing cooler than joining all his wrestling buds in the Hall would be Hulk himself doing the honors at WrestleMania 34 weekend in April.

Only problem -- the WWE recently restated it won't work with Hulk 'cause of his 2015 N-word fiasco. Hogan, for his part, recently told us they're working toward a resolution.

WWE superstar Lana wasn't satisfied with your average Thursday night out ... so, she hopped on stage at an iconic L.A. gay bar and put on a POLE DANCING CLINIC.

And yes, there was plenty of twerking.

The Ravishing Russian hit The Abbey in West Hollywood yesterday ... and showed off all her best moves in a pair of extra-stretchy denims -- shakin' her hips and droppin' it low like her life depended on it!!

No sign of her pro wrestler husband, Rusev ... guessing this was Ladies Night based on all the screaming chicks in the front row.

Fun fact: Lana was actually a backup dancer for huge stars like Nelly, Usher and Jason Derulo before she crossed over to the WWE.

We like this better.

The Miz has had a change of heart about CM Punk's UFC career -- now, he's SUPPORTING the guy ... despite mocking Punk after his brutal debut loss back in 2016.

Remember, the DAY after Punk lost to Mickey Gall at UFC 203 ... Miz and Dolph Ziggler spoofed the fight on "WWE Backlash."

But now with Punk returning to the Octagon at UFC 225 in June, Miz says he won't make fun of Punk anymore.

Instead, Miz says Punk should be APPLAUDED for chasing his dream ... adding, "I hope he does well."

He also says Punk doesn't give a crap about all the haters because, "if you come from WWE, you have a thick skin because you're hated on all day, every day."

The big question ... will Miz ever follow Punk's footsteps and take a real MMA fight, too?

One of the frontrunners to fight CM Punk is making his case for the big-money bout ... saying he'll make it an unforgettable scrap -- by knocking Punk the hell out!!

We spoke with MMA fighter/personality Mike "The Truth" Jackson after confirming Punk was taking a 2nd fight at UFC 225... and he dropped some real talk about why he should get to knuckle up the former WWE superstar.

"It's styles, it's personalities, it's somebody who's gonna sell the fight," Jackson told TMZ Sports. "Let's make money, Dana!"

As for the likelihood of Mike getting the call ... he says he's already chatted with a UFC matchmaker and Punk's coach, but "nothing is set in stone."

That said, they're both 0-1 and got wrecked by the same fighter in their UFC debuts (Mickey Gall) ... plus, we found video proof he can cut a promo!

Ronda Rousey has essentially announced her retirement from MMA -- even though she won't officially say the words, "I'm retired."

It all went down on the 'Ellen' show (airs Tuesday) -- when Ellen asked Ronda if she'll ever go back to the UFC.

"I don't know," Ronda said ... "I think it's just as likely as me going back to another Olympics for judo."

FYI, Rousey won a bronze medal in judo in the 2008 Summer Olympics. She began her MMA fighting career in 2010. And let's face it, she ain't going back to judo.

"No one demanded a written resignation from me for judo and I don't really think the same thing is necessary for fighting."

"I'm just doing what I enjoy and WWE is what I enjoy right now."

Former "Blue's Clues" host Steve Burns is ready to take on 16-time WWE champ John Cena for his old post when the beloved Nickelodeon show is rebooted later this year.

Steve, who hosted "Blue's Clues" for 7 years, told us part of the magic of the show was that there was an average Joe in the driver's seat. So far, Nickelodeon hasn't announced who's gonna be the new host, and Steve's still in the running, but production is strongly considering a female stepping in to fill Steve's old, green-striped polo.

Cena auditioned for the hosting gig during the reboot announcement in a green-striped polo, too. Unclear if it was for real or not, but Steve seems up for the fight regardless.

WWE superstar Jeff Hardy -- one half of the Hardy Boyz -- was arrested Saturday night after cops say he drunkenly crashed his car in North Carolina while THREE TIMES the legal limit.

According to the police report, obtained by TMZ Sports, the 40-year-old was involved in a single-car crash and admitted to being the driver of the 2016 Cadillac CTS-V sedan.

Cops say he submitted to a breath test and blew a .25 -- more than three times the legal limit. He was immediately booked for misdemeanor Driving While Intoxicated and is due back in court in April.

WWE addressed the arrest, saying ... "Jeff Hardy is responsible for his own personal actions. We are investigating the matter and awaiting information from local law enforcement officials."

Hardy has a history with the law ... back in 2011, he served time in jail stemming from a 2009 cocaine and prescription pill arrest.

Take a step back, Ronda Rousey haters -- Diamond Dallas Page says Rowdy's gonna be just fine ... even though her mic work for WWE's been sorta shaky thus far.

"Give the girl a break, man," DDP told TMZ Sports. "It's a lot of pressure going in, but that girl thrives on pressure."

DDP would know -- the pro wrestling legend says he faced the same acting issues coming into the biz ... but eventually settled in, just like he thinks Ronda will once she gets some more reps under her belt.

Of course, some athletes are born entertainers ... and DDP says Ronda's ex-UFC bro, Conor McGregor, definitely has that gift.

"If anyone really gets the showmanship, it's McGregor."

But, will WWE fans ever get to hear Conor slay the mic inside the squared circle? DDP ain't so sure about that ...

The Miz thinks Ronda Rousey's been AWESOME in WWE so far ... but says she's making enemies with the "wrong people" -- HER BOSSES.

We got Miz and his beautiful wife, Maryse, leaving Il Pastio in L.A. the other night ... and had to ask about Ronda -- who's been rampin' up her ring work on "Monday Night Raw."

The A-Lister gave Rousey 2 thumbs up ... but warned that body-slammin' her superiors (including one through a damn table) ain't gonna end well for her.

"I think she's messing with the wrong people in Triple H and Stephanie McMahon," Miz told TMZ Sports.

We know -- you think Miz is hammin' it up for his character, right??

Watch Ronda woman-handle Steph ... then get back to us.

Break out your overalls and your floppy country hat ... 'cause Hillbilly Jim is going to the WWE Hall of Fame -- and the wrestling legend tells TMZ Sports he could hardly believe it!

"I wasn't expecting it! It hit me from the clear blue," Jim says ... "It's like the cherry on top of the ice cream sundae. It's as good as I could ever hope for."

Jim primarily appeared on the WWE (it was WWF back then) from 1984 to 1991 -- famously teaming up with his good buddy, Hulk Hogan, and other stars like Randy Savage.

Hillbilly says he's truly honored to be joining wrestling gods -- and friends of his -- like Andre the Giant, Captain Lou Albano, Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, "Classy" Freddie Blassie, The Fabulous Moolah and Roddy Piper.

He also walks us through the moment he got the call from WWE -- it's pretty emotional stuff!

Ex-ESPN anchor Jonathan Coachman is firing back against allegations he was a sexual predator during his time at the network ... saying he's the victim of "vicious lies."

Coachman -- who now works for WWE -- was mentioned in a lawsuit filed by ex-ESPN legal analyst Adrienne Lawrence ... who claims Coachman was part of the "misogynistic and predatory culture" at the network.

Specifically, Lawrence claimed Coachman hit on her and employed tactics from the "ESPN predator's playbook." She claimed Coachman was a notorious sexual harasser at the office.

Lawrence is suing ESPN, not Coachman personally.

But, Coachman is furious and has finally responded to the allegations.

"In 21 years of being a PROFESSIONAL I have never been more offended in my life," Coachman says.

"In my 9 years I can count on one hand the amount of times I interacted with anyone other than a co-anchor. To allow someone to spread vicious lies and flat out fabrications is not ok and it’s time someone stood up for themselves."

"I am also offended that someone can dangerously throw peoples’ names into something for the clear attempt at getting headlines."

Cain Velasquez ain't really gunnin' for a WWE career -- so says his BFF, Daniel Cormier ... who tells us Cain's Brock Lesnar call-out at "Elimination Chamber" was just for fun.

Velasquez, who beat Brock for the UFC heavyweight championship back in 2010, hit up his first WWE event with Cormier last weekend ... and teased a fight with the Beast inside the squared circle.

"I could feel at home here! Brock Lesnar, I wouldn't mind taking another belt from you," Cain said on social media.

But Daniel tells TMZ Sports Cain was messin' around -- 'cause that's the kinda guy he is when he's not smashing his opponents' faces in.

That said, Cormier says Cain is dead set on making his UFC comeback this summer -- and wants to fight on the same card he's headlining vs. Stipe Miocic (UFC 226).

As for his opponent ... DC says that's TBD -- but we all know the door's open for Brock to return.