Tag: big e

Daily Update: Big E, LA Knight, Beyond Wrestling

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

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This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

Among the topics covered:

  • The most detailed look at the sale of New Japan, what happened, the glory days that Bushiroad built and why it came down and what led to the sale.
  • Business realities of Japanese wrestling today.
  • The reason for the surprising low sale price.
  • The shareholders lawsuit against Vince McMahon and the WWE Board of Directors is getting near. Judge Travis Laster orders sanctions against Nick Khan and Vince McMahon for destruction of evidence. Laster makes a ruling, and we look at it in detail, on how this changes the trial and the exact details of the destruction of evidence including when McMahon and company knew not to do it and ignored their own lawyers. Also we look at problems with the case.
  • AEW Double of Nothing coverage. Business notes, historical biggest gates in U.S. pro wrestling, three-time world champions by 30, how the PPV did, poll results, Mick Foley and more.
  • Did Ronda Rousey set a viewing audience record for MMA, plus coverage of Rousey vs. Carano, how everything goes forward, can things be sustained, can she fight, will she fight, her thoughts on AEW.
  • Scott Coker returns to MMA with a new promotion.
  • Marcel Barthel (Ludwig Kaiser) arrested.
  • A look at the career of Jerry Grey.
  • The most detailed look at the ratings for all the TV shows over the past two weeks.
  • Mistico injury update.
  • How CMLL is doing this year compared to last year.
  • Natalia Jiminez and J Balvin appear and are part of CMLL shows.
  • Wrestlers vs. media soccer game.
  • Grande vs. Grande match looked at.
  • Major return to Stardom.
  • Champion Carnival finals.
  • NOAH tag team tournament.
  • New Japan Best of the Super Juniors tournament.
  • Hana Kimura tribute show.
  • Phil Hickerson passes away.
  • WCW announcer is the final anchor as CBS News Radio closes its doors after 99 years.
  • Death of the Laguna version of Piloto Suicida.
  • Junior Hodge Trophy winner.
  • Advance ticket sales for all major events in AEW, WWE, TNA and other indies.
  • Pro wrestler/fighter on the Rousey-Carano undercard.
  • WWE stars purchase promotion.
  • Tony Khan media appearances.
  • More thoughts on how Paramount/Skydance can affect AEW.
  • What can affect the time slot of Collision in 2027.
  • What’s next for AEW.
  • AEW star to return in the fall.
  • Latest Zuffa myths regarding Trump and UFC.
  • UFC fighter pay comes up again

This Week’s Back Issue

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Thursday Update

Big E WWE

WWE

  • Big E will be delivering a TEDx Talk in Davenport, Iowa on August 12:
    • Excited to announce that I’ll be delivering a @tedx_official talk in Davenport, IA, on August 12 at @thelastpichouse!
    • ‘How I Got Over’
    • Sharing my struggles with major depressive disorder and psychosis, and my eventual healing through medication, hospitalization, ECTs, talk therapy, and mindfulness/meditation.
  • On Insight with Chris Van Vliet, LA Knight shared that – during his brief time as Max Dupri – Vince McMahon would always tell him that he needed to speak softer:
    • Vince told me before, ‘You gotta talk soft, I don’t want you to say or do any of the things that you used to do, none of that, whatever.’ If I’m honest though, he wasn’t familiar with any of it. He didn’t know LA Knight. I think he was told a little bit…
    • That first day of introducing the Models and we’re doing the little rehearsal thing talk-through. And he comes down and he’s like, ‘I need you to talk softer.’ And I’m like, okay, well, I’m thinking like, you had me talking soft in the backstage, but like now I’m doing a presentation. I need to be a little bigger, right? To present to the people. But it’s his show. Sure. And he goes, ‘Just read me a line from there as softly as you can.’ He’s like, ‘I don’t think you can be effeminate, but try and be effeminate without being effeminate.’ What?
  • Knight said the initial impression he was given for the Dupri character was that he would take a similar trajectory to Roddy Piper in WWE, starting out as a manager before wrestling full time:
    • The bill of goods that was sold to me there was that I was going to be kind of a Roddy Piper. In the sense of when Roddy first came in, he was like a manager, a mouthpiece that then sometimes wrestled, and then eventually just became a full-time wrestler. That was kind of how it was painted to me.
    • There were some other details in there that made me think like, ‘Okay, this could be okay.’ Then it started going in directions where I was like, this is going to be awful. This is going to be pigeon-holed. We’re stuck. We’re never going to get above a certain trajectory.
  • Becky Lynch discussed her friendship with Je’Von Evans:
    • We’ve got Je’Von Evans who’s 21. He’s younger than my wrestling career. He calls me ‘mom,’ because I’m old enough to be his mom. But then I’m so proud of him. I’m like, ‘Oh son, look at you, look at you out there main eventing Elimination Chamber.’ And I just think he’s the coolest. I think he’s so awesome. Like the confidence that he has and the ability that he has and his promo, everything. I’m like, this kid’s a star.
  • Nattie praised Undertaker and Jeremy Borash for the work they’re doing behind the scenes in Lucha Libre AAA:
    • I will say that Taker and Jeremy Borash – Jeremy Borash, he works alongside Taker at AAA. A lot of people know JB as being somebody that puts together the most amazing video packages in WWE. He puts together, if you see some of the best video packages in the company, usually JB is behind a lot of them.
    • And so to see what Taker, who by the way – Taker is not known for being a luchador. When you see what Undertaker has built in just the last six months of booking at AAA alongside Jeremy Borash and, of course, the people that had been in place in Triple A that work with them. Taker is very, very collaborative.
    • I’m just blown away. Like, I think that Taker has really stepped into this new role and he is proving why his influence past the ring may be one of his greatest accomplishments.
  • WWE Hall of Famer Typhoon (Fred Ottman), who is still working through the rehab process after spending approximately a month in the hospital earlier this year when his gallbladder “exploded,” is getting ready to head back on the road for signings. His first booking is in North Carolina on July 25.
  • Sol Ruca was the guest on No-Contest Wrestling this week.
  • WWE Vault uploaded an Ultimate Warrior & Strikeforce vs. Demolition & Mr. Fuji match from the Boston Garden in 1988.

Other Wrestling

  • Rebel thanked The Young Bucks – and Matt Jackson’s wife Dana Massie – for donating their YouTube live stream proceeds from last night to her ALS fundraiser:
    • BIG thank you to you guys and Dana. My heart is filled and I am truly grateful for your prayers
  • On the stream, Matt Jackson responded to someone who said they’d like to see The Good Brothers (Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows) back in AEW:
    • I would love to do that, trust me. I may have tried to do that recently. They’re killing it right now. They’re so busy on the indies
  • Though MJF is unable to appear due to injury, Wheeler Yuta and Lio Rush have been added to Beyond Wrestling’s show in Cranston, Rhode Island this Friday night.
  • Indie promotion F1RST Wrestling will hold its annual Mall of America event on July 31 in Bloomington, Minnesota.
  • Uncrowned FIlms put together a 13-minute video on Brodie Lee Jr.’s debut at Spring Break.
  • Jonathan Gresham shared his thoughts ahead of competing in GCW’s Tournament of Survival this weekend:
    • If you had told me years ago that I’d willingly enter a deathmatch tournament, I probably would have laughed. But after returning to the ring, something changed. I felt blessed simply to be here again. Blessed to compete. Blessed to learn. Blessed to experience this life through professional wrestling.
    • That feeling opened a door in my mind.
    • I no longer want to see only one side of this art form—I want to experience all of it. Every style. Every challenge. Every lesson hidden behind a different set of ropes. Professional wrestling is a vast world, and I want to walk every path it offers.
    • So this is my next step.
    • Deathmatch wrestling.
    • I look forward to testing myself, embracing the unknown, and carrying the spirit of pure wrestling and MAG with me into an environment where it rarely exists. Different roads. Different philosophies. Same pursuit of growth.
    • As always, I am a student of the game.
    • And this weekend, the classroom just happens to be a tournament of survival.
    • With the fire and spirit of the originals, I am the foundation.

Matt Jackson says there were talks with Triple H on crossover New Day feud 

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Matt Jackson revealed The Young Bucks spoke with Triple H and WWE for a crossover match with The New Day. 

On the latest episode of their Being The Elite Vlog, The Young Bucks were reviewing footage with Kenny Omega and The New Day. Matt Jackson revealed they spoke to Triple H for a match with Kofi Kingston, Big E and Xavier Woods but it did not pan out. 

“We truly were trying to get a New Day, Young Bucks, Kenny match to happen. An Elite vs. New Day match actively. They (WWE) said they were trying on their side. We were definitely talking to our bosses. Even to the point in 2018 when we got on the phone with Triple H and we talked to him and said, ‘Hey, we would really like to do this match.’ I don’t know if he was necessarily interested in just doing that match. I think he was more interested in pursuing us to work for him, but we talked to him about it. We were serious about doing the match and we thought we’d probably be able to do it, and unfortunately we never did.” 

The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega, and New Day are video game enthusiasts and often played against each other in varied documented tournaments. While it was never particularly associated with a wrestling promotion, it was featured in their vlogs and social media platforms. 

Earlier this month, Kingston and Woods exit WWE after being reportedly requested to take pay cuts. 

Update on Big E’s future on WWE PLE kickoff shows

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

Big E is here to stay with WWE after being internally recognized as a “valuable presence.”

Days after WWE WrestleMania 42, fans saw Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods arrive at a mutual decision with WWE to leave the promotion. The two members of the New Day left WWE after the promotion allegedly sought to restructure their contracts.

Woods and Kingston’s departure also raised questions about their former teammate Big E’s future. However, according to a new report from Wrestlevotes Radio on Fightful Select, it was noted that Big E is set to continue as a part of WWE’s PLE Kickoff shows.

He is viewed internally as a “valuable presence” and a “key reason” behind the show’s success over the years.

Will WWE star Big E wrestle again?

A few years ago, Big E suffered a neck injury after taking a suplex at ringside. He has since then been sidelined from in-ring action. Working extensively on the broadcast side of WWE, there is currently no confirmed update on Big E’s in-ring return.

Although he once opened up about his retirement decision. “So after talking to [Dr. Juan Uribe] and a few other doctors, the doctor almost damn near begged me like, ‘Hey, please, even if you get your all go, you’re clear, you’re allowed to get back in the ring, please really reconsider it,‘” Big E said.

“And when I told him, ‘I think I’m definitely leaning towards being done,’ he almost quite literally breathed a sigh of relief. So for someone who’s been doing this for so long, who knows a lot more about spines and necks than I do, I definitely took heed.”

Big E reacts to Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods leaving WWE

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

Big E has reacted as his former New Day members, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods, part ways with WWE.

It was recently reported by Bryan Alvarez of WON and other media outlets that Kingston and Woods mutually decided to leave WWE.

Shortly after, their former partner Big E reacted to the release by sharing a fan art image of the New Day’s WWE departure.

The fan art features Woods and Kingston throwing their New Day attire in a trash can down an alley, based on the famous Spider-Man No More comic panel, where Peter Parker left behind his Spider-Man suit. While Woods and Kingston are no longer a part of WWE, E continues to be a part of the promotion’s broadcast team for their PLEs.

Big E was kicked out of the New Day a few years ago

A couple of years ago, in 2024, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods turned heel on an episode of Monday Night RAW, when they kicked out the former World Champion E.

E suffered a serious neck injury after a suplex from Ridge Holland a few years ago. Since then, the 40-year-old has remained out of action, while Woods and Kingston continued to be active WWE Superstars.

E, Woods, and Kingston formed New Day over a decade ago and became one of the most popular promotions in the industry. One of the most successful factions, the New Day, won around 12 Tag Team titles together.

Their release comes after WWE and TKO tried to restructure their existing contract. Their release has become a talk of the town, with several AEW names reacting to it. It is currently unknown what their plans are.

Big E not interested in WWE commentary role right now

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Big E is happy with his current WWE role and doesn’t want to get back on the road every week at the moment.

Since suffering a broken neck in 2022, Big E has remained with WWE in a broadcasting position where he appears on PLE pre-shows and post-shows. He recently told The Takedown on SI that fans and even some people within the company have hoped for him to expand that position into a commentary role. However, Big E is not open to traveling more regularly right now.

“It’s possible, I think it would have to depend,” Big E said about a more regular role on WWE programming. “I will say I think the idea of being on the road every single week for an extended period of time is something that I’m not really open to doing right now. And God bless the amount of people who’ve come to me or even tweeted at WWE, ‘Get him on commentary. He deserves to be on commentary.’

“Look, I’ve been approached multiple times by people within the company, people who’ve gone to bat for me. Michael Cole has been someone who has definitely been in my corner, and I’m very thankful for all the lovely things he’s said about me. But, man, when you’re on that WWE hamster wheel, when you’re on the road every single week — I tell people all the time, when I first started on the road, we would do five shows a week every single week. And I was happy to do it. We were getting paid per show, so being young, being 26 when I first got called up, I wanted to be on every show. And I loved the road and loved my time and I was gung-ho about it.

“But once you’re able to get off that hamster wheel and you realize that, man, I have my weekends back again or when I first started dating Kristen, my fiancee, I was able to come out for a chunk of 10 days for two weeks. And, man, life is good out here. Life is good off the grind. You know what I mean? Not living in the circus life. And I’m so grateful for this opportunity to be on the pre-shows and post-shows for the PLEs.”

Big E said being at the PLEs has helped him stay around everyone in the locker room, and he loves being an uplifting voice for the younger wrestlers that are just breaking into the main roster. When Big E was coming up in wrestling, there were too many older people who pushed younger talent down or were overly critical instead of helping them.

A lighter WWE schedule also helps Big E pursue opportunities that he’s interested in outside of wrestling. He’s partnered with data analytics firm SūmerSports to host a YouTube series focused on the NFL Draft.

Last month, Big E confirmed that he considers himself retired after having been out of action since breaking his neck four years ago. He is able to live a normal, pain-free life, but his neck has never recovered to the point where it’s forming new bone properly. Because of that, wrestling again would be too much of a risk.

Big E addresses ‘very real criticism’ of New Day WWE betrayal angle

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Big E understands why fans were so critical of how things played out following his split from The New Day.

In December 2024, an angle took place where Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods betrayed Big E and kicked him out of New Day. Fans were hoping the angle would lead to something more, but there wasn’t much follow-up since Big E is unable to compete after breaking his neck in 2022.

Big E, speaking with The Takedown on SI, said he took part in the angle despite knowing that there would likely never be a big payoff with him returning to the ring. His hope was that he would align with other babyfaces or get payback on Kingston & Woods in a different way. But there ended up not being any subsequent angle with Big E getting his retribution.

“I think that is a very real criticism,” Big E said about not being able to deliver an appropriate payoff to the angle. “Creative, as you know, is a give and take. And I’m only one component of it. There are a lot of other people involved. The creative team kind of just talked to me about the general idea and I initially thought at least being able to kind of, not pass the baton, but if Kofi and Woods were going to work with another team, and I was able to kind of give them my blessing, or I had an idea I wanted to do around Rumble to kind of foil Kofi and Woods.

“Because I’m with you in that, us continuing to build this angle or to build heat with someone who’s not coming back, I think doesn’t make sense. It leads fans astray. But I thought if anything, ‘Okay, if we’re going to do this, there’s a way for me to kind of pass the torch to someone else or give them my blessing, or say, I’m aligned with you, or say, whatever it is.'”

Big E noted that there are a lot of people involved with the creative process and sometimes things can fall through the cracks even though everyone is trying to do their best.

“There are a lot of cooks in the creative kitchen, and we felt like this was us making the best of what we were given, and yeah, that’s kind of how that went down,” he said.

“But no, I agree with you and a lot of people who felt the same, and I saw a lot of that feedback after it was clear that I wasn’t coming back in a timely fashion, that it was, ‘Okay, why are we putting so much stock into an angle where one person is never coming back? There’s no retribution?’ So I think that’s a very real criticism. And I heard it, and I think people have a right to feel that way.”

Big E announced earlier this month that he officially considers himself retired from the ring after breaking his neck in March 2022. He is able to live a normal, pain-free life despite the injury and still contributes to WWE in a broadcasting role.

Big E says doctor ‘quite literally breathed a sigh of relief’ over retirement decision

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Big E’s decision to retire from in-ring competition was very much supported by his doctors.

Nearly four years after suffering a broken neck on WWE SmackDown, Big E confirmed this month that he now considers himself retired from the ring. He is able to live a normal life despite the injury, but his neck is not forming new bone in the way it is supposed to. Because of that, wrestling again would carry significant risk.

Big E recently spoke with The Takedown on SI and said his decision to retire was made long before he officially confirmed it. He recalled a conversation he once had with his doctor, who urged Big E not to get back into the ring — even if he were given clearance to do so.

“So after talking to [Dr. Juan Uribe] and a few other doctors, the doctor almost damn near begged me like, ‘Hey, please, even if you get your all go, you’re clear, you’re allowed to get back in the ring, please really reconsider it,'” Big E said.

“And when I told him, ‘I think I’m definitely leaning towards being done,’ he almost quite literally breathed a sigh of relief. So for someone who’s been doing this for so long, who knows a lot more about spines and necks than I do, I definitely took heed.”

Big E is not bitter over the way his career ended and holds no ill will toward Ridge Holland for delivering the overhead belly-to-belly suplex that injured him. He loved wrestling but is grateful that he gets to live a pain-free existence.

“You see so many of the veterans, the legends, around WrestleMania, oftentimes that’s when you see a lot of the guys you don’t see year-round. And man, it’s sobering,” Big E said. “So many of them, who aren’t even that old, are struggling with pain. Clearly not very ambulatory. They’re using walkers to get around.

“And man, I told myself, as much as I love my career, as much as I love being an athlete, I am really gambling with my health.”

Big E still works for WWE in a broadcasting role that includes appearing on PLE pre-shows and post-shows. He’s also partnered with data analytics firm SūmerSports to host a new YouTube series focused on the NFL Draft.

Big E: My heart goes out to Ridge Holland, I hope he’s doing okay

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Big E has never held any ill will toward Ridge Holland over the move that ended his in-ring career.

On WWE SmackDown in March 2022, Big E suffered a broken neck while taking an overhead belly-to-belly suplex from Holland. The accident has forced Big E to retire from the ring, but he has no limitations in his daily life and remains with WWE in a broadcasting role.

Big E reflected on the incident during a new interview with radio station 107.7 The Bone, saying wrestling is inherently dangerous and he knows Holland did not mean to hurt him. Big E also expressed that he hopes Holland is doing well amid what’s been a difficult time for him, which has included neck and foot injuries of his own as well as Holland not having his WWE contract renewed.

“I talked to Ridge right after it happened. He actually sent me like a 10-pound box of meat as well. You know, that’s how men say I’m sorry, ‘Here’s a box of meat.’ [laughs] Thankfully, we had a conversation. There was never any grudge held on my end,” Big E said.

“Things happen in our industry. Things happen, people get hurt, it wasn’t malicious. I told him immediately there was no hard feelings. I know, unfortunately, he’s gotten a lot of flack online. And I know he’s dealt with injuries of his own. He’s dealt also with losing his job. My heart in many ways goes out to him. And I hope he’s doing okay, and I hope he’s recovering. But, man, there was never a moment of ill will at all for me. It’s the nature of what we do. You signed up for something that is incredibly fun, incredibly rewarding, but also has very inherent dangers as well.”

Safety in wrestling became a big talking point when William Regal sent out a post in December urging wrestlers to stop doing “stupid” moves where they get dropped on their neck. 107.7 The Bone asked Big E what he thought about Regal’s message.

“When you’re young — I knew neck injuries happen in our industry, I never thought that would happen to me,” Big E said. “And it’s very easy to feel invincible when you’re young. And it’s very sobering when you get to talk to these legends and you realize they’ve been on the other side of things where now they’re dealing with pain. They’re now dealing with life in their 50s, 60s, and beyond and dealing with all the bumps and bruises from time in the industry. So I think his message was very poignant and just wanting to take care of these young athletes.”

Big E would prefer New Day WWE Hall of Fame induction over solo honor

Posted on by Joseph Currier

If Big E joins the WWE Hall of Fame one day, he would prefer a group induction for The New Day rather than just being honored himself.

Big E revealed last week that, nearly four years removed from his last match, he considers himself retired. He suffered a career-ending neck injury on SmackDown in March 2022 but is able to live a normal, pain-free life. Big E’s only limitation is that he is not able to wrestle because his neck is not forming new bone properly.

While speaking with radio station 107.7 The Bone, Big E was asked about potentially being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. He said that, if he could only choose one, he would rather be recognized as a member of New Day instead of as a singles star.

“I feel like I’ve had some really great highs as a singles superstar, as far as being NXT Champion, the second-ever NXT Champion, also getting to be WWE Champion, two-time IC Champion,” Big E said. “But really I feel like what people know me as and the time of my career that was really the most rewarding, was my time with The New Day. And I feel like we really got to do something special. I don’t want to diminish my singles career. I don’t know if I had enough time as a singles superstar to really be a stalwart as just a singles superstar.

“But, yeah, my time in The New Day is one I truly cherish. And we just broke down so many barriers. We did so many things we hadn’t really seen before. Breaking a record that stood for 20 years with Demolition, having Booty-Os — a food product in wrestling — is kind of ridiculous. People still come up to me. I think we released Booty-Os a decade ago, and people still fondly remember me as the Booty-Os guy. So if I had to pick one, it would be as a member of The New Day because it really changed the trajectory of my career.”

Big E still contributes to WWE in a non-wrestling role that includes appearing on PLE pre-shows and post-shows. We also saw him appear on Raw in December 2024 during an episode where New Day turned heel and betrayed him. 107.7 The Bone asked if we could see him get revenge on Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods one day.

“You know, it was something that was discussed at some point,” Big E responded. “But I’m very zen these days. I’m a big mindfulness, meditation guy. Right now I’m focused on my broadcasting role. That is my role.”

John Cena thanks Big E for ‘the moments and memories’

Posted on by Josh Nason

With Big E all but confirming that his in-ring career has officially come to an end, the recently retired John Cena made his thoughts on the former WWE Champion known on social media.

Cena took to X on Saturday to recognize Big E, quote tweeting Big E’s Friday X post with “Thank you (Big E) for the moments and the memories. #Respect.”

The two shared the ring 13 times in their careers, solely on Raw or house shows. They had one singles match on an October 2015 Raw where Cena successfully defended his then-United States title against him.

The 39-year-old thanked fans on Friday, acknowledging a slew of injuries he sustained in his years of sports that included two torn ACLs, a torn pectoral muscle and a broken right patella that were sustained before he started wrestling. He acknowledged that he doesn’t battle pain on a daily basis, feels great and is “eternally grateful” for his in-ring career.

During Super Bowl media week, Big E answered a question about his in-ring future where he replied that as of now, he is retired and focused on other things which includes a new YouTube show about the NFL Draft.

He suffered a broken neck after a Ridge Holland suplex during a SmackDown match in March 2022. He hasn’t wrestled since then, but has appeared on both WWE PLE pre-shows and post-shows frequently.

Big E: ‘It was an immeasurable gift to get to perform for you all’

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Big E is speaking out after he revealed he considered himself retired.

The former WWE Champion took time on social media to thank fans for their support over the years. While he realizes that eventually time will catch up to him, he feels fine at the moment and is grateful for the career that he had.

“I entered the pro wrestling industry at age 23 with an injury history that included a Torn Left ACL, Torn Right ACL, Torn Left Pec, and a Broken Right Patella. At 39, I’m well aware, that I will one day have to pay the piper. I’ve put my body through a lot. And somehow, I feel great,” he wrote. “I don’t battle daily pain. I’m able to function normally and healthfully. I’m eternally grateful for the wonderful career I stumbled into. I pray for all of my fellow athletes and performers who have not had the same good fortune. A sincere thank you to everyone who has taken the time to follow my in-ring career. It was an immeasurable gift to get to perform for you all.”

Talking to Compas on the Beat as part of Super Bowl Radio Row, Big E was asked if he ever considered getting back in the ring.

“I’m content,” he said. “You know, in wrestling they always say ‘never say never.’ But right now I’m retired, and that for me is it. So I’m focused on other things right now.”

Big E suffered a broken neck during a match that took place on SmackDown in March of 2022. He hasn’t wrestled since then, but has freqently appeared as part of WWE’s pre-shows and post-shows as a panelist.

Big E addresses whether he’s retired from WWE

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Nearly four years removed from his last match, Big E considers himself retired from the ring — at least for the moment.

Big E (Ettore Ewen) suffered a broken neck during a match that took place on WWE SmackDown in March 2022. The former World Champion has not been able to return to active competition, but Big E is grateful to still be able to contribute to the company as a panelist on PLE pre-shows and post-shows.

Speaking with Compas on the Beat at Super Bowl Radio Row, Big E was asked if he ever gets the itch to return to the ring.

“I’m content,” he responded. “You know, in wrestling they always say ‘never say never.’ But right now I’m retired, and that for me is it. So I’m focused on other things right now.”

Big E has recovered to the point where he is able to live a normal life. His only limitation is wrestling because his neck is not forming new bone like it’s supposed to. Though his current role isn’t something he ever really expected to be doing, Big E told Compas on the Beat that he really enjoys the job because he’s able to help inform fans on what they’re seeing in the ring.

“It’s been good. It’s something I really enjoy, something I didn’t think I necessarily was going to do when my career was over. But it’s been a blast, man,” he said. “I get to be a part of what we’re doing in WWE and do it in a different way. I’ve really enjoyed being a part of helping people be more informed about what they’re about to see or what they just saw. And it’s helped prepare me for other roles in broadcasting as well. So not something I had on my radar when my career was wrapping up, but I’m really enjoying it.”

Big E, who played defensive line for the University of Iowa while in college, is set to host an upcoming YouTube series focused on the NFL Draft. He has partnered with data analytics firm SūmerSports for the 10-week show, which premieres on February 12.

Big E to host YouTube series focused on NFL Draft

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Big E is picking up some more hosting experience as he partners with data analytics firm SūmerSports for a new YouTube series.

It was announced today that Big E will host “The Evaluation,” a 10-week show that will upload new episodes to YouTube leading into the NFL Draft. The series begins on February 12 and will feature long-form interviews, data-focused segments, and player evaluation segments with coaches and former players. Among the NFL stars and legends set to appear are Eli Manning, Maxx Crosby, Joe Thomas, Luke Kuechly, Marshall Faulk, Howie Long, Steve Mariucci, Will Blackmon, and Steve Smith Sr.

Big E (real name Ettore Ewen) played defensive line for the University of Iowa while in college. A former WWE Champion, he’s taken up hosting WWE pre-shows and post-shows in recent years, along with making frequent appearances on the Raw Recap podcast. Big E has not announced his retirement from the ring, but whether he’ll ever wrestle again remains in serious doubt after suffering a broken neck in 2022.

“I’m so incredibly grateful that my college football obsession is not in vain! I had the most wonderful experience working on this show,” he tweeted today. “Can’t wait for football fans to check this out! @SumerSports”

SūmerSports hyped that “The Evaluation” will combine “old-school football knowledge from seasoned NFL scouts and GMs with new-school analysis powered by SūmerSports’ proprietary AI technologies.”

The 2026 NFL Draft is taking place from April 23-25, with Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza widely expected to be taken by the Las Vegas Raiders with the number one overall pick.

Liv Morgan, Big E, Braun Strowman guest star on Hell’s Kitchen

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

The January 1st, 2026 episode of Hell’s Kitchen on Fox, witnessed the competitors take part in the black jacket day edition of the show. However, before the chefs started their battle, they were greeted by WWE superstars Liv Morgan, Big E, and former WWE star Braun Strowman.

In a small snippet released by Hell’s Kitchen judge Gordon Ramsay on his social media, fans witnessed Big E talk about being a WWE Champion, before Morgan made her way to the set and shared her mindset on being a champion. Things soon turned more interesting when Braun Strowman made his way by bursting through a dry wall.

Interestingly, both Ramsay and the Fox network introduced Morgan as a champion. Morgan was even pictured with the title, which made it clear that the content was shot while she was still the WWE Women’s World Champion and Strowman was with the company.

Morgan is a former champion and lost the title almost a year ago on January 6th, 2025. She has not won a singles title since. On the otherhand, Strowman left WWE in July 2025 after his contract expired and is currently active in the food world, starring in his own show “Everything on the Menu.” 

Ridge Holland feels he was blamed for Big E’s injury by ‘certain members’ in WWE hierarchy

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

Ridge Holland has shared his thoughts on what WWE felt about him following Big E’s injury.

Having recently undergone neck surgery, Holland is often remembered as Big E’s final in-ring opponent. After a ringside suplex led to an accidental landing, Big E’s in-ring career came to an abrupt halt. Recently, speaking at a virtual signing that K & S WrestleFest, Holland opened up about the aftermath of the injury and claimed that he felt “certain members” of WWE’s hierarchy held it against him, leading to significant backlash.

The former NXT Tag-Team Champion felt that he was blamed for Big E’s injury and made it difficult for him to progress in his WWE journey.

“I felt it a little bit,” Holland noted. “I felt it did affect my career from going forward. I never really got started. I think it probably was a black cloud that was hanging over me, from certain members in the hierarchy. Not mentioning any names but, I think it kind of put a black mark on me going forward and it made it very difficult for me to get past that in the eyes of some people in the company.”

Last month, Holland was informed that his contract would not be renewed once it expired on November 14th, 2025. The news came after Holland suffered a lisfranc injury in a match against Moose during a TNA Wrestling taping on September 27.

Since then, the English star has been extremely vocal about his run, how WWE treated him, and his financial difficulties. While he is no longer associated with the Stamford-based promotion, WWE recently covered the cost for his neck surgery.