Big E holds no hard feelings toward Ridge Holland.
The former WWE Champion fractured his C1 and C6 vertebrae on the March 11 edition of SmackDown after taking a suplex from Holland and landing on his head. During an interview with ESPN, Big E noted that Holland sent him a “big package of red meat” as a way to apologize. Big E noted he doesn’t eat red meat and gave the package to a friend but he holds no ill-feelings toward Holland.
“I have no issue whatsoever with Ridge,” Big E said. “He’s reached out and said some very kind things. … What we do is dangerous, and there are inherent dangers. And to that degree, we all kind of know what we sign up for and it was unfortunate that it went down that way. But I’m not dead. I’m alive. I’m doing well.”
Earlier this month, Big E posted an update to Twitter stating that his “C1 isn’t ossifying (forming bone) quite yet,” and that “the current plan is to get more scans at the one year mark & see how it’s progressing.”
There is no clear answer regarding when he will be able to wrestle again. Doctors have told Big E that determining a timeline for his return won’t be possible until after his neck has been evaluated at the one-year mark in March of 2023.
“Honestly, it hasn’t been a dark period,” Big E continued. “I’m so thankful for all the people who checked in on me and reached out, who have concerns. I’m not saying I’m perfect. I’m not saying every day is the greatest ever for me. But I really haven’t struggled with that type of stuff.”
He did not suffer any ligament damage, displacement of the spinal cord, or nerve damage and is not expected to require surgery.
Doctors have also informed Big E that the injury he suffered could have “led to stroke, paralysis or death.”
“It’s very sobering to hear that,” Big E said. “… I think to be great at something like [pro wrestling] or at least to be competent, you can’t spend all your time worrying about possibly fatal injuries or breaking your neck. You have to go out there and be free and in the moment. I think a lot of us as performers don’t spend a lot of time thinking about that stuff. I never thought I would be.”
Big E is expected to assist Paul Levesque and other WWE employees in evaluating talent at a tryout in Nashville later this month. The company will be hosting an event for more than 50 athletes from July 27-29 ahead of SummerSlam.
