Former WWE Champion Big E has been out of action since he suffered a broken neck during a match on SmackDown in March 2022.
On the March 11th edition of the blue brand, Big E and his New Day teammates took on the Brawling Brutes trio of Sheamus, Butch, and Ridge Holland.
During the bout, the multi-time Tag Team Champion took an Overhead Belly-to-Belly Suplex from Ridge Holland at ringside. However, instead of landing flat on his back, he landed on his head and neck. After being taken to the backstage area on a stretcher, it was later confirmed that he had broken his neck.
The star later explained that his C1 and C6 vertebrae were fractured, but he thankfully hadn’t sustained any damage to his spinal cord.
He has provided updates in the month since then, revealing that he has avoided the need for surgery, but recently told These Urban Times he won’t know exactly where he stands until he undergoes scans in March at the one-year mark.
“I have to get some more scans at the one-year mark in March, and then we’ll see how everything’s looking, but we’ll see from there. Yeah, yeah [excited to return], my C1 is broken in two spots, so I obviously would be very smart about that. I was very fortunate, so I just want to make sure I’m making the best decision for myself, so we’ll see in March.” (H/T SportsKeeda)
Booker T advised Big E to stop using a move before he broke his neck
On a recent edition of Booker T’s Hall of Fame podcast, the WWE Hall of Famer were discussing wrestling shows continuing despite injuries, when Booker noted he had told Big E to stop using a dangerous move he used often in matches before moving on to speak about the neck injury.
“The one guy I always preached to was Big E. I said, ‘Big E, stop jumping through the ropes. Stop doing that.’ He didn’t get hurt on that, but he got hurt on a belly-to-belly suplex to floor.”
Ric Flair agreed and criticised the agent of the match for approving the move in the first place.
“You know what’s worse about that, Book? Number one, Big E is 300 pounds. I just had this conversation the other day. The agent, they didn’t call that out there, the agent approved it.”
“A kid, who has never done that, is giving a guy a belly-to-belly on the floor. I’ll tell you who gives me a belly-to-belly on the floor. Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar. That’s it.”
H/T to Fightful for the above transcription.