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After nearly four years of uncertainty, Big E has officially announced his retirement from in-ring competition. The former WWE Champion has been sidelined since March 2022 after suffering a broken neck during an episode of SmackDown. In a recent interview with Jon Alba of The Takedown on Sports Illustrated, Big E confirmed that he has made the difficult decision to hang up his boots to prioritize his long-term health and quality of life.
Big E provided specific medical details regarding his injury, explaining that his C1 vertebra broke in two places and did not heal as expected. “My C1 was broken in two places, and oftentimes, when that happens, the C1 will heal like cartilage… instead of ossifying, instead of forming new bone,” he revealed. He noted that despite feeling physically capable, medical experts advised him strongly against returning to the ring. One doctor, according to Big E, “almost damn near begged me” to reconsider wrestling even if he were to get medically cleared.
The New Day member also cited the physical state of wrestling legends as a factor in his decision. “You see so many of the veterans… clearly not very ambulatory. They’re using walkers to get around, and man, I told myself, as much as I love my career… I am really gambling with my health,” he stated. Big E currently serves as a host for WWE Premium Live Event kickoff shows and contributes to other company projects, ensuring his charisma remains a part of the product.
This announcement comes at a difficult time for The New Day. On the February 16 episode of Raw, Kofi Kingston revealed that Xavier Woods is also out of action indefinitely with a shoulder injury. With Big E officially retired and Woods on the shelf, Kingston finds himself as the sole active member of the legendary trio, raising questions about his direction on the “Road to WrestleMania.”
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