Big E Confirms Retirement from In-Ring Wrestling

Former WWE Champion Big E confirmed his retirement from in-ring competition this month, ending years of fan speculation about a possible return following a severe neck injury sustained in March 2022 during an episode of SmackDown.

The injury occurred when Big E, whose real name is Ettore Ewen, took an overhead belly-to-belly suplex from Ridge Holland, resulting in fractures to his C1 and C6 vertebrae. Although he experienced no immediate pain, concussion or nerve damage, medical evaluations revealed that the C1 vertebra had healed with cartilage rather than new bone, leaving it vulnerable to further high-impact activity. Big E, who has remained physically active in daily life without pain, described the decision as influenced heavily by consultations with spine specialist Dr. Juan Uribe and other physicians.

In an interview with The Takedown on Sports Illustrated, Big E recounted a pivotal discussion with Dr. Uribe. "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. He added that upon...