Big E Explains Why He Can’t Return From Neck Injury, Isn’t Willing To Take the Risk

Big E recently explained why he is unable to return from his neck injury, noting that he’s not willing to take the risk to his health for a return to the ring. The New Day member confirmed in February what many already suspected: that his 2022 neck injury was not something he would come back from. E has remained with WWE as an analyst on PLE pre-shows and post-shows, and does other promotional work for the company.

Big E discussed the matter on Insight With Chris Van Vliet and provided an explanation directed at those fans who have questioned why he can’t come back like Adam Copeland, Bryan Danielson and others have. You can see the highlights below:

On Why He Can’t Return Like Others Did:

“All neck injuries are different, and that’s what I found as someone who is going through this, because my injury, my C6 is broken, but the primary concern, of course, is the C1. Because it is so high up in my neck, and because of the nature of it. Is there a doctor out there who could probably clear me? Maybe. I don’t know, I haven’t done any doctor shopping, but I’m really grateful. So, Tyson Kidd, TJ Wilson reached out to me right away. He and Nattie, I have so much praise for them, because Nattie came by. I don’t live in Florida anymore, but we lived about half an hour from each other. She would stop by, bring by calcium supplements. She would come by to just talk about what TJ went through. My neck injury in many ways, I think of his, and I think mine is nothing compared to [him]. He is fortunate to be alive, and it’s been so beautiful to see how he walks around and how good he is now. But he connected me with Dr. Juan Uribe, who did his neck surgery, I believe, but just a spine expert, and he looked at my scans, and man, it was almost a tone of ‘Please, even if they clear you, please consider being done.’ I talked to a few other doctors who looked at my scans as well, and they felt the same. So when you hear that you are this close to having a stroke in my mid 30s or being paralyzed or dealing with, even if it’s just dealing with atrophy or constant headaches, I feel like, and it’s something I mentioned in the book, as well. It feels like living in a dangerous neighborhood, and you always hear gunshots going off, but finally there’s one that whizzes right by your head, and you’re like, Okay, it’s time to move now. I know I was living in a dangerous neighborhood, I know things were a little perilous, but I’ll be okay, it’s not gonna happen to me. You realize how close the end is for you.

“In the actual moment, I did not feel like I was going to die. Do not get me wrong, I didn’t feel like I was close to it. I was not worried about it. But when you can understand that if things went just a little bit different, if there was a little bit more movement that could be it. It’s like, man, that is very, very sobering. So, is there a possibility that even if my C1 ossified, and it was forming new bone? I think just knowing that people who do this for a living. Some of the best spine specialists in the world have implored me to hang it up, or to consider hanging it up, I think that’s that’s enough for me.”

On Not Being Willing to Risk His Well-Being:

“I’m 40 right now. There’s so many other things in my life that I’m excited about that I want to do. I’m engaged. I’m about to get married in a few months. I can’t fathom telling Kristen I’m gonna roll the dice with my health and my life again. I can’t do that to her. To finally get to this point where I found my partner, who I want to do the rest of my life with someone I adore. We have so much fun together. The cliche of my best friend can be a cliche for a lot of people. It’s real for us. The idea of so many things in my career I’m excited to do, but if that all goes away, if someone says, ‘Nope, we don’t want to see your face anymore, we’re done with you.’ I will be so content just to be home with my woman and enjoy life. I think when you’re on that WWE hamster wheel, and this is all you know, this is all you are, I am so thankful for it. I am so grateful for it. But I think being having a bit of a foot out of the industry as well has allowed me to understand there’s so much more life out here. Even just having my weekends again, to be able to travel, to hang out with friends, to connect, to go on vacations. I’m so grateful for all of that. So maybe one day I could get cleared. It’s just not a gamble worth taking. It’s when you understand the importance of your C1 and the potential costs. I’m just not willing to take those risks.”