Welcome to the Daily Drop for Monday, April 15, 2024. You never know what will happen every day in the pro wrestling world.

Before we get going, The Rock dropped a video update for fans. After giving a health update and calling Seth Rollins the MVP is WrestleMania 40, The Final Boss made it clear that he has his eyes on a return to the ring: “What an honor it was to share the ring with you three. What an honor it was to for us to break records, and now my sights are set on the next WrestleMania, but that’s conversation down the road.”

Now, let’s get right into today’s Daily Drop!

WWE:

– WWE Releases: We took a closer look at the last four shocking internal WWE releases.

– Big E’s Relationship: The New Day Member, who has been historically quiet about his personal life, revealed that he is dating Mia Yim’s sister, Kris Yim. Best of luck to the both of them.

– Jade Cargill Cosplay: Cargill said that she is waiting for the right moment to break out her Storm cosplay ring gear.

– WWE Draft: Two NXT Superstars are reportedly a lock to get a main roster call-up this time around. We will have to see where they land.

– Redbeard Rumors: Erick Redbeard had to pull out of an indie wrestling gig due to contractual issues. Most assume this means he is on his way back to WWE, because that is a common excuse for cancelling gigs before someone appears on television.

WWE RAW Card (4/15):

• Cody Rhodes appears
• WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley responds to Liv Morgan’s attack
• WWE Intercontinental Championship: Sami Zayn (c) vs. Chad Gable
• Finn Balor vs. Jey Uso
• Andrade vs. Dominik Mysterio
• Sheamus returns
• Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell vs. Ivy Nile & Maxxine Dupri
• Chelsea Green & Piper Niven vs. Katana Chance & Kayden Carter

AEW:

– Ospreay Inspired: Will Ospreay said he hopes to be an inspiration for those with autism, dyslexia, and ADHD.

– Omega Surgery: Kenny Omega will not rule out surgery yet for his diverticulitis issue. Sadly, it doesn’t seem to have cleared up.

– Ricky Starks Defends Tony Khan: Absolute Starks decided to defend Tony Khan from Twitter/X trolls.

– Julia Hart’s Injury Status: Julia Hart experienced a concerning shoulder situation during last week’s Dynamite, and some feared an injury. It has been reported that she’s in the clear. Despite initial worries about her condition, Hart is still scheduled to compete at AEW Dynasty next week.

– AEW Collision Viewership: The April 13th episode of AEW Collision attracted an average overnight viewership of 442,000, scoring a 0.1 rating in the 18 to 49 demographic. This marks a decline from the previous episode, which had 463,000 viewers and a 0.15 demographic rating.

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Pay-Per-View Events:

• AEW is coming to St. Louis, MO with AEW: Dynasty LIVE on PPV on Sunday, April 21st at Chaifetz Arena
• Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
• WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
• WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
• WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

Big E’s future in pro wrestling may remain uncertain but the New Day member will be traversing what’s next in his life with his new partner Kris Yim. 

On Instagram, Big E shared the big news, stating “My neck is broken but my heart is whole.” The former WWE World Champion also shared a hilarious photoshoot with Kris, who he also tagged. 

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C5wER7bO3tp

In the comments, several names from the world of professional wrestling were excited to see the relationship made official. Mia Yim was pleased to see things “publicly official” while the caption ‘broke’ Mia’s husband Keith Lee. Naomi called the pair “My fav couple” while Renee Paquette said that the pair of Big E and Kris are “perfect” for each other. 

Who is Kris Yim? 

While best known to WWE fans as the sister of Mia Yim, Kris is also an avid dog lover as seen on her social media profiles. In the bio for her Instagram, Kris has a link to Oakland Animal Services which encourages people to adopt otherwise unwanted dogs instead of shopping for a new puppy. 

Kris is also quite the traveler and has made several trips to Europe as well as Jamaica and other destinations. She was the maid of honor to Mia Yim when the SmackDown Superstar married Keith Lee in a ceremony officiated by WWE Hall of Famer Mick Foley in February 2022. 

This budding romance is great news for Kris and Big E, the latter of whom continues to be out of action after suffering a broken neck in March 2022. Big E recently admitted he’s not sure if he will ever be cleared to wrestle again, but has said that he is happy and living without pain which is very important. 

Welcome to the Daily Drop for Sunday, April 14, 2024. There is a lot going on in the pro wrestling world, so let’s not waste any time.

WWE keeps cutting people internally, as Sue Aitchison, who was a WWE Hall of Famer Warrior Award recipient in 2019, and Sid Scala was the latest to get the axe. This is interesting timing, and has a lot of fans talking about what is next, possibly even roster cuts. You may find a list of all the 2024 WWE releases and departures below.

WWE:

– Big E’s Bad News: Although he feels happy and healthy, Big E is not cleared for a return. He released a statement to fans yesterday, revealing that he may never wrestle again at this point.

– Family Feud: WWE Superstars went to battle on Family Feud. It was quite a special episode, which featured Montez Ford, Angelo Dawkins, Bobby Lashley, SmackDown Tag Team Champion Austin Theory, and LA Knight takingon the team of Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, ‘Michin’ Mia Yim, Sonya Deville, and Zelina Vega.

– HBK vs AJ: Shawn Michaels admitted that AJ Styles is his dream opponent if he ever gets back in the ring. Of course, the Showstopper is long retired at this point.

– Rousey Hid Vital Information: Ronda Rousey admitted that she hid her concussion history from WWE.

– WWE Cutting Down on AR: The company will be doing away with a lot of the augmented reality entrances that we see on a weekly basis.

AEW:

– Dynasty Stipulation: AEW added a ladder match stipulation to the AEW World Tag Team Title match between the Young Bucks and FTR at Dynasty on April 21.

– Moxley’s Return: Jon Moxley will be back on AEW Dynamite or their 4/17 episode. He just won the IWGP Heavyweight Title, so this could be interesting.

– Omega Speaks on Punk: Kenny Omega had an interesting reaction to the Punk and Jack Perry footage airing on Dynamite.

– Riho’s Whereabouts: Riho is currently stuck in Japan, where she is dealing with visa issues.

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Pay-Per-View Events:

• AEW is coming to St. Louis, MO with AEW: Dynasty LIVE on PPV on Sunday, April 21st at Chaifetz Arena
• Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
• WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
• WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
• WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

WWE fans are hoping for Big E to deliver positive news about a return to wrestling. The New Day member is sharing the results from his latest neck scans two years after his career-threatening injury. Unfortunately, he is still not medically cleared to compete — a status that may be permanent.

The former WWE Champion’s biennial neck scans showed no significant changes. Although his C1 vertebra has healed, it did not form new bone. As badly he wants to get back to his fans, he accepts he may never wrestle again. He feels blessed to be pain free and maintains a grateful outlook on life.

Hey, all!
Two year neck scans are in. Things are unchanged. My C1 has healed fibrously but has not formed new bone. I’m not medically cleared and truthfully, I may never be cleared. But I am blessed to be free of pain, immensely happy and otherwise healthy. Life is good.

— Ettore “Big E” Ewen (@WWEBigE) April 13, 2024

Big E’s Injury and WWE Career

In March 2022, The New Day found themselves feuding with Sheamus and Ridge Holland. During their match on the March 11 episode of SmackDown, Holland performed an overhead belly-to-belly suplex on Big E at ringside, causing the New Day member to land on the top of his head. He was immediately stretchered out and taken to a hospital.

Later, Big E announced on social media that he had broken his neck, specifically fracturing his C1 and C6 vertebrae. Fortunately, there were no ligament or spinal cord injuries, and surgery was not necessary.

Big E has stayed active with WWE through his injury as an ambassador and doing community work for the company. He has also helped out with some recruitment and sat in during tryouts as a scout. Big E has a lot to offer the business, even if his days in the ring are over.

He recently made an appearance alongside Kofi and Xavier once again at the WWE Hall of Fame as they inducted Thunderbolt Patterson.

During his WWE career, Big E raked up several championships, including the WWE Title for a 110-day reign. On top of two reigns as IC Champion, Big E also won the NXT Title in 2012, beating inaugural champion Seth Rollins in the early days of the brand.

In the tag team category, he earned the RAW Tag Team Championship twice and the SmackDown Tag Team belts six times as a member of the New Day. Big E, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods used the “Freebird Rule” with the titles as a trio as they cycled out who defended on each night. 

WrestleMania weekend is always packed with events. There are indie pro wrestling shows going on, and other fan conventions. WaleMania went down at the Philadelphia at Franklin Music Hall on April 4, and there are a ton of highlights.

Since its first show in 2015, WaleMania has combined hip-hop and wrestling. It stands apart from other events during WrestleMania weekend, serving as a gathering where fans and wrestlers come together, and every year it’s usually the best party all weekend. 

Pro wrestlers from practically every company on the planet linked up for WaleMania this year. As you can see, it was quite a party, and there are many highlights to feature.

WaleMania 2024 Highlights

First off, we have to give Samantha Irvine all the flowers for this one. She not only rocked Razor Ramon’s theme music, but she did it on a flute. 

Samantha Irvin, singing and playing a flute to razor Ramon’s theme was not in our bingo card today. pic.twitter.com/7geSUH2XPF

— SEScoops (@sescoops) April 5, 2024

Rob Van Dam was there, smoking on stage, alongside Katie Forbes. It was quite a party as the crowd fed into the performance on stage, who were having just as much fun as the fans.

?ROB VAN DAM #Walemania #WrestleMania pic.twitter.com/G84PyaJv9f

— Damian Walker | "Showtime2Wavy" | Unrivaled (@2WavyWrestling) April 5, 2024

R-Truth was present at WaleMania, and he gave fans in attendance a different kind of show than they’re used to seeing from him. He grabbed the microphone and spit some fire bars for the fans.

Don’t forget @RonKillings really be rapping out here #Walemania pic.twitter.com/YKsiGZLTiC

— Papa Worm ??? (@Aye_Yo_Worm) April 5, 2024

Although he’s not booked for WrestleMania, WWE Hall of Famer RVD was also present. NXT Superstar Kelani Jordan couldn’t resist the opportunity to snap a photo with the Whole F’n Show.

Two of a kind ??#Walemania pic.twitter.com/AjMmWmotwY

— Kelani Jordan (@kelani_wwe) April 5, 2024

Big E couldn’t miss WaleMania, either. The New Day member cut one of his trademark promos for fans, where he introduced Wale. As you can see in the clip, Trick Williams was there as well, and he had a wonderful time ahead of his main event match at NXT: Stand & Deliver against Carmelo Hayes.

#WaleMania pic.twitter.com/Svy31Yc95J

— ? ?????? ? (@itsJustinRitch) April 5, 2024

Zilla Fatu didn’t miss the show, either. He was there in attendance at WaleMania, and he had a great time. As you can see in the video below, he also spent some time on the stage.

#Walemania zilla fatu at walemania? @Zillafatu pic.twitter.com/7oyral01ZK

— ??????????????????????? (@JayBands24) April 5, 2024

Although it was all fun at WaleMania, things did get a big tense as Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes had a chance to trade some words on stage.

Yooo @Carmelo_WWE and @_trickwilliams bout to squabble at #Walemania ??? pic.twitter.com/juX7NLPXOl

— Jeff Johnson (@JeffJSays) April 5, 2024

Kiera Hogan stunned the crowd with her dancing skills. Willow Nightingale didn’t miss WaleMania, either, as the two AEW stars had a great time on stage in front of the live crowd.

Where else can you party with @willowwrestles and @HoganKnowsBest3 than #WaleMania pic.twitter.com/OoWQ2OmeHG

— Brian H. Waters (@brianhwaters) April 5, 2024

Questions remain over Big E’s future in the ring but the former WWE Champion has said that he plans on being smart about whatever may come. 

Big E suffered a broken neck injury during a March 2022, edition of WWE SmackDown. The New Day star was able to avoid surgery which at the time led many to believe he would not be out of action for long. Despite being able to avoid going under the knife, Big E has not wrestled since then and questions remains as to whether he will again. 

Hobbled & Crippled

In a recent interview with CBS Sports, Big E discussed what’s to come for him. The triple-crown champion and 2021 Men’s MITB winner reiterated previous points that he wants to do what’s right for his health. 

“I’ve been doing physical things my entire life, and I never wanted to leave sports hobbled and crippled.

“It’s just a matter of listening to the doctors, taking in enough information, looking at my more recent set of scans and deciding if the gamble is worth it.”

Big E has been able to consult not just with doctors but various wrestlers who have suffered similar neck injuries. Big E was grateful that wrestlers and legends have been willing to answer his questions. 

“I’ve been so thankful for so many of the guys I grew up loving and watching as a kid, so many legends who wanted to reach out and share what they went through when they had their neck injuries. I’m so grateful to all of them.”

A Role Outside the Ring

While Big E’s in-ring future remains in question, the charismatic talker was recently part of the WWE WrestleMania 40 kick-off event panel. In the interview, Big E admitted that the role took him by surprise. 

“It wasn’t until I boarded the flight to Vegas that I even knew I was doing the panel. That’s the nature of things in WWE. It’s oftentimes, ‘Hey, show up’ and you get things thrown at you.”

‘Big’ Bronson Reed is ready to prove that his ‘meat’ can’t be beat with a unique match next month dedicated to the injured Big E. 

Taking to Twitter, Reed spoke about this year’s WrestleMania 40 event that will take place from Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field on April 6-7. Reed addressed that his “BIG brothers” are missing from the WrestleMania card. Reed suggested a “MEATY INVITATIONAL” dedicated to Big E. 

The former WWE NXT North American Champion also made sure to tag WWE to ensure that the company got the message. 

@WWE

— BIG BRONSON REED (@BRONSONISHERE) March 14, 2024

Big E & His Meat

Big E, a big man in his own right, has hardly been subtle with his support for the meatier wrestlers in WWE. During an infamous episode of the New Day’s ‘Feel the Power’ podcast, Big E named Goldberg as his dream opponent, declaring that the match would be “Big meaty men slapping meat!” When asked for three opponents for the New Day to face, Big E had an equally hilarious answer: three Goldbergs. 

The Meat Men of WWE

Reed will need some participants in his Meaty Invitational if such a match is to happen. There’s no shortage of larger Superstars though, such as Ivar, who has been impressing in his singles run while Viking Raider ally Erik recovers from neck surgery. The missing-from-TV Odyssey Jones would also be right at home in such a meaty match. 

WWE WrestleMania 40

This year’s WrestleMania will be the fifth annual two-night WrestleMania, a tradition that began with the Covid-19 pandemic. The show will also be the first WrestleMania following the launch of TKO Group Holdings last September. The card for the show so far is as follows:

• Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes (Undisputed WWE Universal Championship)

• Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley (WWE Women’s Championship)

• Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch (WWE Women’s World Championship)

• Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre (WWE World Heavyweight Championship)

• Seth “Freakin” Rollins & Cody Rhodes Vs. Roman Reigns & The Rock

• GUNTHER (c) vs. Sami Zayn (WWE Intercontinental Championship)

• The Judgment Day (c) vs. TBA vs. TBA vs. TBA vs. TBA vs.TBA (Six-Pack Ladder Match, Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships)

Seth Rollins’ comments about The Rock & Roman Reigns echo what many on WWE’s roster are feeling, according to Big E. 

Rollins has been vocally opposed to both the Tribal Chief and his cousin. Rollins’ issue stems from Reigns being a part-time champion, an issue that he feels will only be exacerbated if The Rock enters the title picture. Rollins has held the World Heavyweight Championship since May of last year after besting AJ Styles in the finals of a 12-man tournament at WWE Night of Champions 2023. The World Heavyweight Champion was introduced in part due to Reigns’ stranglehold on the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship.

Speaking for the Locker Room

In stark contrast to Roman Reigns, Rollins has proven to be a fighting champion and had 99 matches in 2023 to Roman Reigns’ eleven bouts. Speaking on a recent edition of WWE’s The Bump, Big E addressed the harsh comments Rollins has had for Roman Reigns and his title reign. 

“He speaks for, in many ways, the locker room of guys who are there week in and week out, who are there on a nightly basis. That grind, it really builds a certain camaraderie and a certain respect for each other.”

Despite this, Big E doesn’t fault Roman Reigns or The Rock for accepting the very lucrative roles both are in. 

“Who could ever blame a Roman or The Rock for being in a position like that… we all want to be in that Rock/Roman position, too, but you also have a certain love for the guys with you who are grinding.”

Big E has his own history with Roman Reigns. At Survivor Series 2021, the two faced off in Champion Vs. Champion action which saw Reigns defeat the then-WWE Champion. 

Big E’s life changed when Ridge Holland did a German suplex on him outside the ring, and he didn’t make a full rotation. Since the March 11th, 2022 episode of WWE SmackDown, Big E has dealt with the aftermath of a broken neck. As we approach two years since that injury, a return is always a big question.

Big E Addresses WWE Return

Big E has already stated that he won’t have any word on his WWE stats until after WrestleMania. He is not saying no to an in-ring return, but he needs to make sure that decision is carefully thought out.

While speaking to TMZ, Big E was asked how his neck is doing. “It’s all together, the bones connect to the other bones,” the former WWE Champion replied.

Then got honest about his expected return timetable from injury. The truth is that, at this present time, there is no such expectation for his return.

Big E stated that he doesn’t want to end up in a wheelchair, so he wants to make sure an in-ring return is the best choice to make for his own life.

“I don’t have a timeline, unfortunately, but thank you for asking. ‘I just want to make a smart decision. I didn’t start wrestling to end up in a wheelchair, so I just want to make sure I’m just making the best decision for myself.”

Big E In WWE During Injury Hiatus

Big E is widely adored as a WWE Superstar, but he continues to be absent from the ring due to a severe neck injury. That doesn’t keep him out of WWE activities, because he still stays busy for the company.

The New Day member has been present at WWE tryouts, where he kept an eye on talent. He has also acted as a scout in other respects. WWE uses Big E on a frequent basis for community events as well.

Ridge Holland is dealing with the toxicity of social media with negative fans on the one-year anniversary of Big E’s unfortunate injury. 

On March 11, 2022, Big E suffered a broken neck when taking a belly-to-belly suplex from Holland during a tag team match on an episode of WWE SmackDown. Big E landed on his head, fracturing his C1 vertebrae and C6 vertebrae. 

Big E didn’t suffer spinal cord damage or need surgery. He wanted to wait a year before getting another check-up to see how his recovery was going. Holland did check on Big E in the hospital after the event and gave him gifts. 

The Tweet

Holland noted on Twitter that he has been getting death threats and labeled as racist by fans online:

“Death threats. Threats to my family. Lobbying for me to lose my job. Being labeled as racist. Great stuff keep ‘em coming.”

Xavier Woods saw the tweet and responded with, “Pro Wrestling is extremely dangerous. All of us involved understand that. Ridge & his family do not deserve to be treated this way. Please do not send any hate towards them. Instead use your energy to do something positive like sending love to E. Be kind. Please be kind.”

Big E has been on the sidelines for exactly a year while away from in-ring action after suffering a career-threatening injury. 

On March 11, 2022, Big E suffered a broken neck when taking a belly-to-belly suplex from Ridge Holland and landing on his head during a tag team match on an episode of WWE SmackDown. 

Big E fractured his C1 vertebrae and C6 vertebrae. The positive news was that he didn’t suffer spinal cord damage or need surgery. He decided to wait a year before getting another check-up to see how his recovery was going. 

The Decision

Speaking to TMZ, Big E commented on how he feels as he prepares for the tests this month. 

“I just want to make the best decision. I have to see what the scans say, talk to doctors, go from there. Right now, before I know anything, I’m not going to make any rush to judgments. Just see how everything looks. No anxiety. Everything is in permanent. If it comes to an end, cool, if it doesn’t, cool. What will be, will be. I’m good with whatever,” he said.

H/T to Fightful for the transcription. 

Although Montez Ford has mostly been used as a tag team star in WWE alongside Angelo Dawkins as part of The Street Profits, Big E thinks it’s time to see what Ford can do on his own. 

The Street Profits made their debut in 2016 and rose up the ranks in NXT before capturing the NXT Tag Team Championships. they later went to the main roster on Raw in 2019 and found more success with multiple reigns as Raw and Smackdown Tag Team Champions.

Many have expected to see Ford break away from Dawkins in pursuit of a singles run. This includes Big E, who praised Ford while appearing on WWE’s The Bump

Ford qualified for the Elimination Chamber Match with the United States Title on the line this past week on Raw with a win over Elias. 

Big E’s Praise

“It’s hard not to be a Montez guy. You talk about someone who has all the tools, charismatic as hell, absurdly athletic. He has everything, so it’s about time for Montez to get his. I’m excited to see his rise and see his run. Talk about a star. Guy has screamed ‘star’ for a long time, so it’s time to get Montez cooking,”

Ford joins US Champion Austin Theory, Johnny Gargano, Seth Rollins, Bronson Reed, and Damien Priest in the Elimination Chamber match.

H/T to Fightful for the transcription.

Recruiting talent is a crucial component of ensuring WWE has a bright future.

WWE will hold its next tryout camp later this week, according to Sports Illustrated. The two-day event will take place from the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. The prep school touts itself as, “the world’s foremost authority in athletic, academic and personal development.”

Approximately 30 to 35 athletes are expected to participate. WWE’s recruiting philosophy has evolved over the past few years. After a period of time focusing on wrestlers from the independent scene, the strategy has shifted to signing elite collegiate athletes.

The WWE NIL (Next in Line) program has been at the forefront of the new initiative.

Paul “Triple H” Levesque has high hopes for this week. He wrote on Twitter, “As WWE continues to invest in recruiting college athletes, IMG Academy is an ideal venue for this week’s tryout. The next great Superstar just may be in attendance…”

Big E Scouting Talent for WWE

The IMG tryouts will mark WWE’s third big tryout camp of the year. 18 developmental contracts were awarded during WrestleMania weekend tryouts. Another 15 athletes were signed during SummerSlam weekend.

Big E will be in attendance for this week’s tryouts. James Kimball, WWE’s Head of Talent Operations and Strategy, says the former WWE Champion will have a big role in the process.

“E is such a critical part of what we’re doing,” says Kimball. “This recruitment strategy is really hitting home for him, and it’s something we should have had when he was a collegiate student-athlete at Iowa. He’s such a great ambassador, and he can relate to these athletes. He’s presenting with shared experience—that goes a long way.”

Big E has been out of action since fracturing his neck earlier this year. He is incredibly thankful to be living life pain-free and will have a better idea about his in-ring future when he gets checked out again by doctors in early 2023.

• “I Have Been Incredibly Blessed” – Big E on Fans Supporting Him During His Injury

Hangman Adam Page wrestled Jon Moxley for the AEW World Championship in the main event of this week’s Dynamite.

The match kicked off with a bang and the two stars battled into the crowd. Hangman connected with a Moonsault and was in control as Dynamite went to a break.

After the break, the match continued back and forth for several minutes before the AEW World Champion connected with a Clothesline. Hangman had a rough fall and landed awkwardly on the canvas.

Hangman was stretchered out and MJF came to the ring at the conclusion of the show. Maxwell announced that he will be cashing in his chip for his title match against Jon Moxley at Full Gear on November 19th. Moxley wanted to have the match tonight but MJF said he wanted to beat Jon Moxley on his own when he is 110% at the PPV.

Big E Wishes Hangman Page Well After His Injury

Former WWE Champion Big E has been out of action for months after suffering a scary neck injury earlier this year. The Brawling Brutes’ Ridge Holland connected with a Suplex outside the ring but Big E landed on his head.

The 36-year-old is recovering well and has made numerous appearances outside of WWE since the injury. He is scheduled to be reevaluated in March, a year after to the injury to assess if he can get back into the ring.

Big E took to Twitter to send a message to Hangman Page after the scary injury during tonight’s Dynamite main event.

Big E fractured his C1 and C6 vertebrae in his neck on the March 11th edition of SmackDown. Ridge Holland went for an overhead throw outside the ring and Big E landed on his neck on the floor.

He recently disclosed on Ryan Satin’s Out of Character podcast that he will be re-evaluated in March of next year to how his neck is progressing, but doctors are not worried about his ability to live a normal life.

Big E Thanks The WWE Universe For Their Support

Former WWE Champion Big E appeared on The Bump today and delivered a message to fans. While his arm was wrapped around former WWE Superstar Tyler Breeze, he thanked the fans for supporting him and added that he’s incredibly blessed. The 36-year-old told fans to not worry about him and to hug their loved ones.

• Watch: Big E Wreaks Havoc On College Football Show

Former WWE Champion Big E appeared during the Fox College Football Show today. He showed up in black and yellow overalls and his usual incredible energy.

The 36-year-old got an awesome entrance ahead of the matchup between Michigan and Iowa. He is a former defensive tackle for the Iowa Hawkeyes. Big E was hyped during his entrance and celebrated with the Iowa fans as seen in the video below.

Big E leaned up against the barricade with Iowa fans and continued to hype up the fans. He also connected with a cake to the face of an overconfident Michigan fan.

USC alum and former NFL player Reggie Bush is one of the hosts on the show and Big E had a hilarious interaction with him. The big man lifted Reggie onto his shoulders with ease and carried him around the set of the show.

Big E was also in the stands for the football game. The Michigan Wolverines moved to 5-0 by defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes 27-14. Iowa is now 3-2 on the season.

The New Day member appeared last year in the same exact outfit and predicted that his alma mater was going to defeat Penn State by a million.

Big E Out Of Action With A Neck Injury

Big E was injured on the March 11th edition of WWE SmackDown. The action spilled out of the ring and Ridge Holland went for an overhead throw but Big E landed on his neck, resulting in the big man fracturing his C1 and C6 vertebrae.

The former WWE Champion revealed a couple of weeks after the injury that he was told by a doctor that the injury could have been much worse. Time will tell if we get to see him back inside the squared circle again but it remains a certainty that Big E’s vibrant energy will never fade.

• Big E Provides Update On His Neck Injury

Big E has provided an update on his health five months after breaking his neck.

The former WWE Champion was Ryan Satin’s latest guest on the Out of Character podcast for Fox Sports. During their discussion, he spoke about his health over the last few months and what the road to recovery looks like.

At this stage, he’s feeling good. More than anything, he’s grateful. When he fractured the C1 and C4 vertebrae in his neck, he could have been paralyzed. He could have died. He’s not experiencing any pain or weakness, which is nothing short of a miracle.

He’s unsure if he’ll ever be cleared to wrestle again. The next big update will come in March 2023, one year after the injury. His C1 is not completely ossifying (the bone is not reforming), which could prevent him from getting back in the ring.

Big E Injury Update

Big E is says his neck is ‘good enough’ that doctors aren’t worried about his ability to live a normal life. Here’s the word straight from Big E:

“For right now, I’m cleared to live a normal life and I do live a normal life. But, I’m not cleared to be taking off and hitting suicide spears and be to be taking back bumps. The nature of what we do is very physical, it involves your neck and your spine, and I’d like to keep that as in tact as possible.

So, for me right now, kind of the next step, is they want to take a look at it again after a year, get some more scans, so we’re talking about March 2023 to see whats doing. We might also along the way, at the 6 and 9 month mark, look it again. But, the upside is that right now, I have no nerve issues, there’s no tingling, no weakness.”

I’ve been in the gym since 2 weeks after breaking my neck. They told me, ‘As long as your neck is in the brace, as long as you stay in the brace, you’re good for that.’

So, yeah i’ve been working out, I feel great, I’m just really grateful. Honestly, it feels like a bullet whizzed by my face. I felt the wind of the bullet go by my head and I’m very grateful to still be here, to have use of my limbs, to still feel good. That’s really my biggest takeaway, is just gratitude. I try to be grateful that I’m still here. I’m still kicking.”

Being an Introvert, Dating

Elsewhere in the conversation, Big E spoke about being introverted. On television, he’s gyrating his hips and riling up the crowd. Some fans might be surprised to learn that when the cameras stop rolling, he likes to relax and have quiet time.

Big E was asked about his dating life. He joked, “It’s a mess out here” and said, “It’s a mine field, don’t do it man!” He tends to be interested in women that don’t live anywhere near him. “I don’t know what I’m doing,” he said. “I don’t have it figured out.”

He’s open to sharing his life with someone, but never felt the drive to settle down and start a family. He loves working, loves traveling and fears a partner would have a problem with his lifestyle.

Catch Big E’s chat with Ryan Satin on the Out of Character podcast:

Big E broke his neck while taking an overhead belly-to-belly suplex from Ridge Holland. There is no surety that he will ever return to the ring. Though despite the circumstances, the former WWE champion is keeping a positive attitude. He says he has no ill will towards Holland for injuring him.

The New Day member recently appeared on The MMA Hour. When asked about Holland, E revealed that he has apologized multiple times and even sent presents to his house. The former champion explained that injuries are part of the business and holding a grudge will not help him at all:

“We’re good, man. Things happen. It’s a part of what we sign up for. It’s not something I ever would have wanted, but it happened. Me hating him or holding a grudge doesn’t help me at all.” said Big E, “He’s been very apologetic, so we’re good man. I hold no ill will against him at all.

I generally think he’s a good human being. I truly do. I’ve enjoyed our interaction prior, and I wish him well. I don’t want this to be the albatross around his neck, whether I have to retire early or not. I can hug my loved ones. I can live my life. My life is good. So, there’s no ill will whatsoever.”

You can check out his full interview below:

More Originals From SEScoops:

• Big E Reveals Immediate Reaction To His Neck Injury
• Becky Lynch Opens Up About Battle With Depression During Wrestling Hiatus
• Joey Janela Discusses Jim Cornette Fans Harassing His Family Members
• Rey Mysterio Reveals What Vince McMahon Wanted Before His WWE Debut
• Becky Lynch Tells Her Favorite Vince McMahon Story

If you use any quotes from the article, please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

The neck injury of Big E is an example of how quickly things can take a turn for the worse in wrestling. His condition didn’t look very bad at first, and people believed that the WWE star will be back soon. However, the severity of his injury has since been revealed and there is currently no timetable for his comeback.

The former WWE champion recently had an interview with The MMA Hour. Speaking about his immediate reaction to the injury, E said that he didn’t think it was a big deal:

“So the bump happens and I can tell right away something went array, but I didn’t think it was that severe. I thought maybe I had a contusion or sprain. I’ve had no neck issues before. I didn’t think it was that big of a deal, but immediately EMTs rushed over.

Salute to all the doctors and EMTs and everyone because they made sure I wasn’t going to move. My thought was ‘Let me just make sure I’m okay. My fingers. I’m so thankful that I could move my hands.’ I didn’t seem to have any like, there was no nerve pain, no tingling. So I wasn’t really that worried.”

‘I Felt Like A Bullet Went By My Head’: Big E

Big E noted that he expected to be out for a few weeks. However, after learning about the severity of his injury, the New Day member felt like a bullet had passed by his head:

“I really just expected to be told that ‘Hey, your neck is sprained. You are out for a month’, but they told me pretty soon after running a battery of tests and everything that I had broken my neck. They let me know how severe it was. In that moment, in many ways I felt like a bullet whiz by my head.

I felt like the breeze of a bullet went by my head because I very quickly learned that a lot of people die instantly from the same kind of injury. If they don’t die, if your C1 is displaced in a certain way. It can travel towards your brain stem and it can either lead to stroke, it can lead to paralysis or death. For me to come out of all of that, with no nerve issues, no atrophy, to still be alive honestly, is pretty incredible.”

You can check out Big E’s full interview in the video below:

More Originals From SEScoops:

• Becky Lynch Opens Up About Battle With Depression During Wrestling Hiatus
• Joey Janela Discusses Jim Cornette Fans Harassing His Family Members
• Rey Mysterio Reveals What Vince McMahon Wanted Before His WWE Debut
• Becky Lynch Tells Her Favorite Vince McMahon Story
• Gunther Describes Difference Between NXT And Main Roster

If you use any quotes from the article, please credit SEScoops with an H/t for transcription

Big E may be out of action but the grind doesn’t stop for the former WWE Champion.

E has been on the shelf since March due to a serious neck injury suffered on an episode of SmackDown. The New Day member landed right on his head and neck off a belly-to-belly suplex from Ridge Holland outside the ring.

He suffered a broken neck but was able to avoid disaster as he didn’t suffer spinal damage or displacement. As of now, he does not need surgery.

With that said, Big E’s C1 vertebra is not ossifying, so he will have to check in with doctors one year after the injury to see the status of his neck and what his in-ring future holds.

Big E’s Sobering Experience

During an interview with ESPN, Big E admitted that being told by doctors that he could’ve died with the kind of fall he had was quite the eye-opener.

“It’s very sobering to hear that,” the 36-year-old 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.”

Working With Tomorrow’s Stars

Later this month, Big E will be working with WWE in its search for the stars of the future at a talent tryout featuring college athletes.

Big E discussed wishing there was more that could be done for athletes at the collegiate level.

“I wish there was an exit program for college athletes, because you spend so much of your time on campus studying for your sport or participating for your sport or practicing for your sport,” Big E said.

“You devote so much of your life to it, and then when it’s gone, it is such a distinct drop-off. It’s so hard to prepare for that. That was something that was really hard for me mentally too.”

Big E on college athletes

Big E is checking in with an encouraging update about his health.

Former WWE Champion suffered a broken neck on the March 11th edition of WWE SmackDown. He later provided an update on his condition, revealing that his C1 and C6 vertebrae were fractured. Thankfully, his spinal cord and ligaments were not damaged.

Just days after the incident, Big E stated that doctors informed him he narrowly escaped a stroke, paralysis or death, due to the C1 fracture.

Last month, he posted a video on Instagram of himself throwing his neck brace in the trash, a sign that his recovery is moving in the right direction.

Big E Feels “Tremendous”

On Monday, July 4th, Big E let fans know that he is feeling “tremendous” less than four months after the career-threatening injury.

According to Big E, he still has a long road ahead of him. His C1 is not ossifying just yet, a crucial development that will determine whether or not he’ll be able to wrestle again.

“The current plan is to get more scans at the one year mark & see how it’s progressing.”

– Big E

Big E feels “tremendous” and neck surgery is still “off the table.”

SEScoops wishes Big E a full and speedy recovery.

Big E recently took a step further to make his return to in-ring action after suffering a broken neck as he shared a video on Instagram of him tossing his neck brace in the trash can, an indication he isn’t required to wear it anymore. 

Last month, the former WWE Champion shared a photo on Instagram of himself where he was not wearing a neck brace because he was using an Exogen device that is an ultrasound bone healing system, which helps by sending waves to amplify your body’s natural bone repair processes. 

Big E suffered the neck injury this past March when he landed awkwardly on the top of his head after taking a suplex from Ridge Holland on an episode of SmackDown. 

He fractured the C1 and C6, but didn’t suffer a non-displacement. He also didn’t damage his spinal cord nor suffer any ligament damage and didn’t need surgery.

Although Big E previously stated on Twitter that his C1 wasn’t healing optimally and had to be in the brace for another 4-6 weeks to avoid getting fusion surgery, the fact that he isn’t wearing the neck brace anymore is great sign. 

In what could be a positive sign, Big E has been able to finally remove his neck brace.

During the March 11 episode of WWE SmackDown, Big E suffered a broken neck. The former WWE Champion was given an overhead belly-to-belly suplex from Ridge Holland on the outside.

Big E landed on his neck and was stretchered out of the arena.

The good news right away was that E was able to move all his extremities and there was no spinal damage. He was also initially told he wouldn’t need surgery but his C1 wasn’t healing as well as he hoped.

Big E was told to leave the neck brace on in hopes of avoiding fusion surgery.

It looks like there is reason to be optimistic as E took to his Instagram account to reveal he has been able to remove his neck brace.

We at SEScoops wish Big E a full and speedy recovery.

The New Day has been the most successful faction in WWE for years but the original pitch wasn’t exactly hitting home with the group’s members.

Together, Big E, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods have had great success in WWE. They have won tag team gold 11 times. In singles action, Big E and Kofi have both had WWE Championship reigns, while Woods won the 2021 King of the Ring.

The initial pitch for The New Day didn’t exactly give E, Kofi, or Woods the chills but they knew they could knock it out of the part.

Vince McMahon’s Initial Plan For The New Day

Kofi Kingston was a guest on Out of Character with Ryan Satin. During his appearance, Kofi said that Vince McMahon had serious gospel vibes with The New Day when he first pitched the idea (h/t 411Mania.com).

“When we were given the gimmick of positivity preaching preachers, I’ll never forget it. We had been going back and forth with Vince about what we wanted to be. We wanted to be some guys who were not pleased with our positions in the company.

“He’s like, ‘Okay, well, how about you guys be preachers and you guys come out here and there’s gospel music.’ We’re just sitting there and we know that the people are going to reject this idea because nobody comes to WWE to go to church.

“But this is what he wanted us to do. We told him, ‘Whatever you give us, we’ll make it succeed because of our chemistry. We believe in it.’ He’s like, ‘Alright, I’m going to put that to the test. You guys are going be positivity preaching preachers. Go get it over.’

“We’re just like, alright, this is our chance, and we supported each other. There were a lot of people who took a big dump on our aspirations. They didn’t believe in us. They made fun of us when we were just trying to get over.

“But now you fast forward, and those same people have come back around, and they admitted that they were wrong. Not that we do it to prove people wrong, but we proved them wrong.”

Kofi certainly isn’t playing revisionist history. He’s absolutely right when he says people panned The New Day gimmick at first and didn’t think it was going to work. The faction quickly turned things around and has become one of the hottest acts in WWE.

Unfortunately, The New Day is currently down a member. On the March 11 episode of SmackDown, Big E suffered a broken neck after landing awkwardly off an overhead belly-to-belly suplex from Ridge Holland.

E recently gave an update revealing that his recovery has hit a snag due to his C1 not healing the way he had hoped. He’s keeping his neck in a brace for the next month or so in an attempt to avoid fusion surgery.

Big E has received some less-than-ideal news regarding his neck injury.

On the March 11 episode of WWE SmackDown, Big E suffered a scary injury that could’ve been even worse than it was. The New Day member took an overhead belly-to-belly from Ridge Holland outside of the ring. E landed right on his head and neck and had to be stretchered out of the arena.

He ended up suffering a broken neck. The good news for E was that he was initially told he’d be able to avoid surgery but since that time, the recovery process hasn’t been smooth sailing.

Big E Provides Latest Update

Big E shared an update on the situation with his neck and it isn’t what he was hoping for.

“For those desirous of an update, my C1 apparently isn’t healing optimally. I’ll spend another 4-6 weeks in a brace in hopes that I can avoid a fusion. But don’t you fret! I’ve got a tremendous support system & what shall be shall be.”

The former WWE Champion has shown a tremendous amount of positivity throughout this scary ordeal. He was even out walking with his neck brace on shortly after the injury occurred.

Obviously, Big E’s health is the number one priority but some have wondered if he will ever be able to wrestle again.

Former WWE physician consultant, Dr. David Chao, told Outkick that E’s in-ring career could be over as a C1 fracture often doesn’t heal completely.