Big E Says Ending His WWE In-Ring Career Wasn’t Heartbreaking: ‘I Just Had Such A Charmed Career’

Big E has spoken candidly about accepting the end of his in-ring career, explaining that looking back on everything he accomplished made the transition far easier than many might expect.

Speaking on The A2TheK Wrestling Show to promote an upcoming book, Big E reflected on his journey in WWE — one that was derailed in March 2022 when he suffered a broken neck during a SmackDown match. The injury occurred during a belly-to-belly suplex on the floor from Ridge Holland, in the middle of the New Day’s rivalry with the Brawling Brutes. Since then, Big E has transitioned into a broadcasting role with the company, and has confirmed that competing in the ring again is no longer on the table.

Far from bitter, Big E painted a picture of genuine gratitude. “It wasn’t difficult for me, as much as I loved my time in the ring, it wasn’t heartbreaking for me to say my time here is over, because I was able to look back,” he said. He rattled off a remarkable list of accomplishments — becoming the second-ever NXT Champion, being named WWE’s greatest tag team of all time alongside his New Day partners, a memorable extended segment with The Rock, a branded cereal, topping the company’s merchandise charts in 2016, and ultimately capturing the WWE Championship and the Money in the Bank briefcase.

Beyond the accolades, Big E was emphatic that the New Day — Kofi Kingston and Austin Creed (Xavier Woods) — were essential to everything he achieved. “There is no Big E WWE Championship run without those guys, there is no Money In The Bank, and there is no potential Hall of Fame,” he said. “My career is one with maybe a little bit of promise early, and then peters out fairly quickly, and maybe we forget about this guy if not for Kofi and Woods.”

He also offered a frank take on the realities of the wrestling business, noting that bumps and training aren’t the hardest parts — navigating office politics and managing relationships with creative are the true tests of longevity in the industry.

For a man who came in as a self-described failed football player with bad knees and no wrestling lineage, Big E’s perspective on his career is a reminder of just how far the right partnership and the right attitude can take someone.