Big E recalls outpouring of love after WWE neck injury

While appearing on Stephanie McMahon’s “What’s Your Story?” podcast, former WWE Champion Big E recalled the outpouring of love he received after breaking his neck.

The injury happened during a WWE SmackDown match in 2022 and — at least to this point — has proven to be a career-ending one. Though it’s been more than three years since he was last able to wrestle, Big E has not dwelled on the negativity of the situation, instead choosing to focus on how happy he is in life and how grateful he is that his injury was not worse than it was. He feels great physically despite not being cleared to compete.

Mindfulness and meditation are two things that have changed Big E’s life for the better — and they were crucial tools in his injury recovery. Instead of feeling like life was falling apart, he was able to focus on gratitude. Just being able to walk seemed like a gift after he had come so close to being paralyzed.

A strong support system also helped Big E get through the injury. It took him days to get back to everyone who reached out, and so many fans sent him their support as well. Friends sent him ‘Seinfeld’ memorabilia and mindfulness books to help boost his morale during the recovery.

“In that moment, I didn’t think about all the things I didn’t have. I was just so grateful for all the things I did have,” Big E said. “The fact that I wasn’t paralyzed. I had friends. And the amount of love, man, I can go on and on about — it took me three days to get back to all the texts, all the phone calls. And I’m just on my phone the whole time trying to get back to everyone. But in that moment, it wasn’t about what I lost. It was, ‘My God, what an incredible support system I have.’

“Thank God for the friends I’ve cultivated. So many of the incredible fans that I wasn’t able to get back to who reached out with so much love. And people can talk about how toxic the internet can be, how toxic wrestling fans can be — and I’m not dismissing elements of that, that certainly exists — but I saw so much love, and it made me feel so good.

“I had so many incredible people. ‘Seinfeld’ is my favorite show, and I had just so many people send me — Mustafa Ali sent me a ‘Seinfeld’ Lego set of Jerry’s apartment. So I played with Lego since I was a kid, but it was great. I was just like in my house, excited to wake up every day and start putting together Jerry’s apartment with this Lego set. I had people send me like ‘Seinfeld’ comforters and scripts.â€

Still with WWE after the injury, Big E has transitioned to a role that includes hosting PLE pre-shows and post-shows. He’s also pursued other interests like voicing a character in the Disney+ series “Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.”

Big E announced his engagement to Kris Yim — the sister of WWE wrestler Michin — earlier this year.

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