Big E has not been seen on WWE TV since he suffered a broken neck while wrestling on the March 11, 2022 edition of Friday Night SmackDown. It happened as the New Day member was taking a belly-to-belly suplex which fractured his C1 vertebrae and C6 vertebrae. Luckily, he didn’t suffer any ligament or spinal chord damage.
Since then, the star has been working with WWE’s NIL program where he helps the company look for college athletes who may be able to make the transition and train to be a pro wrestler under the WWE banner. Big E is one of many stars who have been off television recently for one reason or another, but it may not be long before some of those who are absent return to our screens.
As Dave Meltzer writes in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, there are many performers who aren’t involved in weekly TV who might be brought out to make appearances over WrestleMania week. This includes Big E and Randy Orton, the latter of which is already confirmed to be in LA, among others.
“There are a number of wrestlers who have been off television for injury and other reasons who could return for appearances in some form and get easy pops, including Randy Orton, Matt Riddle, A.J. Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura and Big E. Orton is confirmed as going to be there and before the injury to Kofi Kingston, which did results in ankle surgery on 3/17, we had at least heard talk of the Big E return if only in skit form with the New Day together.”
– Dave Meltzer
It will be interesting to see how or even if WWE chooses to use their currently absent stars as we move into WrestleMania week. Fans will be particularly elated to see The New Day back on screen together if that does come to be.
As always, we will update you on that status of WWE’s injured stars and their plans for WrestleMania as we hear more.
