Big E has not yet received medical clearance to return to wrestling following his neck injury during the March 11, 2022, episode of WWE SmackDown.
He suffered the injury while taking an overhead belly-to-belly suplex from Ridge Holland at ringside, which resulted in a fracture of his C1 and C6 vertebrae.
Speaking with Adrian Hernandez for Unlikely (per Fightful), Big E was asked whether there is a cut off date for his potential in-ring return.
“I don’t know if there’s necessarily a cut-off. I don’t want to say I have a date in mind or a time or any of those things. But I’m content in life right now, and I have been content in life since day one, honestly. I think instead of focusing on all the things that are lost, or the things I can’t do or not being in the ring anymore, I focus on the things that I do have, and I’m so blessed. I’m so fortunate. One, I’m not in pain, I move around well, I’m in the gym, I live a great life. You don’t have to pity me, you don’t have to feel bad for me at all. I got so many incredible things, and the nice thing is, although I’ve been out of the ring, I have so many other challenges and other things come my way that I’ve really enjoyed. I love being a part of these Countdown shows, we do pre-shows, we do post-shows, being able to be able to be here on a weekend like this and to take part, I’m so fortunate and so blessed to be 15 years in, under contract with WWE. I can’t believe how quickly it’s flown by. But I’m still here, and I’m still doing things that I love and enjoy. I get to see so many of my friends, so I’m blessed, I’m immensely blessed. I’m really thankful for all those things. I appreciate everyone who [has] checked in on me. I can’t believe, I thought after a year, people would have moved on and given up, but it’s like two-and-a-half years, and people are still asking, and I appreciate that. It means a lot, but life has been really, really good. I am blessed, I don’t live in any regret or any of those things. I’m very, very thankful,” Big E said.
