WWE star 'Big E' suffers broken neck during Friday's SmackDown show [View all]

Professional wrestling star “Big E” is reportedly recovering after breaking his neck in a match held Friday evening during WWE’s SmackDown show at UAB Birmingham, according to multiple reports.

“Big E,” whose real name is Ettore Ewen, apparently suffered the injury after taking a 'belly-to-belly suplex' outside of the ring. Instead of landing normally, video shows that he was spiked on his head. Reports say he was removed from Legacy Arena where the event via stretcher. Ewen said on Twitter that his C1 and C6 vertebrae were fractured, but there was no displacement , and that he suffered no damage to his spinal cord or any ligament damage. He said his injury will not require surgery.

“Big E” joined the WWE in 2009. He is a former Iowa football player and USA Powerlifting champion. He is, perhaps, most popular for his run in WWE with “The New Day,” alongside Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods.

The 5-foot-11, 285 pounder has a long list of title wins within the company including holding the WWE Championship. He is also a two-time Intercontinental Champion, a two-time Raw Tag Team Champion and a six-time SmackDown Tag Team Champion.

https://www.pennlive.com/sports/2022/03/wwe-star-big-e-suffers-broken-neck-during-fridays-smackdown-show-reports.html

https://www.wbrc.com/2022/03/12/wwe-star-big-e-breaks-neck-during-smackdown-birmingham/

https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2022-03-11/wwe-big-e-broken-neck