Big E has not yet been medically cleared to return to wrestling following his neck injury during the March 11, 2022 episode of WWE SmackDown.
He sustained the injury when he was subjected to an overhead belly-to-belly suplex by Ridge Holland at ringside, which resulted in a fracture of his C1 and C6 cervical vertebrae.
Speaking to Adrian Hernandez for Unlikely (according to Fightful), Big E was asked if there is a deadline for his possible return to the ring.
“I don’t know if there’s necessarily a deadline. I don’t want to say I have a date or a time or anything like that in mind. But I’m happy with my life right now, and honestly I have been since day one. 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 I have, and I’m so blessed. I’m so lucky. First of all, I’m not in pain, I’m moving well, I’m in the gym, I’m living a great life. You don’t have to feel sorry for me, you don’t have to feel sorry for me at all. I’ve been given so many incredible things, and the beautiful thing is that even though I’ve been out of the ring, I have so many other challenges and other things coming my way that I’ve really enjoyed. I love being a part of these countdown shows, we do pre-shows, we do post-shows, I get to be here on a weekend like this and participate, I’m so lucky and blessed to have been signed to WWE for 15 years. I can’t believe how fast time has gone. 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 incredibly blessed. I’m really grateful for all of these things. I’m grateful to everyone that’s reached out to me. I can’t believe it, I thought after a year people would have moved on and given up, but it’s been two and a half years now and people are still asking and I appreciate that. It means a lot to me, but life has been really, really good. I’m blessed, I live with no regrets or anything. I’m very, very grateful,” Big E said.
