Big E’s future with WWE is not in question following the departures of his New Day teammates Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods.
According to WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select, Big E is set to continue as part of WWE’s PLE Kickoff shows and is viewed internally as a valuable presence and a key reason behind the show’s success over the years.
Big E has been sidelined from in-ring competition since suffering a serious neck injury in 2022. He has worked extensively on the broadcast side of WWE since then and previously revealed that a doctor strongly urged him to reconsider returning to the ring even if medically cleared. No confirmed update on an in-ring return has been provided, and Big E has indicated he is leaning toward retirement from active competition.
Kingston and Woods mutually parted ways with WWE on May 2 after the company sought to restructure their contracts and the duo declined the offer.
Speaking to Jon Alba of Sports Illustrated, Big E admitted that he agrees with the fan backlash regarding the lack of follow-up when WWE split up The New Day.
“I think that is a very real criticism. Creative, as you know, is a give and take. I’m only one component of it. There are a lot of other people involved. The creative team kind of just talked to me about the general idea and I initially thought at least being able to kind of, not pass the baton, but if Kofi and Woods were going to work with another team, and I was able to kind of give them my blessing, or I had an idea I wanted to do around Rumble to kind of foil Kofi and Woods. Because I’m with you in that, us continuing to build this angle or to build heat with someone who’s not coming back, I think doesn’t make sense. It leads fans astray. But I thought if anything, Okay, if we’re going to do this, there’s a way for me to kind of pass the torch to someone else or give them my blessing, or say, I’m aligned with you, or say, whatever it is,” Big E said.
“There are a lot of cooks in the creative kitchen, and we felt like this was us making the best of what we were given, and yeah, that’s kind of how that went down. But no, I agree with you and a lot of people who felt the same, and I saw a lot of that feedback after it was clear that I wasn’t coming back in a timely fashion, that it was, ‘Okay, why are we putting so much stock into an angle where one person is never coming back? There’s no retribution?’ So I think that’s a very real criticism. I heard it, and I think people have a right to feel that way,” he added.
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