WWE legend Big E shares bold new direction
Big E’s wrestling career ended in a split second. One miscalculated landing during a match with Ridge Holland in March 2022 fractured his C1 and C6 vertebrae and changed everything.
The power, the momentum, the championship pedigree, all of it stopped inside the ropes that night.
But his story did not.
Instead of fading into the background, the former WWE Champion rebuilt his role within the company. He signed a multi-year contract and transitioned into broadcast work, becoming a regular analyst and kickoff panelist. Week after week, his perspective carries weight because it comes from lived experience, not theory. He speaks as someone who stood at the top and survived the fall.
From physical recovery to public honesty
Now Big E is taking that journey to an even bigger stage.
He announced he will deliver a TEDx talk on August 12, 2026, in Davenport, Iowa. The theme, How I Got Over, centers on something rarely discussed in wrestling at this depth: his battle with major depressive disorder and psychosis. He plans to speak openly about medication, hospitalization, electroconvulsive therapy, talk therapy, and mindfulness practices that helped him rebuild his life.
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This is more than a speaking engagement. It reframes how strength is defined in WWE culture. For decades, toughness meant silence. Big E is choosing transparency instead. That choice carries influence, especially coming from a former world champion who was once defined by physical dominance.
His peers understand the significance. Seth Rollins has already expressed excitement, noting the event takes place in his hometown. The support signals that Big E’s standing in the locker room remains intact.
At the same time, his analytical voice continues shaping storylines. On RAW Recap, he recently highlighted how The Street Profits had been sidelined too long…
