Big E, formerly a member of the WWE faction New Day, has officially confirmed his retirement from professional wrestling on X/Twitter. After an extensive career marked by several serious injuries, Big E shared a heartfelt message reflecting on the physical toll wrestling has taken on him, while expressing gratitude to fans who supported him throughout his journey. He emphasized that he currently experiences no pain in his day-to-day life and is at peace with his decision to step away from the ring.
Xavier Woods Responds to Retirement While Staying in Character
Reacting to Big E’s announcement, Xavier Woods, his former teammate and a fellow World Tag Team Champion, posted a video maintaining his heel persona. In the clip, Woods was seen laughing and accompanied his reaction with a brief message: “Told ya.” This statement alluded to an earlier WWE storyline where Woods and Kofi Kingston removed Big E from their group, stating he would never wrestle again. Woods used the moment to highlight that their prediction about Big E’s wrestling future had come true, subtly rubbing in the outcome while keeping the wrestling character alive.
Big E Reflects on His Wrestling Career and Future
Since recovering from a significant neck injury that sidelined him, Big E has remained active within WWE through hosting roles and analysis on various post-show panels. His retirement statement detailed a history of injuries, including torn ACLs and a broken patella, stressing the physical demands wrestling imposed on his body. He wrote,
“I entered the pro wrestling industry at age 23 with an injury history that included a Torn Left ACL, Torn Right ACL, Torn Left Pec, and a Broken Right Patella. At 39, I’m well aware, that I will one day have to pay the piper. I’ve put my body through a lot. And somehow, I feel great. I don’t battle daily pain. I’m able to function normally and healthfully. I’m eternally grateful for the wonderful career I stumbled into. I pray for all of my fellow athletes and performers who have not had the same good fortune. A sincere thank you to everyone who has taken the time to follow my in-ring career. It was an immeasurable gift to get to perform for you all,”
His message conveyed both pride in his achievements and empathy for others in physically demanding professions who may not have fared as well.
Future Directions for New Day Members Following Big E’s Exit
With Big E stepping away from in-ring competition, the futures of his former New Day partners, especially Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston, remain uncertain. Their upcoming paths within WWE could shift as they adapt to this change in the group dynamic. Fans and industry watchers are closely observing what roles each will assume moving forward, whether continuing in competition or focusing on different aspects within WWE programming.
— Austin Creed (@AustinCreedWins) February 7, 2026
