The Brutal Margin for Error in WWE
Big E (Ettore Ewen) has officially retired from in-ring competition, ending four years of speculation about his future. The former WWE Champion confirmed his status in a recent interview, detailing the anatomical reality of the neck injury that ended his career.
In March 2022, Big E suffered a broken neck during a SmackDown broadcast in a tag team match. The spot involved a belly-to-belly overhead suplex on the outside concrete floor, delivered by Ridge Holland. As BodySlam.net reported, the impact fractured Big E's C1 and C6 vertebrae.
The C6 fracture was relatively minor, but the C1 fracture was a burst fracture, also known as a Jefferson fracture. The C1 ring fractured on opposite sides, and instead of forming new bone during recovery, it healed with new cartilage.
Without bone fusion, the vertebrae lacks the structural integrity to absorb another high-impact bump. A second impact to a compromised C1 vertebrae carries extreme risks, including stroke, complete paralysis, or death. Big E was fortunately spared these outcomes on the night of the accident.
The Anatomy of a SmackDown Accident
The match pitted Big E and Kofi Kingston against Sheamus and Ridge Holland, with Pete Dunne at ringside. Big E wanted to take a heavy bump to justify being laid out at the finish of the match.
As a former world champion and a larger athlete, Big E felt the booking feedback required him to take a more substantial hit than a standard superkick. He planned to miss a suicide spear through the ropes, but took a harsh spill on the floor because there was not enough room to post on the apron.
On the floor, he fed up and asked Holland what move he wanted to hit. Holland suggested an overhead suplex, a move Big E had taken many times from Ryback with no issues.
The execution went wrong quickly when Big E realized he did not have enough clearance in the air. He was dumped directly onto the top of his head.
Ringside physician Dr. Pescasio rushed to the floor immediately. Big E recalled his first words to her: "I need to get a new job."
This reaction stemmed from a long history of physical wear. Big E had already suffered torn ACLs, a patella injury, back issues, and a herniated disc in his neck during the pandemic that caused arm weakness and forced him to miss Survivor Series.
Backstage, Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston gathered Big E's belongings and stayed with him at the Birmingham hospital before traveling to the next town. They are family, and their presence provided support during a sobering diagnosis.
The Scapegoat and the Apology
Meanwhile, Ridge Holland faced a torrent of online abuse, including death threats from fans who blamed him for ending a beloved performer's career. Big E repeatedly spoke out to defend Holland, urging fans to leave him alone. In a recent interview, Big E reflected on the incident and defended Ridge Holland against fan criticism, as WrestleTalk documented.
Holland attempted to make amends, even sending Big E a 10-pound box of meat as a traditional masculine apology. Though Big E did not eat red meat at the time, his creative partner Johnny enjoyed the gift.
The accident altered Holland's career path, leading to his eventual release from WWE. The company let Holland go at perhaps the worst possible time, showing a lack of institutional support for a worker caught in a high-risk booking spot.
Holland has since been cleared to wrestle and is performing on the independent circuit under his real name, Luke Menzies. The two men ran into each other briefly at the MGM Grand in Vegas during WrestleMania weekend, confirming there is no lingering animosity.
Jade Cargill’s Close Call with the Steel Steps
Big E's career-ending injury is not an isolated incident of WWE's physical margin for error. On the September 26, 2025 edition of SmackDown, Jade Cargill suffered a severe injury of her own in a triple threat match against Tiffany Stratton and Nia Jax.
Jax threw Cargill into the steel ring steps, which were supposed to give way on impact but remained completely rigid. The collision opened a deep, three-layer gash above Cargill's eye, leaving her crooked brow hanging.
Backstage, Triple H immediately directed the production crew to cut the cameras away from Cargill. He later told her that they would need to consult a plastic surgeon to repair the damage. Cargill detailed the extent of the damage and her conversation with WWE management, as WrestlingNews.co reported.
Cargill's initial concern was cosmetic, worrying about how to get the blood out of her white wig. The referee, Daphanie LaShaunn, alerted her to the severity of the cut, and a collective gasp from the arena confirmed the gruesome reality.
Cargill finished the match despite the injury. She later defeated Tiffany Stratton for the WWE Women's Championship at Saturday Night's Main Event in November, holding the title for nearly 170 days before dropping it at WrestleMania.
Strategic Implications and Historical Context
The C1 burst fracture suffered by Big E draws direct comparisons to Tyson Kidd’s life-threatening neck injury in 2015. Kidd suffered a severe C1-C2 fracture while taking Samoa Joe's Muscle Buster in a dark match, which immediately ended his active career.
Kidd underwent a complex spinal fusion surgery and transitioned into a highly successful behind-the-scenes role as a WWE producer. Big E has followed a similar path, remaining with the company as a regular pre-show and post-show broadcaster.
These injuries expose a persistent structural flaw in professional wrestling booking. Promoters consistently pressure larger athletes to take high-angle bumps on the outside floor to build dramatic tension.
The use of steel steps and concrete floors increases the danger exponentially. Cargill's steps failed to collapse as engineered, illustrating the danger of relying on mechanical props in live sports entertainment.
In Big E’s case, the overhead suplex was an unnecessary risk on a weekly television show. The Brawling Brutes could have achieved the same booking result with a safer maneuver inside the ring.
By letting Ridge Holland go, WWE chose to distance itself from the PR fallout rather than addressing the systemic issues that cause these injuries. The company must balance its desire for spectacular, high-impact moments with the physical survival of its roster.
