WWE's Big E Explains Why Retirement Decision Wasn't Difficult For Him

It's now been four years since Big E last wrestled a match after suffering a broken neck, and at least for right now, he's perfectly okay with that. While many other wrestlers with similar injuries have worked to come back, Big E is perfectly content with retirement, and during an interview with "HaangEmHiigh," he explained why, even though he admitted that he had "the time of my life" when he was wrestling.

"Honestly, because of my time in 2020, really working on myself, getting into meditation and mindfulness, it really was not a hard decision for me, because I just, I'd gotten to a point where I think I was just able to accept that this was the right decision," Big E said. "And yeah man, I think meditation has really allowed me...meditation is really just a lot about letting go, a lot of what guided meditation teaches you is letting go of things that don't serve you anymore."

Of course, suffering the broken neck also played a big factor for Big E, particularly because it was the latest in a long slew of injuries he had suffered between football and wrestling, which included torn ACLs, torn meniscus, herniated discs, and a broken patella. All of that, combined with the potential risks of returning, other life goals and the opportunity to stay with WWE in a non-wrestling role, further allowed Big E to be at peace with retiring.

"I never foresaw myself in this broadcasting role when I first started wrestling, but it's something that I've enjoyed and I'm grateful for the opportunity. So the great thing is there's still other ways to be involved with the product. So for me, when I really thought about it and when trying to forecast what I wanted life to look like in the next five, ten years and beyond, I just though 'You know what? It is time. It's time to put that chapter to bed, and to build a new chapter. To start working on the next phase of my life.'"

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit "HaangEmHiigh" and provide a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription