It was just a regular Friday night in Birmingham, Alabama. March 11, 2022. The Legacy Arena was packed for SmackDown, and honestly, the vibe was great until one overhead belly-to-belly suplex changed everything. You’ve probably seen the clip—it’s one of those moments that makes your stomach drop because you just know something is wrong immediately. Ridge Holland is the wrestler who injured Big E, and while it was a freak accident, it remains one of the most significant "what-ifs" in modern wrestling history.
Big E, whose real name is Ettore Ewen, was at the absolute peak of his powers. He had recently come off a massive run as WWE Champion. He was the soul of the New Day. Then, in a split second on the floor outside the ring, his career stopped.
The Move That Changed Big E’s Life
Let's talk about the mechanics because people still argue about this on Twitter like they’re physics professors. Ridge Holland, a former professional rugby player turned WWE Superstar, went for an overhead belly-to-belly suplex on the floor. It’s a standard power move. But on this night, the rotation wasn't there. Big E didn't get all the way over. Instead of landing on his upper back or shoulders, he landed directly on the crown of his head.
His neck snapped back.
He didn't move.
The match kept going for a minute—it’s live TV, and the "show must go on" mentality is a curse sometimes—but the medical staff was on him fast. When Big E eventually posted a video from the hospital bed that night, he was still wearing his wrestling gear. He gave a thumbs up. He was smiling, which is just so on-brand for him, but the news was grim: he had fractured his C1 and C3 vertebrae.
The C1 is called the Atlas. It’s the topmost vertebra of the spine. When people talk about "internal decapitation" or life-altering paralysis, they are talking about C1 fractures. It is a miracle he can walk, let alone live a normal life.
Who is Ridge Holland and Why Does the Internet Hate Him?
Ridge Holland became the lightning rod for all the frustration fans felt. He was relatively new to the main roster. He was being pushed as a powerhouse. When a "green" or inexperienced wrestler injures a beloved veteran, the backlash is radioactive.
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Honestly, the way people treated Holland was pretty intense. He received death threats. People called for his job. But if you look at Big E’s own accounts of the situation, he has been nothing but gracious. Big E has repeatedly said that he holds no ill will toward Ridge. He knows wrestling is a contact sport where inches matter.
Holland actually reached out immediately. He sent Big E family-sized packages of red meat as a "get well" gift because he knew E loved to eat. He checked in constantly. But in the court of public opinion, "who injured Big E" became a label that Holland couldn't shake for a long time. It even became a meta-storyline later in NXT, where Holland struggled with the guilt of being "the guy who breaks people."
The Medical Reality of the C1 Fracture
We need to get into the weeds on why Big E hasn't wrestled since 2022. It’s been years. Most wrestlers return from "broken necks" within 9 to 12 months. Kurt Angle did it. Stone Cold Steve Austin did it. Edge and Christian both came back from triple-fusion surgeries.
But Big E’s injury is different.
The C1 vertebra doesn't always heal with new bone growth. In Big E's case, he has what's called a "non-union" or fibrous union. Basically, the bone didn't fuse back into a solid piece of rock; instead, it’s held together by tough, fibrous tissue. For a normal person? That’s fine. You can go to the grocery store, you can lift weights, you can live a long life.
For a 285-pound man who gets dropped on his head for a living? It’s a death sentence for a career.
WWE's medical team, led by Dr. Maroon, is notoriously conservative. They aren't going to clear a guy whose C1 isn't 100% ossified. If he takes another bad bump, it’s not just a career-ender—it’s a life-ender. Big E has been incredibly transparent about this in interviews with ESPN and on various podcasts. He’s said that he’s been told by doctors that "wrestling again is not a smart move."
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The Psychological Toll on the New Day
You can't talk about Big E without talking about Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods. The New Day isn't just a gimmick. Those guys are actually brothers. Watching them talk about the injury is heartbreaking. For the first year, there was this constant expectation that he’d be the "surprise entrant" in the Royal Rumble.
Every year, the fans wait. Every year, the music doesn't hit.
Kofi and Woods have had to pivot. They’ve kept the New Day brand alive, but it feels like there’s a massive hole in the center of the group. Big E was the muscle and the charisma-heavy anchor. Without him, they’ve transitioned into a veteran tag team role, helping younger talent, but the energy is different. You can tell they miss their friend more than they miss their teammate.
Is Ridge Holland "Dangerous"?
This is the big question that popped up after the Birmingham incident. In the wrestling world, your reputation is your currency. If people think you're "stiff" or "unsafe," they don't want to work with you.
Before the Big E incident, Holland had a bit of a reputation for being a heavy hitter, but not necessarily a "dangerous" one. However, the optics were bad. He had previously suffered a horrific leg injury himself, so he knew the physical cost. Since the Big E accident, Holland has worked a much more cautious style.
Some fans argue that the overhead belly-to-belly suplex should be banned, or at least restricted to certain performers. Others say that the floor in WWE rings needs more padding. But at the end of the day, wrestling involves two humans throwing each other around. Sometimes, gravity wins.
Where is Big E Now?
If you follow him on social media, you’d barely know he was "injured." The guy is a specimen. He’s still in the gym. He’s still incredibly jacked. He’s been doing a lot of work for WWE as an ambassador, doing NIL (Next In Line) scouting for college athletes, and appearing on pre-show panels.
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He’s also found a voice in voice-over work. He’s a natural. His voice is iconic. He’s also been very active in the mental health space, talking about how he dealt with the sudden loss of his career.
It’s rare to see an athlete lose everything at their peak and not become bitter. Big E isn't bitter. He’s grateful he can still walk his dog and lead a normal life. He’s mentioned that his "bones aren't healing the way they need to" for a return, and honestly, we should probably start accepting that he might never get back in the ring.
It sucks. It really does. But seeing him healthy and happy is better than seeing him in a wheelchair.
Misconceptions About the Injury
A lot of people think Big E had surgery. He actually didn't.
Because of the location of the fractures, doctors opted for a "wait and see" approach with a neck brace to let it heal naturally. Surgery on the C1/C2 area is incredibly invasive and risky. The fact that he avoided the knife is actually a testament to how lucky he was—as weird as that sounds to say about a guy with a broken neck.
Another misconception is that Ridge Holland was fired or punished. He wasn't. WWE treated it as an accident. He stayed on the roster, eventually moved back to NXT to "re-find" himself, and continues to work.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you're following this story, there are a few things to keep in mind regarding the future of Big E and the safety of the sport:
- Follow Official Updates Only: Don't believe every "rumor" about a Royal Rumble return. Big E gets scans every 6 to 12 months. Unless he announces he is cleared, he isn't.
- Respect the "Non-Union" Reality: Understand that "feeling good" is not the same as "being cleared." Spinal stability is a binary thing in the eyes of WWE doctors. It's either safe or it's not.
- Support the Ambassador Role: Big E is doing great work with college athletes. His transition from the ring to the corporate/ambassador side of WWE is a blueprint for other wrestlers who have to retire early.
- Don't Harass Performers: Accidents happen in every sport. Harassing Ridge Holland doesn't fix Big E's neck. Even Big E would tell you to stop.
- Appreciate the New Day's Legacy: If Big E never wrestles again, he's a surefire Hall of Famer. Triple Crown champion. One of the greatest of his generation.
The story of who injured Big E isn't a story of a villain and a victim. It’s a story about the inherent risks of a brutal business and the incredible grace of a man who lost his dream but kept his spirit. Big E is doing just fine, even if he never hits another Big Ending in his life. He’s lived a thousand lives in those few years, and honestly, the wrestling world is just lucky he’s still around to talk about it.