Big E responds to comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s WWE Raw joke

Big E doesn’t have hurt feelings after his broken neck was the subject of a joke on WWE Raw last night.

To promote the upcoming “Roast of WrestleMania,” comedian Tony Hinchcliffe was a guest commentator for The War Raiders vs. New Day on Monday’s Raw episode. Hinchcliffe mentioned Big E during the match by joking that the only thing stiffer than Michael Cole was Big E’s neck.

Joining in on the discourse the joke created wasn’t something Big E had much desire to do, but he understood that he had to address it while appearing on WWE’s Raw Recap podcast. Big E claimed that he wasn’t aware of the joke, but Hinchcliffe said what he wanted to say and people signed off on it. Big E said his feelings were not hurt.

“I guess, at my big age of 39 years old, people will say what they want about you. Their opinion of you is not — has nothing to do with me. It’s not my business,” Big E said. “Look, say what you want, he was given a mic, he was given an opportunity. People will feel how they want to. It’s just, you know, there’s a lot of discourse, often times as a public figure people will say things about you. Whether they’re jokes, whether they’re not. And that is their right. I think the one thing is — and I get like, I’m on here, it was said on the show, I’m supposed to talk. You know, especially when things are mentioned about me, I should have an opinion on them. It’s just — it is tiring to have to weigh in on everyone’s opinion or whatever they say.

“Look, I’m not hurt. I’m good. I want the discourse to be had without me, honestly. I really have no desire to weigh in on this. I didn’t sign up for this. I wasn’t aware of this. He did what he wanted to. People signed off on it. Has nothing to do with me, truly.”

Big E suffered a broken neck during a match in March 2022. Thus far, it’s proven to be a career-ending injury with his neck not ossifying (forming bone) to the point where he’s able to wrestle. But Big E is able to live a normal, healthy life outside of the ring and has expressed that he’s at peace even if he is never able to resume his in-ring career. He’s continued to work for WWE in a role that includes appearing as a panelist on PLE pre-shows and post-shows.

In December 2024, Big E was part of an angle on Raw where Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods betrayed him and turned heel.

Hinchliffe is the host of the standup comedy podcast “Kill Tony” and has signed a deal with Netflix for multiple comedy specials. His untelevised Roast of WrestleMania is taking place in Las Vegas after night two of WrestleMania 41 on Sunday, April 20. The roast is being presented by WWE and the Fontainebleau hotel, with it set to feature Hinchcliffe, some of his comedian friends, and WWE personalities including Sami Zayn, The Miz, Braun Strowman, and Paul Heyman.