Big E has given his thoughts on the segment that saw him kicked out of The New Day and what happened next with the group.
After suffering a broken neck in 2022, Big E remained out of the ring and away from The New Day, seemingly content with the fact that his professional wrestling career had come to an end. However, in late 2024, the former WWE Champion made his return to TV to celebrate 10 years of the group and all of their accomplishments.
Although fans were hoping for a positive reunion given the history of the faction, what followed was one of the most shocking segments of the year. Instead of welcoming back Big E with open arms to serve as their manager, Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston kicked their former friend out of the group.
Given the impact of the segment, Woods and Kingston quickly became one of the most despised acts in the entire company. However, despite fans hoping for a Big E return or some kind of major payoff for the heelish duo, many have found the follow-up to be disappointing given the shock start.
Big E Addresses New Day Criticism
Speaking with Jon Alba of The Takedown on SI, the former World Champion spoke about the segment and how the feedback has been valid. Big E also added that it wouldn’t make sense to build to an in-ring return:
“I think that is a very real criticism,” he said. “Creative, as you know, is a give and take. And I’m only one component of it. There are a lot of other people involved. The creative team kind of just talked to me about the general idea and I initially thought at least being able to kind of, not pass the baton, but if Kofi and Woods were going to work with another team, and I was able to kind of give them my blessing, or I had an idea I wanted to do around Rumble to kind of foil Kofi and Woods.
“Because I’m with you in that, us continuing to build this angle or to build heat with someone who’s not coming back, I think doesn’t make sense. It leads fans astray. But I thought if anything, Okay, if we’re going to do this, there’s a way for me to kind of pass the torch to someone else or give them my blessing, or say, I’m aligned with you, or say, whatever it is.”
Continuing, Big E admitted that fans do have the right to feel a certain way given what has happened:
“But no, I agree with you and a lot of people who felt the same, and I saw a lot of that feedback after it was clear that I wasn’t coming back in a timely fashion, that it was, ‘Okay, why are we putting so much stock into an angle where one person is never coming back? There’s no retribution?’ So I think that’s a very real criticism. And I heard it, and I think people have a right to feel that way.”
Earlier in the month, Big E confirmed that his WWE in-ring career had come to an end.
Featured image: WWE
