Will former WWE Champion Big E return to competing at WrestleMania 40? 

Ever since suffering a severe neck injury in March 2022 on an episode of WWE SmackDown, fans have been eagerly anticipating Big E’s return to the ring, with many hoping to see it happen at WrestleMania 40 (April 6/7). As a member of The New Day, Big E has been out of action and has not yet returned to the ring, still recovering from fracturing his C1 and C6 vertebrae.

Unfortunately, the former WWE Champion will not be participating in any in-ring matches at ‘Mania in Philadelphia. Instead, he will be featured on the pre-show panel at Lincoln Financial Field, providing insight and previewing the event for the fans.

Big E was also present at the WrestleMania 40 Kickoff press event in Las Vegas on February 8, where he assumed a similar role. Alongside CM Punk, Pat McAfee, and Michael Cole, the two-time WWE Intercontinental Champion expressed his views on The Showcase of The Immortals.

The 38-year-old provided an update on his injury and potential return to WWE before ‘Mania. He has been consulting with doctors and acknowledged that his decision to return to the ring carries some risk. He also emphasized the need to weigh the potential consequences and benefits of his return in the larger context.

“It’s just a matter of listening to the doctors, taking in enough information, looking at my more recent set of scans, and deciding if the gamble is worth it.”[H/T – F4wonline]

Ever since his departure from the WWE, Big E’s absence has been noticeable and has had an impact on his stablemates Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods. Known for his comedic skills and larger-than-life personality, Big E was a fan favorite and a major presence on screen while he was a part of The New Day. Without him, Kingston and Woods may not receive as much attention on WWE TV.

Possible Endorsement: Big E Predicts Cody Rhodes Will Defeat Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40

At WrestleMania 40 (Night Two), Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes will once again face off in the main event for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship. This will be the second year in a row that the two competitors will battle for the world title at ‘Mania.

The Tribal Chief was able to retain his title at last year’s event, with assistance from The Bloodline. This could pose a challenge for Rhodes if the winner of Night One’s main event aligns with them this year.

If Reigns and The Rock defeat Rhodes and World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, the main event for the world title will be changed to a Bloodline Rules match.

At WrestleMania 40, Big E will be present in Philadelphia to witness Rhodes’s attempt to conclude his story. He had previously supported the 2023 and 2024 Royal Rumble champion’s efforts to achieve this at last year’s event in California’s SoFi Stadium.

In an interview with Sports Illustrated, the Florida native discussed the possibility of Rhodes facing Reigns at WrestleMania 39 in March 2023. He also mentioned his growth and training under Dusty Rhodes, a WWE legend and the father of The American Nightmare.

“The time is now, Cody’s ready, Cody is the guy, he’s prepared. We all came up under Dusty. That era, like me, even like Roman, Rollins. Dusty was the head of creative, we used to cut promos with Dusty, we have so much love for Dusty… He (Cody) has so much of that energy, so much history pushing him, so much behind him and I know he wants it.”

Despite holding the WWE Championship on RAW, Big E never had the opportunity to challenge Reigns for the Universal Title during his impressive reign. However, he did face The Head of the Table in a singles match at Survivor Series, but unfortunately, he was unable to defeat him and reclaim the title.