WWE Superstar and former champion Big E gave fans an update on his broken neck suffered during a taping of Friday Night Smackdown.
In a video posted to his social media on Sunday, Big E, real name Ettore Ewen, is shown wearing a neck brace and explaining that his C1 and C6 vertebrae have been fractured but, despite that, he had received "good news, all things considered".
"I don't have any damage to my spinal cord, no ligament damage and no surgery, which I am thankful for," he said.
Despite the accident, he’s maintained a positive outlook. "And a pro tip: if you're going to break your neck, do it in Birmingham [Alabama, US]," he said.
"They've been great, everyone here at UAB [Hospital] has been great. But for real, it's meant a ton to me that so many of you have been so kind and reached out, stopped in to see me, texted me. I know I sound like a broken record but I feel very grateful and I'm going to be all right."
Competing in a tag team match, he partnered with Kofi Kingston to take on Sheamus and Ridge Holland. After taking an overhead belly-to-belly suplex outside the ring, he landed on the top of his head, resulting in the scary injury.
During the match, medical personnel stabilised the wrestler and took him away from the ringside area on a stretcher, at which point he gave a thumbs up to indicate to the fans that he was OK.
In an earlier video posted on Friday, he said he had feeling in his hands.
"I can move all of my digits … that's nice. That's a good thing," he said. "I'm going to be all right. I'm going to be good. Don't worry about old me."
Big E is a former WWE champion. He won the title for the first time last September, defeating Bobby Lashley, before losing the belt in a five-way match to Brock Lesnar in January.
Day 3, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage, the Sri Lanka pace bowler, has had to play a lot of cricket to earn a shot at the top level. The 29-year-old debutant first played a first-class game 11 years ago. His first Test wicket was one to savour, bowling Pakistan opener Shan Masood through the gate. It set the rot in motion for Pakistan’s batting.
Stat of the day – 73 Haris Sohail took 73 balls to hit a boundary. Which is a peculiar quirk, given the aggressive intent he showed from the off. Pakistan’s batsmen were implored to attack Rangana Herath after their implosion against his left-arm spin in Abu Dhabi. Haris did his best to oblige, smacking the second ball he faced for a huge straight six.
The verdict One year ago, when Pakistan played their first day-night Test at this ground, they held a 222-run lead over West Indies on first innings. The away side still pushed their hosts relatively close on the final night. With the opposite almost exactly the case this time around, Pakistan still have to hope they can salvage a win from somewhere.
Stage results
1. Julian Alaphilippe (FRA) Deceuninck-QuickStep 4:39:05
2. Michael Matthews (AUS) Team BikeExchange 0:00:08
3. Primoz Roglic (SLV) Jumbo-Visma same time
4. Jack Haig (AUS) Bahrain Victorious s.t
5. Wilco Kelderman (NED) Bora-Hansgrohe s.t
6. Tadej Pogacar (SLV) UAE Team Emirates s.t
7. David Gaudu (FRA) Groupama-FDJ s.t
8. Sergio Higuita Garcia (COL) EF Education-Nippo s.t
9. Bauke Mollema (NED) Trek-Segafredo s.t
10. Geraint Thomas (GBR) Ineos Grenadiers s.t
Specs
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Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
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Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Where to apply
Applicants should send their completed applications - CV, covering letter, sample(s) of your work, letter of recommendation - to Nick March, Assistant Editor in Chief at The National and UAE programme administrator for the Rosalynn Carter Fellowships for Mental Health Journalism, by 5pm on April 30, 2020.
Please send applications to nmarch@thenational.ae and please mark the subject line as “Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism (UAE programme application)”.
The local advisory board will consider all applications and will interview a short list of candidates in Abu Dhabi in June 2020. Successful candidates will be informed before July 30, 2020.
