Big E Was Told He’d Need To Change As World Champion

If Big E was going to make it, he was going to do it his way.

After a long and sometimes frustrating journey, Big E finally became World Champion on the September 13th, 2021 episode of Raw. The victory capped off an impressive few months which saw the star win the Money In The Bank briefcase that July.

The win was not only a huge moment in itself but for what it represented. For his entire run as part of the New Day, it was often said that Big E would never be the World Champion until he moved away from comedy and allowed his character to become more serious.

However, the victory over Lashley was proof that the star was right to trust his instincts, even if there continued to be doubts over his presentation.

While appearing on HawkCast, Big E recalled being told even after becoming champion that he’d need to change, before explaining why he resisted.

“I always wanted to be a one of one and no one could put all the elements of what I do together.

That was always my goal at least, whether I succeeded or failed, I just wanted to carve my own lane and that’s what I’m proud of, because so often, especially when I won the WWE Championship and I was on my singles run, I got a lot of feedback like, ‘You can’t do this, you can’t look like that, you can’t cut promos like this. You’re gonna really have to change.’

But no, I fought to be myself and that to me as a performer was something that’s important for me is to be able to trust my own instincts, to go out there and sink or swim on my own. I know I’m not always going to get it right.

But just this belief that I wanna do things my way, because I can sleep at night. If I fail or if I sink doing it my way, I’m okay with that. But if I sink doing it your way, that, I’m not cool with that.”

Big E Hints In-Ring Return Could Be Possible

During a recent interview, Big E revealed he’s set for more scans on his neck in three to six months, and if the results are positive he’s open to getting back in the ring.

The former World Champion hasn’t wrestled since breaking his neck on the March 11th, 2022, episode of SmackDown.

H/t to Fightful