During Monday's RAW, controversial comedian Tony Hinchcliffe was a guest commentator for a match pitting The New Day against The War Raiders. He was there to promote the upcoming "Roast of WrestleMania" and attempted to take on the role of a heel.
That included making fun of Michael Cole and supporting Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods. At one point, he said that the only thing stiffer than Cole is Big E's neck, a "joke" that's received widespread criticism online.
To bring you up to speed, Big E suffered a severe neck injury (a broken C1 and C6 vertebrae) in a 2022 match that's essentially ended his in-ring career. His neck cannot ossify - form sufficient bone - which means the former New Day member is unlikely to ever wrestle again.
Big E now serves as a panelist and WWE's pre and post-shows, including the weekly RAW Recap. During that, he responded to Hinchcliffe making light of an injury that very nearly paralysed him.
"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. 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."
Nothing Hinchcliffe said was particularly funny, and this was a low point in a segment full of them. Fortunately, the "Roast of WrestleMania" won't be available to watch online, meaning only those who decided to attend will have to listen to him cracking wise. Good luck to them.
You can hear more from Big E in the player below.