Ex-WWE Doctor Suggests Big E's Wrestling Career May Be Over
A sad prognosis for Big E's WWE career. Let us root for a full recovery...
Former WWE and professional football medician Dr. David Chao has stated that Big E's recent neck break could bring the former WWE Champion's wrestling career to a premature end.
E suffered the injury on last week's episode of SmackDown, landing on his head when Ridge Holland suplexed him outside the ring. Since then, the 36-year-old has revealed his C1 and C6 vertebrae were fractured, though he wouldn't need surgery.
In his latest column for Outkick, Dr. Chao wrote that even though C1 fractures don't necessarily require surgery, that they don't always heal completely could put E's career in jeopardy:-
The C1 fracture is most dangerous as the top cervical vertebrae is a ring and is commonly associated with immediate death or complete paralysis. Thankfully the fracture was not displaced and he will not need surgery. However, this type of fracture often heals incompletely and it may mean the end of his wrestling career.
On the C6 fracture, Dr. Chao anticipated a minimum three-month recovery time:-
The C6 fracture is likely a compression injury to the vertebral body. This likely requires immobilization but not surgery. One would anticipate a minimum of three-month recovery with return to full function and activities for this lower cervical injury.
Dr. Chao, who has worked with WWE extensively in the past, included a link to a gallery of him evaluating and performing a surgical procedure on Rey Mysterio in 2008.
Fingers crossed for a positive outcome for Big E. One of the most universally-beloved people in professional wrestling amongst his peers, fans, and media members, he deserves nothing but good fortune.