WWE News: Big E Responds to Controversial Tony Hinchcliffe Joke

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Jeremy Hanna is a Newsweek contributor based in Los Angeles. His focus is on professional wrestling, sports, and entertainment. Jeremy has been with Newsweek since 2024 from LA Sports Report. He is a graduate of California Lutheran University. You can follow Jeremy on X (formerly Twitter) @JeremyHanna753 and on Bluesky @jeremyhanna753.bsky.social. You can contact Jeremy via email at j.*****@******ek.com. Languages: English.



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WWE fans truly get behind their favorite Superstars, ready to defend these wrestlers at the drop of a hat.

This is especially true whenever something personal happens to a wrestler or when they get injured.

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Such was the case after the most recent episode of Monday Night Raw when a joke took aim at beloved former WWE Champion Big E.

WWE Big E
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 12: WWE’s Big E attends the Epic Games Hosts Fortnite Party Royale on June 12, 2018 in Los Angeles, California.

Greg Doherty/Getty Images

During Raw on April 7, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe joined the commentary team during The New Day’s tag team match and proceeded to tell a joke saying that Michael Cole is as stiff as Big E’s neck, making reference to the very serious injury that may have ended Big E’s in-ring career.

Naturally, this has gotten a major reaction from the WWE Universe, who already seemed unhappy that Hinchcliffe was on WWE television.

Now, Big E himself has responded to the joke on WWE Raw Recap, simply saying that he had no idea Hinchcliffe was going to say this and he just wanted to move on.

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“I guess at my big age of 39 years old, people will say what they want about you,” Big E said. “It has nothing to do with me. It’s not my business. Say what you want. He was given a mic. He was given an opportunity. People will feel how they want to.”

“It’s just, there’s a lot of discourse oftentimes 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 I’m on here.”

“It was said on the show, I’m supposed to talk, 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,” Big E concluded. “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. It has nothing to do with me, truly.”

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