Report: Big E's Return Was Planned For WWE WrestleMania 39

A major return was planned for WWE WrestleMania 39.

According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Big E was scheduled to be at WrestleMania 39 and he would have appeared at the Showcase of the Immortals with his New Day faction mates Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods. The plan may still be in place but Meltzer noted he doesn't think anything will come of the plan and Kofi Kingston's injury may have changed any ideas WWE had.

Kingston sustained an ankle injury on the March 3 edition of SmackDown and he is set to undergo surgery in Birmingham, Alabama today. Xavier Woods isn't currently advertised to appear at WrestleMania 39.

Big E has been out of action since suffering fractured C1 and C6 vertebrae in his neck in March 2022 following a Belly to Belly Suplex from Ridge Holland. Big E has been out for so long as his neck had yet to start forming bone in the summer of 2022 and a decision about any possible in-ring return was to be made in March 2023.

Big E noted in a recent interview that he would be okay if doctors told the former WWE Champion he would have to retire. Find out more here.