Big E (wrestler) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Big E |
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Big E in 2024
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| Birth name | Ettore Ewen |
| Born | March 1, 1986 Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Iowa |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Big E Big E Langston |
| Billed height | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) |
| Billed weight | 285 lb (129 kg) |
| Billed from | Tampa, Florida |
| Trained by | Florida Championship Wrestling NXT |
| Debut | December 17, 2009 |
Ettore Ewen (born March 1, 1986) is an American former professional wrestler and powerlifter. He is best known for his time in WWE, where he performed under the ring name Big E. He is currently not wrestling because of a serious neck injury he suffered in March 2022.
Ewen played college football at the University of Iowa. He later became a champion powerlifter. He even won a state championship in high-school wrestling. After signing with WWE in 2009, he joined its training program, Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW).
When FCW became NXT, he became the second NXT Champion. He joined WWE's main roster in 2012. He became very famous as a member of the group The New Day with Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods. Together, they won many tag team championships. They hold the record for the longest Raw Tag Team Championship reign at 483 days.
In 2020, Big E returned to wrestling as a singles competitor. In 2021, he won the men's Money in the Bank ladder match. He later cashed it in to win the WWE Championship, becoming a Triple Crown Champion.
Contents
Early Life and Sports
Ettore Ewen was born in Tampa, Florida, on March 1, 1986. His parents are Margaret and Ettore Ewen. He is of Jamaican and Montserratian descent. In high school, he was a talented athlete. He won a state championship in wrestling and was named "Ironman of the Year" in his county for football.
After high school, Ewen played football for the Iowa Hawkeyes at the University of Iowa. He played as a defensive lineman. After college, he focused on powerlifting.
Powerlifting Career
| Competition record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Powerlifting | ||
Representing  United States |
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| USAPL U.S. Open Powerlifting Championships | ||
| 1st | 2010 | 125kg |
| USAPL RAW National Powerlifting Championships | ||
| 1st | 2011 | +125kg |
Big E was a very strong powerlifter. At his first competition in 2010, he broke four Florida state records. His lifts included a 611-pound squat, a 490-pound bench press, and a 749-pound deadlift.
In 2011, he won the USAPL Raw Nationals. He competed in the super heavyweight division. He set new American records in the deadlift (799 lbs) and total weight lifted (2,039 lbs).
Personal Records
- Squat: 711 lbs (322.5 kg)
- Bench press: 529 lbs (240 kg)
- Deadlift: 799 lbs (362.5 kg)
- Total: 2,039 lbs (925 kg)
Professional Wrestling Career
WWE Beginnings (2009-2013)
After injuries ended his football dreams, Ewen discovered professional wrestling. WWE signed him in 2009, and he joined Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW). He used the ring name Big E Langston. In FCW, he won the tag team championship with his partner Calvin Raines.
When WWE changed FCW to NXT, Langston began a winning streak. He would demand the referee count to five instead of three to show his power. On January 9, 2013, he defeated Seth Rollins to become the NXT Champion. He held the title for 168 days before losing it to Bo Dallas.
Main Roster Debut (2012-2014)
Big E debuted on the main roster in December 2012. He acted as a bodyguard for Dolph Ziggler and AJ Lee. He had his first singles match on Raw against Daniel Bryan and won. He feuded with Ziggler after Ziggler broke up with AJ Lee.
In October 2013, Big E became a fan favorite after helping CM Punk fight off attackers. On November 18, 2013, he defeated Curtis Axel to win the Intercontinental Championship. This was his first major title on the main roster. He defended the title for 167 days before losing it to Bad News Barrett at Extreme Rules.
The New Day (2014–2020)
In 2014, Big E teamed up with Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods to form The New Day. At first, fans did not like their positive characters. The group then changed their attitude and became more entertaining.
At Extreme Rules, Big E and Kingston won the WWE Tag Team Championships. This was the first of many title wins for The New Day. They used the "Freebird Rule," which meant any two of the three members could defend the titles. This allowed them to stay champions for a long time.
The New Day became one of the most popular teams in WWE. They set a record for the longest reign as Raw Tag Team Champions, holding the titles for 483 days. They were known for their colorful outfits, dancing, and humor.
Over the years, The New Day won the SmackDown Tag Team Championships six times and the Raw Tag Team Championships twice. They had famous rivalries with teams like The Usos, The Dudley Boyz, and The Bar.
Return to Singles Competition (2020–2022)
In 2020, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods were drafted to Raw, while Big E stayed on SmackDown. This allowed Big E to focus on his singles career again. On December 25, 2020, he defeated Sami Zayn to win the Intercontinental Championship for the second time.
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In 2021, Big E's career reached a new high. He won the Men's Money in the Bank ladder match on July 18. This gave him a contract for a championship match anytime he wanted.
On September 13, 2021, on Raw, Big E cashed in his contract. He defeated Bobby Lashley to win the WWE Championship for the first time. It was a huge moment, and he celebrated with his New Day teammates. He held the championship for 110 days, defending it against stars like Drew McIntyre. He lost the title to Brock Lesnar at the Day 1 event on January 1, 2022.
Neck Injury and Hiatus (2022–present)
In early 2022, Big E moved back to SmackDown and reunited with The New Day. On the March 11 episode of SmackDown, he suffered a serious injury. During a match, he landed on his head and broke his neck. He fractured his C1 and C6 vertebrae.
Fortunately, he did not need surgery and had no damage to his spinal cord. However, doctors advised him not to wrestle again to avoid further risk. In an update in 2024, he said his neck had not fully healed with new bone, making a return to the ring unlikely.
On December 2, 2024, Big E made a surprise return on Raw for The New Day's 10-year anniversary. He offered to manage Kingston and Woods, but they turned on him and kicked him out of the group.
Personal Life
On May 5, 2025, Ewen announced his engagement to Kris Yim. She is the sister of fellow wrestler Mia Yim.
Filmography
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Total Divas | Himself | Guest star |
| 2016 | Swerved | ||
| Ride Along | |||
| Let's Make a Deal | Guest star (with the New Day) | ||
| 2019–2021 | Lazor Wulf | Canon Wulf (voice) | Main role |
| 2023 | Weakest Link | Himself | |
| Hot Wheels: Ultimate Challenge | Episode: "Mardi Gras Mania vs. The Reaper" | ||
| 2024 | Laid | Stu Jackward | Episode: “FB to the T” |
| 2025 | Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man | Bulldozer |
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Countdown | Himself | |
| 2021 | Escape the Undertaker | Main star |
Championships and Accomplishments
- Florida Championship Wrestling
- FCW Florida Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Calvin Raines
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Tag Team of the Year (2015, 2016) with Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods
- Ranked No. 9 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2022
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Best Gimmick (2015) – The New Day
- WWE
- WWE Championship (1 time)
- NXT Championship (1 time)
- WWE Intercontinental Championship (2 times)
- WWE (Raw) Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods
- WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship (6 times) – with Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods
- Men's Money in the Bank (2021)
- 33rd Triple Crown Champion
- Slammy Award (1 time)
- Ring Gear of the Year (2020) – with Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods
See also
In Spanish: Big E para niños
