Despite being a busy WWE Champion, Big E feels right at home residing at the top of the card. The Champ did just that for the very first time as a singles competitor on PPV at Survivor Series when he took on Roman Reigns in the main event. Big E did lose against Reigns, but it became a very reflective moment for the star as both he and Roman were Florida Championship Wrestling colleagues back in 2010. E spoke with Justin Barrasso of Sports Illustrated about what transpired on 11/22 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
“This was my first singles main event on a pay-per-view, and to do it with Roman means even more,” Ettore “Big E” Ewen says. “Our paths were different, but after the match, we reflected on spending our days, circa 2010, together in that FCW warehouse. We were not making much money but we were very hungry.”
Reigns is regarded as one of the industry’s elite performers, but Ewen notes that he is even better than people think.
“His strength and athleticism are real,” Ewen says. “He even got me up in that powerbomb. I thought he was going to bail on it, but he had that second surge to get me up.
“Until you’re in the ring with him, people just don’t fully realize how good he is. He’s an incredible performer on an incredible run, and you can’t take away anything from him.“
“I can’t say that I’m a guy that’s always fought from underneath—I debuted as Dolph Ziggler’s bodyguard and I dropped John Cena, so I can’t pretend that I was never given anything,” Ewen says. “But I’m a guy that is barely 5′ 11″; I didn’t have all these accolades coming into the business, and even though I’m not the Roman type, it’s all about that fight for me. My life has been filled with learning how to get up after getting knocked down.”
Big E also took the opportunity to look ahead as to what competitors he has on tap for Mondays as WWE RAW awaits.
“The responsibilities haven’t become easier, but I’m ready for it and I’m ready for more,” Ewen says. “Seth and KO on Raw, they are two of the best, so I need to bring it. And I’m excited about all these opportunities to grow and get better.
“I’m not home much, I’m not sleeping much, but it feels like I’m exactly where I should be.”
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