While speaking with former WWE interviewer Kayla Braxton, Big E revealed that a fan reached out after watching his candid conversation about mental health with Chris Van Vliet. The fan shared that he had abandoned his plans to commit suicide after hearing their open discussion. This powerful testimony highlights how honest conversations can literally save lives. Big E continues to champion positivity, inspiring fans worldwide to prioritize their mental well-being, speak up, and remember they are never alone.
“I did an interview that came out last week with Chris Van Viet, and the amount of DMs I got from all kinds of people, but so many men in particular. One man who legitimately told me he was in a hotel room and he was planning on killing himself that day, but he said he just spent, he listened to the interview, he was crying. We conversed back and forth through DMs for a little bit. I had so many, even if it wasn’t that dire, I had so many people reach out and talk about what they were going through, and said, thank you for sharing this story.” – Big E
The retired wrestler, whose real name is Ettore Ewen, has emerged as a leading mental health advocate in recent years. He has bravely shared his lifelong battle with major depression, which began in childhood. Diagnosed at age 19 following devastating football injuries at the University of Iowa, he found healing via therapy and medication. Through heartfelt interviews, university talks, and social outreach, Big E now works to reduce stigma and offer hope and is taking his message to the next level with an upcoming TEDx speech and his forthcoming memoir, “How I Got Over.”
