The latest WWE 24 episode debuts Sunday, and it is an in-depth have a look at the evolution of Ettore “Big E” Ewen.
Airing on the WWE Community, the 53-minute particular covers components of Ewen’s whole life, from childhood in Tampa, Florida, to the peaks and valleys of his athletic profession in novice wrestling and soccer, in addition to the affect of George Floyd’s homicide, which was the direct consequence of police brutality. Ewen presents honesty, perception, and humor all through the documentary, in addition to a courageous sensitivity and compassion for the world round him.
Courtesy of WWE
The son of a preacher, Ewen was raised in a house the place the significance of faith was extremely valued. Naturally, over time, he absorbed the components of a preacher’s supply, a function that continues to be evident in his WWE presentation. Ewen additionally shared Vince McMahon’s authentic thought for The New Day, which was for himself, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods to play the position of preachers.
The bond between the members of The New Day is seen all through the whole particular. Despite the fact that Big E is the focus, Kingston and Woods additionally play pivotal roles. That’s half of the magnificence of their friendship and work, making a story as The New Day that stands in stark juxtaposition to the established narrative of teams forming after which splitting over the course of time.
Nicknamed “Big E” by a highschool classmate throughout wrestling observe, Ewen constructed himself right into a power on the mat. He gained a state wrestling championship in 2003 whereas celebrating his seventeenth birthday, and whereas he definitely had a future in the sport, his coronary heart was targeted on soccer. Ewen finally transferred from his prep faculty, which didn’t have a workforce, to a college the place he may play soccer. This chain of occasions introduced him to the College of Iowa, enjoying soccer for the Hawkeyes. But as quickly as he even started considering a future in the NFL, a collection of accidents prevented that from ever materializing. Throughout his collegiate profession, Ewen suffered two separate ACL tears, a tear of his left pectoral muscle, and, lastly, broke his patella. The continued harm shattered the soccer aspirations of an athlete who had devoted his life to the sport.
The documentary additionally particulars Ewen’s journey into WWE. This was assist put into movement by Mike Doughty, who’s the director of improvement at the Nationwide Wrestling Corridor of Fame (and a supporter of the Iowa Hawkeyes), in addition to legendary broadcaster/expertise scout Jim Ross. Professional wrestling instantly served as a discussion board for Ewen to proceed his profession as an athlete, in addition to showcase his ebullient persona. However an endearing persona doesn’t at all times switch on-screen, and a key half of the documentary is Ewen’s journey to search out that unreadable reference to viewers.
There’s some phenomenal footage all through the doc, together with video of Ewen hitting the ropes in FCW and studying to bump. Viewers are additionally handled to some unbelievable early promos, together with Ewen enjoying the Wendell character, a self-proclaimed nerd that would abruptly rework an Unbelievable Hulk-type character. Different compelling components of his early WWE journey embody some decade-old scenes with John Cena (the place Woods additionally performs a task), and discussing how Dusty Rhodes suggested him to make use of the old-school King Kong Bundy five-count to defeat opponents.
Ewen reveals there was discuss of plans to place him right into a main-roster faction with Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and Dean Ambrose, who have been later partnered collectively as The Defend. He was finally paired with Dolph Ziggler and AJ Lee, attacking Cena throughout his debut. There was even a stretch throughout his preliminary foremost roster run the place he was NXT Champion as babyface whereas teaming with Ziggler and Lee as a heel.
Along with seeing Ewen’s development as an all-around performer, WWE 24 additionally gives a platform for him to debate social injustice. Ewen detailed the method during which George Floyd’s homicide impacted him. He mirrored on the time he was in a automobile that was pulled over by police. Officers believed there was a gun in the car, which was not true, but it didn’t cease an officer from drawing a gun solely a foot away from Ewen’s face.
Courtesy of WWE
Ewen shared how the Floyd tragedy compelled him to make use of his platform to face up in opposition to social injustice, immortalized in WWE when he and Kingston took a knee in the center of the ring on SmackDown this previous June. Ewen additionally went into element about creating new Schoolhouse Rock-inspired gear with artist and designer Jonathan Davenport, utilizing his wrestling apparel to tell and educate about Black tradition. And though it was not mentioned in the documentary, Ewen can be half of the groundbreaking Our Heroes Rock! project, teaming with Davenport and journalist Andreas Hale to create a 3D animated household collection that can shine a highlight on the heroes of Black historical past.
One other integral half of the documentary was Ewen’s friendship with Jon Huber, who starred in WWE as Luke Harper and, extra just lately, as Mr. Brodie Lee in AEW. Huber handed away unexpectedly this previous December at the age of 41, and Ewen opened up about the depth of the friendship and vowed to maintain the reminiscence of his good friend alive.
Palpable vitality exists in Big E’s work, which was on show proper from the begin on this particular. Ewen has grown right into a consummate entertainer, having discovered the good solution to join with the crowd by his in-ring work and persona, and it was not possible to not surprise if WWE made a significant mistake by not having Big E win this final January’s Royal Rumble match. Big E’s present run with the Intercontinental title has been compelling, however this yr was the proper time to grab the momentum as a singles performer and win the Rumble, main-eventing this yr’s WrestleMania in opposition to Roman Reigns. Edge, who’s 13 years older than Ewen, would nonetheless have nonetheless been a attract a distinct program, whereas a narrative pitting Big E in opposition to Reigns would have been entertaining, tense, and had the potential to outline WWE’s future, far totally different than what might be seen this April with the 48-year-old Edge.
Total, WWE 24 did an impressive job capturing the brilliance of Big E. Much more significant was the approach it highlighted Ettore Ewen, who’s creating his personal distinct, enjoyable, and highly effective persona as a WWE star, combining persona and energy like no different performer in the trade.
