Kofi Kingston is sidelined for six weeks on WWE television, and with Xavier Woods already out, it's Big E's time to shine. Big E's singles run began this past Friday on SmackDown when he picked up a victory over The Miz in singles competition.
Fans have been asking for a singles run for Big E for years, taking notice of his talent and charisma, especially as part of New Day.
Speaking to Yahoo, Big E commented on his new role without his two best friends.
?This is all kind of coming out of nowhere,? Big E said. ?I feel confident that I am ready for this. The interesting thing and weird thing is we don?t have that organic response. I hope people enjoy this run, I hope it?s good and entertaining, I hope all of the people who have clamored for this for years are not disappointed. I will say, all of us, truly talented, hard-working Black entertainers, none of us want to get opportunities because we are Black. I?m certainly not saying this is the case now, but I want to show people that I am worthy of this opportunity and this spot. I [also] think representation matters. It matters to see people like you, who look like you, doing well. I never wanted to be put in the box where they say ?this is how a muscular Black wrestler should perform.? As much as I love Ron Simmons, I never wanted to be a copy of Ron Simmons or of so many of the Black wrestlers I watched as a kid. I wanted to be a one of one. I wanted to be someone who cannot be easily replaced because what I do is different than what anyone else does."
Though Woods and Kofi are sidelined, Big E wants to assure fans that New Day is not going anywhere and he will continue to represent the group despite being on his own.
"I always see it as I am a representative of the New Day,? Big E said. ?The same way that Kofi credited Woods and me and said that when he won it was for all of us, that?s the same feeling I have. This adds to all of our legacies because I don?t get this far, I don?t have this much without those two. I don?t even know if I am around in this company without those two. I love that we are able to go out there as three Black men and display brotherhood. It?s always been a group that has been supportive on and off screen. It?s three Black men who come together and want the best for each other. Their successes are not my failure. We need that mentality more and more."
Elsewhere during the interview, Big E discussed he and Kofi kneeling on SmackDown following the murder of George Floyd and getting Vince McMahon's approval. You can find his full comments by clicking here.