The WWE Championship has been held by a black man for the majority of the year as Bobby Lashley won the title on March 1 and Big E defeated him for the belt on September 13.
Big E remains WWE Champion and will carry the title into Day 1 on January 1.
Along with the success of Big E and Bobby Lashley, Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair headlined night one of WrestleMania 37, battling for the SmackDown Women's Championship.
Speaking to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Big E discussed the success of black men and women in WWE.
"I think right now it’s just a great time for Black men and women in our industry. We’re in a boom period because there is so much talent who are very good and happen to be Black whether it’s Bianca Belair, Sasha Banks or Bobby Lashley, who I won the title from. A couple of years ago, it was Kofi Kingston, my partner of seven years with New Day. They’re all richly deserving from what I’ve seen. When you talk about inclusion or diversity, I think it’s important you’re not just putting people of color in these positions merely because they’re a person of color. When you look at Bianca, Sasha and Bobby, they’re all talented and unique and they just so happen to be Black," he said.
Along with the success of Big E, Lashley, Banks, and Belair, other black wrestlers such as Xavier Woods (King of the Ring), Jonathan Gresham (ROH World Champion), and Carmelo Hayes (NXT North American Champion) have found major success in wrestling in 2021.
Given the amount of black talent out there, Big E was asked if there is less pressure to represent the entire race.
"For sure. When you have a sea of Black talent, gay and lesbian talent, talent from all these different backgrounds, when you’re not the only one, you don’t have to speak for everyone. I’m proud to be a Black man in this industry but I don’t have to be everything for all Black people. I can just be myself," he replied.
Big E will defend his WWE Championship against Lashley, Kevin Owens, and Seth Rollins in a fatal four-way bout at WWE Day 1.
You can view the lineup for WWE Day 1 by clicking here. Fightful will have live coverage of the event beginning at 7 p.m. ET on January 1.
