Backstage News on Tony Hinchcliffe’s Controversial Joke on WWE RAW – Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe sparked backlash this week during his guest appearance on WWE RAW after making an off-color remark about Big E’s serious neck injury. Hinchcliffe was on commentary to promote the upcoming Roast of WrestleMania during a tag team match featuring The New Day and The War Raiders.
While calling the action, Hinchcliffe quipped that Big E’s neck was “the only thing stiffer than Michael Cole,” a comment that drew swift criticism from fans online. Many found the remark insensitive, considering Big E suffered a broken neck in 2022 that has cast serious doubt on whether he will ever be cleared to wrestle again.
The former WWE Champion addressed the incident during a recent appearance on WWE’s RAW Recap podcast. Without directly condemning Hinchcliffe, Big E offered a calm and measured response, emphasizing that he took no offense.
“I guess, at my big age of 39 years old, people will say what they want about you. Their opinion of you… has nothing to do with me. It’s not my business,” Big E said. “Look, say what you want, he was given a mic, he was given an opportunity. People will feel how they want to.”
Big E acknowledged the public attention surrounding the joke but chose not to engage further with the controversy.
“There’s a lot of discourse. Oftentimes, as a public figure, people will say things about you. Whether they’re jokes, whether they’re not. And that is their right,” he continued. “I think the one thing is… it is tiring to have to weigh in on everyone’s opinion or whatever they say.”
He concluded with a definitive statement distancing himself from the debate:
“Look, I’m not hurt. I’m good. I want the discourse to be had without me, honestly. I really have no desire to weigh in on this. I didn’t sign up for this. I wasn’t aware of this. He did what he wanted to. People signed off on it. Has nothing to do with me, truly.”
According to Fightful Select, those backstage in WWE acknowledged that the Hinchcliffe segment “came across as a dud” but noted that Hinchcliffe was “very respectful at the show.”
Though the joke didn’t land well with many fans, Big E’s response shows grace and a preference for focusing on positivity and moving forward, even as his in-ring future remains uncertain.
Backstage News on Tony Hinchcliffe’s Controversial Joke on WWE RAW
