Big E Fires Shot At WWE Over Lost ‘Langston’ Name

Big E is showing fans a side of himself many never got to see, and his upcoming memoir, How I Got Over, digs deep into that hidden part of his life.

During a recent appearance on the “Under The Mat” podcast, Big E revealed that only a quarter of the book covers his wrestling career, while the rest focuses on his mental health struggles, including his diagnosis of major depressive disorder with psychotic features and a month spent in a psychiatric hospital. He admitted that for a long time, he feared people would call him crazy if they ever found out, but a Players’ Tribune piece he wrote helped him feel ready to speak more openly.

The conversation also turned lighter when Big E talked about The New Day’s early days. He confessed he originally thought the group’s unicorn horns were a silly idea, even after doing plenty of other outrageous bits on screen. Still, he trusted Xavier Woods’ creative instincts, and the gimmick became a fan favorite and a merchandise hit.

Big E also brought up his old ring name, Big E Langston, and joked about WWE trimming it down to just Big E. He compared it to how Alexander Rusev lost part of his name too, and jokingly said dropping “Langston” cut him off from his wrestling family lineage.

Even though it was a lighthearted joke, it showed how much history and personal meaning Big E still holds onto from his early WWE days.