William Regal, one of the most well-respected individuals in professional wrestling history, has made a plea on X regarding wrestlers’ safety. The 57-year-old’s passionate rant was aimed at wrestlers who disregard their necks during matches.
Although not mentioned directly, Regal’s rant was ignited by an incident during the Kyle Fletcher vs Jon Moxley match at AEW Worlds End. During the bout, Fletcher was planted directly on his neck from an avalanche cut-throat suplex. The Continental Classic bout was incredible; however, the spot sticks out as a terrifying moment for fans watching.
Some fans were quick to defend AEW in tribalistic fashion. Bron Breakker landing on his neck during War Games last month was used as a common reference. In this instance, those fans are wrong. Regal’s PSA should be treated as gospel.
I stay off here but was alerted to something to day that has alarmed me. I don’t read any comments so don’t waste your time trying to argue or justify your very wrong opinions on this. I broke my neck twice,9/93 in ring and a car wreck in ‘97 and stupidly never told anyone. And I… pic.twitter.com/BHxtPm6rjM
— William Regal (@RealKingRegal) December 28, 2025
How Neck injuries have affected Pro Wrestlers
The Englishman admitted that he himself broke his neck twice in 1993 and 1997 and still lives in pain. He also revealed that his mentee, Bryan Danielson, who is essentially retired at 44, also struggles with neck pain.
Superstars such as “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Edge, and Big E all had to retire in their 30s due to neck injuries. After Austin’s neck injury at SummerSlam 1997, piledrivers were outright banned after Owen Hart botched the move. The Rattlesnake’s wrestling style altered drastically after the injury, with a heavy focus on brawling.
Austin was forced to take time off in late 1999, but by 2003, he quietly retired. He would lose to the Rock at WrestleMania XIX, before making a one-off comeback at WrestleMania 38.
Edge would wrestle a total of 60 matches after initially injuring his neck against Eddie Guerrero in 2002. His surgery in early 2003 left him sidelined for over a year, before his first retirement 7 years later. Whilst it is inarguable that those 7 years were Edge’s most successful period in the industry, his long-term health was clearly affected.
Due to the nature of the sport, injuries are inevitable, and accidents do occur. Regal referenced the death of Japanese legend Mitsuharu Misawa, who died in the ring in 2009 due to a cervical fracture.
Regal said, “Stop it now if you want a decent quality of life after wrestling because that part of your life will be over before you know it.” This is advice that former WWE Champion Big E heeded. Despite reaching the pinnacle of his career at the tail end of 2021, Big E would soon injure his neck. The former power lifter hasn’t wrestled since March 2022, choosing his health over wrestling.
Wrestlers Need to Work Smarter
Whilst some wrestlers such as Paige and Tyson Kidd have had their careers ended accidentally, Brock Lesnar was fortunate to not kill himself at WrestleMania XIX. His under-rotated shooting star press remains one of the most gnarly spots ever, however the pain his body was in caused him to walk away from WWE a year later. The worst part was that it was self inflicted.
Regal’s post on X is aimed directly at wrestlers who are making poor choices in the ring. Kenny Omega has wrestled a hard hitting, fast paced style throughout his career. This has come at the expense of his neck, admitting that his issues caused vertigo in the ring. Fellow Englishman Will Ospreay at the tender age of 32 has recently undergone neck surgery. Fletcher is only 27, but wrestles in similar vain to his AEW peers.
Neck injuries are not exclusive to wrestlers like Omega and Ospreay. Even John Cena, who is considered a safe worker, suffered a herniated disc in his neck in 2008 from a Batista Bomb. Kurt Angle, who famously won an Olympic Gold Medal with a broken neck, reinjured it multiple times throughout his career.
Whilst Fletcher is destined for a great career, it may not be a long one if high risk spots remain frequent. Regal himself retired at the age of 45 and Fletcher would be wise to heed the veterans advice.
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