{"id":149441,"date":"2025-12-29T11:27:59","date_gmt":"2025-12-29T16:27:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=149441"},"modified":"2025-12-29T11:27:59","modified_gmt":"2025-12-29T16:27:59","slug":"wwe-legend-william-regals-x-post-highlights-a-history-of-neck-issues-in-pro-wrestling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2025\/12\/29\/wwe-legend-william-regals-x-post-highlights-a-history-of-neck-issues-in-pro-wrestling\/","title":{"rendered":"WWE Legend William Regal\u2019s X Post Highlights History of Neck Issues in Pro Wrestling"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>William Regal, one of the most well-respected individuals in professional wrestling history, has made a plea on X regarding wrestlers&#8217; safety. The 57-year-old\u2019s passionate rant was aimed at wrestlers who disregard their necks during matches.<\/p>\n<p>Although not mentioned directly, Regal\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p>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\u2019s PSA should be treated as gospel.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">I stay off here but was alerted to something to day that has alarmed me. I don\u2019t read any comments so don\u2019t 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 \u201897 and stupidly never told anyone. And I\u2026 <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/BHxtPm6rjM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/BHxtPm6rjM<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 William Regal (@RealKingRegal) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RealKingRegal\/status\/2005400453824352668?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">December 28, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h2>How Neck injuries have affected Pro Wrestlers<\/h2>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Bryan Danielson Explains His Neck Injury\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0Lxtwz93T68?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Superstars such as \u201cStone Cold\u201d Steve Austin, Edge, and Big E all had to retire in their 30s due to neck injuries. After Austin\u2019s neck injury at SummerSlam 1997, piledrivers were outright banned after Owen Hart botched the move. The Rattlesnake&#8217;s wrestling style altered drastically after the injury, with a heavy focus on brawling.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>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\u2019s most successful period in the industry, his long-term health was clearly affected.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_149469\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-149469\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-149469\" src=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/12\/Bryan_Danielson_2022-03-23-300x224.jpg\" alt=\"A photo of AEW star Bryan Danielson, who got called out by William Regal.\" width=\"300\" height=\"224\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/12\/Bryan_Danielson_2022-03-23-300x224.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/12\/Bryan_Danielson_2022-03-23-1024x763.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/12\/Bryan_Danielson_2022-03-23-768x572.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/12\/Bryan_Danielson_2022-03-23-1536x1145.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2025\/12\/Bryan_Danielson_2022-03-23.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-149469\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo Credit: By <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=145961117\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ralph Arvesen<\/a> &#8211; https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/rarvesen\/52116632095\/, CC BY-SA 2.0, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=145961117<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Regal said, \u201cStop 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.\u201d 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\u2019t wrestled since March 2022, choosing his health over wrestling.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Big E gives an update on his neck injury | WWE on FOX\" width=\"540\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/GHIi-hIMY_Y?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>Wrestlers Need to Work Smarter<\/h2>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Regal&#8217;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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>Whilst Fletcher is destined for a great career, it may not be a long one if high risk spots remain\u00a0frequent. Regal himself retired at the age of 45 and Fletcher would be wise to heed the veterans advice.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Jon Moxley vs Kyle Fletcher: Continental Classic MATCH HIGHLIGHTS | AEW Worlds End\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5Ga8bjvhR60?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>More From LWOS Pro Wrestling<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em><i>Header photo \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=122437899\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">WikiMedia Creative Commons<\/a> \u2013 Stay tuned to the <\/i><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/\" target=\"_self\"><em><u><i>Last Word on Pro Wrestling<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a><em><i> for more on William Regal and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the significant news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world.<\/i><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><i>You can check out WWE programming on\u00a0<\/i><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.netflix.com\/title\/81788927\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em><u><i>Netflix<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a><em><i>\u00a0(Raw),\u00a0<\/i><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usanetwork.com\/wwe-friday-night-smackdown\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em><u><i>USA Network<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a><em><i>\u00a0(SmackDown),\u00a0<\/i><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cwtv.com\/shows\/wwe-nxt\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em><u><i>The CW<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a><em><i>\u00a0(NXT),\u00a0<\/i><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/tubitv.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em><u><i>Tubi<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a><em><i>\u00a0(WWE Evolve),\u00a0<\/i><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aetv.com\/wwe\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em><u><i>A&amp;E<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a><em><i>\u00a0(WWE Superstar Sunday \u2013 Rivals, WWE LFG, and Greatest Moments), and\u00a0<\/i><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.peacocktv.com\/watch\/home\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em><u><i>Peacock<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a><em><i>\u00a0(WWE Main Event, as well as archives and premium live event streaming). Follow WWE on social media to relive top moments and matches on\u00a0<\/i><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/wwe\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em><u><i>YouTube<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a><em><i>, and catch fast-paced action on X (<\/i><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/i\/events\/1773457579022155776?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em><u><i>WWE Speed<\/i><\/u><\/em><\/a><em><i>).<\/i><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>William Regal, one of the most well-respected individuals in professional wrestling history, has made a plea on X regarding wrestlers&#8217; safety. The 57-year-old\u2019s passionate rant was aimed at wrestlers who disregard their necks during matches. Although not mentioned directly, Regal\u2019s rant was ignited by an incident during the Kyle Fletcher vs Jon Moxley match at [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5523,"featured_media":149465,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4677,6,2192,4,3],"tags":[1634,863],"class_list":["post-149441","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aew","category-north-america","category-wrestling","category-wwe","category-wwe-universe","tag-bryan-danielson","tag-william-regal"],"modified_by":"Michael Joseph Sugue, Manager","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/149441","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5523"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=149441"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/149441\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":149471,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/149441\/revisions\/149471"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/149465"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=149441"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=149441"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=149441"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}