On a recent episode of “The Ringer Wrestling Worldwide,” Oba Femi spoke about his brief encounter with Big E, the erstwhile WWE Champion. Femi remembers meeting Big E during the 2022 tryouts and the insightful mentorship he received.
In his dialogue with Big E, Femi recounts, “It was one in-person conversation during the 2022 tryouts, coincidentally during a Stand & Deliver event in LA. His advice was crucial for someone like me who hadn’t yet debuted on the television scene.”
Femi recalls Big E’s sagacious words, “He told me, ‘Their decision to consider you for a tryout, to assist the coaches, signifies their trust in you. Maintain your efforts.’ Although he may not recall imparting these words of wisdom, they’ve proved invaluable and motivating for me.”
Elsewhere in the wrestling realm, Ivar, part of The War Raiders, spoke about his life-threatening injury, their recent victorious jubilee on RAW, and more during his stint on the”Insight” podcast.
Discussing the possibility of reverting to their early ring monikers, the wrestler expressed, “Over the past five years, the audience has accepted us as Erik and Ivar. Altering our names would mean discarding our legacies, which we are not inclined to do. We’ve charted significant achievements as singles runners, RAW Tag Title holders, and our contributions with The Street Profits.”
When asked about a potential separation for the team, he said, “The New Day team, despite their current unrest, managed to stick together for a decade without splitting. Drawing from their camaraderie, we believe that even if we venture into singles territory, our bond will remain intact. While we relish the idea of exploring singles championships, we are not in favor of breaking up.”
Ivar also opened up about the injury that nearly ruined his career. According to him, it all started during a match in Brooklyn prior to WrestleMania with Ricochet. It culminated during another match with Oba Femi for the North American Championship in NXT when he lost all strength in his right arm.
Although initial reports suggested he might be facing the end of his career, another MRI showed a possibility of rehab without surgery. Through yoga and physical therapy, Ivar was able to regain most of the mobility in his neck and strength in his arm. However, he continues to experience nerve pain, a side effect of the original injury.
Despite this, Ivar feels optimistic about his current condition, saying, “On the positive side, apart from the nerve pain, I’m in good shape. I’ve regained most movement in my neck, and my arm strength is back to normal. The nerve pain varies from day to day, but overall, I feel pretty good about my quality of life now.”
In the embedded video below, explore more about Ivar’s inspiring journey of recovery and the return of War Raiders.