Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe.

Big E Provides Injury Update

More than two years after suffering a broken neck, Big E is healing well despite not being medically cleared to wrestle.

In an interview on the Getting Over podcast with Chris Vannini (h/t Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News), Big E explained he has "no issues" with pain, discomfort or weakness and he's been receiving stem-cell treatment in an attempt to help his C1 vertebrae form new bone:

"Now we're at two years and running since I broke my neck. I broke my C1 in two places, my C6 as well. I feel great. I have no issues with pain, no issues with discomfort, weakness, any of those things. My strength is great. The only issue is my C1 is healing fibrously, which is great for normal day-to-day life, but it's not turning into new bone and ossifying yet. They're not going to clear me until that happens. It's obviously a very important bone. Right now, that is the waiting game. I did go to Cancun about a month ago for stem cells. We'll see if that changes anything. Right now, I feel great, I'm just not in a position to be cleared quite yet."

Big E suffered a broken neck when he landed on his head taking a suplex from Ridge Holland outside of the ring in a tag match on SmackDown on March 11, 2022.

In various upsides over the past two years, Big E has said the lack of new bone forming in his C1 is the primary issue preventing him from being able to wrestle again.

The WWE universe would absolutely love to see Big E get the chance to work at least one more match, but he's been able to keep busy away from the squared circle.

Big E has served as a host or guest panelist on various WWE programs. He has also picked up some acting gigs, including a guest-starring role on the upcoming Peacock series Laid.

Dustin Rhodes Talks AEW Contract

Dustin Rhodes is one of the original members of AEW and has been a regular for the company since it launched in 2019.

Amid online speculation that Rhodes would be leaving the promotion when his contract expired, Rhodes revealed on X that his current deal ends in September and he hopes negotiations "go well because I am damn worth the world."

Rhodes also made it clear he's not looking to retire from in-ring performing at this point. If his intention is to keep wrestling, AEW would probably be a better fit for him right now than WWE.

Even though Rhodes hasn't been a big part of AEW television recently, he has had some high-profile bouts this year. The former WWE intercontinental champion had a one-on-one match with then-AEW champion Samoa Joe on the April 10 episode of Dynamite and Jack Perry on June 12.

Rhodes was on the card for the first official AEW pay-per-view in May 2019 when he wrestled Cody Rhodes at Double or Nothing. He's been a staple of the promotion ever since and has worked as a coach behind the scenes.

It wouldn't be a surprise if at some point Rhodes looks to go back to WWE, especially as a coach/mentor for upcoming stars in NXT, but AEW would provide him the best opportunity to work television matches if that remains his primary goal.

Rumors on Tyler Bate's Recovery

Tyler Bate's torn pectoral muscle that required surgery is expected to keep him out of action for an extended period of time.

Per Fightful Select (h/t Nikunj Walia of Ringside News), the severity of Bate's injury means he is "is not expected to return before 2025."

Bate revealed on Instagram that he tore his pectoral major and tendon off the bone during the July 2 episode of NXT and that he would "be gone for some time" after having surgery.

The injury occurred during Bate and Pete Dunne's tag match against Hank Walker and Tank Ledger. It's unclear exactly when the injury occurred, but Bate could be seen holding his right arm near the end of the bout.

New Catch Republic was an emerging team in the WWE tag division. Bate and Dunne were part of the six-pack tag team ladder match for the undisputed tag titles at WrestleMania XL.

Despite being drafted to the Raw brand in April, New Catch Republic had been working primarily on NXT. Bate had a few singles matches this year, primarily in the WWE Speed tournament where he lost to Ricochet for the title.

The loss of Bate for an extended period does weaken the depth in the tag division, but his eventual return next year could set up New Catch Republic for a renewed push.

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