Inside The Hawkeyes

WWE Superstar and Iowa Legend Set For Big Noon Kickoff

Ahead of their biggest game of the year, this WWE Superstar will return to root on his alma mater, the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Jordon Lawrenz|
Hawkeye alum and WWE star Ettore “Big E” Ewen helps hand out chips and queso during Pancheros’ Hawkeye Homecoming Happy Hour Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Iowa City, Iowa.
Hawkeye alum and WWE star Ettore “Big E” Ewen helps hand out chips and queso during Pancheros’ Hawkeye Homecoming Happy Hour Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024 in Iowa City, Iowa. | Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Iowa Hawkeyes

Big Noon Kickoff identified WWE's Big E as an "Iowa Football Legend" when they announced he'd be joining the show. Ahead of the Iowa Hawkeyes' biggest game in recent memory, the one and only Big E will be in attendance.

Big E has been very vocal about his love for Iowa, the place where he played football from 2004-06. His football career may not have gone the way he intended, but the former defensive lineman has long remained in the mix of Hawkeyes fans.

No. 20 Iowa has a chance to upset No. 9 Oregon in an afternoon game that could get ugly. With rain and high winds on the way, Iowa will do everything in their power to pull out a win with the former WWE Champion in attendance.

Big Noon Kickoff Receives An Upgrade

College Gameday has always had an edge on Big Noon Kickoff, but it's guest like this that are going to bring in a certain fanbase. Not only are WWE fans going to tune in to see what Big E has to say, but plenty of Hawkeyes fans know just how much he's shown his love for the city and the team.

Sitting at 6-2, Iowa knows their only shot at making the College Football Playoffs is by beating Oregon. That would be step one in a four part plan that is as simple as it gets: win out. There's no better place than to start at Kinnick Stadium, but the road ahead gets a lot tougher as they fly across the country next week to take on a ranked USC team.

Get To Know Big E

Big E, who hasn't wrestled since 2022 due to a neck injury, remains one of the most beloved WWE superstars of all time. He's a former WWE Champion, Intercontinental Champion, and six time Tag Team Champion as part of The New Day with Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods.

As part of Big Noon Kickoff, Big E will likely lock in a prediction for Iowa, but he'll scream and shout and be the most charasmatic guest the show has seen all year. Despite his neck injury, he remains a very public figure as he navigates his life post-injury.

Iowa welcomed Ettore Ewen as a defensive lineman. He was redshirted in 2004, and then missed the entire 2005 season due to a preseason injury. Thankfully for Big E, he saw the field in 2006 before taking his talents to the world of pro wrestling.

Don't forget to bookmark Iowa Hawkeyes on SI for the latest news. exclusive interviews, recruiting coverage and more!

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Jordon Lawrenz
JORDON LAWRENZ

Jordon Lawrenz serves as the Eastern United States College Recruiting beat writer On SI. Jordon is an accomplished writer covering the NFL, MLB, and college football/basketball. He has contributed to PFSN’s and Heavy’s NFL coverage. Having graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay with a Sports Communication and Journalism degree, Jordon fully embraced the sports writing lifestyle upon his relocation to Florida.

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