William Regal has issued a stark warning to today’s wrestlers about the dangers of taking unnecessary risks in the ring, drawing on his own painful experiences with serious neck injuries.
The WWE executive and former WCW performer took to social media to speak candidly about the long-term damage caused by high-risk bumps, particularly those involving head and neck impact. William Regal revealed that he broke his neck twice during his career, once in the ring in 1993 and again in a car accident four years later, and admitted he continued wrestling despite the severity of those injuries.
Regal said he was alarmed by how frequently he now sees performers taking similar risks, adding that he believed the issue should have been laid to rest following the death of Mitsuharu Misawa in 2009. Misawa suffered a fatal spinal injury after taking a backdrop suplex during a match, a moment that sent shockwaves through the wrestling world.
“I broke my neck twice, ’93 in ring and a car wreck in ’97 and stupidly never told anyone. And I was taught properly how to bridge and not land on the top of my head. It’s a skill that maybe 99.9% of people don’t know or will ever learn anymore.” Regal wrote. “I kept going somehow but knew all the tricks that again people don’t learn now and watch film and just copy.”
He explained that many of today’s wrestlers underestimate the long-term consequences of neck trauma, noting that he still lives with daily pain decades later. Regal also pointed to fellow veterans, including Bryan Danielson, as examples of performers whose bodies have paid the price for years of physical punishment.
Regal stressed that the pursuit of crowd reactions or short-term praise is not worth sacrificing long-term health, adding that fans often cannot distinguish between safer techniques and genuinely dangerous ones.
“Although people use the term tough about me you’ll never hear me say that as I’m not and don’t think I am or have ever been. Money and whatever nonsense fame is supposed to be is not worth the pain or supposed two evening glory you get from these ridiculous moves dropping yourself on your head.”
The veteran concluded by urging wrestlers to protect themselves and rethink the risks they take in the ring, warning that the physical toll of professional wrestling can last far beyond a performer’s active career.
“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 and wrestling done right is hard enough but broken necks or death are not something you should think is tough or cool. It’s idiotic thinking.”
When Did William Regal Retire From Wrestling?
William Regal officially retired from in-ring competition in 2017, though his final match actually took place four years prior. Regal last wrestled in 2013 against Antonio Cesaro.
Following his in-ring retirement, Regal transitioned into a behind-the-scenes role with WWE, eventually becoming a key figure in talent development and later serving as General Manager of NXT. While his wrestling days came to an end over a decade ago, his influence on the industry has continued through his work as a coach, producer, and mentor.
