How I Got Over - by Ettore Big E Ewen (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

WWE legend Ettore "Big E" Ewen chronicles his meteoric career in wrestling and entertainment--and the private, unseen mental health battle that shadowed his success

At twenty, Ettore Ewen didn't expect to make it to twenty-five. And if he did, he expected to spend the rest of his life on antidepressants and antipsychotics, in and out of psych wards. His depression was a timebomb, and the last thing he expected was a successful career in professional wrestling as it ticked away. In this unfiltered memoir, Ewen shares his extraordinary path to becoming the fourth Black WWE champion in company history and joining the celebrated tag team The New Day--and his parallel path through the mental health showdown that started in childhood.

As he navigated a strict upbringing in Florida, frequent school changes, and a difficult social life, Ewen grappled with depressive thoughts and body image issues as early as nine years old. When his passion for football turned into a full-ride scholarship to the University of Iowa, the pressures of success, school, and injury continued to build, transforming Ewen's depression into horrifying and uncontrollable hallucinations. And when his career took off, Ewen continued to be rocked with the ups and downs of his diagnosis, self-loathing, and unpredictable treatment journey even as he made a name for himself as Big E, wrestling with his own demons as he entered the wrestling limelight.

Detailing his early struggle to find a ringside persona, career-threatening injuries, and the unforgettable bonds he forged in the industry, How I Got Over offers a vulnerable and ultimately hopeful story of Ewen's intertwined odysseys through fame and mental health, and a testament to the power of resilience, community, and self-acceptance.

Review Quotes

"Big E is one of the most joy-inducing performers and humans to ever grace our screens or walk the earth. To be in his company is to feel a great calm and inner peace. That is why it is so surprising to discover the inner battles that he valiantly fought for so long. I cried, I laughed, I learned. This book is a fascinating deep dive into the many obstacles he had to overcome inside and out to reach the top of the mountain both personally and professionally. A must-read for anyone who's had a dark day and longs for the sun to shine once again. Big E lights the way."
--Rebecca Quin, WWE Superstar "Becky Lynch" and New York Times bestselling author of Becky Lynch: The Man

"I started reading How I Got Over and couldn't stop. It's so wonderfully written that it pulled me all the way through and I finished the whole thing in one night! Ettore Ewen's voice is compelling, relatable, wry, and incredibly honest. It's very powerful."
--Gena McCarthy, 5-time Emmy Award nominee and president and founder of UNConventional Entertainment

"The details and deeply personal reflections in How I Got Over cast a new light on the man known to millions as WWE champion Big E. His journey through mental and physical challenges for much of his life, from a difficult childhood through a pivot from football to wrestling and a rise to the very top of the sport, are both inspiring and instructive. Everyone sees the hulking figure with the big personality, but Ewen in this book displays his sensitivity, vulnerability, and humanity in outlining a distinct life both in and out of the ring."
--Adam Rittenberg, senior writer at ESPN

"How I Got Over is a gripping roller coaster that will smash your heart to pieces one moment, and light your soul on fire the next. Ettore's journey from survivor to champion resonates far beyond sports. This is a story for anyone who wants to forge their own path and become their own hero. It is essential reading for anyone fighting a mental health battle, and an inspiring reminder that the fight is worth it. Ettore's vulnerable and visceral writing stays with you long after reading."
--April Mendez, WWE Superstar "AJ Lee" and New York Times bestselling author of Crazy Is My Superpower

About the Author

Ettore Ewen is a broadcaster and on-air personality for World Wrestling Entertainment. Prior to that, he worked for WWE as a professional wrestler, winning the WWE Championship. Ewen was also a member of The New Day, a group that was named the Greatest Tag Team of All Time by WWE in 2021. He was a state champion high school wrestler, a defensive lineman at the University of Iowa, and a powerlifting national champion. Additionally, Ewen executive produced an NAACP Image Award-nominated animated short film entitled Bridges. He was born in Tampa, Florida, and resides in Oakland, California, with his wife Kristen.