WWE Hall of Famer William Regal recently caused a stir within the wrestling community when he cautioned today’s wrestlers to avoid hazardous neck bumps, highlighting growing concerns about in-ring safety. As debates flared among fans and wrestlers, AEW star Jeff Jarrett has now publicly addressed Regal’s comments, putting focus on the need for preventative care—a response that underscores the larger discussion about athletic longevity in wrestling.
Regal’s Safety Plea Sparks Industry-Wide Conversation
Regal’s post, shared on Twitter, called for current wrestlers to prioritize their health, specifically discouraging risky moves that endanger the neck. This message arrived shortly after Kyle Fletcher, an AEW competitor, suffered a frightening neck landing during the World’s End event. While Regal did not publicly tie his advice to any individual or match, speculation linked his words to the incident involving Fletcher, especially as debate swirled about AEW’s perceived standards for in-ring safety. Thankfully, it was soon confirmed that Fletcher did not sustain serious injuries.
The conversation quickly caught the attention of both active and retired wrestlers. Many, including competing organizations’ talents, echoed Regal’s emphasis on safeguarding well-being and minimizing the types of injuries that have cut countless careers short. As the discourse intensified, Regal chose to disable comments on his original tweet to prevent further hostile exchanges among fans.
Jeff Jarrett Emphasizes Preventative Action
AEW’s Jeff Jarrett offered a measured response during the latest edition of his podcast, “My World with Jeff Jarrett,” responding directly to the concerns raised by Regal. Jarrett, a multi-time world champion, addressed the evolving demands of wrestling today and argued that contemporary athletes need to focus not only on reacting to injuries but on preventing them through better habits and preparation.
“I think you have to have not just reactive – if something is out of whack – I think you got to have preventative maintenance. I credit my mindset on not just cardio and stretching, but nutrition and preventative measures,”
said Jarrett on My World with Jeff Jarrett (H/T The Wrestling Observer)
He stressed that it is the responsibility of current wrestlers to maintain optimal physical condition, paying attention to stretching routines, nutrition, and regular training, as the physical expectations of wrestling only increase. Jarrett acknowledged a generational resistance to changing in-ring styles purely for long-term health benefits:
“There’s no chance in hell any of these guys are going to say, ‘No, no, no, I’m not going to do that because of the long term.’ We didn’t do it when we were their age,”
claimed Jarrett. (H/T The Wrestling Observer)
Industry Legends Drawing from Past Tragedy
William Regal’s plea did not come from abstract concern, but rather a personal and historical perspective. In his original post, he referenced his own battles with neck injuries and also mentioned Bryan Danielson and Mitsuharu Misawa. Misawa, a legendary Japanese wrestler, tragically died in 2009 as a result of a back suplex that broke his neck, serving as a somber reminder of the risks inherent in wrestling. Regal’s comment reflected his ongoing alarm about the persistent risks wrestlers face, even as he hoped such incidents would prompt change:
“After Misawa San passed from his neck problems I thought it would stop this nonsense but it’s got worse and whenever I talk to people about doing it it’s ‘well it doesn’t hurt…’ Believe me it will.”
– William Regal
This seriousness is echoed by other wrestlers, including Piper Niven, Ivar, and AEW’s Kenny Omega, who openly supported Regal’s cautions. Omega, for instance, acknowledged questions about the timing of Regal’s message, but underscored that the Hall of Famer’s advice was shared out of genuine concern for the community’s long-term health. He also weighed in against fan tribalism that often blurs the validity of health-related debates, emphasizing the need for solidarity in addressing these issues.
The Path Forward for Wrestler Safety
The back-and-forth between legendary figures such as Jeff Jarrett and William Regal, alongside remarks from contemporary stars, paints a turbulent yet critical picture of safety in professional wrestling. While the industry has evolved, injuries like those suffered by Kyle Fletcher are constant reminders that risk is never far away. The current discourse signals a push for modern wrestlers to embrace advanced physical maintenance and honest discussions about in-ring risk, even if changing the culture won’t happen overnight.
As high-profile voices like Kenny Omega and competitors from both WWE and AEW unite to promote athlete health over rivalry, this turbulent conversation could be a tipping point. The hope among many is that open dialogue, practical preventive strategies, and respect for the past will ultimately lead to a safer future for everyone in the ring.
Increasingly dangerous spots, the online opinions of wrestling legends, and a huge wrestling year in review!@RealJeffJarrett & @HeyHeyItsConrad cover it all on the NEW episode of #MyWorld!
Available now on all podcast platforms! pic.twitter.com/3LamcrgtTK
— My World with Jeff Jarrett (@MyWorldPod) December 30, 2025
I stay off here but was alerted to something to day that has alarmed me. I don’t read any comments so don’t waste your time trying to argue or justify your very wrong opinions on this. I broke my neck twice,9/93 in ring and a car wreck in ‘97 and stupidly never told anyone. And I… pic.twitter.com/BHxtPm6rjM
— William Regal (@RealKingRegal) December 28, 2025
