Wrestler of the (2/18) Week: The Big Show!
Our ring=wise philosopher Jay Shannon profiles the wrestler who has had the biggest impact on the preceding week.
Sunday saw the return of one of the biggest men to ever compete in WWE, “The Big Show” Paul Wight. Wight has held championships in every organization that he has worked for. Paul Wight is this week’s Pro Wrestling Daily’s Wrestler of the Week.
Following in his “father’s” Giant footsteps
Paul Wight was playing basketball at Wichita State when he was introduced to Danny Bonaduce (of Partridge Family fame) at a basketball game in Chicago. Bonaduce made a call to Hulk Hogan, who was working for WCW, at the time. A meeting was set between Hogan and Wight. Hogan saw great potential in Wight and arranged for him to train under Larry Sharpe at the Monster Factory. This was the same training facility that had helped create stars like: King Kong Bundy, Bam Bam Bigelow, Raven, and Chris Candido
Paul debuted in WCW in 1995 as the alleged son of Andre the Giant. He was billed as The Giant and immediately attacked Hulk Hogan. According to the story-line, Paul’s characted blamed Hogan for the untimely death of his “father”. The uproar from fans brought the story to a quick end. The parental link to Andre was severed, never to be mentioned again.
Paul won the WCW World title in his very first match in the company. Due to some underhanded dealings by Hogan’s manager, Jimmy Hart, Paul was able to win the title via disqualification. Paul spent 4 years with WCW, winning the World title on two occasions. He also held the tag titles on three occasions with three different partners.
Making a BIG impact
Paul signed a multi-year deal with the WWE in 1999. His first appearance came during an Steve Austin vs Vince McMahon Steel Cage Match at the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre PPV. Paul burst up through the ring canvas and attacked Austin. Paul grabbed Austin and threw him into the cage, which broke open.
Paul was first announced as “Big Nasty” Paul Wight, then “Big Nasty Bastard” Paul Wight. Eventually, his name was switched to “Big Show” Paul Wight. That was later modified to simply “The Big Show”. Wight went through a couple of other identity changes. At one time, he decided to mimic other wrestlers. He showed up as the Showster (Hulk Hogan), Shownan the Barbarian (John Nord), Showkishi (Rikishi) and The Big Showbowski (Val Venis).
Big Show has held several titles in the WWE. He has been the United States champ (a title he eventually lost to John Cena). He has held the WWE title on two occasions. Big Show partnered with Undertaker (twice) and Kane (once) for three tag team title runs. Big Show dominated in the Hardcore Division, where he held the title on three occasions.
Big Show has moved between Raw and Smackdown on several occasions. He has been in the spotlight and battled every top star in the federation. One of the most memorable battles teamed Big Show with Vince and Shane McMahon to face D-X (Triple H and Shawn Michaels). The match ended after D-X shoved Vince McMahon’s face into the exposed massive posterior of Big Show.
The Extreme Giant
In June, 2006, Big Show switched from Raw to ECW in a huge surprise move during the WWE vs ECW: Head to Head program. Big Show and Kurt Angle were the top two contenders to Rob Van Dam’s title. A series of unforseen events led Big Show to challenge for and win the ECW title. First, Kurt suddenly “retired” from the ring, stating mental and physical burn-out. Second, Rob Van Dam and Sabu were both arrested on alleged drug charges. As a punishment for the arrest, Rob was forced to drop the WWE title on July 3rd and the ECW title on July 4th.
By winning the ECW title, Big Show became the first (and only) man to win the WWE, WCW, and ECW World titles. Big Show battled wrestlers from all three brands, while defendinghis ECW title. Big Show eventually lost the title to Bobby Lashley. Big Show decided to take a break from wrestling following his loss to Lashley. The official WWE website announced in December of 2006 that Big Show was taking a hiatus from wrestling to heal, both physically and mentally.
The match that should have headlined Wrestlemania 23
There was a huge call for Hulk Hogan to wrestle at Wrestlemania 23 in a re-match of his Hogan vs Andre the Giant match. Since Andre was dead, many people figured that Paul Wight would step in and face Hogan in a Hogan vs The Giant match. That match did occur, but not at Wrestlemania 23. It took place on April 27, 2007 at a Memphis independent wrestling card. The match was almost a move for move remake of the original match, including Hogan winning with the Leg Drop O’ Doom. Critics ridiculed the WWE for letting a minor independent organization “one-up” the multi-billion dollar company.
Wight refused to be billed as “The Big Show” for his match against Hogan. He claimed that “Big Show” was his “slave name” and chose to be listed as Paul “The Great” Wight.
Outside the ring activities
Paul Wight has performed in 5 films and numerous television shows during his career. His most famous part was as Captain Insano in the Adam Sandler film, The Waterboy.
Wight also created a grill that used a bowel shaped surface for cooking. This would allow the oils and juices of the meat to flood back onto the meat, making it more juicy. The product never took off, as research showed that the test groups rejected the product for its’ unhealthy re-introduction of fat to the cooking product. Many felt that the grill was a joke, but the research was real and the product was in a proto-type mode, awaiting test results.
Welcome Back to the (Big) Show
Paul Wight returned to FCW, a WWE developmental territory, in early 2008. He had lost a lot of weight and looked healthier than he had looked in many years. He spent several weeks shaking off his ring rust.
At the 2008 edition of No Way Out, Wight returned as “The Big Show” to attack Rey Mysterio. Big Show also got into a confrontation with boxer Floyd Mayweather and suffered a broken nose due to a blow from Mayweather. Whether the break was real or not is not clear, at this point. There was immediate speculation that Mayweather and Big Show might square off at Wrestlemania 24. Whether that happens or not, Big Show is back in the WWE. He is going to be a force in whichever brand he choses to wrestle in. Big Show has just under one year left on his multi-year contract with the WWE. What may happen after that is unclear. The next year should be one of Big Show’s best. Expect another championship run, possibly soon after Wrestlemania. This may be the final year for Big Show and he’s sure to go out in a Giant way, if it is.
–Jay Shannon
JayofPWD@SBCGlobal.net
(2/18/08)
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