Big Show

Big Show
Big Show in 2014
Birth name	Paul Wight Jr.[1]
Born	February 8, 1972[2] Aiken, South Carolina, United States[3]
Residence	Tampa, Florida, United States[2]
Alma mater	Wichita State University
Spouse(s)	Melissa Piavis (m. 1997; div. 2002) Bess Katramados (m. 2002)
Children	3
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Big Show[2][4] The Giant[2] Paul Wight[5]
Billed height	7 ft 0 in (213 cm)[6]
Billed weight	450 lb (204 kg)[6]
Billed from	Tampa, Florida[6]
Trained by	WCW Power Plant
Debut	1995

Paul Wight Jr. (born February 8, 1972) is an American professional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring name Big Show. He is signed to WWE, where he has performed since 1999. He began his career in World Championship Wrestling (WCW), where he was known by the ring name The Giant. Known for his great height, in 2014 he was described as the tenth tallest professional wrestler in history.^[7]

Wight has been a world heavyweight champion seven times and is the only person to have held the ECW, WWE (both) and WCW world heavyweight championships.^[8] Wight has also found success in the tag team division, having been an 11-time world tag team champion, holding the WWF/World, WWE and WCW World Tag Team Championships multiple times with various partners. Having also been Intercontinental, United States and Hardcore Champion, Big Show is the 24th Triple Crown and 13th Grand Slam winner in WWE history.^[9][10] Between WWE and WCW, Wight has held 23 total championships. He has also won WCW's 1996 World War 3 60-man battle royal and the 30-man André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 31. Wight has headlined many pay-per-view shows for WCW and the WWF/E since 1995, including the 2000 edition of WWE's premier annual event, WrestleMania.^[11]

Outside of professional wrestling, Wight has appeared in feature films and television series such as The Waterboy, Star Trek: Enterprise, and USA Network's comedy-drama Royal Pains and the action-drama Burn Notice. In 2010, he had his first lead role in the comedy film Knucklehead, which was produced by WWE Studios.

Professional wrestling career

Early career

Wight was born in Aiken, South Carolina. After school, Wight worked various jobs including bouncing, bounty hunting, and answering phone calls. Through doing the latter for a karaoke company, he met Danny Bonaduce in a live microphone amateur contest on his morning radio show. Bonaduce introduced Wight to his friend Hulk Hogan. They had an informal basketball game, as part of a World Championship Wrestling promotion for an upcoming show at the Rosemont Horizon. Hogan liked how Wight worked the crowd, and recommended him to World Championship Wrestling Vice President Eric Bischoff. Wight went to the Horizon show, and was invited into the locker room, where he met Ric Flair, Arn Anderson (his boyhood hero), and a naked Paul Orndorff. He later met Bischoff there and came to a deal.^[12]

Wight had earlier attempted to inquire about joining the WWF, also at the Horizon, during an autograph session. Promoter and scout Bob Collins turned him away after he admitted he had no experience. He paid Larry Sharpe's Monster Factory $5000, but due to Sharpe's gout at the time, he was only very minimally trained (Johnny Polo taught him the collar-and-elbow lockup). While there, he made an audition tape and gave it to Mike Chioda, whom he had met in a Philadelphia bar. Chioda forwarded it to Pat Patterson, who did not bother watching it because he assumed Wight was another wrestler, Kurrgan. Only when he saw The Giant debut in WCW did Patterson realized his mistake, to Vince McMahon's displeasure.^[12]

World Championship Wrestling (1995–1999)

In 1995, Wight signed with World Championship Wrestling (WCW), where he was billed as the son of Andre the Giant (although this was later dropped) and accordingly used the ring name "The Giant" as a member of Kevin Sullivan's Dungeon of Doom stable. Wight made his professional debut at Halloween Havoc, defeating Hulk Hogan for the WCW World Heavyweight Championship via disqualification (thanks in part of Jimmy Hart interfering during the match), with the prematch stipulation being that the title could change hands on a disqualification; under normal circumstances, it cannot. A week later, however, The Giant was stripped of the title due to the controversial finish of the match.

The Giant attempted to reclaim the title at World War 3, but was foiled by Hogan, who helped Randy Savage win the vacant title.^[13][14] The Giant teamed with Ric Flair to defeat Hogan and Savage at Clash of the Champions XXXII,^[15] but was decisively beaten by Hogan in a cage match at SuperBrawl VI.^[16][17] After a short feud with Loch Ness,^[18][19] The Giant won the World Heavyweight Championship a second time by defeating Flair. After Hogan formed the New World Order (nWo), he defeated The Giant for the Championship at Hog Wild following interference from Scott Hall and Kevin Nash.^[20][21] The Giant joined the nWo twenty-three days later, citing Ted DiBiase's money as his primary motivation, feuding with Lex Luger and the Four Horsemen. The Giant was thrown out of the nWo on December 30 for asking Hogan for a World Heavyweight Championship title match. He fought against the nWo along with Sting and Luger, winning the WCW World Tag Team Championship twice.

In 1997, The Giant began a feud with nWo member Nash, who constantly dodged Giant, failing to appear for their scheduled match at Starrcade. In 1998, at Souled Out, the two finally met in the ring, with Nash accidentally injuring Wight's neck when he botched a Jackknife Powerbomb. Nash couldn't lift the Giant high enough to execute the move properly, and he ended up dropping the Giant on his head. The announcers were noticeably stunned, as were Hulk Hogan and Eric Bishoff, who were standing ringside to support Nash and had a hard time staying in character. Nash and the Giant ended up promoting the botch in coming weeks as if Nash had intended to drop Giant on his head and break his neck. ^[22][23] When Nash left the nWo and formed his own stable, the nWo Wolfpac, The Giant rejoined the original nWo to oppose Nash and his allies. While back with the nWo, The Giant won two more Tag Team Championships, once with Sting as an unwilling partner (as the match was signed before The Giant returned to the nWo) and once with Scott Hall. In the interim between those two reigns, he lost his half of the Tag Team Championship to Sting in a singles match where only the winner would remain champion and could choose a new partner.

On the October 11, 1998 episode of Nitro, Goldberg defeated The Giant in a no-disqualification match. In a show of strength, Goldberg executed a delayed vertical suplex before hitting the Jackhammer on The Giant.^[24][25][26] After the nWo Hollywood and nWo Wolfpac stables merged again in January 1999, Hogan declared that there was only room for one "giant" in the group, forcing Giant and Nash to wrestle for that spot. Nash defeated Giant following a run-in by Scott Hall and Eric Bischoff. The Giant was then attacked by the entire nWo. On the "Building An Army" episode of the Monday Night War feature from the WWE Network, Wight stated that he was making 1/6th or 1/7th of what the main eventers were making and his salary was not increased after he requested it be by Eric Bischoff; as a result, Wight allowed his WCW contract to expire on February 8, 1999, his 27th birthday.

World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment

The Corporation and WWF Champion (1999–2000)

Show entering the arena on the SmackDown! entrance way in 1999

Wight signed a ten-year contract with the World Wrestling Federation on February 9, 1999, debuting as a villainous member of Vince McMahon's stable, The Corporation, at St. Valentine's Day Massacre: In Your House. During the McMahon versus Steve Austin cage match, Wight tore through the canvas from underneath the ring and attacked Austin. However, Wight cost McMahon the match when he threw Austin into the side of the cage and the cage broke, spilling Austin outside to the floor and granting him the victory. Wight subsequently served as McMahon's enforcer.

Wight performed as "Big Nasty" Paul Wight for several weeks before being renamed "The Big Show" Paul Wight. He then gradually dropped his real name, eventually being referred to simply as (The) Big Show. McMahon wanted to ensure Corporation member The Rock would retain his title at WrestleMania, so he had Wight wrestle Mankind at WrestleMania XV for the right to referee the main event. Wight incapacitated Mankind, but got disqualified in the process, meaning that he could not be referee. Mankind won the right to be the official but was taken to a hospital following the match with Wight (although he eventually returned during the Championship match). After a furious McMahon slapped Wight, he punched McMahon. Wight concluded his feud with Foley in a Boiler Room Brawl before turning face and joining Mankind, Test, and Ken Shamrock in a stable known as The Union who fought against the Corporation, and later against The Corporate Ministry. On the May 10 episode of Raw Is War, Show was pitted against The Undertaker's manager Paul Bearer. On the June 7 episode of Raw Is War, Big Show faced The Undertaker for the WWF Championship. Undertaker attempted a clothesline from the top turnbuckle, however Wight caught him and delivered a chokeslam, which sent Undertaker crashing through the ring mat; the referee was forced to stop the match so The Undertaker retained his title. Following the match Bradshaw, Faarooq, and Mideon all ran down to attack Big Show and were all subsequently chokeslammed as well. Big Show and The Undertaker later formed an unlikely alliance turning him heel again, wrestling against X-Pac and Kane. As a team, Show and The Undertaker won the WWF Tag Team Championship twice.

After The Undertaker was sidelined with injuries, Big Show began a feud with the Big Boss Man turning face again. After it was announced that Big Show's father was terminally ill with cancer, the Boss Man had one of his crooked police colleagues inform Show that his father had died, and then mocked Show's tearful reaction. Several weeks later, when it was announced Big Show's father had actually died (in reality, Wight's father had died years before), the Boss Man interrupted the ten-bell toll by reciting an offensive poem. Later, Boss Man invaded the funeral and used a chain to couple the coffin to the Blues Brothers Bluesmobile, towing the coffin away with a grief-stricken Big Show clinging on to it. Big Show then took on Big Boss Man, Prince Albert, Mideon and Viscera at Survivor Series in a 4-on-1 elimination match. He eventually won the match after Big Boss Man left the match and was counted out. Later that night, Wight took the injured Steve Austin's place in the Triple Threat match for the WWF Championship. In that match, which also featured The Rock, he pinned Triple H to become WWF Champion. At Armageddon 1999, Show defeated Boss Man to retain his WWF Championship, despite interference by Prince Albert.^[27]

On the January 3, 2000 episode of Raw Is War, Triple H defeated Show for the WWF Championship. Trying to regain the title, Wight participated in the Royal Rumble match where he antagonized The Rock, thus turning heel in the process. The Rock eliminated him to win the Royal Rumble. Wight was convinced that he had won, and eventually produced a video tape that showed The Rock's feet striking the ground first. He was then given a match with The Rock at No Way Out, with the WrestleMania title shot on the line. Wight defeated The Rock when Shane McMahon interfered, knocking The Rock out with a chair shot. Rock was desperate to reclaim his title shot, and eventually agreed to a match with Wight on the March 13 episode of Raw Is War – if he won, the WrestleMania title match would become a Triple Threat match, and if he lost, he would retire from the WWF. Shane McMahon, now actively supporting Wight's bid to become champion, appointed himself as the special guest referee. However, The Rock triumphed when Vince McMahon assaulted Shane and donned the referee shirt, personally making the three count following a Rock Bottom.

On the March 20 episode of Raw Is War, Triple H defended the title against The Rock and Wight on the condition that the match would not take place at WrestleMania, pinning Wight. Linda McMahon stated this match would not occur at WrestleMania as Triple H would defend the title there in a Fatal Four-Way Elimination match, with Mick Foley as the fourth man. Wight was the first man eliminated from the match at WrestleMania 2000 after the other three competitors worked together against him.

Championship reigns (2000–2004)

Show competing for the Raw brand in 2002

After WrestleMania, Big Show turned face and took on a comical gimmick where he began mimicking other wrestlers, lampooning Rikishi as Showkishi, The Berzerker as Shonan the Barbarian, and Val Venis as The Big Showbowski. He defeated Kurt Angle at Backlash dressed like his friend and role model Hulk Hogan as the Showster, complete with skullcap/wig and yellow tights. Show began feuding with Shane McMahon after Shane voiced his disapproval of Big Show's antics. At Judgment Day 2000, Shane defeated Wight in a Falls Count Anywhere match following interference from Big Boss Man, Bull Buchanan, Test, and Albert.^[28] Wight returned two months later, apparently intending to gain revenge on Shane. Instead, he attacked The Undertaker thus turning heel and siding with Shane once more, forming a short-lived stable known as "The Conspiracy" with Shane, Chris Benoit, Kurt Angle, and Edge and Christian. After The Undertaker threw Show off a stage through a table, he was removed from WWF television for the remainder of the year. Big Show was sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling, a WWF developmental territory, to lose weight and improve his cardiovascular fitness.^[29]

Show returned at the 2001 Royal Rumble, but was eliminated by The Rock.^[30] Angered by his quick elimination, Wight proceeded to chokeslam The Rock through the announcer's table before leaving the arena. He then began competing for the WWF Hardcore Championship, which he lost to Kane in a Triple Threat match that also included Raven at WrestleMania X-Seven.^[31]

Throughout The Invasion, Big Show reverted to being a face and remained loyal to the WWF. He faced Shane McMahon, the on-screen owner of WCW, in a Last Man Standing match at Backlash and was defeated following interference from Test. Following an unscripted backstage interview, Big Show burst into tears and fled from the arena.^[32] Show was also part of the victorious Team WWF at Survivor Series, though he was the first man eliminated.^[33]

Shortly after WrestleMania X8, Big Show turned heel when he chokeslammed Stone Cold during a tag team match against X-Pac and Scott Hall, joining the nWo in the process. At Judgment Day, Big Show and Ric Flair were defeated by Austin in a Handicap match. The stable disbanded after Kevin Nash was injured. After the nWo disbanded, Show achieved little success on Raw after losing matches against Jeff Hardy, Booker T, and the Dudley Boyz.

Show, as United States Champion, facing Brock Lesnar

In late 2002, Big Show was traded to SmackDown!, immediately challenging Brock Lesnar for the WWE Championship. During this time, Big Show adopted a new attire, donning black jeans and taking on a new hairstyle and facial hair. Big Show became a two-time WWE Champion defeating Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series, ending Lesnar's undefeated streak with help from Paul Heyman. He lost the title to Kurt Angle a month later at Armageddon. At the Royal Rumble, Big Show lost a Royal Rumble qualifying match to Lesnar. He then began feuding with The Undertaker, after Big Show threw him off the stage, injuring his neck, leading to Big Show and his partner A-Train losing to The Undertaker at WrestleMania XIX. He renewed his feud with Lesnar, wrestling him four times for the WWE title (including a Stretcher match at Judgment Day), but was unsuccessful in his attempt to regain the title. On the June 12, 2003 episode of SmackDown!, Lesnar superplexed Big Show off the ropes and the ring imploded, two ring posts moved and three rows of ropes came down. The referee called for EMTs, medics, trainers, and even more referees. This kept the title in Lesnar's hands and both went to the hospital. On the June 26, 2003 episode of SmackDown!, Big Show, Shelton Benjamin, and Charlie Haas defeated Mr. America (a disguised Hulk Hogan), Brock Lesnar, and Kurt Angle in a six-man tag team match when Show pinned Mr. America. This was Hulk Hogan's last appearance as Mr. America. For several months afterwards, WWE hyped up Big Show as the man who retired Hogan. At No Mercy, Big Show defeated Eddie Guerrero for the United States Championship and then formed an alliance with the then WWE Champion Brock Lesnar. He was eliminated by Chris Benoit at the Royal Rumble in 2004.

Big Show abandoned a departing Lesnar immediately before WrestleMania XX. At the pay-per-view, Big Show lost the United States Championship to John Cena. On the April 15, 2004 episode of SmackDown!, Big Show promised to quit if he failed to defeat Eddie Guerrero that night.^[34] He lost to Guerrero after Guerrero performed a Frog Splash, and, believing that Torrie Wilson had laughed at him for losing, upended her car and threatened to throw her off a ledge.^[34] Then General Manager of SmackDown! Kurt Angle ascended the ledge to try to talk some reason into Big Show, but he chokeslammed Angle off the ledge, kayfabe concussing him and breaking his leg, as well as causing the back of Angle's head to bleed.^[34] After the show, Big Show was neither seen nor heard from on WWE television for months.

Various feuds (2004–2005)

Show at the Tribute to the Troops in 2004

In mid-2004, Big Show was reinstated by new General Manager Theodore Long, as he interfered during a Lumberjack match between Eddie Guerrero and Kurt Angle. Big Show had a choice to face either Guerrero or Angle at No Mercy, choosing to fight Angle, turning him face. Big Show defeated Angle at the event.^[35] In the weeks before the match, He claimed to have "lost his dignity" when Angle tranquilized him in the middle of the ring using a dart gun and shaved his head. At No Way Out he fought John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) for the WWE Championship in the first ever Barbed Wire Cage match. He choke slammed JBL through the ring and busted the lock on the door. But JBL had crawled from under the canvas and won. Show beat down JBL and The Cabinet interfered and beat Show down, Dave Batista interfered and beat down The Cabinet, and John Cena beat on JBL as he crawled away.

On April 3, 2005 at WrestleMania 21, Big Show faced Sumo Grand Champion Akebono in a worked sumo match;^[36] the match was added to the show to attract a strong pay-per-view audience in Japan, where Akebono is considered a sporting legend. In the weeks preceding the match, Big Show pushed over a jeep driven to the ring by Luther Reigns to show that he was capable of moving the marginally heavier Akebono. Big Show lost to Akebono at WrestleMania 21.^[36] Big Show subsequently feuded with Carlito Caribbean Cool and his bodyguard, Matt Morgan.^[37]

On June 27, Big Show was drafted back to Raw in the 2005 WWE Draft Lottery;^[38] preventing him from participating in a scheduled Six-Man Elimination match for the SmackDown! Championship. He successfully pinned Gene Snitsky in a Tag Team match, which turned into a singles match when both men's partners brawled backstage. After squashing his scheduled opponents for several weeks, Wight returned to his rivalry with Snitsky. On August 22, he foiled Snitsky's harassment of backstage interviewer Maria.^[39] On August 29, Snitsky hit Big Show with the ring bell immediately after Big Show had won a match.^[40] As a result, Big Show and Snitsky were placed in a match at Unforgiven, in which Big Show defeated Snitsky.^[41] On September 26, Big Show defeated Snitsky again in a Street Fight.^[42]

Teaming and feuding with Kane (2005–2006)

On October 17, Big Show defeated Edge and was thus entered in an online opinion poll, with the winner of the poll facing John Cena and Kurt Angle in a Triple Threat match for the WWE Championship at Taboo Tuesday 2005.^[43] The poll was won by Shawn Michaels, meaning that the other two options would wrestle for the World Tag Team Championship.^[44] Big Show teamed with Kane to defeat Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch for the World Tag Team Championship.^[45]

In the weeks preceding Survivor Series 2005, Big Show became involved in the rivalry between the Raw and SmackDown! brands. Big Show and Kane invaded the November 11 episode of SmackDown! and, along with Edge, attacked Batista (inadvertently injuring him in the process).^[46] On the November 14 episode of Raw, Big Show and Kane defeated SmackDown! wrestlers and reigning WWE Tag Team Champions MNM in an inter-brand, non-title match.^[47] On November 21, Big Show and Kane "injured" Batista by delivering a double chokeslam onto the windshield of a car.^[48] At Survivor Series, Show, Kane, Carlito, Chris Masters, and team captain Shawn Michaels represented Raw in a match with Team SmackDown!: JBL, Rey Mysterio, Bobby Lashley, Randy Orton, and Batista.^[49] Team SmackDown! won the match, with Orton being the sole survivor.^[49] On the November 29 episode of SmackDown!, Big Show wrestled Rey Mysterio in an inter-brand promotional match, however, Kane interfered, resulting in the match being declared a no-contest.^[50] Following the match, Big Show and Kane attacked Mysterio until The Undertaker chased them from the ring.^[50] Big Show and Kane returned to SmackDown! on December 2, defeating Mysterio and JBL after JBL abandoned the match, claiming the referee had poked him in the eye.^[51] Following the match, Big Show and Kane's attempt to assault Mysterio was once again foiled, this time when Batista ran in to see them off.^[51] As a result, on the December 16 episode of SmackDown!, Big Show and Kane were booked to face Batista and Mysterio, the Smackdown Tag Team Champions, at Armageddon 2005.^[52] They won the match, which pitted the Tag Team Champions from each brand against one another.^[53]

On the December 12 episode of Raw, Big Show took part in a qualifying match for a shot at the WWE Championship in an Elimination Chamber match at New Year's Revolution 2006.^[54] Big Show lost to his opponent, Shawn Michaels, by disqualification after Triple H hit Michaels with a steel chair, intentionally costing Big Show the match and the title shot.^[54] In retaliation, Wight cost Triple H his qualifying match with Kane later that evening.^[54] On the December 26 episode of Raw, during the contract-signing for the announced match between Big Show and Triple H at New Year's Revolution, Triple H struck Big Show in the hand that Big Show apparently favors when using the chokeslam with his sledgehammer.^[55] The following week, Big Show attacked Triple H while wearing a cast on his hand, using the padding provided by the cast to punch a hole in a chair held by Triple H, destroying a monitor from the announcers' table that Triple H intended to throw at him, and chasing Triple H away from the ring.^[56] At New Year's Revolution, Triple H defeated Wight after striking him in the head with his sledgehammer.^[57]

Subsequently, Big Show was one of eight participants in the 2006 Road to WrestleMania Tournament, the winner of which would receive a shot at the WWE Championship.^[58] On the February 13 episode of Raw, Big Show faced Triple H in the tournament semi-finals in a match that ended in a double count-out.^[59] As a result, Big Show and Triple H faced Rob Van Dam (the winner of the opposing semi-finals) in a Triple Threat match to determine the winner of the tournament on the February 20 episode of Raw.^[60] The match was won by Triple H after he pinned RVD.^[60]

In the weeks following the tournament, Big Show and Kane feuded with Chris Masters and Carlito, leading to a World Tag Team Championship title match being scheduled for WrestleMania 22.^[61][62] Wight and Kane defeated Carlito and Masters, marking Big Show's first victory at WrestleMania after suffering six defeats.^[63] On the following evening, Big Show and Kane lost the World Tag Team Championship to Spirit Squad members Kenny and Mikey following copious interference from the other members of the Spirit Squad.^[64][65] They faced Spirit Squad members Johnny and Nicky in a rematch one week later, but lost via disqualification after Kane "snapped" and left the ring to attack the other members of the Spirit Squad.^[66] The ensuing feud between Kane and Big Show culminated in a match at Backlash 2006 that ended in a ruling of no-contest.^[67]

ECW World Champion and departure (2006–2007)

Big Show as the ECW World Champion

At WWE vs. ECW Head to Head on June 7, Big Show was drafted to the newly debuted ECW brand; he removed his Raw shirt to reveal an ECW shirt during a twenty-man battle royal including members of the Raw and SmackDown rosters against members of the ECW roster.^[68] Big Show won the match for ECW by eliminating Randy Orton.^[68] Big Show then appeared at One Night Stand, attacking Tajiri, Super Crazy, and The Full Blooded Italians after their tag team match turning him heel again.^[69]

On the July 4 episode of ECW on Sci Fi, Big Show beat Van Dam to win the ECW World Heavyweight Championship on an ECW show in Philadelphia with the assistance of ECW's General Manager Paul Heyman, who declined to make the three-count for Van Dam after Van Dam hit his finisher the Five Star Frog Splash on the Big Show.^[70][71] Heyman then instructed Big Show to chokeslam Van Dam onto a steel chair, before making the three-count.^[70] The fans almost rioted when Big Show became the ECW World Champion, throwing drinks and empty cups into the ring, as Heyman and Big Show celebrated.^[72] The victory made him the first ever professional wrestler to hold the WWE Championship, WCW World Heavyweight Championship, and ECW World Heavyweight Championship.^[73] He is also the first non ECW Original to hold the ECW title. Over the next several weeks, Wight defeated many other wrestlers from other brands, such as Ric Flair and Kane to retain his championship but lost to Batista and The Undertaker by disqualification.^[73][74][75] He lost to the Undertaker, however, at The Great American Bash in the first ever Punjabi Prison match;^[76] he was a substitute for The Great Khali, who was removed by SmackDown! General Manager Theodore Long and replaced with Big Show as punishment for an attack on The Undertaker shortly before the match.^[76] He also had a brief feud with Sabu, whom he defeated at SummerSlam.^[74][75][77]

At Cyber Sunday, Show faced John Cena and King Booker in a Champion of Champions match.^[78] The fans voted for King Booker's World Heavyweight Championship to be on the line.^[78] Booker won the match following interference from Kevin Federline, who was just beginning a feud with Cena at the time.^[78] At Survivor Series, Cena wrestled Big Show in a traditional 10-man Survivor Series tag team match, with Cena and Bobby Lashley leaving as the sole survivors of the match after Cena pinned Big Show to claim the victory due to a double team with Lashley.^[79] Big Show then began a feud with Lashley, who left SmackDown! to join the ECW brand to participate in the Extreme Elimination Chamber match at December to Dismember for the ECW Championship.^[80] After busting Big Show open by breaking one of the plexiglass pods with his face, Lashley speared and pinned him to claim the ECW Championship. On December 6, 2006 following an unsuccessful rematch, WWE.com announced that Big Show was taking time off from the ring to heal injuries he had sustained on ECW.^[81] After a two-month inactivity, WWE announced that Wight's contract had expired on February 8, 2007.

Memphis Wrestling (2007)

After a two-month departure from WWE, Wight replaced Jerry Lawler when the WWE withdrew him from a match with former nWo partner Hulk Hogan at the PMG Clash of Legends on April 27, 2007. Wight was introduced as Paul "The Great" Wight. He stated that "Big Show" was his slave name and that he didn't want to be owned anymore.^[82] Hogan won the match after he picked him up and bodyslammed Wight and pinned him following the leg drop.

Return to WWE

Unified WWE Tag Team Champion (2008–2010)

Big Show arguing with referee Scott Armstrong

A noticeably slimmer Wight returned to WWE under his last used ring name Big Show, at No Way Out on February 17, stating that he had lost 108 pounds, when he took time off from injuries since December 2006. Wight then appeared to be a heel again by attempting to attack Rey Mysterio after his World Heavyweight Championship match with then champion Edge but got into a physical confrontation with boxer Floyd Mayweather, Jr. after Mayweather came from the crowd to challenge Big Show. The confrontation ended with Mayweather breaking Wight's nose with a punching combination.^[83] Big Show was then assigned to the SmackDown brand.^[84]

However, as the feud progressed, the crowd had been siding with Big Show more, so the roles had been changed and Mayweather ended up using heel tactics whereas Big Show turned face. Show lost to Mayweather at WrestleMania XXIV via knockout after a shot to the jaw with brass knuckles.^[85] On March 31, Big Show engaged in a feud with The Great Khali, concluding at Backlash, where Big Show defeated Khali pinning him after executing a chokeslam.^[86]

At One Night Stand, Show defeated CM Punk, John Morrison, Chavo Guerrero, and Tommy Dreamer in a Singapore Cane match. During the bout, he received a black eye and deep gash along the eyebrow, which required stitches after Morrison swung a Singapore cane to his knee, which caused Show to fall with the steps. As he fell, the steps accidentally moved to the right, which hit Show in the eye. The win gave him contention^[87] to face Kane and Mark Henry at Night of Champions for the ECW Championship, which Henry won by pinning Kane.^[88]

Big Show sided with Vickie Guerrero in her ongoing feud with The Undertaker by attacking him at Unforgiven turning heel again in the process and later interfering in many of Undertaker's matches on SmackDown, most notably against Triple H, Jeff Hardy, Chavo Guerrero, and The Great Khali. He went on to defeat Undertaker by knockout at No Mercy. However, Show lost to him in a fan voted Last Man Standing match at Cyber Sunday and a Casket Match at Survivor Series. Show then lost a Steel Cage match against The Undertaker on SmackDown, ending the feud. At No Way Out, Show wrestled in the Elimination Chamber for the WWE Championship, but lost after being the third person eliminated by Triple H.^[89] In March, it was revealed by John Cena that the Big Show was having secret relations with Vickie Guerrero. At WrestleMania XXV, Show was involved in a Triple Threat match for the World Heavyweight Championship featuring champion Edge and John Cena. Once again, he was unsuccessful as Cena won.^[90]

Big Show is an eight-time world tag team champion in WWE – factoring in both WWE Tag Team Championship (around right shoulder) and World Tag Team Championship (left shoulder) reigns

On April 13, Big Show was drafted to the Raw brand as a part of the 2009 WWE draft.^[91] At Backlash, Big Show interfered in a Last Man Standing match for the World Heavyweight Championship between Cena and Edge when he threw Cena into a spotlight, thus resulting in Edge winning the title and Cena being seriously injured.^[92] He continued to feud with John Cena, losing to him at Judgment Day by pinfall and at Extreme Rules by submission by Cena's submission known as the STF,^[93][94] before defeating Cena on the June 22 episode of Raw to end the feud.^[95]

Big Show and Chris Jericho as the Unified WWE Tag Team Champions, forming an alliance known as Jeri-Show

In the weeks prior to Night of Champions, Big Show constantly attacked U.S. Champion Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne among others. He then feuded with Kingston over the U.S. Title and earned himself a spot in the six-pack challenge at Night of Champions. At the event, Big Show was announced as Chris Jericho's new tag team partner due to Edge needing time off to tend to an injury, thus taking Show out of the six-pack challenge for the U.S. Title. Together, Jeri-Show were able to successfully defend the Unified WWE Tag Team Championship against The Legacy.^[96] Jeri-Show successfully defended the title against Cryme Tyme at SummerSlam, MVP and Mark Henry at Breaking Point and Rey Mysterio and Batista at Hell in a Cell.^[97][98][99] At Bragging Rights, Big Show represented Team Raw, but he betrayed and attacked his team-mates, which led to Team SmackDown winning, so that he could receive an opportunity at the World Heavyweight Championship.^[100] Big Show received his title shot at Survivor Series in a triple threat match against The Undertaker and Jericho, but the Undertaker successfully retained his title.^[101]

The 140 day reign of Jeri-Show as Unified Tag Team Champions came to an end at the TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs pay-per-view at the hands of D-Generation X (DX).^[102] As a member of the SmackDown roster, Jericho could only appear on Raw as a champion and so DX intentionally disqualified themselves in a rematch to force Jericho off the show.^[103] Eventually the teams had a match with a definitive finish, though DX still won, signalling the end of Jeri-Show.^[104]

On the February 8 episode of Raw, Show regained the title from DX with his new tag team partner The Miz in a Triple Threat Tag Team Elimination match, which also included the Straight Edge Society (CM Punk and Luke Gallows).^[105] On February 16, he and Miz successfully defended the title against Yoshi Tatsu and Goldust on the final episode of ECW.^[106] On the March 1 episode of Raw, Show and Miz defeated DX in their rematch.^[107] At WrestleMania XXVI, Show and Miz defeated John Morrison and R-Truth to retain the title again.^[108] At Extreme Rules ShoMiz was in a tag team gauntlet match where the team that beat them would get a title match the next night on Raw. ShoMiz beat the first two teams in the gauntlet match, John Morrison and R-Truth, then MVP and Mark Henry. They then lost to The Hart Dynasty, who earned the title shot.^[109] On the April 26, 2010 episode of Raw, Show and Miz lost the Unified Tag Team Titles to The Hart Dynasty.

Reunion with Kane (2010–2011)

After the title loss, he hit The Miz with a knockout punch and hugged Teddy Long, and turned face in the process for the first time since February 2008.^[110] Later on in the night as part of the 2010 WWE Draft, Big Show was drafted back to the SmackDown brand.^[111]

He returned to the brand on the April 30 episode of SmackDown, and was subsequently named the number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship, later on in the night he interrupted World Heavyweight Champion Jack Swagger as he was giving his "State of Championship Address" and knocked him out with his signature punch. On the May 7 episode of SmackDown, Big Show sat ringside during the Swagger/Kane main event. After Swagger was disqualified, Show chokeslammed him through the announce table.^[112] He also crashed Swagger's achievement celebration and cost him his match with Kofi Kingston in the next week. Big Show defeated Jack Swagger via disqualification at Over The Limit.^[113] On the May 27 episode of Smackdown, General Manager Thedore Long announced that qualifying matches were going to take place that night for the World Heavyweight Championship match at WWE Fatal 4-Way. Long then announced due to Jack Swagger losing his match with Big Show via disqualification at Over the Limit, Big Show qualified automatically, but was unsuccessful in this attempt.^[114] At WWE Fatal 4-Way he faced Rey Mysterio, CM Punk and Swagger for the World Heavyweight Title, but Mysterio won the title. The following night, Swagger debuted his new finishing move The Ankle Lock applied the submission move on Big Show, thus injuring his ankle and continuing their feud. Two weeks later on Smackdown, Big Show saved Rey Mysterio, whose ankle was injured by the same move, from Swagger. Later that night, Big Show fought Swagger to a double count-out. Soon he began a feud with CM Punk and his Straight Edge Society, confronting him the Friday night before the Money in the Bank event, and unmasking him to reveal his bald head. After failing to win the ladder match for the Money in the Bank contract,^[115] he fought the mysterious masked member of the SES, also unmasking him as Joey Mercury. Show's feud with the Straight Edge Society continued after he defeated them in a 3 on 1 Handicap match at SummerSlam^[116] and CM Punk at Night of Champions.^[117] Big Show was announced as Team SmackDown's captain for Bragging Rights on the October 8 episode of SmackDown. At the event, Big Show was counted out with Sheamus during the match but his team ultimately won with Edge and Rey Mysterio left on the team.^[118] He was on Rey Mysterio's team for Survivor Series where he was a survivor along with Mysterio.^[119] The following episode of SmackDown, he was unsuccessful in qualifying for King of the Ring as he was defeated by Alberto Del Rio by count-out thanks to interference by his personal ring announcer, Ricardo Rodriguez.

Show at the Tribute to Troops in 2010

On the January 7, 2011 episode of SmackDown, Big Show participated in a Fatal 4-Way match to determine the #1 contender for the World Heavyweight Championship. He lost due to interference by former Nexus leader Wade Barrett. The next week, Show faced Barrett, and won via DQ, when former Nexus members Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel attacked him. Moments later Ezekiel Jackson appeared to help him, but instead attacked Big Show. The next week, Barrett, Slater, Gabriel and Jackson informed that they had formed the Corre. In the following weeks, the Corre continued to assault Show, due to the size and power of Ezekiel Jackson. At Elimination Chamber, Show participated in the Elimination Chamber match, eliminating Wade Barrett before eliminated by Kane.^[120] Big Show feuded with The Corre in the following weeks.

On the March 4 episode of SmackDown, Big Show faced Kane in a confrontation until the Corre interfered on Kane's behalf.^[121] However, a miscommunication led to Kane turning on the Corre. Big Show and Kane thus reunited to take on the Corre. At WrestleMania XXVII, Big Show and Kane teamed with Santino Marella and Kofi Kingston to beat The Corre.^[122] On the April 22 episode of SmackDown, the duo defeated Corre members Justin Gabriel and Heath Slater to win the WWE Tag Team Championship, their second championship win as a team.^[123] Big Show was drafted to Raw as a part of the 2011 WWE Draft. He and Kane then started feuding with the New Nexus. After defending the titles against Wade Barrett and Ezekiel Jackson at Extreme Rules^[124] and CM Punk and Mason Ryan at Over the Limit,^[125] Kane and Big Show lost their titles to Michael McGilligutty and David Otunga on the following day on Raw.^[126] After losing the titles, Show was run over by Alberto Del Rio's car, driven by his ring announcer Ricardo Rodriguez, and was sidelined with an injury for almost a month. He returned during a match between Kane and Del Rio, attacking both Del Rio and Rodriguez.^[127]

Show then began feuding with Mark Henry after he attacked and injured him on the June 17 episode of SmackDown, as Big Show's frustrations and anger towards Del Rio was redirected unintentionally to Mark Henry. Henry retaliated by attacking Big Show during his match at Capitol Punishment and hitting him with the World Strongest Slam through the announce table, thus costing Show his match against Del Rio.^[128] Henry did the same thing on Kane through the announce table the next day on Raw after their arm wrestling match, and again on the June 27 episode. Henry then broke the cage door during the steel cage match between Big Show and Alberto Del Rio, allowing Del Rio to escape. He then attacked Show with the cage door, breaking the cage viciously. On July 17, 2011 at Money in the Bank, Henry defeated Big Show. After the match, Henry fractured Show's fibula, keeping him out of action for almost three months.^[129]

World Heavyweight Champion (2011–2013)

On the October 7 episode of SmackDown, Show returned and became number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship after he attacked Mark Henry and chokeslammed him through the announcer table.^[130] At Vengeance Big Show fought Henry to a no contest after the ring collapsed following a superplex from Henry, similar to his match with Brock Lesnar in 2003. This time less damage was done, and the damage mainly occurred around the lower right hand ring post. Show ended up being taken out on a motorized cart with a flatbed. Show faced Mark Henry for the World Heavyweight Championship once again at Survivor Series winning via disqualification when Henry hit Show with a low blow, afterwards he leg dropped a steel chair on Henry's leg, much like what Henry did to Show months before.^[131]

Show after winning the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania XXVIII

On December 18 at TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs, Big Show finally defeated Henry for the World Heavyweight Championship in a Chairs Match. Afterwards, Henry knocked Big Show out with a DDT onto a steel chair and Daniel Bryan immediately cashed his Money in the Bank contract on Big Show to win the title. This gave Show the shortest-ever World Heavyweight Championship reign, 45 seconds.^[132] Show challenged Bryan for his world title on the January 6, 2012 episode of SmackDown, but Bryan retained his title by disqualification when he goaded Mark Henry into attacking him.^[133] The following week on SmackDown, Show received a rematch for the title contested under no disqualification, no count-out rules. Bryan again retained his title as the rematch ended in a no contest after Show accidentally crashed into AJ (Bryan's storyline girlfriend) at ringside, injuring her.^[134] At the 2012 Royal Rumble event, Show faced Bryan and Henry in a triple threat steel cage match for the world title, but Bryan escaped the steel cage to retain his title.^[135] At the Elimination Chamber event, Show failed again to capture the World Heavyweight Championship after he was eliminated second by Cody Rhodes.^[136]

In the following weeks, Show began a feud with Rhodes after Rhodes highlighted Show's embarrassing moments in previous WrestleManias, often costing Show to lose matches in the process.^[137] At WrestleMania XXVIII, Big Show defeated Rhodes to win the Intercontinental Championship. With this, Big Show became the twenty-fourth wrestler to win the Triple Crown Championship and the thirteenth Grand Slam Champion in the WWE.^[138] Show then began highlighting embarrassing moments in Rhodes' career.^[139][140] After a four-week reign, Show lost the title back to Rhodes at Extreme Rules in a Tables match.^[141] Show received his rematch on the May 7 episode of Raw SuperShow, where he defeated Rhodes via countout after he walked out on the match.^[142] After a series of confrontations with General Manager John Laurinaitis, he was fired by Laurinaitis for making fun of his voice on the May 14 episode of Raw.^[143]

Six days later, Big Show returned on May 20 at Over the Limit, seemingly to help John Cena in his match against John Laurinaitis; instead, he knocked Cena out with a WMD and allowed Laurinaitis to win the match by pinfall, and turning heel in the process for the first time since April 2010.^[144] The following night on Raw, Big Show explained that his actions were of necessity to keep his job in the WWE, therefore resulting in Laurinaitis re-signing him to an "ironclad contract with a big fat bonus", also stating that nobody showed him any sympathy when he got fired.^[145] Over the next few weeks, he attacked Cena, Brodus Clay, Alex Riley, R-Truth, Santino Marella, Zack Ryder, and Kofi Kingston because of the terms of his contract. On the June 11 episode of Raw, he accidentally knocked out Vince McMahon after McMahon announced Laurinatis would be fired if Show lost to Cena at No Way Out in a steel cage. Show went on to lose that match and as per stipulation, Laurinaitis was fired.^[146] At Money in the Bank, Show faced Cena, Kane, Chris Jericho, and The Miz in the WWE Championship Money in the Bank ladder match, but was unsuccessful as the match was won by Cena.^[147] On July 23 at Raw 1000, Big Show attacked Cena during his WWE Championship match against CM Punk causing a disqualification.^[148][149] He continued the attack on Cena until The Rock made the save.^[150] The following week on Raw, a WWE Championship number one contenders match between Show and Cena ended in a no contest due to interference from Punk. Following this, both Show and Cena were entered in the championship match at SummerSlam by Raw General Manager AJ Lee^[151] At the event, however, Show would be unsuccessful in winning the championship as Punk would go on to retain the title.^[152]

Show returned on the September 24 episode of Raw, attacking Brodus Clay and Tensai during their match.^[153] Four days later on SmackDown, Big Show defeated Randy Orton to become the number one contender to the World Heavyweight Championship.^[154] Show received his title opportunity on October 28 at Hell in a Cell, where he defeated Sheamus to win the World Heavyweight Championship for the second time.^[155] On November 18 at Survivor Series, Show lost a title rematch to Sheamus via disqualification, and retaining the World Heavyweight Championship as a result. After the match, Sheamus attacked Show and repeatedly hit him with a steel chair.^[156] This led to a Chairs match on December 16 at TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs, where Big Show defeated Sheamus to retain the World Heavyweight Championship.^[157] On the December 24 episode of Raw, Show was defeated by Sheamus in a non-title lumberjack match.^[158] On the December 28 episode of SmackDown, Show defended his title against Alberto Del Rio, however, the match ended in a no contest after Sheamus interfered and attacked Show.^[159] Three days later on Raw, Show defended the World Heavyweight Championship against Del Rio's ring announcer Ricardo Rodriguez and defeated him via disqualification after Del Rio attacked Show from behind.^[160] On January 8, 2013, at the tapings of the January 11 episode of SmackDown, Show lost the World Heavyweight Championship to Del Rio in a Last Man Standing match, ending his reign at 72 days.^[161] Show received his rematch for the title in another Last Man Standing match on January 27 at the Royal Rumble, but was again defeated by Del Rio when Rodriguez used duct tape to stop Show from getting up.^[162] After Show repeatedly attacked Del Rio and Rodriguez, Del Rio defeated Show via submission on February 17 at Elimination Chamber to again retain his title.^[163]

On the March 1 episode of SmackDown, Big Show knocked out Roman Reigns of The Shield with the KO Punch after Reigns was shoved into him during an attack on Randy Orton and Sheamus.^[164] After the March 4 episode of Raw went off-air, Show was attacked by the Shield.^[165][166] Four days later on SmackDown, Show again assisted Sheamus and Orton in warding off The Shield, though he hit Sheamus with a KO Punch and was hit with an RKO by Orton in return.^[166] On the March 11 episode of Raw, Show defeated Shield member Seth Rollins via disqualification after the rest of The Shield interfered.^[167] Orton and Sheamus were then allowed to pick a third partner to face the Shield in a six-man tag team match at WrestleMania 29 and originally chose Ryback.^[168] However, on the March 18 episode of Raw, Ryback was booked in another match at the event, leaving the spot open. Later that night, Big Show saved the two from an attack by The Shield and was immediately recruited as their partner.^[169][170] On April 7 at WrestleMania 29, Show, Orton and Sheamus were defeated by The Shield, after which, Show knocked out both of his teammates.^[171] The following night on Raw, Orton and Sheamus faced off in a match to earn a match with Big Show, however, the match ended in a no contest after Show interfered.^[172] Show was then defeated by Orton and Sheamus in two handicap matches, first on the April 12 episode of SmackDown via count-out, and second on the April 15 episode of Raw via pinfall.^[173][174] On the April 19 episode of SmackDown, Show teamed up with old rival Mark Henry to defeat Orton and Sheamus in a tag team match, with Show pinning Orton for the win.^[175] The feud between Big Show and Orton led to an Extreme Rules match on May 19 at Extreme Rules, which Show lost. After Extreme Rules, Show has took hiatus from WWE television.^[176]

Storyline with The Authority (2013–2015)

After a three-month hiatus, Show made his return to WWE on August 11 at a house show in Oakland, California.^[177][178] Show made his return on the following night on the August 12 episode of Raw, and helping Mark Henry and Rob Van Dam from an attack by The Shield, and turning face in the process for the first time since May 2012.^[179] Four days later on SmackDown, Show, Henry, and Van Dam defeated the Shield in a six-man tag team match.^[180]

On the following episode of Raw, as a result of speaking out against COO Triple H, Show was placed into a three-on-one handicap tornado tag team match against The Shield, which Show lost.^[181] Additional punishment followed with Show being forced to sit ringside and watch his friends being attacked by the Shield and Randy Orton at the risk of being fired.^[182] Following this, The Authority (Triple H and Stephanie McMahon) claimed Show was broke,^[183] and in order to save his job, forced him to knock out his friends including Daniel Bryan, Dusty Rhodes, and The Miz.^{[184][185][186]} When Show attempted to revolt on the September 30 episode of Raw, he was almost arrested for threatening to knock out Triple H but Stephanie McMahon would come to his aid and insult him afterwards.^[187] At Battleground, Big Show interfered in the WWE title match between Bryan and Orton and knocked out both of them sending a message to Triple H and the Shield as well. During November 2013, Show started a feud with WWE Champion Orton, who was part of the Authority, but failed to win the title at Survivor Series.

At TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs, Show teamed with Rey Mysterio to unsuccessfully challenge Cody Rhodes and Goldust for the WWE Tag Team Championship in a four-way match, also involving RybAxel (Ryback and Curtis Axel), and The Real Americans (Antonio Cesaro and Jack Swagger). On the January 6 episode of Raw, Show confronted Brock Lesnar after Lesnar attacked Mark Henry. There was a short physical confrontation between the two, starting a feud which was settled at Royal Rumble where Show lost to Lesnar after being brutally assaulted with numerous steel chairs before the match started. Big Show participated in the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania XXX, being the last person eliminated by winner Cesaro. On July 26, 2014, Big Show made his return at a live event, defeating Cesaro.^[188]

He made his television return on the August 8 episode of SmackDown, teaming with Mark Henry to defeat RybAxel (Ryback and Curtis Axel). On the September 26 episode of Smackdown, Show started a feud with Rusev when he defeated Rusev by disqualification.^[189] At Hell in a Cell, he was defeated by Rusev via submission. The following night on Raw, Henry turned on Show and attacked him, during their match with the WWE Tag Team Champions Gold and Stardust.^[190] On the November 3 episode of Raw, he defeated Henry via disqualification when he was slammed onto the steel steps by Henry.^[191]

Big Show with the André the Giant Memorial Trophy

At Survivor Series, as part of Team Cena, Big Show turned on and knocking out Cena, causing his elimination. However, Show shook hands with his former rival Triple H, and left, intentionally getting himself counted out, and turning heel in the process for the first time since August 2013. The following night on the November 24 episode of Raw, Big Show explained his actions, stating he has a family to care for and the Authority had created issues for him in the past, thus he had to make that tough decision. He was interrupted by Erick Rowan who referred to him as a bully, and igniting a feud for turning his back on the team. Big Show faced Rowan in a first ever Steel Stairs match at Tables, Ladders, and Chairs pay-per-view, which he won. Later in the event, Show would interfere in the closing match to attack John Cena during the match with helping The Authority member Seth Rollins, before Show and Rollins were attacked by Roman Reigns, leading to Cena winning the match.^[192] This started a feud between Show and Reigns, which resulted in Reigns defeating Show multiple times by count-out and disqualification. On January 25, 2015, at the Royal Rumble, Big Show entered the Rumble match at #29, eliminating five superstars before being eliminated by Reigns who would win the match. At Fastlane, The Authority (Big Show, Seth Rollins and Kane) defeated Dolph Ziggler, Erick Rowan and Ryback when Kane pinned Ziggler. Big Show won the 2nd Annual André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 31.^[193] Show would later reignite his feud with Roman Reigns after attacking him during his triple threat match against Ryback and Randy Orton on the April 6th episode of Raw and chokeslamming him on a taxi cab on the April 12th episode of Raw.^[194] However, Show would lose to Reigns in a Last Man Standing match at Extreme Rules.^[195]

Championship pursuits (2015–present)

After a brief hiatus, Show returned on the June 1 episode of Raw, he would knock out The Miz and confront Intercontinental Champion Ryback, beginning a feud with him for the title.^[196] During this time, Big Show would quietly distance himself from The Authority, although still remaining loyal to the group. Big Show would challenge Ryback for the title at Money in the Bank, winning the match by disqualification after The Miz would interfere and attack Show. A triple threat match for the title would be announced for Battleground, but due to Ryback suffering a knee injury at the time, the match would be rescheduled for SummerSlam, in which Ryback retained the title. Big show received another championship match against Ryback on August 31, where he lost following a distraction from the Miz, ending the feud. On October 3 at Live from Madison Square Garden, Big Show would be defeated by Brock Lesnar in the co-main event of the evening. On the November 9 episode of Raw, Big Show would enter the 16-man tournament to crown the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion, where he would lose to Roman Reigns in the first round.^[197]

On the January 18, 2016 episode of Raw, Big Show defeated Heath Slater and knocked out The Social Outcasts, before interacting with the fans and turning face in the process for the first time since November 2014. At Royal Rumble, Big Show entered the Royal Rumble match at #15 and eliminated Ryback and Titus O'Neil before being eliminated by Braun Strowman. On the January 28 episode of SmackDown, Big Show cemented his face turn by helping Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose, and Chris Jericho fend off all the members of The Wyatt Family, whom he, Kane and Ryback defeated at Fastlane. At Wrestlemania 32, Big Show entered the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal and had a confrontation with old enemy, Shaquille O'Neal, Show was subsequently eliminated by multiple participants.

Other media

Wight posing with a fan in 1999

Big Show has been featured in infomercials for Stacker 2 with former NASCAR drivers Kenny Wallace and Scott Wimmer, NASCAR Xfinity Series driver Elliott Sadler, retired crew chief turned Fox Sports broadcaster Jeff Hammond, and 2002, 2005, and 2011 Sprint Cup Champion Tony Stewart. In addition, Wight made a cameo appearance on the "Thong Song" remix music video by Sisqó and Foxy Brown. Wight was featured on the game show Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?, winning $15,000 for his chosen charity, United Service Organizations. He is the only contestant to appear on two versions of the game show in two different countries.

On March 31, 2012, Big Show won the first ever Slime Wrestling World Championship at the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, defeating The Miz after throwing him into a tub of slime. Big Show also appeared in a Vine with Cameron Dallas, which generated over 12 million loops.^[198]

Big Show has appeared in each of the Smackdown vs. Raw video games except Smackdown vs. Raw 2008; his character has changed in appearance beginning at WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2010, the basis of this change was that the developers for THQ {Later 2k Sports} focused on his physical frame to develop him as a Super Heavyweight. Big Show has been involved in most of the 2k Showcases and historical stories starting with WWE '13. Big Show has been used as a duplicate in WWE '13, WWE 2K15 & 2K16, also as a triplicate in WWE 2K14 as Big Show, Big Show (Retro) & The Giant (whose picture is credited as Paul Wight in WWE 2K16). Big Show has appeared on the Stone Cold Podcast on the WWE Network.

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1996	Reggie's Prayer	Mr. Portola
1996	Jingle All The Way	Huge Santa
1998	McCinsey's Island	Little Snow Flake
1998	The Waterboy	Captain Insano
2006	Little Hercules in 3-D	Marduk
2010	MacGruber	Brick Hughes
2010	Knucklehead	Walter Krunk
2015	Vendetta	Victor Abbott
2016	Countdown	Big Show	Uncredited cameo

Television appearances

• Thunder in Paradise (1994)
• Figure It Out (1998)
• Cousin Skeeter (March 18, 1999) in episode "Skeeter's Suplex"
• Shasta McNasty (October 5, 1999) in the pilot episode (as himself, wearing a pizza delivery guy's uniform)
• Sisqó's "Thong Song" remix music video (2000)
• The Cindy Margolis Show (September 8, 2000)
• The Weakest Link (November 12, 2001) – WWF Edition (First one voted off 6 votes)
• Saturday Night Live (March 18, 2000)
• TV total (April 29, 2002)
• One on One (November 25, 2002) in episode "Is It Safe?" as "Miles"
• Player$ (2004) in episode "Barenaked Players"
• MADtv (March 13, 2004)
• Star Trek: Enterprise (October 29, 2004) in episode "Borderland" as "Orion Slave Trader #1"
• Hogan Knows Best (2004–2005, 2007)
• Late Night with Kevin (September 27, 2005)
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien (2008, 2009)
• Attack of the Show! (October 2, 2008)
• VH1 Top 20 Countdown (2009)
• Are You Smarter than A Fifth Grader? (Australian version) (August 10/17, 2009)
• 5th Grader (U.S. syndicated version) (2009)
• The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien (August 26, 2009)
• Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (April 11, 2010)
• Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (June 16, 2010)
• Royal Pains Season 2, Episode 3 "Keeping the Faith" (June 17, 2010)
• Supah Ninjas "Two Ton Harley" in"Enter the Dojo" (April 23, 2011, April 6, 2013)
• 2011 Kids Choice Awards as himself/stunt driver
• Burn Notice' (2011) as "Griffin Black"^[199]
• The 2011 American Country Awards (December 5, 2011)
• 2012 Kids Choice Awards as himself/Wrestler against The Miz (March 31, 2012)
• Psych as Bigfoot impersonator Ed Dixon (2013)
• Lip Sync Battle (January 14, 2016)

Personal life

Like André the Giant, Wight used to have acromegaly, a disease of the endocrine system.^[200] By the age of twelve, Wight was 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) tall, weighed 220 lb (100 kg), and had chest hair. In 1991, as a member of the Wichita State University basketball team at age nineteen, Wight was listed at 7 ft 1 in (2.16 m).^[201] He underwent successful surgery in the early 1990s on his pituitary gland, which halted the progress of this condition. His shoe size is 22 5E,^[202] his ring size is 22, and his chest is 64 inches (1,600 mm) in circumference. In 2005, Wight leased a bus and hired a bus driver because of the practical problems his size presents to air travel and car rental.^[203][204]

Wight played basketball and American football in high school at Wyman King Academy in Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina. He was a standout center for the basketball team and a tight end for the football team. He quit football after his freshman year, because of disputes with the coach. He continued to support the team by joining the cheerleading squad as a sophomore, partly from spite. He later called it "the greatest experience of my life... everybody else was riding a bus with sweaty equipment and I'm in a van with seven cheerleaders who are all learning about life". The van (a Ford Econoline) was driven by "a mom who was deaf in her right ear and chain-smoked".^[12]

While at Wichita State University, Wight played basketball. Prior to attending Wichita State University, Wight attended Northern Oklahoma Junior College in Tonkawa, OK, competing on the basketball team. At Northern Oklahoma, his averages of 14 points and 6.5 rebounds earned him all-conference honors and helped the team win the Western Division of the Oklahoma Bi-State Conference.^[205] Wight also attended Southern Illinois University Edwardsville from 1992 to 1993, was a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II Cougars basketball team, and is a member of the Xi Beta Chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville. During his one year at SIUE, Wight scored a total of thirty-nine points for the Cougars in limited action.^[206]

Wight married his first wife, Melissa Ann Piavis, on February 14, 1997. They separated in 2000 and their divorce was finalized on February 6, 2002. Together, they have a daughter. On February 11, 2002, he married his second wife, Bess Katramados. Together they have two children.^[3]

In December 1998, Wight was arrested and detained for allegedly exposing himself to a hotel clerk in Memphis, Tennessee. Wight denied the incident, and was later released due to a lack of evidence.^[207]

In March 1999, Wight was charged with assault by Robert Sawyer, who alleged that Wight had broken his jaw during the summer of 1998 in the course of an altercation at Marriott Hotels & Resorts in Uniondale, New York. Wight claimed that Sawyer had verbally abused, threatened, and shoved him, and that he had responded by punching Sawyer. After three days, Judge Thomas Feinman delivered a verdict of not guilty.^{[208][209][210]}

In wrestling

Big Show chokeslamming Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose

Big Show performing the WMD on Randy Orton

Big Show performing an open-handed chop to Alberto Del Rio in the corner

• Finishing moves
  • Chokeslam^[6]
  • Cobra clutch backbreaker followed by a spin-out cobra clutch slam^[211][212] – 2006, 2008
  • Colossal Clutch^[6] (Camel clutch)^[213] – 2009–2012
  • F500 (Fireman's carry facebuster)^[214][215] – 2004; Parodied from Brock Lesnar
  • Final Cut^[2] (Spinning headlock elbow drop)^[3] – 2001–2002;2012-2013 used rarely as a signature move thereafter
  • KO Punch^[6] / WMD (Weapon Of Mass Destruction)^[216] ((Right-handed knockout hook) – 2008–present
  • Showstopper^[217] (Inverted leg drop bulldog)^[218] – 2001–2002 2006; used rarely as a signature move thereafter
• Signature moves
  • Abdominal stretch^[219]
  • Back kick, as a counter to an oncoming opponent^[220]
  • Bearhug^[221]
  • Big boot^[2][219]
  • Corner slingshot splash^[222]
  • Elbow drop,^[2] sometimes from the second rope^[223]
  • Fallaway powerbomb^[2]
  • Headbutt^[224]
  • Military press slam^[2]
  • Open-handed chop to a cornered opponent's chest, with theatrics^[224]
  • Running senton^[223]
  • Sidewalk slam^[3]
  • Spear^[225]
  • Vertical suplex^[2]
• Managers
  • The Taskmaster^[226]
  • Jimmy Hart^[227]
  • Shane McMahon^[226]
  • Paul Bearer^[226]
  • Paul Heyman^[226]
  • Joy Giovanni^[226]
  • Mr. McMahon^[226]
  • John Laurinaitis^[226]
• Nicknames
  • "The Big Nasty Bastard"^[2]
  • "The World's Largest Athlete"^[6]
  • "Big Banter"^[6]
  • "The Great"
  • "The Greatest Giant of All Time^[6]
  • "The Showster"^[2]
• Entrance themes
  • "Rockhouse" by Frank Shelley^[228] (WCW; used while a part of the New World Order)
  • "Big"^[228] by Jim Johnston^[229] (WWF/E; April 1999 – May 29, 2006)
  • "Big (Remix)" by Mack 10, K Mac, Boo Kapone, and MC Eiht^[230] (WWF; May 2000)
  • "Crank It Up" by Brand New Sin^[229] (WWE; June 7, 2006 – present)
  • "Crank the Walls Down" by Maylene and the Sons of Disaster^[229] (WWE; July 31, 2009 – January 4, 2010; used while teaming with Chris Jericho)

Championships and accomplishments

Big Show is a two-time World Heavyweight Champion

Big Show is a one time Intercontinental Champion

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • Rookie of the Year (1996)^[231]
  • Wrestler of the Year (1996)^[231]
  • PWI ranked him 2 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the year in the PWI 500 in 1996^[232]
  • PWI ranked him #137 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003
• World Championship Wrestling
  • WCW World Heavyweight Championship (2 times)^[233]
  • WCW World Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Lex Luger (1), Sting (1), and Scott Hall (1)^[234]
  • King of Cable (1996)^[235]
  • World War 3 (1996)
• World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment / WWE
  • WWF/E Championship (2 times)^[236][237]
  • World Heavyweight Championship (2 times)^[238][239]
  • ECW World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[71]
  • WWE Intercontinental Championship (1 time)^[240]
  • WWF Hardcore Championship (3 times)^[241]
  • WWE United States Championship (1 time)^[242]
  • World Tag Team Championship (5 times) – with The Undertaker (2), Kane (1), Chris Jericho (1) and The Miz (1)
  • WWE Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Chris Jericho (1), The Miz (1) and Kane (1)^[243]
  • Andre the Giant Memorial Trophy (2015)
  • Bragging Rights Trophy (2010) – as a member of Team SmackDown (with Rey Mysterio, Alberto Del Rio, Jack Swagger, Edge, Tyler Reks, and Kofi Kingston)
  • 24th Triple Crown Champion
  • Thirteenth Grand Slam Champion
  • Slammy Awards (5 times)
    • Tag Team of the Year (2009) – with Chris Jericho^[244]
    • Holy $#!+ Move of the Year (2011) – with Mark Henry^[245]
    • Betrayal of the Year (2012) – Knocking out John Cena at Over the Limit
    • "This is Awesome" Moment of the Year (2013) – Knocking out Triple H on Raw
    • Match of the Year (2014) – Team Cena vs. Team Authority at Survivor Series
• Wrestling Observer Newsletter
  • Most Embarrassing Wrestler (2002)^[246]
  • Rookie of the Year (1996)^[247]
  • Worst Feud of the Year (1999) vs. The Big Boss Man^[248]
  • Worst Feud of the Year (2013) vs. The Authority^[248]
  • Worst Wrestler (2001, 2002)^[249]

Luchas de Apuestas record

Winner (wager)	Loser (wager)	Location	Event	Date	Notes
Dolph Ziggler, Big Show, Erick Rowan, Ryback (contracts), and John Cena	Seth Rollins, Kane, Mark Henry, Rusev, and Luke Harper (role of authority[Note 1])	St. Louis Missouri	Survivor Series	November 23, 2014

Notes

1. Triple H and Stephanie McMahon's role as The Authority.

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Bibliography

• Meltzer, Dave (January 27, 2014). "Jan 27 2014 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: 2013 Annual awards issue, best in the world in numerous categories, plus all the news in pro-wrestling and MMA over the past week and more". Wrestling Observer Newsletter (Campbell, California). ISSN 1083-9593.

External links

• Big Show's profile on WWE.com
• Big Show on Facebook
• Big Show on Twitter
• Paul Wight at the Internet Movie Database