Paul Wight parted ways with WWE last year, and shortly after he joined All Elite Wrestling where he currently works as an announcer. Wight spent years competing in the ring as The Big Show, and he also worked as The Giant in WCW, but nowadays he’s simply using his real name.
The former WWE Champion recently spoke to Chris Van Vliet about the origin of The Big Show name, and he noted that he wasn’t exactly thrilled when Vince McMahon revealed the name to him.
“That was Vince. (…) When I first came into WWE I was Paul Wight, you know? And I just don’t think Vince liked the spelling of my name or liked my name. I mean, what would Vince know about marketing, you know what I mean? But he walked by me one day and he goes ‘So how’s the Big Show today?’ I go ‘I’m good but who the hell is The Big Show?’ He goes ‘You! You can walk, you can talk, you’re an athlete. You’re The Big Show.’”
“He walked off and I thought, ‘Oh dear God, I hope that is not my wrestling name.’ And it was. But I do think back then it was the Attitude [Era], it was the Monday Night Wars. ‘The Big Show,’ also TBS. So you know, there’s a lot that went into it. And that’s okay. I mean, over the years, just like anything, if you do it long enough, it’s all in what you do and you can make it your own. Just as, as uncomfortable as it was to be known as The Big Show for so many years, and I’m grateful for that opportunity.”
H/T 411Mania.com
