One of the best and worst things that can happen to a wrestler is to have a background that elevates them into the stratosphere.
While it’s a great way for them to get over and become an instant hit, it also has a hue downside as they may never live up to the hype and will have a gimmick change before too long.
Big Show’s WCW Debut Billing Remains One of the More Memorable Bookings
That’s what happened with Paul Wight when he debuted in WCW. He was booked as Andre the Giant’s son and he was booked near perfectly as an adversary for WCW World Heavy Weight Champion Hulk Hogan.
While his role as The Giant in WCW and then the Big Show in WWE has made him a legend, it was his beginning that fans have since questioned as he defeated Hogan and became the WCW World Heavyweight Champion in his first match.
It was unheard of and it made him an instant star, and when he appeared on Broken Skulls Sessions with Steve Austin, he explained his start was due largely to Hulk Hogan.
Getting his start
While everything looked great at the start, the pressure of being billed as Andre the Giant’s son came with its own set of problems.
“It was awkward. It was very awkward because Hogan and Bischoff came up with this idea and that’s why Hogan latched onto me right away. That’s why I got a career and opportunity. I’m thankful that he noticed me because, you know, back then, just going to a wrestling school or signing up on the internet wasn’t an option.
“You had to know somebody to get trained! It was a very select business to get into back then and it wasn’t quite as ‘open door policy’ as it is now. And, the fact that Hulk took the time and set this up, and here I’m making… in WCW, even compared to a lot of guys, I’m still making more money than my father ever made. Do you know what I mean? So I’m happy to be here.”
He also talked about how Andre inspired his career in other ways, especially how to interact with fans.
“I’ve learned to handle things differently. I engage people. I make them laugh. André went the other way with it. André was kind of bitter. He didn’t want to sign autographs. He didn’t want to deal with people. He didn’t want to deal with the attention.
“There are two ways you can deal with that. Some days I don’t want to deal with people, so I stay home. I know I’m going to be a grumpy ass, so I stay home. I don’t want people to have a bad day by interacting with us.“
Wight’s perspective is probably one of the reasons he’s remained a fan favorite in the age of chat rooms, text messaging, and video phones.
In a time when everything we do is or can be recorded, his approach has helped to protect him and it’s been a fun ride.
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