10 Things Fans Forget About The Giant In WCW

The Giant, (Paul Wight), more famously known now as "The Big Show" in WWE, burst onto the scene in 1995 introduced as the son of Andre the Giant, as it truly looked like the second coming of a legend. Through his four-year tenure in WCW from 1995-1999, he reached World Title status dramatically and was quickly inserted into the main event, never leaving the upper rungs of the promotion.

Whether it was battling Hogan, and being part of the Dungeon of Doom to joining the nWo or facing them for WCW, to tag-teaming and demolishing all comers in Battle Royals his imposing size and presence made him a truly distinctive character that stood out in a "gigantic" sense.

10 His Introduction To WCW

The Giant was introduced to the world of mainstream wrestling through Hulk Hogan by a media friend at a promotional basketball game for WCW. Won over by his personality, Hogan encouraged him to show up at a Nitro taping, where he first met Eric Bischoff.

Paul Wight was given the privilege of being invited into the locker room where he met some of the Horsemen including his childhood hero Arn Anderson along with Ric Flair and Paul Orndorff. WCW offered him a contract, as he made quite the impression, after only wrestling one match in the WWA. Hogan speaking up for him and his "unique look" were the key factors.

9 He Technically Won The World Title In His First-Ever Match

Wight debuted as part of the Dungeon of Doom Stable at Slamboree 1995, billed as Andre the Giant's son, this link was silently dropped and used for the Hogan connection, to lure old fans in for a next-generation battle. Halloween Havoc 1995 was his first match and it was for the World Heavyweight Title against Hogan.

After some "monster truck sumo madness", then falling off the roof of the stadium (or was he pushed by Hogan?), The Giant walked to the ring without explanation. Hogan’s manager Jimmy Hart, turned heel on Hulk, intentionally getting him disqualified. The Yeti emerges crushes Hogan in a double bear hug with The Giant, then Lex Luger racks Hogan turning heel also, to destroy Hulkamania for good.

8 His First Title Defence Was A New WCW Record

Long before WWE Taboo Tuesday, an interactive episode of Nitro went down with fan voting via telephone and different locker room colors to pick the main event of the evening. Nitro opened and Cobra made his way to the ring looking like a cross between the Truth Commission and a villainous action figure with combat beret or Rolento from Final Fight.

It was straight into a chokeslam for the win in 16 seconds for a new WCW record according to Heenan. Hart revealed he had the power of attorney for Hogan, writing into the contract the title could be lost via disqualification. At the end of the episode, WCW declared a new winner would be crowned by the champion at the first-ever World War 3 Battle Royal.

7 His Second World Title Reign Started Against Flair

The Giant won his second and final World Title title against another legend Ric Flair in April of 1996 on Nitro, an early example of a world title change during the Monday Night Wars. He was dominant facing all comers from Sting, Lex Luger, Arn Anderson Ice train, Scott Norton, Scott Steiner, John Tenta, Greg Valentine, Power Warrior, Brian Knobbs, Sgt Craig Pittman, and Kensuke Sasaki plus others in a freight train of opponents.

It was a four-month reign lasting until August at Hog Wild 1996, his position was solidified in the main event, before the nWo tidal wave. He was eventually dethroned by a now heel Hogan, a month after the group's inception, being hit by the belt while the referee was distracted by The Outsiders.

6 He Joined The NWO Because Of Greed And Hogan

Just over three weeks later The Giant would join the nWo, in the first major defection from WCW to become its fifth member. He was turned by cold hard cash with Ted Dibiase backing the group plus the powerful influence and corruption of Hulk Hogan combined.

The Giant also became the first official member to be kicked out of the group (Nasty Boys excluded) after he demanded a title shot from Hulk Hogan by winning the Battle Royal at World War 3 1996. He eventually challenged Hogan for the title at the inaugural Souled Out 1997 PPV but it ended in no contest.

5 The World War 3 Battle Royals

The Giant had great form in WCW's three-ring version of the Royal Rumble, with 60 participants in “the most dangerous match in all of wrestling.” He was eliminated late along with Sting and Lex Luger by Hogan but pulled Hulk under the ropes to make it look like he was ejected to the referees.

The next year he won, eliminating Lex Luger and Kevin Nash after the numbers game defeated WCW 4-1: Hall, Nash, Syxx, and The Giant against Luger. In 1997 he got to the last four, with DDP Hogan and Hall, where he was eliminated by a fake Sting who was Nash. In 1998 he was in the last six and was only eliminated by a group of wrestlers orchestrated by his nemesis, Nash.

4 The Real Reason His Match With Nash Was Postponed

The Giant’s match with Kevin Nash at Starrcade 1997 was heavily promoted between the two biggest men in WCW. Many fans speculated that Nash no-showed intentionally, not wanting to lose, or missed his flight on purpose. The contest did happen at Souled Out 98 where The Giant famously injured his neck in a botched Jackknife Powerbomb.

It was revealed recently that Nash was in severe medical distress believing he was suffering from a suspected heart attack on Eric Bischoff’s 83 weeks podcast. After a workout at the gym, Nash sent himself to the hospital the next morning. The heavy leg workout produced an identical enzyme that would cause these side effects.

3 He Had Some Great Tag Team Partners

The Giant amassed an impressive hall of tag team titles in the promotion with Sting plus Lex Luger on the side of WCW, and Scott Hall back during his time back with the nWo Holywood faction. Rotating through different partners with each reign. He had two as a face and two technically as a heel.

In an unusual situation, he was now a heel and Sting a face, this team had won the titles at Slamboree 98 and could not cooperate as it was a clash of nWo Wolfpac and nWo Hollywood. So a match was set up at Great American Bash 98 for sole ownership of the titles. The Giant lost and Sting was able to choose a new partner, Kevin Nash.

2 He Was Jackhammered By Goldberg

In an impressive feat of strength, Heavyweight Champion Bill Goldberg faced The Giant in November 1998 on Nitro and jackhammered him. He challenged Goldberg earlier in the evening, unhappy that he lost at WW3 being targeted by Nash, losing his opportunity of the Starrcade main event.

This was a short contest clocking in at five minutes with The Giant actually controlling with a stiff boot to the face and a chokeslam but the invincible Goldberg kicked out. The "Goldberg Equation" kicked in with a spear, then The Giant was hoisted up for a massive pop to become victim number 163 of the streak.

1 The True Story Of Why He Left WCW

The Giant's last match in WCW was a "loser leaves town match" against Kevin Nash, his nemesis appropriately, after Hogan stated: "there was only room for one Giant in the nWo" after the reunification of both nWo factions in early 1999. The words "the Titanic just sank" were used on his exit by Bischoff, as he was tasered by Hall and spray painted by Steiner. In reality, Paul Wight was unhappy with his salary, having asked Bischoff for a raise, displeased in not being paid the equivalent of the other WCW main eventers.

At the beginning of his career, Wight had contacted WWE and sent a tape of his work to Stamford but Pat Patterson believed it was of the wrestler Kurrgan. Vince McMahon was legitimately furious after finding out signing Wight to a ten-year contract locking him in for the next decade. The Giant was the first major defection to the company going the other way to WWE as the tide was now turning in the war.