According to Paul Wight — former WWE Superstar and current personality in AEW — he didn’t come up with “The Big Show” name, rather, it was Vince McMahon. Not just that, but former “The Giant” would also say the name took some time to get used to.
While with World Wrestling Entertainment, Wight accomplished everything that you can in the company. Before he left in 2021, the “World’s Largest Athlete” would have four world championship reigns, eight tag team championship runs and a stint as the ECW Championship. Not just that, but he’s only a handful of professional wrestlers who have held each the Intercontinental, United States and Hardcore Championships.
Vince McMahon Was The Creator Of “The Big Show”
Making an appearance on “Insight” for an interview with Chris Van Vliet, Paul Wight spoke about how he got the ring-name of The Big Show, and that former WWE CEO and Chairman Vince McMahon’s persistence is how the name stuck.
“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.’”
Wight continued about Vince McMahon:
“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.”