In the outsized world of professional wrestling, The Big Show stands as a true giant. During his decades-long career, he’s won championships and battled everyone from Brock Lesnar to Floyd Mayweather. While he’s planning on hanging up the boots after one last Wrestlemania fight with Shaquille O’Neal, the seven-foot behemoth will take on old foe John Cena during WWE’s visit to Mercedes-Benz Arena on September 10. The big man relives his memorable career.
I was working at a karaoke company in Chicago and got to know Danny Bonaduce, the red-headed guy in The Partridge Family. He set up a charity game, us versus Hulk Hogan and Mr. T.
I met Hulk and he said, ‘You have a big dollar sign on your forehead, brother.’ I said, ‘Well please show it to me because I is broke.’
I was a fan trying to get into wrestling anyway, but it was kind of like the Mafia to get in back then. You had to know someone, and Hulk got me in.
I was a 23-year-old kid and he was my first match. Now that I’m a 20-year veteran, I think he was insane for taking that chance. But he had a lot of faith in me and I’m grateful. It changed my life.
I was scared to death [during] that first match. If you had put a piece of coal up my butt, it would’ve turned into a diamond. Randy Savage gave me two beers to calm me down and I was getting gassy.
Hulk was great. I got into the ring and he talked me through it. At one point, I forgot what to do. He grabbed my hand and went, “No, brother, don’t choke me.” I was lost for 0.2 seconds, which is an eternity in the ring.
I had to work hard in wrestling to learn how to be genuine. A lot of people try to be a character, but the guys we enjoy talking the most, like CM Punk and Seth Rollins, incorporate a lot of their own personalities. Once you learn how to be comfortable in your own skin, it’s easier.
Fighting Brock Lesnar was not stressful. It was challenging and exciting because you know there’s potential for a great match. That’s the butterfly factor. You know this is going to be memorable and might get a ‘Holy crap’ or ‘This is awesome’ chant. That’s in the back of your mind.
It’s easier for me to be a heel [wrestling term for bad guy] because I can tell the David-Goliath story. That’s a story that resonates with all of us and I like being part of that, even though I’m the one who’s the monster.
Whatever WWE needed me to do, I’ve been able to. I’m proud of the fact that [WWE owner] Vince McMahon knows he can look me in the face, and when he asks me to do something, he can depend on me. I’m not a general. I’m a soldier. You give me orders and I’m going to get it done.
He made me play 'Baby New Year.' He put a fricking diaper and a New Year’s hat on me and made me dance. I told Vince, “This isn’t funny, it’s horrifying – 470 pounds in a diaper.” He started laughing. He probably made a bet with somebody that I would do it, and I did.
I absolutely want to pursue acting, but auditions are brutal for me. I can talk in front of 100,000 people while wearing spandex and be fine, but auditions are nerve-wracking.
I’m reading for a lot of parts that do have some guts to them. I might have a big project in November but there’s a saying “As soon as the check cashes, you can say for sure.” So we’ll see.
Sep 10, 7pm, RMB180-1,380. Mercedes-Benz Arena.
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