Paul Wight Health Update: What Happened to Paul Wight?
by Aishwarya R
Updated Aug 24, 2023
Who is Paul Wight?
Paul Wight is an American professional wrestler and actor. He is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) as an in-ring performer and has also worked as a commentator for AEW's web television show, AEW Dark: Elevation, under his real name, Paul Wight. Throughout his wrestling career, he's been known by several ring names, including "The Giant" during his tenure with World Championship Wrestling (WCW) from 1995 to 1999 and "(The) Big Show" during his time with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, later WWE) from 1999 to 2021.
Before entering the world of professional wrestling, Paul Wight played college basketball at Wichita State University before transferring to other schools. He began his wrestling career in 1994 and quickly rose to prominence due to his enormous size. Paul Wight has an impressive wrestling record, having held a total of 23 championships throughout his career.
This includes being a seven-time world champion, having won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship twice, the WWF/WWE Championship twice, WWE's World Heavyweight Championship twice, and the ECW World Heavyweight Championship once, making him the only wrestler to have won all four titles. He's also an 11-time world tag team champion, holding the WWF/World, WWE, and WCW World Tag Team Championships multiple times with various partners.
Additionally, he has won the Intercontinental, United States, and Hardcore championships, earning him the distinction of being the 24th Triple Crown and 12th Grand Slam winner in WWE history. Beyond his wrestling career, Paul Wight has ventured into acting, with roles in feature films such as "Jingle All the Way" and "The Waterboy," as well as appearances in television series like "Star Trek: Enterprise" and USA Network's "Royal Pains," "Psych," and "Burn Notice."
He also had lead roles in the WWE Studios comedy film "Knucklehead" and the Netflix sitcom "The Big Show Show." Paul Wight has had a significant impact on the world of professional wrestling and entertainment both in and out of the ring.
Paul Wight Health Update
In August 2023, Paul Wight provided an update on his health after undergoing knee surgery in 2022. He mentioned that the recovery process had required him to spend several months in a wheelchair, but he was now experiencing significant improvement. Wight acknowledged that rehabilitating his knee was more challenging than his previous hip surgeries. He described the process as intensive and the pain as more severe.
However, he was pleased to announce that he had regained a full range of motion in his knee. In fact, he mentioned that his fixed knee had better flexibility than his knee before the surgery, with 136 degrees of flexion and zero degrees of straightening, which is considered above average. This development marked a significant improvement in his mobility, which he hadn't experienced in 14 years.
Regarding his wrestling career in AEW, Wight had only competed in four matches since joining the promotion, with his last match taking place in March 2022. When asked about the possibility of him returning to the ring for AEW All In, he expressed confidence in his comeback. While he couldn't provide a definitive confirmation due to wrestling terminology ("stooge" refers to someone who reveals insider information), he hinted strongly that he would likely be at Wembley for the event. Furthermore, Wight suggested that his alter ego, Captain Insano, might make an appearance at Wembley Stadium, indicating a high probability of his participation in the event.
What Happened to Paul Wight?
In August 2022, Paul Wight underwent a procedure due to a crushed knee bone that was causing bleeding in his shin. This required the implantation of a medical device. Following the procedure, Wight began an extensive rehabilitation process to recover from the injury and regain his strength.
Paul Wight's signing with AEW in 2021 was a significant move in the world of professional wrestling. Formerly known as The Big Show during his tenure in WWE, his arrival in AEW garnered considerable attention and excitement among wrestling fans. Despite his storied career in WWE, Wight took on a primarily commentary role in AEW programming.
However, he did make some wrestling appearances in AEW, most notably facing Q.T. Marshall at All Out 2021. He also had a few matches on AEW Dark: Elevation. Unfortunately, his presence on AEW programming became less frequent due to a knee injury he sustained. This injury required him to take time off to address and undergo rehabilitation, as mentioned in his interview where he expressed his focus on getting stronger before returning to the ring.
Paul Wight Early Life
Paul Wight was born on February 8, 1972, in Aiken, South Carolina. His life was marked by a medical condition called acromegaly, which is a disorder of the endocrine system that leads to accelerated growth. By the age of twelve, he already stood at an impressive height of 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 meters), weighed 220 pounds (100 kilograms), and even had chest hair. During his time as a member of the Wichita State University basketball team at the age of 19 in 1991, he was officially listed at a towering 7 feet 1 inch (2.16 meters).
To address his acromegaly and its effects on his growth, Paul Wight underwent successful surgery in the early 1990s, specifically on his pituitary gland, which halted his further growth. Despite this, he still retained some remarkable physical characteristics. His shoe size was 22 5E, his ring size was 22, and his chest measured an astonishing 64 inches (1,600 millimeters) in circumference.
Due to his immense size, Paul Wight faced practical challenges when it came to air travel and car rental. In 2005, he leased a bus and hired a dedicated bus driver to help overcome these logistical issues.
In his earlier years, Wight also displayed athletic prowess. He played basketball and American football in high school at Wyman King Academy in Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina. He excelled as a center in basketball and as a tight end in football. However, he quit football after his freshman year due to disputes with the coach. In a somewhat unconventional move, he joined the cheerleading squad as a sophomore, partially out of spite. He later described this experience as "the greatest experience of my life," as he got to travel with seven cheerleaders in a van driven by a mother who was deaf in her right ear and chain-smoked.
During his college years, Paul Wight played basketball at Wichita State University. Prior to that, he attended Northern Oklahoma Junior College in Tonkawa, Oklahoma, where his impressive basketball performance earned him all-conference honors, helping his team win the Western Division of the Oklahoma Bi-State Conference. He also briefly attended Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) from 1992 to 1993, where he was a member of the NCAA Division II Cougars basketball team. Additionally, he was part of the Xi Beta chapter of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity at SIUE. Despite limited playing time at SIUE, he managed to score 39 points for the Cougars during his one-year stint with the team.
Paul Wight Marital Life
Paul Wight, widely known as The Big Show in the wrestling world, has had two marriages and has three children. Paul Wight's first wife is Melissa Ann Piavis. They have one child together, a daughter named Cierra Wight, who was born on November 28, 1998. Cierra resides with her father, Paul, and her stepmother, Bess Katramados. She completed her education at a non-private school in Florida.
While she has not pursued a career in professional wrestling like her father, Cierra occasionally appears on Big Show's social media accounts and has been seen accompanying him on various occasions. Paul Wight has expressed his love and pride for his daughter in interviews
Bess Katramados is Paul Wight's current wife. They got married in 2002 after Big Show's separation from his previous spouse, Melissa Ann Piavis. Together, Paul and Bess have two children: Jett Wight and Cash Wight. Jett Wight, the son of Paul Wight and Bess Katramados, was born on June 19, 2007. As of the latest information, he is sixteen years old.
Cash Wight is the younger child of Paul Wight and Bess Katramados. He was born on December 8, 2010, and is currently thirteen years old. Paul Wight's family life has evolved over the years, and he appears to be a proud and loving father to his three children from his two marriages.
Paul Wight Net Worth
Paul Wight, known in the wrestling world as The Big Show, has had multiple sources of income throughout his career. Wight's primary source of income has been his career as a professional wrestler. He has worked for major wrestling promotions like WWE (formerly WWF) and WCW, and more recently, AEW (All Elite Wrestling). Wrestlers typically earn money through contract salaries, appearance fees, and a portion of merchandise sales.
Paul Wight has ventured into acting and has appeared in various films and television series. While acting may not be his primary source of income, it has provided him with additional earnings.
Name
Paul Wight
Net Worth
$16 Million
Profession
Professional Wrester and Actor
Source of income
Through his career
Paul Wight Net Worth
Paul Wight Health Update - FAQs
Paul Wight underwent knee surgery in 2022 due to a crushed knee bone that caused bleeding in his shin. His recent health update relates to his recovery from this surgery.
After his knee surgery in 2022, Paul Wight spent several months in a wheelchair as part of his rehabilitation process.
Paul Wight's recent health update indicates that he has successfully regained a full range of motion in his knee. His post-surgery knee actually has better flexibility than before.
While not providing a definite confirmation, Paul Wight expressed optimism about returning to the ring for AEW All In and even hinted at the possibility of his alter ego, Captain Insano, making an appearance.
Paul Wight's wrestling career in AEW was temporarily put on hold due to his knee surgery and recovery. He had only wrestled four matches since joining AEW, with his last match taking place in March 2022.