What began as a simple backstage conversation evolved into one of the most remarkable transformations in sports entertainment history for Paul "Big Show" Wight. This isn't a tale of a wholesome hero turning to the dark side, nor a villain seeing the light. In the larger-than-life world of professional wrestling, such changes are common. However, Wight's journey of introspection, soul-searching, and determination played out away from the cameras.
Early Life and the "Monster" Persona
Paul "Big Show" Wight always stood out, feeling like an outcast during his formative years. By age 12, he was already 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighed 220 pounds. "People pre-judged me, people left me out of activities," Wight said. This exclusion was heartbreaking, so he turned to sports, developing a personality where his size became a magnet for friendship. He was no longer an outcast but the "monster" everyone loved. He embraced this persona, believing he had to be the biggest guy in the ring to succeed. Reaching seven feet tall came naturally, but he thought his character required him to weigh a quarter-ton, leading to poor training and eating habits.
The Turning Point: Realizing a Need for Change
As his career advanced, so did his waistline. Outsiders might say his size was both his biggest asset and liability. However, as his career began to wind down, he realized he didn't need that persona anymore to be successful. "I needed to be lighter, I needed to be in better shape," he concluded. Soon, his belly vanished, replaced by six-pack abs. While there was introspection, a backstage chat set everything in motion.
The John Cena Challenge
"John Cena and I were watching the show in a monitor," Wight recounted. "John and I were just cracking jokes on each other, and I made the comment about a giant with abs, who'd want to see that?" John Cena looked him in the eye and said, "Yeah, a giant with abs." Cena's challenge motivated Wight to get his act together.
The route to weight-loss success is different for everyone. There is no one-size-fits-all plan. Yet, there are still undeniable similarities in each journey - even for a guy who's enormously tall and another who's rather pint-sized.
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The Diet Transformation
"With me, it was all through diet." "I think that's the thing, you have to get a point in your mind where you can ask for diet advice, you can ask for meal plans. You have to make a commitment in your mind that you're ready to do it. And it's a different journey for everyone. Sometimes some of us, I always associated food with comfort. Thanksgiving, holidays, family, you're having a bad day, you eat something good because it comforts you."
Overcoming Obstacles and Finding Motivation
Wight spoke about his motivation in the WWE Network documentary, "Rebuilding Big Show." "For a long time in my career I hid behind my size," he said. "I knew that at 500 pounds I wasn't going to be asked to do a lot of things, so I didn't have to do a lot of things, and that limits you. As a performer and a talent, that limits you." He also noted that he was approaching the same age that Andre the Giant was when he died, motivating him to make changes.
The conversation with John Cena further fueled his transformation. "John just looked at me deadpan and goes, 'Yeah. A giant with abs -who would want to see that?' And he walked off." Wight felt challenged by Cena, a man he deeply respected. "This is coming from a guy who I have the utmost respect for," he said, "for his work ethic, his commitment to our industry, his commitment to setting the bar… the way he works his body, the way he takes care of himself, the way he lives by example and the way he gives back." Cena's comment "lit a fire under my big fat ass, a huge fire, and I went and found Dodd Romero."
Training and the Future
He started this fitness journey back in 2016 in preparation for a bout with NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal. The wrestler began working with celebrity trainer Dodd Romero to change his diet and lose weight, leading to him getting a six-pack which earned him the nickname of "giant with abs."
“It was definitely a conscious decision. “Right now my schedule’s pretty light, but if I’m home three days, I train every day. “Right now, mostly, everything I count on is high-rep. “We’ll get to the muscle-building end of it once I get my body fat down to where I want it to be. … Those who weight-train know what I’m talking about. Lower reps with heavier weight will be more for building muscle. “Will I end up ever looking like John Cena or The Rock or Triple H? No,” he said.
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Four years later, Wight is still training hard.
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