In the unlikely event anyone reading this is in the embryonic stages of beginning their own wrestling promotion, here's a piece of advice; If you can book yourself a roster of wrestlers with even half the commitment of The Big Show, you'll go far. The World's Largest Athlete (TM) has been a mainstay on the WWE roster for the best part of the last two decades and, following a 21 year career which has seen everything from world title victories to monster truck wars with Hulk Hogan and WrestleMania bouts with Floyd Mayweather Jr and sumo wrestler Akebono, Paul Wight has decided he will hang up his XXXL singlet, next year.
The Big Show has been working a reduced schedule with the WWE as of late and, entering his 45th year has decided that the squared circle is not for him, for much longer. Speaking to 790 The Ticket Miami, Show talked NFL, his acting career and then confirmed that he's now winding down his incredible career in the weird and wonderful world of sports entertainment, which will likely climax with a WrestleMania 33 match with NBA icon Shaquille O'Neal, next April.
"I'm looking forward to ... You know, I'm got that big match coming up with Shaq. So I'm looking forward to making my last year - trying to go out, athletically again, with a bang. I feel better now ... I'm 44 now - I'll be 45 in February - but I'm telling you, I feel better now, at 44, than I did at 34."
The fact Show has managed to withstand such a lengthy career despite a babyface/heel alignment that has changed more than the seasons and enough questionable and downright fucking bizarre storylines to last 10 careers is a testament to the man's talent and enduring popularity. Standing at over seven feet tall and tipping the scales between 400-500 pounds for the duration of a professional wrestling career is nothing short of miraculous. Especially when you consider the man has dropped TOP ROPE MISSILE DROPKICKS on opponents in his time.
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(H/T Uproxx With Spandex)