The shockers taking place in the wrestling world are neither few nor far between, with something unbelievable going down at least once a week. This week's big surprise turned out to be Big Show signing with AEW - if you saw that coming, we'd love to know where you get your scoops from.
Big Show, whose real name is Paul Wight, spent 22 years with WWE but, as of Wednesday, was unveiled as an AEW employee. The 49-year-old's arrival is as intriguing as it was surprising; it also presents a very exciting possibility.
Related: Shaq To Fight Cody Rhodes On Dynamite Next Month, Not Revolution
Fans were heavily teased by a potential Big Show vs. Shaquille O'Neal match a few years back. The former Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat star center was involved in the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 32 and his interaction with Big Show was expected to lead to a singles match. Sadly, it never materialized.
Per Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio, Shaq wasn't comfortable with what WWE wanted to pay him as he felt they weren't willing to fork out the amount they put on the table at the start of negotiations. Meltzer noted WWE had their own feelings on the matter, intimating the Diesel's fitness wasn't up to standard, nor was he willing to train.
The match was simply binned with no hope of resurrected plans but this week's development has certainly opened the door for us to finally see the towering personalities go head to head.
As you might know by now, AEW has no such reservations over Shaq's physical condition as he's set to take on Cody Rhodes in a tag match on Dynamite next month. The four-time NBA champion has been under TNT's employ for nearly 10 years, making his path to an AEW ring a quick and straight one.
He issued multiple challenges to Rhodes on TNT show Inside the NBA and has finally gotten that match with the American Nightmare. Shaq will team up with Jade Cargill to fight Cody and Red Velvet. The ideal tag would have seen Cody's wife Brandi at his side but she's been away from wrestling, having announced her pregnancy in december.
Mrs. Rhodes had a bit of an altercation with Shaq prior to that, throwing water into his face and branding him an "overgrown a**hole."
Shaq has already shown off his special move, which he calls the "Black Tornado." Should he impress in his match with Cody, we could be forgiven for expecting that long-awaited clash with Big Show.
There's really no reason why this should not happen. Some might argue that the ship has sailed on this one yet it still holds lots of appeal. Show should mostly be used as a commentator by AEW but we imagine he will do some wrestling, although it's highly doubtful he'll be in a title picture or anything like that. The odd fight here and there? It would be a disappointment if that didn't turn out to be the case.
“Paul Wight is one of the most recognizable and impressive professional athletes in the world,” AEW boss Tony Khan said as part of the announcement. “He wanted to come to AEW because he believes that we’re the best promotion in wrestling, and we believe that he has a lot to offer us, both in the ring as a wrestler, and also outside the ring as a commentator, host and ambassador for AEW.”
Wight will serve as a commentator on AEW Dark: Elevation, a show serving as a companion to AEW Dark that will air exclusively on YouTube on Monday nights at 7 pm ET.
Shaq's worth keeping an eye on now, he's probably going to fan the flames at some point, or a few points at the very least. We'll see where things go on the back of his fight with Cody, but Shaq vs. Big Show is a match we just need to see.
Next: Backstage Rumors On Why Big Show Left WWE And Jumped To AEW
