5 Ways Paul Wight (fka The Big Show) could make his return to AEW
Paul Wight, formerly known as The Big Show, has been a member of the AEW roster for three years. The World's Largest Athlete arrived in the Jacksonville-based promotion in March 2021 and has remained a loyal asset to Tony Khan since then.
The 52-year-old has largely featured on the commentary panel in All Elite Wrestling, with only a few in-ring appearances since his debut in 2021. Wight also appeared on last year's All In event, where he knocked out a fellow giant in Satnam Singh.
The former World Heavyweight Champion is now back in the gym after undergoing knee surgery a few months ago. If Paul Wight recovers in time, fans could witness the gigantic star back on their television soon. In this article, let's take a look at five ways Paul Wight can return to AEW.
#5. He can feud with The Learning Tree
Chris Jericho's The Learning Tree faction is running rampant in AEW at the moment. The group annihilated Samoa Joe on a recent edition of Dynamite, essentially writing him off television. With Joe's absence, Hook now finds himself alone in the war against The Learning Tree.
Paul Wight could stand up against his former tag team partner to help even the odds for Hook. The World's Largest Athlete could come to the rescue of The Cold-Hearted Handsome Devil, who has been battling the three-man faction for months.
Wight's arrival will come as a huge shock for Chris Jericho. Although The Learning Tree does have Big Bill by his side, Jericho is well aware of how much of a threat Paul Wight can be. A feud against Wight will present a massive opportunity for Big Bill as well, who last fought against The World's Largest Athlete in 2017.
#4. Paul Wight returns to manage Wardlow
Wardlow currently finds himself in limbo in All Elite Wrestling. Since losing the TNT Championship, Mr. Mayhem has appeared as an afterthought on the AEW roster. Once the hottest act in the company, it is unfortunate how drastically Wardlow has lost momentum in the last two years.
The 36-year-old star joined Adam Cole's Undisputed Kingdom last year, hoping to stage a turnaround for his career. Unfortunately, the group has not done much to revive Wardlow's run in the Tony Khan-led company.
Paul Wight could return to AEW soon to help Wardlow overcome the most difficult period in his career. The World's Largest Athlete could serve as a great mentor to the former TNT Champion, helping him regain the menacing presence he once had.
As Wardlow's on-screen manager, Wight could easily be involved in the weekly programming, without having to wrestle regularly. The 52-year-old could help reinstill confidence in Mr. Mayhem, allowing him to have a dominant run yet again.
#3. Feuds with Christian Cage's Patriarchy
Christian Cage is among the most despicable heels in pro wrestling at the moment. The former TNT Champion is a total menace whenever he holds the microphone, as he verbally destroys his opponents by insulting their loved ones.
Interestingly, it was Paul Wight who introduced Christian Cage to the AEW audience. During his debut appearance, The World's Largest Athlete teased the arrival of a "game-changer" in AEW, which eventually turned out to be Captain Charisma.
While Wight was criticized for overhyping Christian's debut, his prediction turned out to be correct, as he went on to become an indispensable asset to Tony Khan. However, the seven-foot-tall star may not have expected that Christian Cage would end up being such a dastardly villain.
The World's Largest Athlete could appear on Collision once he recovers from the aftereffects of his surgery. The former World Heavyweight Champion could go after The Patriarchy soon, hoping to end the very thing he started. The giant could target Christian Cage on Collision, making him pay for his inexplicable actions in recent months.
Paul Wight's return will also bring him on a collision course with Killswitch, formerly known as Luchasauras, who would greatly benefit from working with a legend of the business.
#2. Paul Wight might wrestle in his retirement match at the 2024 AEW All In Pay-Per-View
At the age of 52, Paul Wight seems to be well past his prime. While he has looked decent in his limited in-ring appearances, the gigantic star would hope to end his AEW career on a high.
If The World's Largest Athlete decides to hang up his boots in All Elite Wrestling, there would be plenty of young talents who would want to etch their name in history by retiring Paul Wight.
From Big Bill to Lance Archer, several gigantic performers in AEW could help the former WWE Superstar call it a day. After the kind of respect he has received in All Elite Wrestling, Wight could repay the company's faith by putting over a young talent on his way out.
As AEW prepares to head to Wembley Stadium in August 2024, Tony Khan might consider putting Paul on the All In card, allowing him to end his legendary career in London, United Kingdom.
#1. Paul Wight could fight Shaquille O'Neal in a much-anticipated encounter
During his time as the Big Show in WWE, Paul Wight teased a match against Basketball legend, Shaquille O'Neal, on multiple occasions. The two giants came face-to-face during the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 32, only to be eliminated by the rest of the superstars.
It would be a huge missed opportunity if Wight did not lock horns with O'Neal before hanging up his boots. Interestingly, Shaq has wrestled in AEW before, as he teamed up with Jade Cargill to battle the duo of Cody Rhodes and Red Velvet.
Tony Khan seems to be a huge fan of Shaq's in-ring skills, as he recently termed the four-time NBA champion as the greatest celebrity wrestler in history. The AEW President has expressed his desire to bring back the Basketball icon, presumably for a match against Paul Wight.
If Shaq does appear in AEW soon, he could finally conclude his long-standing storyline with The World's Largest Athlete.