WWE mishandled AEW star's career "since day one," Jim Ross says
Jim Ross was responsible for assembling WWE's roster in the late 1990s. The legendary announcer recently reflected on how the company "mishandled" Paul Wight, aka The Big Show, after he joined from WCW.
Big Show made his WWE debut at St. Valentine's Day Massacre 1999. The seven-foot star emerged from under the ring and threw Steve Austin against a steel cage. The move immediately backfired, however, as the force of the throw broke the cage, allowing Austin to escape and defeat Vince McMahon.
Ross said on his Grilling JR podcast that Big Show's booking should have been better from the beginning. He also referenced the current AEW star replacing the injured Austin at Survivor Series 1999:
"We'd already f****d up Big Show's entire presentation," Ross said. "That was mishandled since day one. It [Big Show replacing Austin] was never gonna work. Did it work? No, it didn't work. Didn't work at all, and that's not on Big Show. That's on the fact that Austin was so damn over that people didn't wanna settle for anything but Steve." [1:58:47 – 1:59:21]
Austin was removed from the Survivor Series 1999 main event because he required neck surgery. Big Show took his spot at the last minute and surprisingly defeated The Rock and Triple H to win the WWE Championship.
Big Show went on to work for WWE for a combined 21 years before joining AEW in 2021. Although he is widely regarded as a WWE legend, many believe the 52-year-old's multiple face and heel turns damaged his credibility.
Jim Ross on Steve Austin's booking after Big Show replaced him
Almost a year later, Steve Austin returned to in-ring action as a babyface and feuded with Rikishi. Despite being one of WWE's top fan favorites, The Texas Rattlesnake turned heel in April 2001 during his match against The Rock at WrestleMania 17.
Jim Ross initially had reservations about the storyline development and asked then-WWE Chairman Vince McMahon to explain the decision:
"I remember asking Vince, I said, 'Vince, tell me what I'm missing here. I'm missing something because I don't get it, and I need to get it because I'm booking towns, I'm doing the pay-offs, and all this other s**t.' And he said, 'We owe it to Steve to give it a try. We owe it to Steve,' because he was really wanting to be a heel." [2:00:09 – 2:00:37]
Austin's heel turn was short-lived. He became a good guy again in late 2001 before famously walking out on the company in June 2002.
Do you agree with Jim Ross about Big Show's WWE career being mishandled? Hit the discuss button and let us know.
Please credit Grilling JR and give an H/T to Sportskeeda Wrestling for the transcription if you use Jim Ross' quotes from this article.