wrestling / News

Bruce Prichard Says Big Show Was Immature When He First Came to WWE and Vince McMahon Was Worried Big Show Would Die Young

August 19, 2017 | Posted by Jeffrey Harris
Big Show, Paul Wight Image Credit: WWE

– During a recent edition of Something to Wrestle With Bruce Prichard, Bruce Prichard discussed some of Big Show’s early issues in WWE, and how Vince McMahon was worried he might die early similar to the late Andre the Giant. Below are some highlights from the podcast (transcript via WrestlingInc.com).

Prichard on how Big Show was initially immature when he started out in WWE: “The Big Show was immature at that time and he felt that he was a giant and just felt that he simply had to show up and be a giant and that was enough. And we needed more. We needed a working giant. We wanted a giant and an attraction that wanted to be on top and was willing to do whatever it took to get there.”

Prichard on how Big Show would have issues and not always be in great shape: “Big Show had his moments. Let’s just say that. And there were times that The Big Show would try to endear himself to everyone and sometimes he would do more harm than good in his efforts. But Show did not come back in the best cardio shape, was really not working as hard as he could have to improve. If you want to improve, watch the best, and leaving early and doing things like that don’t endear yourself. It doesn’t endear yourself to the office. It doesn’t endear yourself to the other talent.”

On Big Show’s demotion to OVW and Vince McMahon being worried he would die prematurely: “Vince was very concerned that if Show didn’t take care of himself, he would die at a young age. He didn’t want that to happen. He really wanted this guy to have a career and for him to be healthy because he already has one strike against him. He wasn’t doing it and [Vince] felt like the only way [Big Show] would take it seriously is if we sent him back down to OVW.”

Prichard on Big Show having unhealthy habits: “There wasn’t any final straw. It was a combination of things and it was the effort over a few weeks with Big Show where we saw he came back not in shape [and] his cardio was horrible. You would get the lip-service, ‘I’m eating healthy. I’m eating chicken breasts and dry pasta and salad and vegetables. I quit smoking.’ And then, he’d be out by the [production] truck having a smoke with Krispy Kreme donuts. Vince had just had it and it wasn’t one match or one night or anything like that. It was a culmination of Show not being able to perform at the level we were looking for him to perform at.”

Prichard on a rib Brock Lesnar played on Big Show: “One of these times Show was on a diet and taking care of himself and eating healthy. Harvey Whippleman walks in with I think three or four dozen Krispy Kreme donuts. Brock stops him and says, ‘hey, Krispy Kreme! Who are those for?’ ‘Oh man, these are Big Show’s’ and he’s like, ‘all of them?’ ‘Yeah, but don’t tell anybody.’ So Brock goes in to every donut and takes a huge bite out of every donut and puts them back in the box and goes, ‘take them to him now and tell him who did it.'”