It didn't matter how big he was, he was a scared kid, out of his depth in the snake pit that was WCW. Nearly seven foot tall, there were still political animals prowling that locker room that could have eaten Paul 'The Giant' Wight for breakfast. Wight had Hulk Hogan backing him up, however. Hogan had seen dollar signs the second he clapped eyes on Wight, and had worked hard to get him the opportunity. The two remained good friends for years afterwards, although all reports are that they've drifted apart in recent years, Hogan feeling personally aggrieved that Wight chose not to pursue a lucrative career in boxing, against his advice. But in terms of psychology, forget about the Hulkster: it's Arn 'the Enforcer' Anderson all the way.
Arn Anderson, to me, is the greatest heel of all-time. I love Double A. He cut promos, in-ring technician like nobodys business, and Im happy to say that now hes one of my dearest friends and mentors. - Stone Cold Podcast, February 2015
Wight's been the Big Show in WWF/E for far, far longer than he was The Giant in WCW but Anderson quickly found work as a road agent in the WWF once WCW folded, and has remained there ever since, meaning that the two men have stayed close. In multiple interviews, Wight has credited Anderson with making him the wrestler he is, giving him the understanding of ring psychology that he has and, given that he had no giants to learn from, the understanding of what a giant brings to the ring that makes him different from just another big guy. To paraphrase his own words: everything the Big Show is today he owes to Arn Anderson.
Professional writer, punk werewolf and nesting place for starfish. Obsessed with squid, spirals and story. I publish short weird fiction online at desincarne.com, and tweet nonsense under the name Jack The Bodiless. You can follow me all you like, just don't touch my stuff.
