6 Wrestlers Discovered In The Most Unusual Of Places

by Jamie Kennedy

1. Big Show (Basketball Player)

The Giant WCW
WWE.com

If you're a Big Show fan, thank Danny Bonaduce.

The Partridge Family star was responsible for introducing Show to Hulk Hogan during a charity basketball game in 1995. Show had already tried to break into the wrestling biz by working out at Larry Sharpe's 'Monster Factory' facility, but he wasn't having much success. Then, he met Hulk and everything changed.

Hogan was impressed by this giant athlete's size and his ability to play to the crowd during the charity match. Show had been a basketball standout at Wichita State, and he caught Hulk's eye with his mix of skill and charisma during the celebrity-studded charity game; WCW were cross-promoting the match with an event they had planned in the Rosemont Horizon.

Following that display, WCW were in touch and offered to bring Show in for some work against Hogan. It was a massive break for somebody who barely had any experience, had been shunned when trying to train and had been playing basketball a few months before.

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Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.