8 Wrestlers The Rock Couldn't Get Over

2. The Big Show

The Rock Big Show
WWE.com

The man who would eventually come to be known as 'The Big Show' didn't arrive in the WWF in fantastic shape.

Grossly entitled at the beginning of his WCW career, the lax company culture converged with the Giant's own indiscipline and settled on his stomach; the lean hoss once capable of a moonsault had slowed down and fattened up by 1999. Many were optimistic that, in the more professional WWF landscape and under the strict provision of legendary macrophile Vince McMahon, Paul Wight would rediscover his drive. He did not. His first year contributed much to the creative horror show that was 1999, and Rock did much to yank the paddle away from him.

Rock, incensed at Show's insistence that he'd "singlehandedly" secured the WWF Title for The Rock shortly after his debut, described Show as an "overgrown, 500 pound bag of monkey cr*p".

We were firmly in the cutthroat Attitude Era diss culture at this point, and the line was pre-approved and/or scripted on his behalf - but the cut was so deep that Show essentially bled out. Rock, while selfless in the ring, was also too truthful on other occasions. The various machinations on the Road to WrestleMania 2000 threatened (in storylines) a Triple H vs. Big Show main event.

"If WrestleMania is going to be Triple H Vs. The Big Show," Rock reasoned, "then WrestleMania is going to absolutely suck."

Instantly, yet more soil fell over the poor sod's head.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and surefire Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!