Backstage Update On Why Paul Wight Signed With AEW

Just how did Paul Wight's AEW signing come to be, and why did the Big Show depart WWE?

by Andrew Pollard
Paul Wight
AEW

With the wrestling world currently in a state of shock at Paul ‘Big Show’ Wight having been announced as the latest person to become All Elite, there’s now an update on just how Wight’s AEW signing came about.

As per PWInsider, the six-time World Champion’s WWE contract expired in January. Wight and WWE officials had discussions to extend Show’s WWE tenure, but both parties reportedly couldn’t come to agreeable terms on the financials of this new deal.

Having had a shot at Drew McIntyre’s WWE Championship on the post-WrestleMania 36 episode of WWE Raw, the Big Show went on to become a semi-regular presence on WWE TV throughout 2020 – appearing as part of McIntyre’s rivalry with Randy Orton, then being one of the names present at November’s Survivor Series PPV to give the Undertaker a send-off.

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Wight most recently appeared for WWE on the 4 January ‘Legends Night’ edition of Raw, with the World’s Largest Athlete having been with Vince McMahon’s sports entertainment juggernaut for 22 years; his debut for the then-WWF coming at February ‘99’s St Valentine’s Day Massacre PPV.

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For those who missed the earlier story – full details of which can be found here – Tony Khan today announced that Paul Wight has signed a multi-year deal with AEW to serve as a commentator on the company’s upcoming new AEW Dark: Elevation show, while the veteran will also be used as an in-ring talent.

Senior Writer
Senior Writer

Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main day job, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks, Jamie Hayer, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg. Where his beloved Wrexham AFC is concerned, Andrew is co-host of the Fearless in Devotion podcast, which won the Club Podcast of the Year gong at the 2024 FSA Awards.