WWE legend ‘The Big Show’ Paul Wight reveals timelinefor AEW in-ring comeback after brutal injuries-Alistair McGeorge-Entertainment – Metro

It’s only a matter of time until Paul Wight is back in the ring (Picture: WWE)

Paul Wight is hoping to return to the ring for All Elite Wrestling in a matter of weeks.

The legendary star, best known to WWE fans as The Big Show before joining rival promotion AEW a year ago, has only wrestled a handful of times for Tony Khan’s company before he was forced to deal with a knee injury and get a replacement.

However, he’s gearing to wrestle again and exclusively told Metro.co.uk: ‘You know, there’s been some setbacks personally. I mean, I’ve had a couple of injury setbacks, had to get a knee replaced in August.

‘That knee was bad for 12 years, so it could’ve gone any day! It’s like kind of like that tyre on your car that you know you should change but keep driving anyway.

‘But we’re good now, and hopefully we’ll be back in the ring in March. Everything’s on schedule, so we’re looking good!’

We chatted to Paul on his 51st birthday hours before AEW Dynamite, with the likes of Vickie Guerrero, Renee Paquette all coming over to say hello during our Zoom call as the former world champion admitted ‘there is no place I’d rather be than AEW on my birthday’.

‘I left WWE, I had helped build that place for 20 years,’ he explained, ‘I had tenure, I had a lot of friends there, people that I consider family there. I made this transition to AEW because I saw a great opportunity to help build and create something.

‘For me, at this stage in my career, that’s something I’m really interested in doing. Having fun, making the most use of my time and helping younger talent, and talent develop with a great product in AEW that’s so different and so unique from where I came from.’

There is a constant ‘changing of the guard’ in wrestling, with Paul’s arrival as The Giant in WCW back in 1995 coming at a time when Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Ric Flair and more were on top, before WWE moved into the infamous Attitude Era, the cycle is still ongoing.

It means there are plenty of potential opponents for the legendary heavyweight in AEW, with close friend Billy Gunn’s sons Austin and Colton Gunn among them.

Paul Wight is ready to wrestle again in AEW after a legendary run as The Big Show (Picture: AEW)

‘They’re a couple of little smart asses right now. Down the road I wanna compete against them at least so I can chop the hell out of them,’ he laughed. ‘It needs to happen… They’re incredibly athletic, they have a bright future.’

It’s an exciting time for Big Show, who left WWE because he was being shifted towards more of a global ambassador role rather than getting to help nurture the next generation and continue with his own goals in wrestling.

‘Commentary is something I want to get into and get my reps in. That’s where I want my career to end up, is doing major commentary. But also competing a little bit more,’ he admitted.

‘I enjoy being in the ring with younger talent. There’s things you can tell them, but there’s things you can actually show them the rhythm and timing of in the ring that make more sense and will help them grow as talent. So, I just saw more of that as an opportunity here in AEW.’

Paul Wight takes inspiration from the way John Cena conducts himself (Picture: Nathan Congleton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

There is also the chance to give back, which he will do as part of his role as a special advisor for AEW Together under the leadership of Katelyn Borden, the company’s new Director of Community Engagement.

‘I’ve been a global ambassador for Special Olympics which is a joy. I call it chicken soup for my soul, I love working with those athletes. The tough ones for me were Make A Wish,’ he said, reflecting on his work in that area.

‘John Cena, who’s done more Make a Wishes than anybody, I asked him one day – because it is tough, it’s gut wrenching in so many situation you run into. He goes, “Man, what better compliment than to be a kid’s wish! How could let that kid down?” And he’s right.’

He added: ‘Yes, you’ve paid your dues, you’ve taken bumps, you’ve got to the gym, learned how to wrestle, you’ve learned how to cut promos. You’ve learned the heart of your job, but your job isn’t possible without the communities that you perform in front of.

‘So you can’t just stand there and take ticket money and take merchandise money and all that stuff without humbly trying to repay in the best way you can. That’s giving back to the community, that’s giving time, that’s raising awareness of situations.

‘When you have platforms like this, a lot of our talent, the only way to do it and the right way to do it is to be a part of that stuff.’

AEW Dynamite (Wednesdays) and Rampage (Fridays) air weekly at 1am and 3am respectively on Fite TV. For more information on AEW Together, click here.

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