Big Show is joining Steve Austin on the next edition of Broken Skull Sessions.
WWE has announced that Big Show will be Austin’s guest on this month’s Broken Skull Sessions episode. It will premiere on the WWE Network at 8 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday, February 23.
This will be the first episode of the interview series that isn’t premiering after a special event. The Undertaker appeared on the debut episode of Broken Skull Sessions after Survivor Series in November, Goldberg was the guest on the episode that aired after TLC in December, and Kane was on the episode that aired after NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool II last month.
Big Show briefly returned to WWE television last month and teamed with Samoa Joe and Kevin Owens in their feud against Seth Rollins, AOP, and Buddy Murphy. Big Show was Joe & Owens’ mystery partner for a six-man tag match against Rollins & AOP on Raw on January 6. The teams then faced off in a “fist fight” the next week.
Ahead of tonight’s Raw, WWE has revealed the rules for their “first-ever fist fight.”
Kevin Owens, Samoa Joe & Big Show will face Seth Rollins & AOP in the fist fight. It was announced via The Wrap today that the match “is no-holds barred, no disqualification, no count outs, no pinfalls and no submissions” and will end “when the referee declares that one team is no longer able to continue.”
Big Show made his return last week as Owens & Joe’s mystery partner for their six-man tag match against Rollins & AOP. The fist fight was announced for tonight after that match ended in a DQ when Rollins used a steel chair.
The Wrap’s article noted that the fist fight will be the main event of tonight’s show and that a contract signing with Becky Lynch and Asuka is also set for the third hour. Lynch will defend her Raw Women’s Championship against Asuka at the Royal Rumble on January 26.
The Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky is hosting tonight’s Raw. Randy Orton vs. AJ Styles, Bobby Lashley vs. Rusev, Aleister Black vs. Buddy Murphy, and an appearance by WWE Champion Brock Lesnar have also been announced for the show.
Big Show returned to the ring as Kevin Owens & Samoa Joe’s mystery partner on last night’s Raw.
Owens, Joe & Big Show faced Seth Rollins & AOP in the main event of the episode. The match ended in a disqualification when Seth Rollins used a steel chair as Big Show was about to give Akam and Rezar a double chokeslam. Rollins tried to give Big Show a curb stomp after, but Owens stopped him and Big Show laid out Rollins with a punch.
The two teams will face off again next week. The match is being billed as the “first-ever fist fight in WWE history.”
After being gone for over a year, Big Show returned to WWE tonight on Raw.
He was the mystery tag team partner of Samoa Joe and Kevin Owens, who faced AOP and Seth Rollins. Show, Owens and Joe scored the disqualification win after Rollins hit Big Show in the back with a steel chair.
Rollins set up Show for the curb stomp, but Owens made the save, allowing Show to lay him out with the punch. He, Joe and Owens stood tall to end the show.
Big Show hadn’t been on WWE television since November 2018. He was briefly involved with Sheamus and Cesaro on the SmackDown brand, but the alliance ended in a backstage segment.
The commentary team tonight noted at the end of Raw that Big Show will be teaming with Joe and Owens against Rollins and AOP once again next week on Raw, but this time under what is being billed as a fist fight.
WWE Studios and production company Thinkfactory Media are partnering together for an adventure reality series starring the Big Show.
It was announced today that WWE Studios and Thinkfactory will produce “Big Show vs. The World: A Giant Abroad.” The show was described as:
Through his extensive world travels with WWE, Big Show has collected a lifetime of unusual stories filled with unexplained natural occurrences, local enigmas and fascinating people. ‘Big Show vs. The World: A Giant Abroad’ will follow the larger-than-life WWE Superstar as he travels back to these locations and indulges his lifelong passion for exploring the strange and unknown.
Each self-contained episode will feature Big Show venturing to a new exotic area, where he’ll team up with a local guide and dive head-first into a native mystery or legend. Navigating the difficulty of travel (at seven-feet tall) and the extreme, sometimes awkward situations he encounters with his signature self-deprecating sense of humor, Big Show will do whatever it takes to unearth every quirky and shocking detail during his adventures into the bizarre.
“Big Show brings so many different layers to a project like this; it’s a dream scenario for us as producers,” Thinkfactory CEO Adam Reed said. “He blends his fierce intelligence and curiosity with an unexpected, one-of-a-kind wit, and his intimidating physical stature is offset by his surprisingly disarming personality. We’re ecstatic to be working with him and the WWE Studios team and can’t wait for the journeys ahead.”
“I won’t guarantee we’ll solve every mystery, but we’ll explore every strange detail, chase every bizarre lead and meet the incredible characters involved in pursuit of the truth,” Big Show said.
A Thinkfactory spokesperson told The Wrap that the series is “being shopped to major broadcast and cable networks, as well as streaming platforms.”
This is the second series involving Big Show that WWE Studios is developing. It was announced in July that WWE Studios is partnering with Netflix for “The Big Show Show,” which is a live-action multi-camera comedy series with 10 half-hour episodes.
WWE Studios and Netflix are teaming up for a sitcom starring Big Show.
It was announced today that production on “The Big Show Show” will begin in Los Angeles, California on August 9. The live-action multi-camera comedy series will feature 10 half-hour episodes.
Here’s the description for the show: “When the teenage daughter of Big Show, a retired world-famous WWE Superstar, comes to live with him, his wife, and two other daughters, he quickly becomes outnumbered and outsmarted. Despite being 7 feet tall and weighing 400 pounds, he is no longer the center of attention.”
Big Show (real name Paul Wight), Allison Munn, Reylynn Caster, Juliet Donenfeld, and Lily Brooks O’Briant are listed as the stars of the series. Josh Bycel and Jason Berger are the executive producers and showrunners, and WWE Studios’ Susan Levison and Richard Lowell will also be executive producers.
WWE Studios’ partnership with Netflix also includes “The Main Event,” which is a family movie that’s expected to debut in 2020.
WWE’s “Rebuilding Big Show” documentary premiered on the WWE Network after Smackville this past Saturday and documented his recovery from hip surgery. Big Show was most recently part of WWE storylines when he was briefly partnered with Cesaro and Sheamus last fall.
A documentary on Big Show will be airing after WWE’s Smackville Network special.
The updated WWE Network schedule lists that “Rebuilding Big Show” will premiere at 10 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday, July 27. Here’s the description for the documentary: “Join Big Show as he reflects on his 25-year career in sports-entertainment while he recovers from a serious surgery and rehabilitation.”
Big Show was most recently on WWE television during his brief partnership with Cesaro and Sheamus last fall.
“Rebuilding Big Show” is listed in an hour-long time slot.
Smackville is also listed as being an hour long on the WWE Network. Kofi Kingston defending the WWE Championship against Samoa Joe and Dolph Ziggler in a triple threat match, Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Finn Balor in a rematch from Extreme Rules, and a musical performance by Elias have been announced for the special.
Smackville is taking place at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.
A segment and a match have been set for tomorrow’s edition of SmackDown.
Daniel Bryan, according to the commercial hyping tomorrow’s SmackDown, will explain his actions from last week. He beat AJ Styles for the WWE title on last week’s SmackDown after turning on Styles at the end of the match, low blowing him then pinning him with the knee strike. He’s said nothing since then, but did face Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series in a losing effort.
A Thanksgiving Feast Fight has also been set for SmackDown. All three members of the New Day (Kofi Kingston, Big E and Xavier Woods) What exactly that entails is anyone’s guess. The two teams have been feuding off and on for a while, as Cesaro and Sheamus defeated the New Day for the tag team titles last month.
SmackDown will be the fourth and final consecutive night that WWE runs the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California
Two World Cup qualifying matches took place on this week’s episode of SmackDown.
Randy Orton and Jeff Hardy both qualified for the tournament, joining John Cena and Kurt Angle as the first four wrestlers to be confirmed for it. Orton defeated Big Show in last night’s main event by hitting a thumb to the eye and an RKO. Hardy faced Samoa Joe in his qualifying match, winning by referee stoppage after targeting Joe’s knee. Joe was still selling the storyline injury from his match against AJ Styles at Super Show-Down.
There will be eight entrants in the World Cup tournament at Crown Jewel on November 2. Rey Mysterio will return to WWE at SmackDown 1000 next Tuesday and face Shinsuke Nakamura in a qualifier.
Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair’s SmackDown Women’s Championship rematch ended in a double countout, setting up a last woman standing match between them at Evolution. The build to Styles vs. Daniel Bryan at Crown Jewel also began as both appeared on Miz TV.
Big Show vs. Randy Orton and Jeff Hardy vs. Samoa Joe are the qualifying matches set for Tuesday’s episode. This will be the first time Big Show has wrestled since September 2017. He underwent hip resurfacing surgery last year and dealt with a surgical infection after the operation. He was advertised to return at April’s Greatest Royal Rumble at one point before suffering a setback in his training.
After announcing that Big Show would be an entrant in the Greatest Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia later this month, WWE also confirmed today that he’ll be playing a role at this year’s Hall of Fame ceremony.
“I’ve spent a lot of time going up and down the road with Mark Henry,” Big Show said while speaking with WWE.com. “I’ve had battles with him, and I know what kind of a human being and community leader he is. I can’t think of anyone more deserving of the WWE Hall of Fame. It is my honor to induct my friend.”
Big Show hasn’t wrestled since undergoing hip resurfacing surgery last year and dealing with a surgical infection after the operation. While ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange this morning, he said that he signed a new multi-year contract with WWE in January.
Here’s the updated 2018 Hall of Fame lineup:
Goldberg (inducted by Paul Heyman)
The Dudley Boyz (inducted by Edge & Christian)
Ivory (inducted by Molly Holly)
Jeff Jarrett (inducted by Road Dogg)
Hillbilly Jim (inducted by Jimmy Hart)
Mark Henry (inducted by Big Show)
Warrior Award recipient Jarrius “JJ” Robertson (award presented by Dana Warrior)
The Big Show will be out of action for the foreseeable future with a hip injury.
WWE put up a video on their Twitter account saying that Big Show suffered a right hip injury during the steel cage match against Braun Strowman on last Monday’s edition of Raw. Mike Rome cited a WWE.com article saying that Big Show realized something was wrong when he was thrown against the cage, breaking it and sending him to the floor. He also mentioned in the article that he felt something snap when coming off the top rope with an elbow, but worked through it via adrenaline.
While that is the kayfabe storyline, the real situation seems to be that this was something being planned for a while, at least before Raw went on the air. James McKenna from Pro Wrestling Sheet mentioned that Big Show was getting surgery for a “slight hip issue” right before the Raw broadcast started last week.
WWE’s video mentioned that Big Show was scheduled for surgery this week, but due to the events of Hurricane Irma it was instead pushed back to September 29th.
A steel cage match headlined last night’s Labor Day edition of Raw, and Braun Strowman wasn’t finished with Big Show even after it was over. Strowman closed the episode by putting Big Show through the side of the cage and further sending a message to Brock Lesnar ahead of No Mercy.
Also on the show, John Cena faced Jason Jordan in the opener before again trading words with Roman Reigns, Jeff Hardy challenged The Miz for the Intercontinental Championship, and Sasha Banks & Alexa Bliss were forced to team together against Nia Jax & Emma in a match where Jax and Emma would be added to the Women’s title match at No Mercy if they won.
The Big Takeaway: Braun Strowman defeated the Big Show in a steel cage match. It was one of the greatest superheavyweight matches in wrestling history. Afterwards, Strowman slammed Show through the cage, which broke and sent Show falling out of the ring. He landed on the cage but sold his ribs like he may have suffered internal injuries. The Raw Women’s Championship match at No Mercy will be a Fatal Fourway with Alexa Bliss vs. Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax vs Emma. Jax & Emma teamed to defeat Bliss and Banks in a tag match. Also, Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose will defend the Raw Tag Team Championships against Sheamus and Cesaro.
Show Recap:
John Cena defeated Jason Jordan (11:42)
John Cena won with the AA. If there was an opponent that could come out and guaranteed that Cena would get cheered, it’s Jason Jordan, who is now getting booed. They showed highlights of Cena debuting on SmackDown in July 2002 against Kurt Angle as the fiery rookie ready to test himself against the best. 15 years later, Cena was facing Angle’s “son.” They had a pretty good match where the punches looked awful, but the fans got into it after Cena clamped on the STF. Jordan reversed it into a crossface, but Cena powered out of it into an AA attempt. Jordan escaped and tried his hoist neckbreaker, but Cena turned his body weight over into a crossbody, leading to the finish. Cena helped Jordan up afterwards and they hugged.
Roman Reigns walked out after the match and asked Cena “If you are what you say you are, why does it take a 16-time champ over 20 minutes to beat a rookie.” (It took 11 minutes). Reigns said if Cena was as good as Cena said he is, he would have crushed him in seconds. Instead, Cena strung it out, let Jordan believe in himself, let the fans get into it and then Cena crushed him. Or, Cena lied last week (when he claimed that he didn’t bury talent, which Reigns didn’t mentioned but it is what was implied) and that Cena ran his mouth and Cena isn’t as good or as fast as he thinks he is. Reigns called Cena a lying, fake-ass little bitch. Reigns asked Cena which is it?
Cena asked the fans to welcome Debbie Downer to Monday Night Raw. Cena said Reigns is doing the worst thing possible last week, trying to use his brains. Cena told Reigns to stay in his lane because that’s not his strong suit. Cena said Reigns was thinking about questions like “Have I lost a step?” or “Does he string his opponent along, allow them to make their own mistakes so he could adapt and overcome?” Cena said Reigns would get the answer to these questions and told Reigns not to burn his brain cells and said Reigns had come out with his fly open. Regins muttered he had a extra bulge and that was why they called him the “Big Dog.” Cena shot back he was looking for Reigns’ balls but he didn’t have any. Reigns said “You would be looking for those.” Cena got back on script saying Reigns would get the answer to these questions at No Mercy, where Reigns would get beat by either a guy who lost a step or a guy who has been stringing Reigns along for years. Cena said he was letting Reigns waltz out and make mistake after mistake just in time for Cena to chop his ass down to size.
Cena called Reigns a “golden boy, conceited, know-it-all who needs to be taught a lesson in respect.” Cena said guys like Jordan, Chad Gable, and even the Miz have to scratch and claw for every inch. Cena said he doesn’t respect Reigns, he doesn’t respect how Reigns calls him a fake ass bitch. He said Reigns is living a lie. He said Reigns believes this is his yard, but the fans don’t believe him. Cena asked Reigns if there’s any room in Reigns head to see what was going on or does Cena have to beat some common sense into Reigns’ head? Reigns told Cena to do it. Crowd chanted “yes.” Reigns asked the fans if they wanted to see Cena beat his ass. Reigns told Cena this is the moment to back up Cena’s big mouth. Cena grinned and didn’t act. Reigns said Cena was all talk and said that’s why he doesn’t respect Cena. Reigns walked off and Cena grinned some more.
Sheamus and Cesaro defeated Heath Slater and Rhyno (2:16)
Sheamus pinned Rhyno with a Brogue Kick. Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose were on commentary. Ambrose and Rollins will defend the Raw Tag Team Championships against Sheamus and Cesaro at No Mercy.
Renee Young did a backstage interview with Jeff and Matt Hardy. Matt spoke with his “Broken” accent about how it was a wonderful evening. Jeff said he and his brother have been innovating the business for 25 years and said he was thrilled that his daughter will see him wrestle the Miz for the Intercontinental Championship. Matt said if the Miztourage tried to interfere, they would go down in a twist of fate.
Intercontinental Champion The Miz defeated Jeff Hardy to retain the Intercontinental Championship (13:02)
Miz won clean with the Skull Crushing Finale. Jeff went for the Swanton, but Maryse touched Miz’s hand to awaken him and Miz got out of the way. Good back-and-forth match where Jeff bumped all over the place, including falling to the floor when Jeff ran at Miz on the apron, but Miz tripped him. Jeff hit Poetry in Motion off the ring steps against the dasherboards. Earlier, Jeff went for the Swanton, but Curtis Axel crotched Jeff. Matt started brawling with Axel and Bo Dallas, leading to the referee ejecting Matt, Axel and Dallas from ringside. Booker T said that Miz was having the best year of his career.
They announced Bliss vs. Sasha Banks for the Raw Women’s Championship at No Mercy.
Jax walked up to Angle backstage upset that Banks is getting the title shot at No Mercy. Angle said Banks had an obligation in her contract for a rematch. Emma stepped in and said the Internet was buzzing over her win over James last week and said her new hashtag was going to be #give emma a chance at the women’s title. Jax told Emma if she didn’t leave in five seconds, the hashtag was going to read #put emma in the hosptial. Angle ordered Emma and Jax to team tonight to face Bliss and Banks. If Emma and Jax win, Angle will add them to the Raw Women’s Championship match at No Mercy and it will be a four way. If Banks and Emma win, then it remains a singles match.
Enzo Amore, Cedric Alexander and Gran Metalik defeated Drew Gulak, Tony Nese and Noam Dar (5:04)
Enzo Amore pinned Drew Gulak with Eat Defeat after he thumbed Gulak in the eye. I bet Les Thatcher was happier than all hell about that finish. Enzo made a blind tag as Cedric Alexander and Gran Metalik did stereo topes on Tony Nese and Noam Dar. The commentary here was interesting. They showed Enzo getting a pin last week on 205 Live with a schoolboy cradle with his feet on the ropes. This week, the announcers made Enzo seem like a cheating heel after he thumbed Gulak, namely Michael Cole. Of course, Enzo was the most over of the six.
Banks and Bliss talked backstage. Bliss said she wasn’t happy about teaming with Banks tonight. Banks said if they don’t win tonight, then Bliss’ chances of retaining the Raw Women’s Championship at No Mercy is reduced to 25%. Bliss said the same was true for Banks. Bliss said Banks should leave her ego at the door and reminded Banks she defeated her last week. Then Banks got in Bliss’ face and said they were going to win tonight and then she was going to make Bliss tap out at No Mercy.
Finn Balor came out and said even though he won against Bray Wyatt at SummerSlam, you never truly defeat Wyatt because he always shows up when you least expect it. Balor said the next time Wyatt shows up, he will be ready. Balor said he doesn’t run from his demons because sometimes he becomes them. Wyatt turned up on the TitanTron and said when he was a child, his mother used to take him hunting. He said he would never forget the first time he flicked his little finger, and an arrow went through the heart of his prey. It was exhilarating, but after awhile he got bored because it became too easy. So he decided to shake things up and he put his weapon down and he started using his hands, which became the judge, the jury and the executioner. He showed his prey no mercy. During those moments when he decided whether to end their pathetic existence or let them run along, he made a choice that defined him. He realized what his purpose in life was.
Wyatt said Balor wasn’t victorious over him at SummerSlam, the Demon was. Wyatt said the Demon was Balor’s bow and arrow. Wyatt told Balor to make a choice and define his legacy. Balor said he’s already made his choice and he knows exactly who he is, he is Finn Balor. Wyatt said Balor is the confident hero everyone becomes of being. At No Mercy, he questioned whether Balor could topple a God or was Balor going to be a scared little rabbit and told Balor to run, little rabbit, run.
Nia Jax and Emma defeated Sasha Banks and Alexa Bliss to make the Raw Women’s Championship match at No Mercy a Fatal Four-Way (8:55)
In booking directly from 2006 TNA, Emma pinned Banks after Jax gave Banks a legdrop and Emma tagged in so she could take the fall. Jax was mad at Emma for scoring the pin and gave her a Samoan drop afterwards. Shouldn’t Jax have been happy that Emma scored the pin since she was now fighting for the championship at No Mercy and she complained about not being in the match to Angle earlier? Earlier, Bliss slapped Jax for attacking her last week, then screamed in horror and attempted to run. Banks and Bliss cooperated as a team, despite losing.
Strowman did an interview with Young. Strowman said he didn’t know what Angle was thinking putting him in the first cage match of his career just a few weeks from facing Lesnar at No Mercy. Strowman said the last time he was in the ring with the Big Show, they destroyed a 4,000-pound ring. Tonight, there would be thousands of pounds of steel around them and he would be thinking of destroying Lesnar when he’s destroying Show.
Rollins and Ambrose walked backstage to the ring and came across Elias backstage strumming on his guitar.
Raw Tag Team Champions Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose defeated Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows in a nontitle match (11:48)
Sheamus and Cesaro were at ringside. At the finish, Cesaro tried to get in the ring while Sheamus distracted the ref, but Rollins threw Karl Anderson into Sheamus. Rollins then pinned Anderson with a schoolboy cradle. Ambrose caught Luke Gallows with a tope shortly before the pin. Postmatch, Anderson and Gallows were mad at Sheamus and Cesaro for interfering, so Anderson hit Sheamus from behind. Sheamus and Cesaro began brawling with Anderson and Gallows, ending with Sheamus giving Anderson the Brogue kick and Cesaro throwing Gallows out of the ring. Sheamus and Cesaro are now wearing matching camouflage kilts.
Amore talked with Alexander and Metalik in the back saying he was going to take them out to dinner tonight for a celebration. Neville walked in and said tomorrow night on 205 Live, there would be a five-way elimination match where the winner would get a Cruiserweight Championship match at No Mercy. Neville chuckled how Amore, Alexander and Metalik were going from friends one night to foes the next. The other participants in the five-way will be Nese and Brian Kendrick.
Charly Caruso interviewed referee John Cohen, who was the referee who took the memorable bump for the last Strowman-Show match when they destroyed the ring. When Cohen announced that the ring had extra reinforcements, the crowd booed.
Show did an interview with Young saying he’s had a lot of big matches over the last 23 years, but he’s never faced an opponent as imposing as Strowman. But he’s had more steel cage matches than Strowman has had matches. He vowed to mesh Strowman’s flesh across the cage and give him a chokeslam straight to hell and walk out victorious. Show said Strowman is a guy who thinks he’s earned respect based on what he’s owed, not on what he’s earned. Strowman said he was going to send Show to pasture, but there hasn’t been one superstar man enough to do that.
Braun Strowman defeated the Big Show in a steel cage match (16:56)
Strowman won a terrific match with an Oklahoma Stampede after a superplex. Lots of big spots and this might have been the best superheavyweight match in Raw history. They opened with Strowman running against Show, who was wedged outside the ring against the cage. Strowman ran after Show again, but Show hit him with a knockout punch. Later, they fought on the top rope (two guys over 350 pounds right there on the top rope) when Strowman crotched Show. Then Show crotched Strowman, who sank to the canvas. Show then went back to the top rope after barely selling the crotched shot and hit a Randy Savage elbow off the top. Crowd started chanting “Holy S___.” Show tried to escape throug the cage, but Strowman grabbed the door and pulled against Show’s head. Strowman attempted to walk over Show and go out the door, but this time Show took the door and rammed it against Strowman’s head.
Postmatch, Strowman grabbed the microphone, pointed to a unconscious Show and said this was Lesnar’s future. Strowman started to leave, then told Show “Time to go out to pasture, old man.” He took Show and gave him a powerslam through the side of the cage, which broke and Show spilled out on top of the cage to the floor. It amazing looking at how well Show did in this match in his mid-40s, especially compared to how awful his matches were with Hulk Hogan when he was in his mid-20s.
A cage match will headline next week’s episode of Raw.
WWE announced today that Big Show and Braun Strowman would be facing off inside a steel cage on Monday. That’s the second match officially confirmed for the episode, with The Miz also set to defend his Intercontinental Championship against Jeff Hardy after Hardy won a battle royal to get the title shot.
Strowman wasn’t on Raw last Monday, though his program with Brock Lesnar was furthered as Paul Heyman and Lesnar cut a promo on him ahead of No Mercy. Big Show was eliminated by Finn Balor, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson in the battle royal for an IC title shot.
Strowman vs. Big Show has main evented two episodes of Raw already this year. Their last meeting ended in a no contest after WWE did a ring-collapsing angle when Strowman hit a superplex on Big Show.
Monday’s Raw falls on Labor Day, which means that next week’s ratings will likely be delayed due to the holiday. The CenturyLink Center in Omaha, Nebraska will host the show.
