Former WWE producer sues company, wrestler Big Show
Regardless if it's fake or not, you don't want to upset the 7-foot, 400-plus pound Big Show.
Andrew Green has filed a lawsuit in Maricopa County Court against World Wrestling Entertainment and the Big Show (aka Paul Wight Jr.) for a physical altercation that took place in Phoenix at January's Royal Rumble pay-per-view.
The producer was allegedly asked to approach Big Show for a YouTube interview following his World Heavyweight Championship match vs. Alberto Del Rio. Turns out Big Show was no mood for talking, according to Courthouse News Service:
He claims Wight initially refused to do the interview, until Green told him that WWE senior vice president Eric Pankowski wanted the wrestler to do it.
"In response, Big Show stated with the use of profanely indecent language that if Green wanted an interview then he would give him one, and to turn on the camera," the complaint states.
It continues: "Big Show toward Green enraged, shouting obscenities, and waving his fist in Green's face. Big Show then grabbed Green by the collar and throat, striking Green in the face and backing him up against a trunk while declaring 'You son of a bitch ... Are you having fun right now ... Don't even come up to me again ... I don't give a sh*t who you are'." (Ellipses in complaint.)
The attack was videotaped, Green says, and "Upon information and belief, Big Show was not feigning his emotional outburst at the time of the attack."
One interview wasn't enough though, as Green was forced to redo the interview two additional times (with one request coming from WWE executive/wrestler Triple H) before Pankowski decided to go with the original clip. The video reportedly generated 100,000 views on WWE.com before it was pulled on Jan. 29.
(It should be noted that Pankowski was canned as senior vice president of creative and development last month, a little over a year after he was hired.)
Green was so traumatized (watching Big Show wrestle in a sumo outfit has traumatized me for life) from the ordeal that he left the company because "he was uncomfortable working around Big Show and the other wrestlers, nervous, and had 'a ton of anxiety' as a result of the attack." Also in the complaint, Green notes the WWE "had previously suspended or terminated Big Show's employment because of his behavior, including his engagement in violent and/or unlawful and/or improper activities outside of the wrestling venue." Green and his wife are seeking damages for assault and negligence.
In March 1999, the Big Show was found not guilty on assault charges filed by a fan who claimed the wrestler broke his jaw during an incident at a Long Island hotel. He was signed by the WWE earlier in the year and outside of a year hiatus in 2007, has remained with the company ever since.
The WWE could not be reached for comment.
Say what you want about wrestling, there are certain people in this world you don't want to upset. Those rules definitely apply when it comes to the WWE locker room, and especially in dealing with one of the biggest guys in the company who has developed the reputation of being a bit of a hot head.
(And my apologies for getting Big Show's theme song stuck in your head. Repeat after me: Welllllllllll, it's the Big Show!)
