Top 10 Big Show turns in WWE

The Big Show has had a long, successful, and varied career.

From rookie World Title Wins in WCW as The Giant, through capturing pretty much every top title in the WWE, to starring in Best Picture Oscar nominee Knucklehead, his enormous legacy is assured.

But despite all the championship wins, memorable storylines, and his tour de force turn as Captain Insano, one thing about Big Show’s career sticks out like a sore thumb;

All those heel and face turns.

Big mean man one second, lovable oaf the next, these turns on a whim have become so synonymous with Big Show that he can’t even go to the shops without someone stopping him to ask if he’s currently a goodie or a baddie.

In his 22 years off and on with WWE Big Show has turned a staggering 32 times. That’s 1.45 turns per year, but when you consider the numerous sabbaticals he has taken during his career, then it’s probably more like two turns per year at the very least.

In honour of the Giant's birthday, on February 8, we've taken the most successfully executed ten of those 32 Big Show turns and ranked them, based on the turns themselves and the subsequent period of Big Show's career:

10. Royal Rumble Rampage (2000)

WWE

Two months after Big Show’s WWE Title triumph at Survivor Series, and the title had found itself back around Triple H’s waist.

Undeterred, Show tried his luck at the Royal Rumble so he could get another crack at the gold at WrestleMania 2000, lasting all the way until the final two when he was hoisted out by The Rock.

But The Great One’s feet hit the floor first.

They weren’t meant to, mind you, but even The Most Electrifying Man in Sports Entertainment has his off days.

Big Show was rightly miffed at being inadvertently cheated out of the Mania main event, so he did what any sane man would do - snapped, went full bad guy turned The People’s Champion into paste.

This Big Show was treated as a credible heel threat all the way until WrestleMania 2000, where he was successfully inserted into the main event under Shane McMahon’s watchful eye.

However, Show was readily eliminated from the Championship fatal four way, before heading to the back and raiding a fancy dress trunk.

9. Making An Entrance (1999)

During the incredible war between Steve Austin and Mr. McMahon, Austin regularly beat the ever-loving stuffing out of the boss. But Vince shocked the world by winning the Royal Rumble in 1999, then forfeited his WrestleMania title shot so the belt would stay around the waist of Corporate Champion The Rock.

Commissioner Shawn Michaels said that the 'Mania main event would go to Stone Cold by default, but Austin was in a sporting mood and challenged McMahon to a cage match at St. Valentine’s Day Massacre: In Your House so he could pummel McMahon a little more. Because Stone Cold was such a good sport, his WrestleMania main event status was on the line.

The cage match itself was practically a snuff movie, as Austin victimised McMahon with little reply, launching him off the cage through a table, and making him bleed like an undercooked steak.

But when it seemed like Austin had the match won, Paul Wight turned up for the first time in a WWE ring, bursting through the ring apron like a giant blonde baby and battering Stone Cold.

McMahon laughed, told Wight to throw Austin into the cage, but Big Paul was so darned strong that the cage came loose, and The Texas Rattlesnake won the match.

A cool way to debut, even if he inadvertently helped Austin win.

9. Making An Entrance (1999)

During the incredible war between Steve Austin and Mr. McMahon, Austin regularly beat the ever-loving stuffing out of the boss. But Vince shocked the world by winning the Royal Rumble in 1999, then forfeited his WrestleMania title shot so the belt would stay around the waist of Corporate Champion The Rock.

Commissioner Shawn Michaels said that the 'Mania main event would go to Stone Cold by default, but Austin was in a sporting mood and challenged McMahon to a cage match at St. Valentine’s Day Massacre: In Your House so he could pummel McMahon a little more. Because Stone Cold was such a good sport, his WrestleMania main event status was on the line.

The cage match itself was practically a snuff movie, as Austin victimised McMahon with little reply, launching him off the cage through a table, and making him bleed like an undercooked steak.

But when it seemed like Austin had the match won, Paul Wight turned up for the first time in a WWE ring, bursting through the ring apron like a giant blonde baby and battering Stone Cold.

McMahon laughed, told Wight to throw Austin into the cage, but Big Paul was so darned strong that the cage came loose, and The Texas Rattlesnake won the match.

A cool way to debut, even if he inadvertently helped Austin win.

8. The End Of ShoMiz - 2010

WWE

After the inevitable end of Jeri-Show, Big Show quickly formed an alliance with The Miz called ShoMiz, like Show Biz, as in show business, because Miz is an actor...you get it?

The two won tag-team gold and held the belts for two months, with loudmouth Miz at his cocky and annoying best, and Show as his giant enforcer.

After dropping the titles to The Hart Dynasty on an episode of Raw in April 2010, Show finally punched Miz’s face in and became a loveable good guy once more.

This face run for Show was pretty darn good and lasted over two years.

During this time he feuded with Jack Swagger, The Straight Edge Society, beat Mark Henry for the World Heavyweight Title, and got his first WrestleMania win when he toppled Cody Rhodes for the Intercontinental Title, making him a Triple Crown and Gland Slam Champion in WWE.

But eventually all his good fortune came to an end.

First he lost the Intercontinental Title in the lamest way possible, by stepping through a table with his massive foot, then John Laurinaitis fired him for taking the mickey out of his voice, causing the Biggest Athlete in the World...to cry a lot.

7. Big Brutal Bully (2008)

WWE

After getting his jaw spun by Floyd Mayweather, Show sniffed around the ECW Title scene again for a little bit.

After losing some steam, WWE clearly thought “right, let’s get him heel again now that pesky Mayweather is out of the way” and voila - here comes Big Show marching into Unforgiven 2008 to beat up old buddy The Undertaker on behalf of SmackDown GM Vickie Guerrero.

'Taker won the subsequent feud, but Show was still a big deal - and a menace - on the Blue Brand.

Revealed as Vickie’s official 'bit on the side', Show wangled his way into the World Heavyweight Title scene once more, taking on John Cena and Edge for the strap at WrestleMania 25.

Although unsuccessful at 'Mania, Big Show stayed a dominant force, feuding with Cena then making a nuisance of himself around the US Title scene, eventually ending up in the tag division as part of Jeri-Show.

This arc was a good example of Big Show being used properly and effectively as a heel bully. It's just a shame they semi-ruined it with his ‘could see it from 2,000 miles away’ swerve at Bragging Rights.

6. The Unholy Alliance (1999)

WWE

After The Corporate Ministry slowly fell apart like an old shoe, Undertaker realised he had nothing to do, so decided to fight both his brother Kane and X-Pac - the latter of whom cost him a First Blood WWE Title match against Steve Austin.

As 'Taker was getting his Satanic little goatee punched off of his face by Kane on Raw, Big Show came out for the save, turned heel, and shook hands with The Deadman.

Unofficially known as ‘The Unholy Alliance’ this was one of the first storylines in WWE that Show could really sink his teeth into, with the veteran 'Taker helping to mould the still-young Big Show into a main event talent.

This union would prove to be fruitful, as the two lifted the WWE Tag Titles on two occasions, and feuded with the Rock and Sock Connection, whilst also flirting around the World Title scene.

But as soon as the team started getting any momentum and several storyline seeds were planted, Undertaker had to take time off to heal up, later to re-emerge as The American Badass.

Big Show didn’t mind, and soon found greater success on his own…

5. Ironclad Contract (2012)

WWE

After Johnny Ace kicked Big Show to the curb and made him cry, he agreed to bring him back.

At a price.

With 'Ace' out of his depth in a match against John Cena at Over the Limit, Show turned up to knock out Big Match John for what felt like the millionth time and handed Laurinaitis the win.

The General Manager had tied Big Show down to an ironclad contract worth tons of money and as a result, Big Show was now Laurinaitis' own personal weapon of destruction.

When asked why he sided with the devil, Show claimed that none of his fellow professionals offered him support when he was fired so he came back to beat the absolute piss out of all of them.

Fair enough, until you remember that

- This is WWE and no-one stays ‘storyline fired’ for longer than six days.

- Big Show was ‘fired’ for precisely six days.

True to his word, Show did beat the absolute you-know-what out of everybody in this heel run.

He feuded with Cena, got involved in the WWE Title scene with CM Punk, then eventually buggered off to SmackDown where he won the World Heavyweight Title for a second time.

The best bit though; this Big Show run included the Chairs match against Sheamus at TLC. Yes, that one with that humongous steel chair that we've thought about every single day since it happened.

4. McMahon's Monster No More (1999)

WWE

The turn that started it all, merely a month and a half into his WWE run!

Little did we know at the time that this would set a precedent for his entire career with Titan Sports.

We’ve already established that Big Show came into the WWE in a blaze of fury, and set straight to work decimating the main event scene as Mr. McMahon's monster in chief.

Unfortunately for The Big Show, his numerous attempts to thwart Steve Austin and cohorts never went according to plan, causing McMahon to become increasingly irate.

Needing a last roll of the dice to stop Austin getting the WWE Title, Vince set Big Show against Mankind at WrestleMania 15 - the winner refereeing the main event title showdown.

But, even with the odds stacked in his favour, Big Show failed in his task.

Vince had had enough and slapped Show in the mush in the middle of the ring. Clearly forgetting that, although he was bungling, the Big Show was still a seven-feet tall beast of a man, and this slap awoke the Giant inside. Show turned on his handler and assaulted him to a huge pop.

Now free from the shackles of The Corporation, Show later teamed with fellow renegades Mankind, Test, and Ken Shamrock to form the Union of People You Oughtta Respect Son - aka ‘UP YOURS’ - very clever - but they were only a thing for about a minute...

3. Against The Authority (2013)

Following his tantrum at Randy Orton and Sheamus, Big Show spent a few months on sabbatical, before coming back to WWE to find the company in dire straits.

Now under the control of The Authority, Big Show didn’t like what he was seeing and publicly lambasted the state of the fed.

This didn’t sit well with COO Triple H.

Hunter and the Authority made life hell for the Big Show - from feeding him to The Shield, to forcing him to knock out friends Daniel Bryan, the Miz, and the great Dusty Rhodes, Big Show had no choice to comply or else he would be P45’d.

Show was in between a rock and a hard place, and was constantly belittled and emasculated on WWE TV; the threat of redundancy constantly looming above his head.

It was an effectively told story, and you couldn’t help but feel for Show as every time he went to lash out he simply dropped his shoulders like a beaten hound and took whatever punishment was doled out to him.

After constantly toying with him, Stephanie McMahon fired Big Show on Raw in October 2013.

Penniless and jobless, Big Show was not going to stand by idly anymore, and with nothing to lose he marched down to the ring and fended off The Shield. As the crow erupted with glee, Show would sign off by sending Triple H’s chin across town with a huge KO punch.

3. Against The Authority (2013)

Following his tantrum at Randy Orton and Sheamus, Big Show spent a few months on sabbatical, before coming back to WWE to find the company in dire straits.

Now under the control of The Authority, Big Show didn’t like what he was seeing and publicly lambasted the state of the fed.

This didn’t sit well with COO Triple H.

Hunter and the Authority made life hell for the Big Show - from feeding him to The Shield, to forcing him to knock out friends Daniel Bryan, the Miz, and the great Dusty Rhodes, Big Show had no choice to comply or else he would be P45’d.

Show was in between a rock and a hard place, and was constantly belittled and emasculated on WWE TV; the threat of redundancy constantly looming above his head.

It was an effectively told story, and you couldn’t help but feel for Show as every time he went to lash out he simply dropped his shoulders like a beaten hound and took whatever punishment was doled out to him.

After constantly toying with him, Stephanie McMahon fired Big Show on Raw in October 2013.

Penniless and jobless, Big Show was not going to stand by idly anymore, and with nothing to lose he marched down to the ring and fended off The Shield. As the crow erupted with glee, Show would sign off by sending Triple H’s chin across town with a huge KO punch.

2. Boss Man Battles (1999)

One of our favourite topics to discuss over the years has been how absolutely insane Big Boss Man was in the Attitude Era.

He murdered dogs and turned them into food, he was hanged at WrestleMania by a team of Draculas, and he made Big Show’s life a living hell.

Boss Man just did not like Big Show one bit, and by taking things far too far with the Giant, turned Show into a hugely sympathetic babyface by default (his third turn in his first year in WWE, for anyone who is counting).

Big Boss Man recited a lovely poem about Big Show’s recently deceased dad being eaten by worms, and other horrific sentiments. This was bad enough, until the day of the funeral where Boss Man nicked the coffin as Big Show surfed it while dressed like an extra from The Matrix.

Yes, this was all far too over the top and has since gone down as one of the most absurd storylines in WWE history, but in terms of making Big Show a true blue babyface, it worked wonders.

Show won the feud convincingly, beating Boss Man, Prince Albert, Viscera, and Mideon in a 4-on-1 handicap match at Survivor Series, then later the same night lifted the WWE Title after beating Triple H and The Rock in a triple threat match.

2. Boss Man Battles (1999)

One of our favourite topics to discuss over the years has been how absolutely insane Big Boss Man was in the Attitude Era.

He murdered dogs and turned them into food, he was hanged at WrestleMania by a team of Draculas, and he made Big Show’s life a living hell.

Boss Man just did not like Big Show one bit, and by taking things far too far with the Giant, turned Show into a hugely sympathetic babyface by default (his third turn in his first year in WWE, for anyone who is counting).

Big Boss Man recited a lovely poem about Big Show’s recently deceased dad being eaten by worms, and other horrific sentiments. This was bad enough, until the day of the funeral where Boss Man nicked the coffin as Big Show surfed it while dressed like an extra from The Matrix.

Yes, this was all far too over the top and has since gone down as one of the most absurd storylines in WWE history, but in terms of making Big Show a true blue babyface, it worked wonders.

Show won the feud convincingly, beating Boss Man, Prince Albert, Viscera, and Mideon in a 4-on-1 handicap match at Survivor Series, then later the same night lifted the WWE Title after beating Triple H and The Rock in a triple threat match.

1. Laying Out Lesnar (2002)

WWE

A template for a perfectly executed heel turn in the confines of gripping storytelling? We are all here for it!

It was during a WWE Title showdown with Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series 2002 that The Big Show fully pulled the trigger on a slowly developing but expertly projected turn to the dark side.

Leading into the November Pay-Per-View, Paul Heyman repeatedly asked Lesnar to pull out of the match as he didn’t think he could win. This statement from the creator of ECW in itself made Big Show sound top-tier.

Add in the fact that rookie beast Lesnar had not been pinned or submitted heading into their title bout, having comfortably seen off the likes of Hulk Hogan, The Rock, and The Undertaker in his first year in WWE, and we had the makings of a barn burner!

The build was great, with both men assaulting each other week after week on SmackDown. Tables were destroyed, chairs were swung, people were launched off stages, and Rey Mysterio was thrown into the crowd like a lucha frisbee.

Cut to Survivor Series itself, and when Lesnar looked to have the match won, Paul Heyman swerved him! With the help of a steel chair, The Big Show was WWE Champion once more, becoming the first man to beat Brock Lesnar in singles competition.

Show only held the title for a month before Kurt Angle beat him for it via Lesnar interference, but that doesn’t matter. Big Show looked like an absolute killer in this feud, and was constantly presented as such.

Lesnar’s fight back to the title scene only made him a bigger star, and when the two collided again in 2003, the whole ring blew up from all the beef!