“It’s not going to happen? Shaquille O’Neal participating in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal and going toe-to-toe (or throat-hand-to-throat-hand) with The Big Show was one of the most unexpected moments of WrestleMania 32. He’s going to be at WrestleMania 33 in Orlando, Florida, the city where he began his NBA career back in 1992. Show’s got a history of celebrity matches at Mania — he’s the only person in the world to have wrestled both Akebono and Floyd Mayweather — so we’ll wait and see how long it takes for this to get added to an official card. It’s not totally off yet but it’s not looking good. “This was my perhaps my last opportunity to have a featured match at WrestleMania. “Right now my schedule’s pretty light, but if I’m home three days, I train every day. HOW the man billed as the “world’s largest athlete” lost more than 30kg and found abs under his monstrous frame. O’Neal, 44, revealed on this week’s episode of “The Big Podcast With Shaq” that the April 2 match in Orlando, Florida, was “probably” off, but the four-time NBA champion added he would continue to stay in shape just in case. All Rights Reserved. Big Show, whose real name is Paul Wight, added fuel to the fire during an interview with ESPN on Wednesday. Longtime viewers may remember that the Shaq/Big Show beef officially began back in 2009, when Shaq guest hosted Raw and was the ringside enforcer for a Big Show/Chris Jericho vs. Cryme Tyme tag. “But I can take the assets that I have and try to accentuate them.”. IN A profession where most athletes are encouraged to continue to make their physiques bigger, scarier and more outlandish, WWE superstar Big Show’s dramatic weight loss has captured the imagination of many. Billed for much of his career as the “world’s largest athlete”, Big Show’s weight has been listed as high as 240kg at various stages of his career. © 2004-2020 CBS Interactive. A long-rumored WrestleMania 33 match between Big Show and NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal appears to be on the ropes based upon recent comments from both parties. Shaq Vs. Big Show May Be Happening At WrestleMania 33 That’s all you need to know,” O’Neal said. Big Show recently returned to WWE television after a bit of a sabbatical, so it does look like he’s gearing up for an appearance at WrestleMania 33 one way or another. If I’m home 10 days, I train every day,” he said. He’s a busy man. Does he want the world to know how fat and out of shape he is? “He has to figure things out in his own camp,” Big Show said. Big Show has charted his new commitment to slimming down and toning up on social media and he’s been an inspiration to many. You don’t make the transformation I’ve made without a serious commitment to changing 40 years of improper diet and improper training,” he recently told WWE.com. But this is a situation where, obviously, it’s above my paygrade. “This could be my last WrestleMania. On being asked to compete at WrestleMania: “It was a beautiful event and I’ve been a wrestling fan all my life, so when they called me to do it, I had to do it.”. The biggest match in WWE history between Big Show and Shaquille O’Neal at WrestleMania 33 looks set to be cancelled. “Right now, mostly, everything I count on is high-rep. I’m not trying to build muscle right now, I’m trying to keep my metabolism up, keep my tendons strong, keep my joints good and cut a lot of fat. He has to weigh these consequences in his own mind. These next 30 days, I’m about to go hard. Like WrestleMania, that moment featured Shaq and Show simultaneously choking each other until someone broke it up, but ended with Show getting shoulder tackled out of the ring. Big Show teamed up with Miami-based celebrity trainer Dodd Romero — who has worked with the likes of actor Denzel Washington and baseballer Alex Rodriguez — and devised a plan which included swimming, cycling and weight training. We're training for 'Mania -- hope you are too, @Shaq. Let me know you’re motivated. At age 45, Big Show may not get another chance for a showcase WrestleMania match, and his tone changed to a more serious one during an interview this week with SportingNews.com. “Next time when I fight Big Show and body slam him over a table, there ain’t gonna be nothing to talk about … that’s going down next year, in Orlando.”. All times AEST (GMT +10). Last April, the two had standoff following O’Neal’s surprise entry into the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania 32. “So I don’t know what’s going to happen between now and then. #WrestlingNews #WWE #WrestleMania #WrestleMania33 #BigShow #Shaq. I get it. “It is a little frustrating because my [WWE] contract ends in February 2018,” Big Show said. section: | slug: wwe-wrestlemania-33-long-rumored-shaq-vs-big-show-match-is-on-the-ropes | sport: other | route: article_single.us | Back in 2008 Big Show had his nose broken by Floyd Mayweather which helped set up their WrestleMania 24 match and WWE bosses hoped for another huge crossover spectacle.