Paul Wight Says Xavier McDaniel Was First To Tell Him To Wrestle, No Future In Hoops

Paul Wight is returning to the ring Wednesday evening … one thing that may by no means have occurred if not for former NBA star Xavier McDaniel, the primary particular person to inform the Famous person previously often known as Massive Present to enter skilled wrestling!

Wight dropped by the TMZ workplaces on Tuesday and sat down with Babcock on the TMZ Sports activities TV present — forward of AEW Dynamite’s Like A Dragon Gaiden Road Battle match — the place the blokes mentioned the 7-footer’s begin within the sport to his in-ring comeback.

The Wight the Wrestler origin story is fairly loopy.

Paul was a middle on the Wichita State basketball crew within the early ’90s, however wasn’t precisely Shaquille O’Neal on the courtroom.

Due to his play on the hardwood, McDaniel, a Shockers alum who’d turn into an NBA star after being drafted with the 4th general choose in 1985, gave Wight some invaluable recommendation … and maybe paved the way in which for him to turn into a titan within the wrestling trade.

“X was all the time pestering me, and he saved telling me I ought to go into wrestling. I stated ‘Man, pay attention, I am gonna play within the NBA. That is what I’ve skilled for since I used to be a child. That is what I do,'” Wight recounted telling McDaniel (this story begins across the 14-minute mark).

“[Xavier] says, ‘Man, you are gonna be the one 7-foot dude who will get reduce by the Japanese crew. He goes, ‘I am telling you what it’s good to do. It’s worthwhile to go into professional wrestling and be Andre The Giant‘s son.’ He says, ‘Man, you appear to be Andre. That is what it’s good to do.'”

“Xavier McDaniel noticed the imaginative and prescient on the wall lengthy earlier than it ever occurred.”

Shortly after, Paul linked up with Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff … and the remainder is historical past.

Now, Wight’s wrestling once more at 51 years outdated (it has been a bit since he is carried out within the Squared Circle, although he is been signed to AEW since ’21) … and he is teaming up with Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi, and Chris Jericho to tackle Hobbs, Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher, and Brian Cage.

How for much longer will he wrestle? Try the complete interview — we requested him.