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Big Show is among the many legendary professional wrestlers, as he's known for his longevity in the wrestling business. Big Show's also known for the many character changes throughout his career, as he's got a reputation for turning babyface and heel many times, for example. Some younger fans may not be away, but Big Show took up a copycat gimmick after WrestleMania 2000. Big Show would mimic other wrestlers for comedic appeal, one of the first signs in his WWE career where he started to showcase a lighter side of his character.
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Big Show's Success Upon WWE Arrival
Regarding his career in WWE, Big Show's wrestled throughout many generations of the company. Whether it's the Attitude Era, Ruthless Aggression Era, or the modern era, Big Show had always been a featured performer for most of his WWE career. Big Show had already become an established star when he made his debut at the St. Valentine's Day Massacre: In Your House 1999 PPV, costing Steve Austin a defeat at the hands of Vince McMahon in a Cage match. That same year, Big Show also captured the WWE Championship from Triple H at the Survivor Series 1999 PPV by overcoming a Triple-Threat bout.
From the start, the people in WWE went their way to protect Big Show's credibility. Despite being looked at as a newcomer, Big Show was someone to be taken seriously due to his massive size. His main-event push even led him to the main-event match at Wrestlemania 2000, where he took part in a Fatal-Four Way Elimination match against Triple H, The Rock, and Mick Foley for the WWE Championship.
However, WWE had other plans in place for him following WrestleMania 2000, as this was the main turning point where fans got to see the comedic side of Big Show. Big Show's always had a reputation for showing his humorous side, as his next creative direction may have kicked started that reputation.
RELATED: Why Big Show Was Better As A Babyface (& Why He’s Better As A Heel)
Big Show Engages In Comedy
After failing to win the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 2000, Big Show turned babyface as he started copying other wrestlers for comedic effect, showing somewhat of an identity crisis. Not that he'd be mimicking other wrestlers, but give himself goofy ring names that resemble the wrestlers he's copying.
For instance, he'd mimic Rikishi by wearing the same attire as him and naming himself Showkishi. He copied wrestlers such as Val Venis, The Bezerker, and Hulk Hogan, as Big Show impersonated The Hulkster during a PPV match against Kurt Angle at Backlash 2000. As much as how goofy this came off, at least Big Show wasn't booked as a loser, especially considering he defeated Kurt Angle in under three minutes in their match at Backlash 2000.
Things Go Bad For Big Show
Big Show's comedic copycat gimmick did provide entertainment for some fans. However, it's worth noting that one can expect that personas like this wouldn't last very long. And it didn't, considering his antics only lasted a few months before being taken off TV. After a fallout with Shane McMahon, who voiced his opposition against Big Show's goofy antics, a rivalry between the two culminated after Shane McMahon beat him in a Falls Count Anywhere match at the Judgement Day 2000 PPV.
After a two-month absence, Big Show returned on a July 2000 episode of Raw is War and turned heel by allying with Shane McMahon again. However, it ultimately didn't end well for Big Show as he soon got taken off WWE TV again not long after. As Big Show joined Shane McMahon's "The Conspiracy" faction, Big Show got thrown off the Raw set by The Undertaker on an August 2000 episode of Raw is War. It got done to write him off WWE TV for the remainder of 2000, as Big Show went to OVW to focus on improving his weight and cardio.
The Seven-Foot Giant Returns
Big Show eventually returned to the main roster by appearing in the Royal Rumble 2001 match. Although his copycat gimmick became forgotten, Big Show never got pushed to the same level as he did before when arriving at WWE in 1999. At least not until moving to the Smackdown brand in 2002, as he once again became a main-event level performer during the launch of the Ruthless Aggression Era.
Big Show's copycat gimmick may have been over-the-top to where it could've killed any mystique he had as a credible seven-foot giant. However, one should know that many WWE superstars go through the motions of involving themselves in goofy antics. Even superstars who were at the top of the food chain in WWE, as it seems mandatory for superstars to make themselves look foolish once in a while.
On the bright side, Big Show's copycat gimmick showcases his talent in portraying multiple personas. Much like Kane, where he's got an ability to show his comedic side while being an intimidating monster, Big Show's similar to that. There's a reason he's been in the wrestling business for so long.
