While in the WWE, ‘Big Show’ Paul Wight missed out on a massive cinematic opportunity.
Speaking to Alistair McGeorge of Metro UK, Wight revealed that Vince McMahon himself banned Wight from joining the cast of the 2000 blockbuster: Gladiator.
Wight stated that his friend Nicolas Cage got him a role in the movie. He approached McMahon to give him a heads up.
‘I just went to Vince for the movie and he looked me straight in the face and says: “I’m paying you to be a wrestler. Do you want to be a wrestler or an actor? Make the choice.”‘ said Wight.
Wight has to call Cage back and tell him he couldn’t accept the role.
Gladiator went on to win five Academy Awards that year for Best Picture, Best Actor (Russell Crowe), Best Costume Design, Best Sound and Best Visual Effects.
‘So then when Gladiator came out, I was like, “Oh, okay, wow! Missed the boat on that one!”‘ said Wight.
Today, Wight doesn’t dwell on what could have been.
“We can live in yesterday and kind of get stuck, and get upset or depressed or woeful. I’m hopeful. I’m the opposite,” he said.
