In the high-stakes world of professional wrestling, the line between a choreographed spectacle and a genuine emergency is often razor-thin. For Paul Wight, known to millions as the Big Show, one specific moment from over two decades ago remains a source of lingering anxiety, far beyond the typical adrenaline of a live performance.
Reflecting on a chaotic sequence during the WWE Backlash 2002 event, Wight recently opened up about a stunt involving Rey Mysterio that nearly ended in tragedy. The “stretcher spot,” designed to be a shocking visual for the audience, instead became a personal nightmare for the giant, leaving him convinced he had caused a catastrophic injury to his colleague.
The incident, which occurred following a singles match between the two, involved Wight lifting a stretcher with Mysterio tied to it and swinging it into a ring post. While the crowd saw a display of dominance, Wight experienced a terrifying loss of control that led to a frantic, unplanned trip to the hospital in a rental car.
The Anatomy of a ‘Nightmare’ Spot
The sequence was not a corporate mandate but rather an idea born from Wight’s own desire to elevate the drama of the match. During a recent appearance on the Insight podcast, Wight explained that the idea began as a simple way to “rib” Mysterio during the afternoon, which then evolved into a more ambitious plan for the live broadcast.
“I hate that spot! That gives me nightmares,” Wight said (h/t WrestlingNews.co). “That went so poor. Oh, that went terrible because it was my idea, because Rey was tied in it, and then I thought I’d rib him in the afternoon, whereas I’ll just pick him up scare him. Oh, I can [pick him up]. This isn’t that tough. So what about swinging the pole? My God, that’ll look crazy.”
The plan was for Wight to swing Mysterio into the pole twice before shoving him back into the ring. However, a common locker-room occurrence—the use of slippery hair conditioner by other wrestlers—had left the ring ropes and equipment coated in a slimy residue. This unexpected variable turned a controlled move into a dangerous accident.
“So when I swung Rey into that pole, that thing popped right out of my hands, like it squeezed, like a hard-boiled egg or something,” Wight recalled. “It just popped right out, then I saw Rey go, and I went, Oh, I just killed Rey. Oh, Jesus.”
A Desperate Race to the Hospital
Despite the internal panic, the show continued. Wight described the surreal experience of maintaining his professional persona while fearing the worst as Mysterio was loaded into an ambulance. The psychological toll was immediate; Wight felt that if Mysterio had been seriously injured, his own career would be over due to the guilt and the gravity of the mistake.
In a state of distress, Wight rushed back to the locker room, grabbed his belongings, and drove to the hospital in his rental car. The stakes were not just professional, but deeply personal, as Wight emphasized his commitment to the safety of his fellow performers.
“I’m thinking, man, if Rey’s seriously f*cked up, I’m done. I’m quitting. I’m done. Because I really cared about taking care of the other guys,” Wight said.
The tension broke upon his arrival at the medical facility. Instead of a tragedy, Wight found Mysterio reclining in a hospital bed, remarkably relaxed. “I get there and Rey sits in the hospital bed with his hands behind his head, just chilling. ‘Hey, man, that was good, huh?’ I’m like, ‘You’re okay?’ [He says] ‘Oh yeah, man, I’m fine.’ I’m like, ‘You know what I went through driving over here worrying?!’”
The High-Risk Dynamic of the ‘Giant and the Flyer’
The stretcher incident highlights the unique and often dangerous dynamic between a “giant” like Wight and a “cruiserweight” like Mysterio. Throughout their careers, the two developed a trust that allowed for high-impact maneuvers, though not always without the concern of WWE officials. Wight recalled how Mysterio often pushed for more dangerous “bumps” during non-televised house shows to thrill the crowd.
One recurring spot involved Mysterio sitting on the top turnbuckle and inviting Wight to deliver a chest chop, which would send the smaller man flying from the turnbuckle to the floor—a move that Wight noted looked like an “assassination” due to the sound and the velocity of the fall.
This willingness to take risks often put Wight in the crosshairs of veteran agents. Wight mentioned that Arn Anderson, a legendary figure in the WWE coaching and talent pipeline, was frequently appalled by the visuals.
“Arn Anderson was the agent. Arn said, ‘You know, when I witness you do that to Rey, I want to call the police on you.’ It’s not me. It’s his idea. That’s not me doing that. That’s Rey. That’s getting me in trouble,” Wight explained.
Timeline of the Backlash 2002 Stretcher Incident
| Phase | Action/Event | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Preparation | Wight proposes swinging Mysterio (on a stretcher) into a ring post. | Concept approved/implemented. |
| Execution | Wight attempts the swing; hands slip due to hair conditioner residue. | Stretcher is released prematurely. |
| Immediate Aftermath | Mysterio is transported via ambulance to a local hospital. | Wight experiences severe guilt and panic. |
| Resolution | Wight arrives at the hospital in a rental car. | Mysterio is found unharmed and pleased with the spot. |
The story serves as a reminder of the invisible risks athletes take in the pursuit of a “five-star” moment. While the fans saw a brutal attack, the reality was a precarious dance of trust and a very narrow escape from a career-altering accident.
As Paul Wight continues to share stories from his storied career, these reflections provide a rare glimpse into the psychological burden carried by the “monsters” of the ring, who must balance their onscreen brutality with a profound responsibility for the lives of their coworkers.
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