Paul Wight
Big Show
Overview
Former WWE wrestler the Big Show is out of the ring and ready for an even tougher challenge: raising three daughters with his wife in Florida.
Seasons
- Status
- Canceled
- Seasons
- 1 season
- Episodes
- 8 episodes
- First aired
- Apr 6, 2020
Cast
Reviews
6 min readThe Giant in the Room
I’ll admit it: when I first heard about The Big Show Show, I rolled my eyes. A WWE wrestler playing a fictionalized version of himself in a multi-cam family sitcom? It sounded like the kind of corporate synergy that Netflix cranks out when it’s feeling nostalgic for the era of Full House and Boy Meets World—safe, predictable, and just self-aware enough to wink at the audience without actually risking anything.
But here’s the thing about eye rolls: they’re often a defense mechanism. Because if you let yourself actually watch The Big Show Show, you might find that it’s… well, kind of sweet. Not groundbreaking, not life-changing, but sweet in the way a warm plate of chocolate chip cookies is sweet—familiar, comforting, and just a little bit messy around the edges.
The premise is simple: Paul Wight, the 7-foot-tall former WWE champion known as the Big Show, is retired from the ring and trying to adjust to life as a stay-at-home dad in Tampa, Florida. His wife, Cassy (Allison Munn), runs a successful real estate business, and their two younger daughters, Mandy (Lily Brooks O’Briant) and J.J. (Juliet Donenfeld), are your typical sitcom kids—one a precocious overachiever, the other a lovable goofball.
The real engine of the show, though, is the arrival of Lola (Reylynn Caster), Wight’s 17-year-old daughter from a previous marriage, who moves in after her mom’s new job takes her overseas. Lola’s presence disrupts the household’s carefully calibrated dynamic, forcing Wight to confront the fact that he doesn’t actually know how to be a dad to a teenager. It’s a setup that could’ve been lifted straight from a TGIF lineup in the ‘90s, and that’s very much the point.
The show’s creators, Josh Bycel and Jason Berger (who cut their teeth on Happy Endings), aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel. They’re not even trying to put a fresh spin on it. The Big Show Show is unapologetically a throwback, and in that sense, it’s a fascinating time capsule. But here’s the twist: in 2020, that kind of nostalgia isn’t just comforting; it’s almost radical.
In an age where prestige TV is defined by its darkness, its ambiguity, and its refusal to tie up loose ends, The Big Show Show is proudly, almost defiantly, nice. There’s no cynicism here, no post-modern irony, no attempt to subvert the genre. It’s a show that believes in the power of a well-timed pratfall and a heartfelt speech about family.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsPaul Wight Brings WWE Stardom to Netflix in The Big Show Show
WWE legend Paul Wight—better known to wrestling fans as The Big Show—stepped out of the ring and into a family sitcom with Netflix’s The Big Show Show (2020). The series marked a rare transition for a wrestling icon into scripted comedy, blending Wight’s larger-than-life persona with the chaos of a blended family. But how did the show stack up, and what was the behind-the-scenes vibe like for the 7-foot-tall star?
A Sitcom Built Around a Wrestling Giant
The Big Show Show centered on Wight’s character, a retired wrestler adjusting to life as a single dad after his teenage daughter moves in with him and his new family. The premise leaned into Wight’s real-life wrestling fame, with the show’s title even playing on his WWE moniker. The cast included Allison Munn as his on-screen wife, alongside Reylynn Caster, Lily Brooks O’Briant, and Juliet Donenfeld as his daughters 
.
Critically, the series didn’t set the world on fire. On SensCritique, it holds a modest 4.4/10 rating from 63 votes, with reviewers describing it as a lighthearted, family-friendly comedy aimed at younger audiences . The 25-minute runtime per episode reinforced its kid-friendly appeal, though some fans of Wight’s wrestling career might have hoped for more edge.
Wight’s Transition from the Ring to the Screen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPa5V9cqsMQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_qEMqcsojY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX_4T9oAfOk
Wight’s move into acting wasn’t entirely new—he’d appeared in films and TV before—but The Big Show Show was his first leading role in a series. In interviews, he embraced the shift, framing the show as a chance to showcase his comedic chops. "It’s a different kind of performance," Wight said in one Netflix promo, though the exact quote isn’t sourced in the available evidence .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgdA6w34OI4
The wrestling world, however, was watching. Clips of Wight discussing the show surfaced on WWE-related channels, with fans curious about how his in-ring charisma would translate to sitcom humor . The trailer, released in 2020, teased a mix of slapstick and heartfelt moments, positioning the series as a blend of The Middle and Modern Family—but with a 7-foot-tall dad at the center .
Behind-the-Scenes: What We Know (and What We Don’t)
Details about the show’s production are scarce. No confirmed creator or director is listed in the available evidence, and there’s no word on whether Wight had creative input beyond his performance. Rumors about behind-the-scenes dynamics or challenges—like filming around his wrestling schedule—remain unconfirmed, as the evidence doesn’t touch on logistics .
What is clear is that Wight leaned into the role. In interviews, he joked about the physical demands of acting versus wrestling, though specifics aren’t provided in the snippets . The show’s single-season run (per Netflix’s typical format) suggests it didn’t gain enough traction for renewal, but it remains a curiosity for wrestling fans and sitcom enthusiasts alike.
The Verdict: A Niche Experiment
The Big Show Show was never destined to be a critical darling, but it served as a fun experiment for Wight. For wrestling fans, it offered a glimpse of the Big Show outside the ring; for general audiences, it was a harmless, if forgettable, family comedy. Its legacy? A footnote in Wight’s career, but proof that even giants can try their hand at sitcom stardom.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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