Arnold Schwarzenegger carried out a long-running prank on WWE legend The Big Show, repeatedly pretending not to recognize him for more than a decade after they worked together.
Known as Paul Wight in real-life, the former WWE champion shared the story while speaking with Chris Van Vliet. The two first met while filming the 1996 holiday comedy Jingle All the Way, where Wight appeared in a small role. He said they bonded during production and left on good terms.
The situation changed two years later when they met again. According to Wight, Schwarzenegger greeted him by introducing himself and saying, “Arnold Schwarzenegger, nice to meet you.” The unexpected response left Wight confused, as he believed the actor would remember him from their time on set.
The same exchange continued over the years. As Wight’s profile grew in professional wrestling, he encountered Schwarzenegger multiple times. Each time, the 7-time Mr. Olympia winner repeated the same introduction, maintaining the act that they had never met before.
Wight said the repeated encounters began to affect him personally. “I was so upset,” Wight said, “Arnold was living in my head rent-free.” He added that he could not understand how someone he had worked closely with failed to recognize him on multiple occasions.
The prank continued for 12 years before it was finally revealed. During an award ceremony where Schwarzenegger was presenting, Wight was selected to represent WWE on stage. While speaking, Schwarzenegger began sharing stories about Wight and described their friendship dating back to their time working together on the film.
Arnold Schwarzenegger pranked WWE legend The Big Show for over 12 years
— Dexerto (@Dexerto) April 11, 2026
Paul Wight says Arnold would pretend not to know him every time they met, despite having worked together before pic.twitter.com/l2VV1qXelg
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As Wight approached the stage to accept the award, Schwarzenegger signaled the end of the prank by winking at him, confirming that he had recognized him all along. Reflecting on the experience, Wight said, “He ribbed me for 12 years!” and added, “That’s how brilliant Arnold is… 12 years he lived rent-free in my head.”
What Is Next For The Big Show In 2026?
The Big Show was a consistent presence on WWE programming for over a decade as a full-time performer. After 2016, he made sporadic appearances while officially leaving the company in 2021.
Following his departure, he joined All Elite Wrestling, where he has wrestled only a handful of matches while also contributing in other roles. In the same interview with Van Vliet, the 54-year-old addressed the possibility of having a retirement match.
Wight said he is unsure whether that will happen and indicated he is comfortable with that outcome. Other than that, he explained his preference to see newer talent receive more focus rather than returning regularly to weekly programming.
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Wight still remains associated with All Elite Wrestling in 2026, with limited in-ring appearances since joining the promotion.
