Random Gimmick # 267: the smokin' Giant

[relentless1]

So what was the deal with Giant smoking on his way to the ring when he joined nWo Hollywood in 1998? As far as I can tell its never explained and was dropped rather unceremoniously after a couple months, anybody know any backstage goings on associated with this bizarre gimmick addition for the big man?

 

[Really?]

Simply put Sting made a comment in an interview about The Giant sitting in the back smoking and not taking anything seriously. This lead to Giant bringing it into the arena. The angle ended when Sting beat him.

 

[rbv13]

I always thought it was a sad attempt to be cool. Giant needed that edgy trick when he turned.

 

[MattBrady425]

At the time, Paul Wight, Jr. was a chainsmoker. Since he didn't really have any other trademarks, and all of the colorful characters and gimmicks were on WWF programming at the time, he had to have something that made him stand out. No other male wrestler would come to the ring with a cigar, cigarette, pipe, et cetera.

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

At the time, Paul Wight, Jr. was a chainsmoker. Since he didn't really have any other trademarks, and all of the colorful characters and gimmicks were on WWF programming at the time, he had to have something that made him stand out No other male wrestler would come to the ring with a cigar, cigarette, pipe, et cetera.

Except the fact he was a 7 foot tall athletic monster! If they had booked him properly, I don't think he would have needed to light up a cigarette to stand out.

Plus, surely that was stealing Sandman's gimmick anyway?!

 

[THTRobtaylor]

It was probably a logical follow on from "Last Call" Scott Hall... They had a boozy guy, now they had a smoker... Sandman/Hak must have been pissed however. Even more random was when WWE actually revived it a few years back with R-Truth... Especially as Vince is known to be SO anti-smoking it allegedly cost Brian Kendrick his job.

 

[Chris1-16]

Simply put Sting made a comment in an interview about The Giant sitting in the back smoking and not taking anything seriously. This lead to Giant bringing it into the arena. The angle ended when Sting beat him.

He still was doing the smoking gimmick for a while after Sting beat him. Why did he keep doing it?

The answer: It was 1998 WCW, no other explanation needed.