Post by CandyKANE on Feb 24, 2003 19:52:54 GMT -5
MONTREAL – Feb. 23, 2003 – The Big Show has been dealing with a bad back – three bulging discs and one herniated disc – since December. He said the problem is getting better but it’s still a concern, even during his match tonight against the Undertaker.
But back problems aside, both Superstars were thrilled with their performance tonight. The consensus backstage was that the match was an overwhelming success – that it was physically intense, and it told a great story.
“It was one of the better matches I’ve had,” Big Show said, in spite of the fact that he lost.
Now the idea is for the Big Show to continue to put on entertaining matches. A key to that is making sure his back continues to heal. The former WWE Champion said his been dealing with the problem since taking a series of belly-to-belly suplexes from Brock Lesnar during their rivalry in the late fall.
“I probably shouldn’t be taking them,” Show said. Such impact is going to cause problems for a man his size, but Big Show said he thought taking the suplexes was important at the time, to add intensity to the matches and to help portray Lesnar as the powerhouse that he is.
When Show returned from the Superstars’ 10-day winter break, he could barely walk and couldn’t stand up straight. He went to the chiropractor and had therapy every day so he could make it through his match with Lesnar at Royal Rumble.
If he would have kept wrestling, he said, he would have eventually needed fusion surgery. “I didn’t want that, because I’d be done,” he said, so he’s been working a limited schedule since the Rumble.
“(My back) is getting better, but I still feel it every now and then,” Show said. He mentioned that it tightens after long flights, for example.
He’s been strengthening his back and stomach muscles to try to prevent future problems. He’s also dropped 15 pounds and wants to lose another 50 – “not because (Jim Ross) is on my ass, (but) because I want to for my health.”<br>
He added, “The Big Show is on a radical weight-loss program.”<br>
Show’s slightly slimmer frame was on display tonight, as he was wearing new ring attire, going back to the tights he wore during his “Giant” days, with a strap over just one shoulder.
“I wanted to show more body,” he said. “Vince (McMahon) likes to see more of me. The more I show, the more impressive human being I am.”<br>
Show said he planned to stick with the tights, possibly adding some color to them.
For Undertaker, tonight was a little bit of something old, and a little bit of something new. He drew an appreciative response from the crowd when he leaped over the top rope and collided with A-Train. ‘Taker only pulls out the over-the-top-rope leap on special occasions these days. The last one he could recall doing was during the WCW invasion days.
But ‘Taker won the match with a relatively new addition to his repertoire – the triangle choke. He also used the Dragon sleeper during the match.
“My philosophy for years was that I can take more punishment that anyone can dish out,” Undertaker said. “I’m getting at a point in my career where all those beatings are starting to take a toll.”<br>
Instead, Taker said, he’d use his mind more often in the ring than just sheer brutality.
“Anybody who thinks the Undertaker is one-dimension is going to be sorely mistaken,” he said.
credit:wwe.com
But back problems aside, both Superstars were thrilled with their performance tonight. The consensus backstage was that the match was an overwhelming success – that it was physically intense, and it told a great story.
“It was one of the better matches I’ve had,” Big Show said, in spite of the fact that he lost.
Now the idea is for the Big Show to continue to put on entertaining matches. A key to that is making sure his back continues to heal. The former WWE Champion said his been dealing with the problem since taking a series of belly-to-belly suplexes from Brock Lesnar during their rivalry in the late fall.
“I probably shouldn’t be taking them,” Show said. Such impact is going to cause problems for a man his size, but Big Show said he thought taking the suplexes was important at the time, to add intensity to the matches and to help portray Lesnar as the powerhouse that he is.
When Show returned from the Superstars’ 10-day winter break, he could barely walk and couldn’t stand up straight. He went to the chiropractor and had therapy every day so he could make it through his match with Lesnar at Royal Rumble.
If he would have kept wrestling, he said, he would have eventually needed fusion surgery. “I didn’t want that, because I’d be done,” he said, so he’s been working a limited schedule since the Rumble.
“(My back) is getting better, but I still feel it every now and then,” Show said. He mentioned that it tightens after long flights, for example.
He’s been strengthening his back and stomach muscles to try to prevent future problems. He’s also dropped 15 pounds and wants to lose another 50 – “not because (Jim Ross) is on my ass, (but) because I want to for my health.”<br>
He added, “The Big Show is on a radical weight-loss program.”<br>
Show’s slightly slimmer frame was on display tonight, as he was wearing new ring attire, going back to the tights he wore during his “Giant” days, with a strap over just one shoulder.
“I wanted to show more body,” he said. “Vince (McMahon) likes to see more of me. The more I show, the more impressive human being I am.”<br>
Show said he planned to stick with the tights, possibly adding some color to them.
For Undertaker, tonight was a little bit of something old, and a little bit of something new. He drew an appreciative response from the crowd when he leaped over the top rope and collided with A-Train. ‘Taker only pulls out the over-the-top-rope leap on special occasions these days. The last one he could recall doing was during the WCW invasion days.
But ‘Taker won the match with a relatively new addition to his repertoire – the triangle choke. He also used the Dragon sleeper during the match.
“My philosophy for years was that I can take more punishment that anyone can dish out,” Undertaker said. “I’m getting at a point in my career where all those beatings are starting to take a toll.”<br>
Instead, Taker said, he’d use his mind more often in the ring than just sheer brutality.
“Anybody who thinks the Undertaker is one-dimension is going to be sorely mistaken,” he said.
credit:wwe.com