Who Is Melissa Piavis?
Melissa Piavis is widely known as the first wife of Paul Wight, the 7-foot wrestling star famous as “The Giant” in WCW and “Big Show” in WWE. The couple married in 1997, separated in 2000, and finalized their divorce in 2002. Together, they have one daughter. Melissa was married to Wight during the biggest turning point of his career, his jump from WCW to the World Wrestling Federation in 1999.
Quick Facts: Melissa Piavis
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Melissa Piavis |
| Known For | First wife of Paul Wight (Big Show) |
| Ex-Husband | Paul Donald Wight II |
| Marriage | 1997 |
| Separation | 2000 |
| Divorce Finalized | 2002 |
| Children | One daughter |
| Public Life | Private |
A Marriage in the Shadow of a Giant
Few men in wrestling ever looked like Paul Wight. Standing around seven feet tall, he could fill a doorway and a TV screen at the same time. Fans saw him as a monster in the ring.
But in the late 1990s, at home, he was a husband. The woman beside him then was Melissa Piavis.
Her name still draws searches today because she knew Wight during the most important years of his rise.
The Wrestling World When They Married
The Giant of WCW
By the time Melissa and Paul married in 1997, he was already a star in World Championship Wrestling (WCW).
He had debuted there in 1995 as “The Giant,” billed as the son of the legendary André the Giant. In his very first WCW match, at Halloween Havoc 1995, he faced Hulk Hogan for the world title.
In 1996, he won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship by beating Ric Flair. That same year, Pro Wrestling Illustrated named him both Rookie of the Year and Wrestler of the Year.
Life in the Monday Night Wars
The late 1990s were wild years for wrestling. WCW’s Monday Nitro battled the WWF’s Raw for ratings every week. Wrestlers worked long hours and spent many nights on the road.
During the first years of their marriage, Wight was part of the famous nWo storylines and won several WCW World Tag Team Championships, with partners like Lex Luger, Sting, and Scott Hall.
Becoming Parents
Melissa and Paul welcomed one daughter together during their marriage.
She remains their shared link today. Like her mother, she has stayed far from the spotlight her father lived in.
The Big Move to the WWF
A New Name in 1999
In early 1999, Wight made the biggest decision of his career. He let his WCW contract run out on February 8, 1999, his 27th birthday, and signed a ten-year deal with the World Wrestling Federation.
On February 14, 1999, he crashed through the ring at St. Valentine’s Day Massacre to attack Stone Cold Steve Austin. Soon after, the WWF gave him a new name: Big Show.
Champion by Year’s End
His first year in the WWF moved fast. At Survivor Series in November 1999, Big Show won the WWF Championship. A few months later, he took part in the main event of WrestleMania 2000.
Through all of this, Melissa was still his wife.
Separation and Divorce
Apart in 2000
In 2000, Melissa and Paul separated. That same year was a rough one for him at work. After a string of storylines, the WWF sent him to its training ground, Ohio Valley Wrestling, to improve his fitness.
A Final Split in 2002
Their divorce became final in 2002. Neither Melissa nor Paul has spoken publicly about why the marriage ended. They kept that chapter private.
Paul Wight’s Life After the Divorce
Later in 2002, Wight married his second wife, Bess Katramados.
His career kept going for many more years. He went on to win world titles in WWE many times over and became the only wrestler to hold the WCW, WWF/WWE, World Heavyweight, and ECW world championships.
In 2020, he starred in the Netflix sitcom The Big Show Show. In 2021, he left WWE and signed with All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he now works under his real name.
Choosing a Quiet Life
Melissa did not follow her ex-husband into fame. She has not given interviews about their marriage. She has not appeared on wrestling shows or reality TV.
Her story lives mostly in the dates of Paul Wight’s career. That seems to be a choice she made, and she has held to it for more than two decades.
Final Thoughts
Wrestling fans often remember the big moments: the title wins, the shocking debuts, the crowds on their feet. They rarely think about who was waiting at home when the arena lights went out.
Melissa Piavis was part of that unseen side of the story during some of the most hectic years the business has ever known. She shared a life with a man in constant motion, then quietly stepped away from the spotlight that followed him.
Some people are remembered for what they did in public. Others are remembered simply because they were there when it counted, and they chose to keep the rest for themselves.
For more honest, well-researched stories about the people behind famous names, keep reading The Ripple Magazine.
