Giant Silva

Paulo César da Silva (born July 21, 1962) is a Brazilian former national basketball player for the Brazilian national basketball team and later mixed martial artist and professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Giant Silva. A super-heavyweight wrestler, he was both a face and a heel in several professional wrestling promotions. Known for his great height, in 2014 he was described as the sixth tallest professional wrestler in history.[1]

Giant Silva
Silva in 2008.
Birth namePaulo César da Silva
Born (1962-07-21) July 21, 1962
São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Giant King
Giant Silva
Gigante Silva
The New Giant
Paulão
Billed height7 ft 2 in (218 cm)
Billed weight385 lb (175 kg)
Trained byDory Funk Jr.
Tom Prichard
Debut1997
Retired2011

Basketball career

In the 1980s, Silva was originally a professional basketball player. He played with the senior Brazilian national basketball team at the 1988 Summer Olympics as Paulão da Silva.[2] Very much like El Gigante/Giant Gonzales, who also started as a basketball player, the 7'2" (219 cm) tall da Silva, played as a reserve center on Brazil's national team, wearing the #13 jersey.[3]

Professional wrestling career

World Wrestling Federation (1998–1999)

After turning pro in late 1997, Silva signed with World Wrestling Federation. After debuting he was given the name: "Giant Silva" and was a member of the Oddities stable. For most of his WWF tenure, Silva was a cornerman for the Oddities and his matches on TV were tag matches, teaming up with Golga and/or Kurrgan.[4] His only highlight was at Summerslam 1998 when he, Golga, and Kurrgan defeated Kai En Tai in a 3 on 4 Handicap match. Silva was released around February 1999.

Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (1999-2003)

After his WWF tenure, Silva joined Mexican promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre and was renamed Gigante Silva. He was introduced by midget wrestler Tzuki and soon became an ally to tecnicos, often teaming up in tag team matches against numerically superior rudos. Silva struck an occasional team with fellow superheavyweight Brazo de Plata and had part in a feud with Gigante Kurggan, who was brought by Los Capos (the faction led by Apolo Dantes and Universo 2000) in order to oppose him. In November 2003, Silva turned rudo himself and allied with Pierroth Jr. and his valet La Comandante before leaving Mexico for Japan full time.

New Japan Pro Wrestling and Hustle (2001–2008)
Silva in a match against Bono-chan.

In 2001, Silva joined New Japan Pro Wrestling. He originally debuted on August 12, 2001 as a member of Masahiro Chono's stable: Team 2000[5] where he was paired up with another Giant: Giant Singh (better known as The Great Khali) as the tag team: Club 7. Silva made his in-ring debut for New Japan when he took part in the G1 World Climax tournament where he finished in 4th place with 4 points.[5] He and Singh made their debut as a tag team at Indicate of Next on October 8, 2001 where they defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi, Kenzo Suzuki, Yutaka Yoshie, & Wataru Inoue in a 4 on 2 handicap match.[6]

In the fall of 2001, Silva teamed with Chono in the 2001 G1 Tag League with the team finishing in 7th place with 6 points.[7] In 2002, Silva took part in several tournaments. In February he was part of the a tournament for the vacated IWGP Heavyweight Championship but lost in the first round to eventual winner: Tadao Yasuda.[8] Two days later on February 3, Silva, Singh, and Chono won the Teisen Hall Cup 6 Man Tag Team Tournament.[8] In March, Club 7 then entered a tournament for the vacated IWGP Tag Team Championship.[9] In the first round, they defeated fellow Team 2000 members: Scott Norton and Super J, but lost to Yuji Nagata and Manabu Nakanishi in the semi-finals.[9]

In the spring of 2002, Club 7 broke up and began feuding shortly afterwards. The two were scheduled to face each other at Toukon Memorial Day on May 2, 2002 but an injury to Singh prevented the match from taking place.[10] The two finally fought at Cross Road on August 29, 2002 with Silva defeating Singh.[11]

From 2004–2008, Silva wrestled for HUSTLE where he took part in a variety of matches and formed teams with Scott Norton, Toshiaki Kawada, and Mark Coleman.[12]

Independent circuit (2008–2010)

Silva also competed in National Wrestling Superstars.

Mixed martial arts career

Pride Fighting Championships (2003–2006)
Silva performing a big boot to Yoshie-chan.

After his career in NJPW, Silva was signed by Dream Stage Entertainment and competed in Pride Fighting Championships, a defunct mixed martial arts organization based in Japan. Although at one time he trained with members of the Gracie family, most notably Ricardo Gracie and Ralek Gracie, he only had a crash course in Brazilian jiu-jitsu when he had his debut in Pride Shockwave 2003 against 250lbs Heath Herring. Silva led the more experienced fighter to the third round, absorbing repeated leg kicks and taking Herring down once, but Heath capitalized and reversed it into a rear naked choke for the win.

In April 2004, Silva took part in the Heavyweight Grand Prix tournament, whose first round saw him facing sumo wrestler Henry "Sentoryu" Miller, only 85lbs lighter. Sentoryu accomplished a takedown on Silva and attacked his guard, only for Silva's height to neutralize his ground and pound attempts, as the sumo did not reach to his head. Miller finally got side control, but then Silva reversed him with a Kimura lock and made him tap out. The pro wrestler then advanced to the second round, being pitted against former world judo champion Naoya Ogawa, who won the fight by takedown and ground and pound TKO.

Silva would then face another professional wrestler, Pro Wrestling NOAH's Takashi Sugiura, who used his wrestling acumen to take him down and land knees and punches for the stoppage. The match had some controversy, as a brawl erupted after the bout and Silva had to be restrained by several ring crew men.[13]

On December 31, 2006 Giant Silva finally faced a heavier opponent, the former Yokozona Akebono Tarō, at K-1 Premium 2006. The sumo clinched Silva and pressed him against the ropes, until Silva broke the hug and transitioned a Kimura lock in way to the ground, submitting Akebono for his second and last win.

Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown
8 matches 2 wins 6 losses
By knockout 0 4
By submission 2 2
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 2–6 Akebono Taro Submission (kimura) K-1 PREMIUM 2006 Dynamite!! December 31, 2006 1 1:02 Osaka, Japan
Loss 1–6 Ikuhisa Minowa TKO (knees) Pride – Bushido 10 April 2, 2006 1 2:33 Tokyo, Japan
Loss 1–5 James Thompson TKO (soccer kicks) PRIDE Shockwave 2005 December 31, 2005 1 1:28 Saitama, Japan
Loss 1–4 Choi Mu-Bae Submission (arm-triangle choke) PRIDE Shockwave 2004 December 31, 2004 1 5:47 Saitama, Japan
Loss 1–3 Takashi Sugiura TKO (punches) PRIDE Bushido 4 July 19, 2004 1 2:35 Nagoya, Japan
Loss 1–2 Naoya Ogawa TKO (punches) PRIDE Critical Countdown 2004 June 20, 2004 1 3:29 Saitama, Japan
Win 1–1 Henry Miller Submission (kimura) PRIDE Total Elimination 2004 April 25, 2004 1 4:04 Saitama, Japan
Loss 0–1 Heath Herring Submission (rear-naked choke) PRIDE Shockwave 2003 December 31, 2003 3 0:35 Saitama, Japan

Championships and accomplishments

References
  1. Binks, Elliot (May 2, 2014). "WWE: 10 Tallest Wrestlers Ever (And How Giant They Actually Were)". WhatCulture.com. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  2. K7edoCacete (June 8, 2009). "GIANT SILVA playing Basketball (Brazil Squad)". Youtube.com. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  3. "Paulo da Silva Olympic Stats - Basketball-Reference.com". Basketball-Reference.com. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved September 20, 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. Strong Style Spirit. Puroresufan.com. Retrieved on November 8, 2012.
  6. Strong Style Spirit. Puroresufan.com. Retrieved on November 8, 2012.
  7. Strong Style Spirit. Puroresufan.com. Retrieved on November 8, 2012.
  8. Strong Style Spirit. Puroresufan.com. Retrieved on November 8, 2012.
  9. Strong Style Spirit. Puroresufan.com. Retrieved on November 8, 2012.
  10. Strong Style Spirit. Puroresufan.com. Retrieved on November 8, 2012.
  11. Strong Style Spirit. Puroresufan.com. Retrieved on November 8, 2012.
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved September 20, 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. "MMA Review: #59: Pride: Bushido Vol. 4 - The Oratory". the-oratory.com. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  14. "New Japan Pro Wrestling tournaments". Archived from the original on August 3, 2009.
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