Big Show is back and healthy, but the road to recovery was a long one, perhaps longer than what it should have been.
Back in 2017, Big Show needed surgery for a hip replacement, but instead of opting for a full hip replacement, he had a series of surgeries, some of which were a result of him getting a surgical infection. Show admitted that he felt like his career was being pulled away from him and that a full hip replacement would have hindered his in-ring work, but in-hindsight, he thought the original plan was probably the way to go, according to him.
"I was angry I had to have the surgery done, and I felt like my career was getting pulled away from me. It wasn't on my terms," Show told ESPN.
In the end, Show required five surgeries in the past two years and the rehabilitation tested his commitment as an athlete and performer. This long road back resulted in him returning to Raw on January 6, his first appearance on the Red brand since 2018.
"Everything happens for a reason. It tested me. It tested my faith. It tested my commitment to myself as an athlete and a performer to push myself," Show said. "Monday night was the culmination for two years of headaches. Two years of stress. Two years of doubt, and other people having doubt about whether I could be competitive again... I've learned more about infections and antibiotics and physical therapy than I ever, ever wanted to know."
Show also appeared on the January 13 episode of Raw, teaming with Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe to take on Seth Rollins and AOP in a "Fist Fight."