Paulo César da Silva

Born: 1963-07-21

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 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. 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.


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WWE SummerSlam 1998

as Giant Silva
Released: 1998-08-30

Stone Cold Steve Austin defends the WWE Championship against The Undertaker. Edge & Sable face...

Movie page

Pride Shockwave 2004

as Self
Released: 2004-12-31

Pride Shockwave 2004 (marketed in Japan as "Otoko Matsuri - Sadame") was a mixed martial arts...

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Pride Total Elimination 2004

as Self
Released: 2004-04-25

Pride Total Elimination 2 was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships....

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Pride Critical Countdown 2004

as Self
Released: 2004-06-20

Pride Critical Countdown 2 was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships....

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Pride Shockwave 2003

as Self
Released: 2003-12-31

Pride Shockwave 2003 (Otoko Matsuri in Japanese) was a mixed martial arts event held by the...

Movie page

WWE Rock Bottom: In Your House

as Giant Silva
Released: 1998-12-13

The Rock defends his WWE Championship against Mankind. Stone Cold Steve Austin faces The...

Movie page

Pride Shockwave 2005

as Self
Released: 2005-12-31

Pride Shockwave 2005 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Pride Fighting Championships at...

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Pride Bushido 4

as Self
Released: 2004-07-19

Pride Bushido 4 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Pride Fighting Championships. It took...

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Pride Bushido 10

as Self
Released: 2006-04-02

Pride Bushido 10 was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships. It took...

Movie page

WWE Raw

as Giant Silva
First aired: 1993-01-11

A regularly scheduled, live, year-round program featuring some of the biggest WWE Superstars.

TV Show page

WWE Heat

as Giant Silva
First aired: 1998-08-02

WWE Heat is a professional wrestling television program that was produced by World Wrestling...

TV Show page