If the long-anticipated match between Big Show and Shaquille O'Neal at WrestleMania 33 isn't going to materialize, there's only one person to blame.
"It's on Shaq," the Big Show, whose real name is Paul Wight Jr., told ESPN.com in a recent interview. "He has to figure things out in his own camp. Maybe he is just too scared to show up because he's too busy riding around singing karaoke with John Cena and going to Krispy Kreme and getting fatter every week."
The showdown has been rumored since the two 7-footers stood toe-to-toe at the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at last year's WrestleMania. Since then, there has been little discussion from either athlete, and even less hype, about what would be a match more about the allure of size than anything resembling a technical extravaganza.
In a recent episode of his own podcast, "The Big Podcast With Shaq," O'Neal implied the pushback to make this happen came from the WWE's side but was vague on details, saying only, "It's not my fault."
The Big Show disputed the claim, attacking O'Neal's lack of fitness.
"He's got to be what, 440, 450 pounds?" Big Show said. "He's gotten pretty fat. Me on the other hand? I just weighed in this morning -- 379 pounds."
Of course, the strife and verbal attacks could all be part of a greater contrived plan to finally begin promoting the match now that WrestleMania is only a month away. The Big Show, however, rejected that allegation and maintained Shaq is afraid of the possible embarrassment over his appearance.
"Maybe he doesn't want to put on spandex and show the entire world that Shaquille O'Neal, one of the greatest basketball players of all time, looks like Jabba the Hutt," Big Show said. "It's on him. He has to weigh these consequences in his own mind. Does he want the world to know how fat and out of shape he is? Or does he want to sit back and talk s--- into a podcast?"
The Big Show, a four-time WWE heavyweight champion, has made 16 previous appearances in WrestleMania, but is just 5-11, which ties him with Triple H and Shawn Michaels for the most WrestleMania losses all time.
A match against O'Neal wouldn't be the first offbeat battle on the grandest WWE stage for the Big Show. At WrestleMania XXI, he faced Akebono, a former sumo wrestler, and three years later, Show squared off against Floyd Mayweather Jr.
A showdown against O'Neal would be Show's first singles match at WrestleMania in five years.
"C'mon, Shaq," Show said. "Where are you? Just bring some heating pads after the match. You'll be all right."