Professional wrestling superstar Paul Wight’s first wife, Melissa Ann Piavis, caught public attention through their relationship. She was born on May 30, 1966, in Greece. Her citizenship spans both the United States and Greece. The world knows her former husband as “The Big Show,” yet she managed to keep her life away from media attention.
Their love story began with a Valentine’s Day wedding on February 14, 1997, which seemed perfect at the time. The marriage lasted five years and ended on February 6, 2002, just shy of their fifth anniversary. They welcomed their daughter, Cierra Wight, in 1998. Her ex-husband built an impressive career in professional wrestling and acting. He claimed several titles including the WWE Championship and World Heavyweight Championship. Melissa chose a quiet life after their split.
Early Life and Background
Melissa Ann Piavis started her life journey in Greece on May 30, 1966. She later made America her home, but her Mediterranean roots remain a core part of who she is today.
Birthplace and heritage
Greek culture runs deep in Melissa’s blood and shaped her early years by a lot. Her father, James Piavis, made sure she stayed connected to her Greek roots even after their family moved to America[52]. Living between two cultures gave her an exceptional viewpoint, and she now holds citizenship in both Greece and the United States.
Her Greek background gave her strong family values that shaped how she handles relationships and privacy today. She went to Sprayberry High School in Georgia and learned to balance her American life with her Greek identity – walking between two different worlds.
Melissa Ann Piavis age and zodiac
Melissa Ann Piavis turns 57 in 2024. She was born under the Gemini star sign[54]. Geminis are known for adapting easily and communicating well – traits that helped her navigate life’s changes. She managed to keep a quiet life, especially after her marriage to wrestling superstar Paul Wight ended.
Family and upbringing
Melissa keeps her early family life private, matching her overall approach to public attention. Public records only mention her father James Piavis[52], with little information about other family members or siblings. This matches traditional Greek values where families keep personal matters within close circles.
Greek culture left its mark on who Melissa became. Greek families put strong emphasis on family ties, cultural pride, and personal dignity – values that show in how Melissa lives her life away from the spotlight. Living between Greek and American cultures helped her become resilient and adaptable.
Moving from Greece to America marked a big chapter in her story, though nobody knows exactly when this happened. What’s clear is that her background prepared her for a life that would briefly touch the world of celebrity through her marriage to one of wrestling’s biggest stars.
Marriage to Big Show
Paul Wight’s marriage to Melissa Ann Piavis started with high hopes but ended up lasting just a few years. Their story shows how fame and professional success can affect personal relationships.
How Melissa met Paul Wight
Melissa Ann Piavis and Paul Wight’s love story began in 1995 when he was starting his wrestling career with WCW as “The Giant.” Their relationship grew stronger among Wight’s rising success in wrestling. The couple dated for about two years before they decided to get married. Melissa saw Paul’s growing wrestling career up close, which helped her understand the challenges that would later affect their marriage.
Wedding and early years together
The couple chose Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1997, to exchange their wedding vows. Paul’s wrestling career was taking off during this time. They welcomed their daughter, Cierra Wight, on November 28, 1998. Melissa managed to keep a low profile even as her husband became more famous. She would go to wrestling events and industry functions with Paul but preferred to stay away from the spotlight.
Challenges and eventual separation
The marriage faced its most important challenges quickly. Paul’s wrestling schedule meant he had to travel extensively and stay away from home. Their second anniversary came right when Wight made his big wrestling debut, which caused tension between them. These pressures led to their separation in 2000, just three years after getting married. They finalized their divorce on February 6, 2002[81], just days before what would have been their fifth anniversary.
Melissa Ann Piavis married life timeline
Their relationship includes these key moments:
- 1995: First meeting and start of their relationship
- February 14, 1997: Wedding ceremony on Valentine’s Day[83]
- November 28, 1998: Birth of their daughter Cierra[81]
- 2000: Separation after about three years of marriage
- February 6, 2002: Finalization of divorce[81]
Life After Divorce
Melissa Ann Piavis chose a path quite different from her ex-husband’s public lifestyle after their marriage ended in 2002. She focused on family and privacy instead of fame.
Raising their daughter Cierra Wight
After the divorce, Melissa devoted herself to raising their daughter Cierra, who was born on November 28, 1998. She worked hard to protect her child from the wrestling spotlight. Cierra, now in her mid-twenties, graduated from Palm Harbor High School and earned a degree in graphic design from the University of West Florida. Melissa’s careful approach to parenting emphasized stability and normal life over any benefits that might come from wrestling celebrity connections. She never tried to use her connection to Paul Wight for publicity or attention, unlike some ex-partners of famous personalities.
Maintaining privacy post-divorce
Melissa chose a remarkably quiet life after their separation. She moved to LaGrange, Georgia—a choice that helped both her and Cierra build lives away from public attention. She stayed almost completely out of the media spotlight, never giving interviews or making public appearances. Her absence from social media platforms shows her steadfast dedication to privacy. This choice to stay away from public life differs from what most celebrity-connected people do, as Melissa valued peace and quiet over recognition.
Big Show’s remarriage and family life
Paul Wight didn’t wait long to start a new chapter. He married former model Bess Katramados on February 11, 2002, just five days after his divorce from Melissa became final. Wight and Katramados welcomed two children—their son Jett arrived on June 19, 2007, followed by Cash on December 8, 2010. The family now lives in Odessa, Florida. Unlike Melissa’s approach, Wight sometimes shares bits of his family life through interviews and social media, though his wife Bess keeps a lower profile than most wrestling spouses.
Where is Melissa Ann Piavis Now?
Unlike many celebrities’ former spouses who try to use their connections for fame, Melissa Ann Piavis chose a path of extreme privacy after her divorce from wrestling superstar Paul Wight.
Current residence and lifestyle
Melissa Ann Piavis has managed to keep a low public profile since her 2002 separation from Paul Wight. She lives in the United States, with reports suggesting she settled in LaGrange, Georgia. This small town gives Melissa the privacy she wants, away from wrestling’s spotlight. LaGrange was a smart choice that lets her raise her daughter without constant public attention.
Family comes first in Melissa’s life rather than public recognition. She built a normal life over the last several years after her divorce. Now at 57, she enjoys a quiet life that puts personal peace ahead of any benefits from staying connected to celebrity circles.
Public appearances and media presence
Melissa took strong steps to protect her privacy and became invisible to media after her divorce. She hasn’t made any notable public appearances or given interviews about her past marriage or current life. This choice to stay completely out of the public eye shows how much she values a normal life.
She stays away from celebrity functions, wrestling events, and entertainment industry gatherings. Recent photos of Melissa Ann Piavis don’t exist because she avoids places where media might show up. Her ability to stay private for over two decades shows amazing dedication in a time when people can find information about anyone.
Is she active on social media?
In stark comparison to this digital world, Melissa Ann Piavis has no verified presence on social media platforms. She doesn’t have any confirmed accounts on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or other popular networks. Most private individuals and those connected to famous personalities have some online presence, which makes her complete absence from social media rare.
She chose to stay offline, which highlights her dedication to privacy and shows she values personal boundaries more than the exposure social media gives. Many celebrity ex-spouses develop online followings based on their past relationships, but Melissa chose a different path.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Melissa Ann Piavis is a remarkable example of someone who stepped away from celebrity life and chose privacy and normalcy instead. She moved from Greece to America, married one of wrestling’s biggest stars, and now lives a quiet life in LaGrange, Georgia. She never wavered from her commitment to stay out of the spotlight.
Her story is different by a lot from what we usually see in celebrity marriages. Many ex-spouses try to utilize their connections to gain fame or money, but Melissa took the opposite path. After divorcing Paul Wight in 2002, she vanished from public view and we focused on raising their daughter Cierra away from wrestling’s spotlight.
Her absence from social media platforms shows her strong will to protect her personal boundaries. This wasn’t just by chance – she made a conscious choice to put peace before publicity. We only know about Melissa through public records and what others occasionally say about her, not from anything she shares herself.
The way she lives now compared to her ex-husband really stands out. Paul Wight got married again just days after their divorce was final and kept his high-profile wrestling career going, later becoming an actor. Melissa built a peaceful life that kept both herself and their daughter away from unwanted attention.
Melissa Ann Piavis shows us something we rarely see these days – someone with celebrity connections who took back their privacy. Her story reminds us that fame, even when it comes through association, is always a choice. While her name will always be part of Big Show’s story, she has clearly shown that she’s much more than just “a wrestler’s ex-wife.”
FAQs
Q1. Who was Melissa Ann Piavis married to? Melissa Ann Piavis was married to Paul Wight, better known by his wrestling name “The Big Show.” They were married from 1997 to 2002.
Q2. Does Melissa Ann Piavis have any children? Yes, Melissa Ann Piavis has one daughter named Cierra Wight, born in 1998, from her marriage to Paul Wight.
Q3. What is Melissa Ann Piavis doing now? Melissa Ann Piavis currently leads a private life away from the public eye. She is believed to reside in LaGrange, Georgia, focusing on her personal life and family.
Q4. Is Melissa Ann Piavis active on social media? No, Melissa Ann Piavis does not have any verified presence on social media platforms. She has chosen to maintain her privacy by staying offline.
Q5. How long were Melissa Ann Piavis and Big Show married? Melissa Ann Piavis and Big Show (Paul Wight) were married for approximately five years. They wed on February 14, 1997, and their divorce was finalized on February 6, 2002.
