Giant Silva
Encyclopedia
Paulo César da Silva Jaiantoshiruba better known by his ring name
Giant Silva, is a former Brazil
ian basketball
player and mixed martial artist
and current professional wrestler
. He was born in São Paulo
, Brazil.
in the early years, Silva was originally a professional basketball
player, playing for the Brazilian Team in the Olympic Games
. He is often billed between 7'4 and 7'7 but is really 7'2.
. 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. His only highlight was at Summerslam 1998
when he, Golga, and Kurrgan defeated Kaientai in a 3 on 4 Handicap match. Silva was released along with the rest of the Oddities in early 1999.
. He originally debuted on August 12, 2001 as a member of Masahiro Chono's
stable: Team 2000 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. 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.
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. 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
. Two days later on February 3, Silva, Singh, and Chono won the Teisen Hall Cup 6 Man Tag Team Tournament. In March, Club 7 then entered a tournament for the vacated IWGP Tag Team Championship. 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.
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. The two finally fought at Cross Road on August 29, 2002 with Silva defeating Singh.
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
.
organization based in Japan
. Silva, at one time, trained with members of the Gracie family
, most notably Ricardo Gracie and Ralek Gracie
. On December 31, 2006 Giant Silva defeated former Yokozona Akebono Tarō
by Kimura Armlock in the first round at K-1 Dynamite 2006 for his second win of his career giving him a professional record of 2 wins and 6 losses overall spanning both PRIDE FC and K-1
.
And the Ball Buster Stomp As well as the Nut Cracker
|Win
|align='center'|2-6
|
Akebono
|Submission (kimura)
|K-1 Premium Dynamite!!
2006
|
|align='center'|1
|align='center'|1:02
|Osaka, Japan
|
|-
|Loss
|align='center'|1-6
| Ikuhisa Minowa
|TKO (knees)
|PRIDE Bushido 10
|
|align='center'|1
|align='center'|2:33
|Tokyo, Japan
|
|-
|Loss
|align='center'|1-5
|
James Thompson
|TKO (strikes)
|PRIDE Shockwave 2005
|
|align='center'|1
|align='center'|1:28
|Saitama
, Japan
|
|-
|Loss
|align='center'|1-4
|
Choi Mu Bae
|Submission (arm-triangle choke)
|PRIDE Shockwave 2004
|
|align='center'|1
|align='center'|5:47
|Saitama
, Japan
|
|-
|Loss
|align='center'|1-3
| Takashi Sugiura
|TKO (punches)
|PRIDE Bushido 4
|
|align='center'|1
|align='center'|2:35
|Nagoya, Japan
|
|-
|Loss
|align='center'|1-2
| Naoya Ogawa
|TKO (punches)
|PRIDE Critical Countdown 2004
|
|align='center'|1
|align='center'|3:29
|Saitama
, Japan
|
|-
|Win
|align='center'|1-1
|
Henry Miller
|Submission (kimura)
|PRIDE Total Elimination 2004
|
|align='center'|1
|align='center'|4:04
|Saitama
, Japan
|
|-
|Loss
|align='center'|0-1
| Heath Herring
|Submission (rear naked choke)
|PRIDE Shockwave 2003
|
|align='center'|3
|align='center'|0:35
|Saitama
, Japan
|
Teisen Hall Six-Man Tournament (2002) - with Masahiro Chono
and Giant Singh
Ring name
A ring name is a stage name used by a professional wrestler, martial artist, or boxer. While some ring names may have a fictitious first name and surname, others may simply be a nickname, such as The Undertaker.-Wrestling:...
Giant Silva, is a former Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player and mixed martial artist
Mixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
and current professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
. He was born in São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, Brazil.
Career
Very much like El Gigante/Giant GonzalesJorge Gonzales
Jorge González was an Argentinian basketball player and professional wrestler. He was best known for his appearances in World Championship Wrestling under the ring name El Gigante between 1989 and 1992 and in the World Wrestling Federation under the ring name Giant González in...
in the early years, Silva was originally a professional basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player, playing for the Brazilian Team in the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
. He is often billed between 7'4 and 7'7 but is really 7'2.
World Wrestling Federation (1998-1999)
After turning pro in 1998, Silva signed with World Wrestling FederationWorld Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
. 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
John Tenta
John Anthony Tenta was a Canadian professional wrestler known for his work in the World Wrestling Federation as Earthquake and later Golga, and in World Championship Wrestling as Avalanche and The Shark.-Early life:John Tenta was born in Surrey, British Columbia...
and/or Kurrgan. His only highlight was at Summerslam 1998
SummerSlam
SummerSlam is a professional wrestling pay-per-view event, produced annually in August by professional wrestling promotion WWE. The inaugural SummerSlam took place on August 29, 1988 at Madison Square Garden in New York, New York and was broadcast via pay-per-view, unlike the Royal Rumble of that...
when he, Golga, and Kurrgan defeated Kaientai in a 3 on 4 Handicap match. Silva was released along with the rest of the Oddities in early 1999.
New Japan Pro Wrestling and HUSTLE (2001-2008)
In 2001, Silva joined New Japan Pro WrestlingNew Japan Pro Wrestling
is a major professional wrestling promotion in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in June 1972 and owned by Yuke's since 2005, when Inoki sold the promotion. Naoki Sugabayashi is the current President of the promotion and has held that position from 2007. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it...
. He originally debuted on August 12, 2001 as a member of Masahiro Chono's
Masahiro Chono
, is a Japanese professional wrestler. He primarily wrestles for New Japan Pro Wrestling , but has also made appearances for the now defunct World Championship Wrestling, as a member of the New World Order. Chono was also known as Mister Black Jack when he first started as a villain. He is a...
stable: Team 2000 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. He and Singh made their debut as a tag team at Indicate of Next on October 8, 2001 where they defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi
Hiroshi Tanahashi
is a Japanese professional wrestler who works primarily for New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is the current IWGP Heavyweight Champion in his fifth reign.-Early life:...
, Kenzo Suzuki
Kenzo Suzuki
Kenzo Suzuki is a Japanese professional wrestler. He is perhaps best known for his appearances with New Japan Pro Wrestling and in the United States with World Wrestling Entertainment...
, Yutaka Yoshie
Yutaka Yoshie
, is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working as a freelancer in Japan, performing for promotions such as All Japan Pro Wrestling, New Japan Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Noah and Pro Wrestling Zero1...
, & Wataru Inoue
Wataru Inoue
is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working for New Japan Pro Wrestling.-Professional wrestling career:Inoue made his debut in 1999 on the Japanese independent circuit, then climbed the ladder to get to New Japan Pro Wrestling in 2004...
in a 4 on 2 handicap match.
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. 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
Tadao Yasuda
Tadao Yasuda is a retired sumo and professional wrestler from Ōta, Tokyo, Japan. He competed in sumo from 1979 to 1992, under the shikona of Takanofuji, achieving the rank of komusubi, and afterwards turned to professional wrestling, in which he competed from 1994 to 2011.-Sumo career:He made his...
. Two days later on February 3, Silva, Singh, and Chono won the Teisen Hall Cup 6 Man Tag Team Tournament. In March, Club 7 then entered a tournament for the vacated IWGP Tag Team Championship. In the first round, they defeated fellow Team 2000 members: Scott Norton
Scott Norton
Scott Michael Norton is an American semi-retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his tenures in World Championship Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling.-Before wrestling:...
and Super J
Jeff Farmer (wrestler)
Jeff Farmer is a professional wrestler best known as Fake Sting, and later nWo Sting. A mainstay of World Championship Wrestling during the 1990s, he led a Japanese faction of the heel stable New World Order in New Japan Pro Wrestling competing in the promotion until WCW's close in 2001. Farmer is...
, but lost to Yuji Nagata
Yuji Nagata
is a Japanese professional wrestler. He was known for his perennial tweener status, currently a solid fan favorite, and his stiff, shoot style wrestling technique....
and Manabu Nakanishi
Manabu Nakanishi
is a Japanese professional wrestler and former amateur wrestler who competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. He currently works for New Japan Pro Wrestling. He is a former IWGP Heavyweight Champion.-Amateur wrestling career:...
in the semi-finals.
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. The two finally fought at Cross Road on August 29, 2002 with Silva defeating Singh.
From 2004-2008, Silva wrestled for HUSTLE where he took part in a variety of matches and formed teams with Scott Norton
Scott Norton
Scott Michael Norton is an American semi-retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his tenures in World Championship Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling.-Before wrestling:...
, Toshiaki Kawada
Toshiaki Kawada
is a Japanese professional wrestler who is most known for his work in All Japan Pro Wrestling. In 2005, he started freelancing in other promotions....
, and Mark Coleman
Mark Coleman
Mark Coleman is an American mixed martial artist, professional wrestler, former NCAA collegiate wrestler and former Olympic amateur wrestler. In MMA, he was the UFC 10 and UFC 11 tournament champion, the first Ultimate Fighting Championship heavyweight champion, and the Pride Fighting...
.
PRIDE Fighting Championship (2003-2006)
Silva competed in PRIDE Fighting Championships, a defunct mixed martial artsMixed martial arts
Mixed Martial Arts is a full contact combat sport that allows the use of both striking and grappling techniques, both standing and on the ground, including boxing, wrestling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay Thai, kickboxing, karate, judo and other styles. The roots of modern mixed martial arts can be...
organization based in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Silva, at one time, trained with members of the Gracie family
Gracie family
The Gracie family is a prominent sporting family from Brazil known for their founding of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu . They have been successful in combat sport competitions including mixed martial arts, vale tudo and submission wrestling events...
, most notably Ricardo Gracie and Ralek Gracie
Ralek Gracie
Ralek Gracie is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner and mixed martial artist. He is the son of Rorion Gracie and a member of the legendary Gracie family, and is the nephew of former UFC Champion Royce Gracie and Rickson Gracie. He has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under his father Rorion,...
. On December 31, 2006 Giant Silva defeated former Yokozona Akebono Tarō
Akebono Taro
is a retired American born-Japanese sumo wrestler from Waimānalo, Hawaii. Joining the professional sport in Japan in 1988, he was trained by pioneering Hawaiian sumo wrestler Takamiyama and rose swiftly up the rankings, reaching the top division in 1990...
by Kimura Armlock in the first round at K-1 Dynamite 2006 for his second win of his career giving him a professional record of 2 wins and 6 losses overall spanning both PRIDE FC and K-1
K-1
K-1 is a defunct world-wide kickboxing promotion based in Tokyo, Japan founded by Kazuyoshi Ishii, a formerKyokushin karate practitioner. K-1 combines stand up techniques from Muay Thai, Karate, Taekwondo, Savate, San Shou, kickboxing, western-style boxing, and other martial arts...
.
Independent Circuit
Silva is currently wrestling on the independent wrestling circuit, and is a regular in National Wrestling Superstars. When not wrestling, Silva works as a bouncer in New York City. Silva was also Sloth's stunt double in the movie "The Goonies".In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Bottom rope splash
- Military press slam
- Superplex
- Signature moves
- Backbreaker
- ChokeslamChokeslamA chokeslam refers to a type of body slam in professional wrestling in which the wrestler grasps their opponent's neck, lifts them up, and slams them to the mat. It is common in televised wrestling because it is simple and relatively safe, yet looks powerful on camera...
- Clawhold, sometimes transitioned into an STO
- PowerbombPowerbombA powerbomb is a professional wrestling throw in which an opponent is lifted up and then slammed back-first down to the mat. The standard powerbomb sees an opponent first placed in a standing headscissors position...
And the Ball Buster Stomp As well as the Nut Cracker
Mixed martial arts record
|-|Win
|align='center'|2-6
|
AkebonoAkebono Taro
is a retired American born-Japanese sumo wrestler from Waimānalo, Hawaii. Joining the professional sport in Japan in 1988, he was trained by pioneering Hawaiian sumo wrestler Takamiyama and rose swiftly up the rankings, reaching the top division in 1990...
|Submission (kimura)
|K-1 Premium Dynamite!!
K-1 Premium Dynamite!!
K-1 PREMIUM Dynamite!! is an annual kickboxing and mixed martial arts event held in Japan by the Fighting and Entertainment Group. It began as a co-production between PRIDE Fighting Championships and K-1 held on August 28, 2002...
2006
|
|align='center'|1
|align='center'|1:02
|Osaka, Japan
|
|-
|Loss
|align='center'|1-6
|
Ikuhisa MinowaIkuhisa Minowa
is a Japanese mixed martial artist and pro wrestler currently competing in Dream as . He was a long time veteran of Pride Fighting Championships and Pancrase and has also competed in other mixed martial arts promotions such as K-1 HERO'S, Cage Rage, UFC, and DEEP. At 5'9" he is notable for taking...
|TKO (knees)
|PRIDE Bushido 10
PRIDE Bushido 10
Pride Bushido 10 was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships. It took place at the Ariake Coliseum in Tokyo, Japan on April 2, 2006...
|
|align='center'|1
|align='center'|2:33
|Tokyo, Japan
|
|-
|Loss
|align='center'|1-5
|
James ThompsonJames Thompson (fighter)
James Thompson is an English mixed martial artist. He fights as a heavyweight and has appeared in such promotions as Elite Xtreme Combat , Pride Fighting Championship, and Cage Rage. He is known for rushing his opponents at the start of the bout.-Biography:James Thompson grew up in Rochdale,...
|TKO (strikes)
|PRIDE Shockwave 2005
PRIDE Shockwave 2005
Pride Shockwave 2005 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Pride Fighting Championships at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan on December 31, 2005. In Japan, the event was called "Otoko Matsuri 2005 – Itadaki"...
|
|align='center'|1
|align='center'|1:28
|Saitama
Saitama, Saitama
' is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, situated in the south-east of the prefecture. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance...
, Japan
|
|-
|Loss
|align='center'|1-4
|
Choi Mu BaeChoi Mu Bae
Choi Mu-Bae , often anglicised to Mu-Bae Choi, is a South Korean former heavyweight Greco-Roman wrestler and now mixed martial artist, who is associated with Team Tackle and KPW Korea.-Mixed martial arts:...
|Submission (arm-triangle choke)
|PRIDE Shockwave 2004
PRIDE Shockwave 2004
Pride Shockwave 2004 was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships. The event took place at the Saitama Super Arena on December 31st, 2004...
|
|align='center'|1
|align='center'|5:47
|Saitama
Saitama, Saitama
' is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, situated in the south-east of the prefecture. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance...
, Japan
|
|-
|Loss
|align='center'|1-3
|
Takashi SugiuraTakashi Sugiura
is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently working for Pro Wrestling Noah. Sugiura, an accomplished amateur wrestler, joined NOAH's dojo in 2000, making his professional debut on December 23, 2000, and thus becoming the first wrestler to make his pro wrestling debut in NOAH. He has also...
|TKO (punches)
|PRIDE Bushido 4
PRIDE Bushido 4
Pride Bushido 4 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Pride Fighting Championships. It took place at the Nagoya Rainbow Hall in Nagoya, Japan on July 19, 2004. The fight card was highlighted by three fights between the Brazilian Top Team and Team Japan.- Kyosuke Sasaki vs. Eiji...
|
|align='center'|1
|align='center'|2:35
|Nagoya, Japan
|
|-
|Loss
|align='center'|1-2
|
Naoya OgawaNaoya Ogawa
Naoya Ogawa is a Japanese former world judo champion, Olympic silver medalist, professional wrestler and mixed martial artist...
|TKO (punches)
|PRIDE Critical Countdown 2004
PRIDE Critical Countdown 2004
Pride Critical Countdown 2004 was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships. It took place on June 20th, 2004, at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan.-Background:...
|
|align='center'|1
|align='center'|3:29
|Saitama
Saitama, Saitama
' is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, situated in the south-east of the prefecture. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance...
, Japan
|
|-
|Win
|align='center'|1-1
|
Henry MillerHenry Armstrong Miller
Since his retirement from sumo, Sentoryu has tried his luck at mixed martial arts. His debut was for PRIDE in April 2004.He has six wins and nine losses in his sixteen fights to date. He styles himself Henry "Sentoryu" Miller. He made an agreement with World Victory Road and recently fought...
|Submission (kimura)
|PRIDE Total Elimination 2004
PRIDE Total Elimination 2004
Pride Total Elimination 2004 was a mixed martial arts event held by Pride Fighting Championships. This event consisted of the first round of the 2004 Heavyweight Grand Prix...
|
|align='center'|1
|align='center'|4:04
|Saitama
Saitama, Saitama
' is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, situated in the south-east of the prefecture. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance...
, Japan
|
|-
|Loss
|align='center'|0-1
|
Heath HerringHeath Herring
Heath Herring is an inactive American Heavyweight professional mixed martial artist who attained popularity fighting for PRIDE FC in Japan and most recently fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship...
|Submission (rear naked choke)
|PRIDE Shockwave 2003
PRIDE Shockwave 2003
Pride Shockwave 2003 was a mixed martial arts event held by the Pride Fighting Championships. Gary Goodridge announced he would retire from Pride. It took place at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan on December 31, 2003.- Quinton Jackson vs. Ikuhisa Minowa:Jackson defeated Minowa by TKO ...
|
|align='center'|3
|align='center'|0:35
|Saitama
Saitama, Saitama
' is the capital and the most populous city of Saitama Prefecture in Japan, situated in the south-east of the prefecture. Its area incorporates the former cities of Urawa, Ōmiya, Yono and Iwatsuki. It is a city designated by government ordinance...
, Japan
|
Championships and accomplishments
- New Japan Pro WrestlingNew Japan Pro Wrestlingis a major professional wrestling promotion in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in June 1972 and owned by Yuke's since 2005, when Inoki sold the promotion. Naoki Sugabayashi is the current President of the promotion and has held that position from 2007. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it...
Teisen Hall Six-Man Tournament (2002) - with Masahiro Chono
Masahiro Chono
, is a Japanese professional wrestler. He primarily wrestles for New Japan Pro Wrestling , but has also made appearances for the now defunct World Championship Wrestling, as a member of the New World Order. Chono was also known as Mister Black Jack when he first started as a villain. He is a...
and Giant Singh