Rob The Giant
Posted: December 17, 2021
Author: Jeff Docherty
SMALL PACKAGE - GIANT ATTITUDE
For 15 years, the wrestling world has been subjected to one of the meanest, nastiest giants on the planet. While this description might conjure up thoughts of such giants as Andre and The Big Show, our giant is a little different. Our giant is only 4'11" tall but what he lacks in height, he makes up for in attitude and quick wit.
Rob "The Giant" Araujo has perfected his heel persona and has fans booing him everywhere he wrestles. There isn't a shortcut he won't take in the ring to assure he walks away with a victory and when he is a champion, he has no problem with bashing his opponent in the head with his title belt...when the referee isn't looking, of course. Heck, sometimes, he'll even do it when the referee is looking so he can get disqualified and keep his title, which draws the ire of the fans even more. He's a true heel in every essence of the word.
What most people don't know is that when Robbie Araujo is not in the ring, he's a kind and caring family man who loves his cats. Yes, Rob "The Giant" is a cat guy. I can picture the signs fans will be bringing to the shows already! That's fine. It won't bother him. Rob loves to be hated in the ring and he does the job like no other!
Originally from Warren, Rhode Island, Rob Araujo actually grew up hating the fact that he was small. It was something that always bothered him. It wasn't until he got into wrestling that he actually embraced his small stature. More on that later.
Rob was never a big fan of studying when he was in school. His passion was wrestling so he focused more on that than he did on his studies. After high school, he decided to focus on his education more seriously and he became a medical assistant. He spent a couple of years as a medical assistant before he moved into other employment areas. Rob spent time in Retail Management working for Olympia Sports where he enjoyed selling merchandise of his beloved New England Patriots and Boston Red Sox. It was a job he really got into but wrestling was always his passion and one that he couldn't resist.
At sixteen years of age, Rob began professional wrestling training with Brutal Bob Evans where he learned his way around the ring. His wrestling opportunities at such a young age were limited but Rob loved getting into the ring with anyone he could. It mattered not whether his opponent was a big person, little person, man nor woman. He saw each opportunity as experience and a chance to learn and he relished every opportunity to soak up wrestling experience and knowledge like a sponge soaking up water.
At the age of seventeen, Rob's trainer hooked him up with Short Sleeve Sampson. He says that Sampson is someone that he truly admires and that Sampson is the one who taught him that it's ok to be different and small and that his size was something that is an asset rather than a detriment.
During this time, Rob would wrestle as many matches as he could from as many different promotions as would book him. He would wrestle anyone, regardless of their size, as long as his opponent was someone with whom he could tell a believable story in the ring.
When Rob turned 18, he was more easily able to go out on tour with Sampson and welcomed the opportunity to broaden his wrestling horizons and he's never looked back.
A New "Giant" In WWE
Araujo's first experience with WWE was as a member of the jury for De-Genertation X's "Mini People's Court" segments on Monday Night Raw. He says that it was an amazing experience and it was so interesting to see how things happen backstage and how the entire production is put together.
His second WWE appearance and the appearance that most fans will probably remember is when Rob (as Mini JBL) alongside Short Sleeve Sampson (as Mini Jerry Lawler) did commentary on a WWE Pay-Per-View during the WeeLC match featuring Hornswoggle vs El Torito.
Araujo said that it was a definite career hilight when he was able to make his entrance with JBL while JBL's theme music played. He said that coming down that ramp with entrance music on a WWE PPV and hearing that huge crowd pop is an experience he'll never forget.
Disappointment in the desert
Araujo's next WWE booking was both the worst and best experience of his life.
He was booked to wrestle Hornswoggle at the first-ever WWE Crown Jewel pay-per-view in Saudi Arabia alongside a stacked card.
Rob trained hard for a month and made sure all of the correct paperwork was completed and that his passport was in good order.
He made the long flight to Saudi Arabia with the WWE crew and was excited for the match.
Unfortunately, shortly before the show was to begin, Rob was informed that, due to time constraints, the match between he and Hornswoggle was being cut from the show and he wouldn't be a part of the PPV.
Rather than wallow in disappointment, Rob used the opportunity to show his professionalism and to network backstage with members of WWE and was complimented on his great attitude and professionalism by none other than Shane McMahon himself.
At 31, Rob "The Giant" Araujo is one of the top heels in the Midget Wrestling Warriors and has held the prestigious Midget Wrestling Warriors title on multiple occasions and he's gunning for another title run. He loves being a heel and loves constantly coming up with new ways to get the fans to hate and boo him.
As I mentioned earlier, outside of the ring, Rob, now a Fall River, Massachusetts resident, is a cat guy. He has three cats that he loves spending time with. Finn, Mella and Harper always look forward to his return from his road trips and he loves to relax at home with them.
Rob is also a big Disney fan. Last year, he surprised his girlfriend by asking her to marry him in front of Cinderella's castle at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. He has the entire event pre-arranged and had a photographer present to capture the magical moment at the "Happiest Place on Earth!" He said his fiancée was totally surprised and the two are looking forward to getting married soon. See....they nasty giant actually has a soft side!
When Rob isn't throwing his fellow Midget Warriors around in the wrestling ring, he's busy as a package handler/trainer for FedEx. Who needs a gym membership when you carry around heavy packages all day for FedEx?! Just think, the next time you receive your FedEx package, it just might have been handled with great care by the one and only Rob "The Giant"!
Rob says he's anxious for the 2022 Midget Wrestling Warriors Evolution Tour so he can continue to stomp his opponents into the mat on his way to capturing, what he says, is rightfully his...the coveted Midget Wrestling Warriors title. Be sure to get your tickets to see Rob "The Giant" and all of the stars of Midget Wrestling Warriors when they come to your area in 2022 and start thinking up those clever Rob "The Giant" cat posters! I'm sure he'll love them!
