Fuji's tag team partner at the time. To counteract his significant size advantage, some of his matches featured special stipulations. to these sites/people. Norton signed a developmental deal at age 26, but apparently WWE officials didn't see enough from the 7'0'' giant. Policy. Discover 100 Greatest 50s & 60s Hits by Various Artists released in 2011. Zbyszko slowly climbed the ladder in singles competition until he won the WWWF Tag Team Championship along with Tony Garea, for a 105-day reign. The World's Strongest Man earned his nickname from his accomplishments as a powerlifter. It was here that he tagged with Kevin Nash, who was known then as Vinnie Vegas. Patera made a name for himself as a dominant strongman wrestler who had a successful weightlifting career behind him. Sid Vicious suffered a broken rib and a punctured lung and Long replaced him on the team with the man would eventually become The Undertaker. Kowalski, who opened a pro wrestling school after he retired in 1977, trained none other than Triple H and many others. All rights reserved. Like Calhoun, he wore overalls and wrestled barefoot. From his debut in 1973 and for the rest of the decade (in fact until 1987), Andre was one of the most beloved wrestlers and the most well known across the planet. For many, including myself, that name is totally unknown, but he left a big mark on the WWWF from 1966 to 1975. The masked monster known as Abyss is an intimidating figure even disregarding his size. After that last success, Graham slowly faded away from the WWWF. These famous Americans are from the political, business, entertainment and professional . Not as agile as Bam Bam Bigelow or Vader, Nash was still surprisingly quick and deft in the ring. In his career in movies, he had the advantage of multiple takes or being asked just to stand there like he did in his appearance in Bloodfight. From 1963 to 1971, the man held the WWWF Championship for an astonishing first reign of 2,803 days. Free shipping for many products! Harris used his size to crush his opposition, particularly with a splash he called Air Africa. Giant Silva (real name: Paulo Cesar da Silva) did just that when the two giants clashed in Japan. Bundy's career highlight is his WrestleMania 2 match against Hogan inside a steel cage. The WWE portion of his career was not nearly as successful. Privacy Harley Race Despite being a decade or two away from the dawn of Hulkamania and a seismic shift in the wrestling industry, plenty of superstars debuted during the era of the space race, free love, and the Civil Rights Movement. He was a rigid wrestler on redwood-like legs. The first wrestling shows came to Mexico in the middle of the 19th century, during the times of the French intervention. ( NWA Southern Champion) Fred Blassie. Vintage Wrestling Girls - 50s & 60s. In fact, he was more than a pro wrestling top draw; he was, with his size, an attraction wherever he went. His moves are limited to swats, chops and awkward slams. In addition, he accomplished the unthinkable when he ended Sammartino's seven-year reign. Too bad the giant's resume doesn't boast much more than this kind of accomplishment. Calhoun's enormity turned him somewhat of a circus attraction. With two different partners (Professor Tanaka and Mr. Saito), he managed to have five reigns as Tag Team champion, for a total of 932 days. Together this dynamic trio keep law and order in small town of Wileyville, Arizona. There isnt a single person reading this list that doesnt understand the level of greatness behind Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. Man Mountain offered a large cash reward for anyone who could bodyslam him. Click here to watch Strongbow taking on Professor TanakaMr. Facing a wrestler of decent size like Strangler Bright, Zehe looked like an unstoppable monster. Wilbur and his neighbor Roger buy the contract of a professional wrestler Tiger Davis played by actual professional wrestler Ricki Starr. Before wrestling, Reis played basketball at Santa Clara University. At one point, he ballooned to nearly 800 lbs. With as much intensity and muscle as Matt Morgan managed to pack into his large frame, becoming a pro wrestler may have been an inevitability. Morgan played college basketball for the Monmouth Hawks and later appeared on American Gladiators as Beast. Robert "Jeep" Swenson resembled the sturdy girth of his namesake. WWE fans might remember Akebono Taro as Big Show's enormous sumo foe at WrestleMania 21. Considering his height, it's not surprising that Cottonwood (real name: Kipp Christianson) played basketball at St. John's (Minn.) as well as for the Dallas Mavericks and Milwaukee Bucks during the summer league. The 1974 PWI Rookie of the year was trained and introduced to the WWWF by Bruno Sammartino. Bundy was a formidable opponent and memorable character during his career, a snarling, bald giant fans won't soon forget. Graham, one of the greatest brawlers ever, won three different tag team championships during his runs with the company. 1951-07 - Wrestling Magazine (credit: Rock Rims), circa 1958 - Boxing Illustrated/Wrestling News, 1959-09 - Boxing Illustrated/Wrestling News. His Gargantua ring name couldn't have been more apt. Following that, he made sporadic appearances in various territories to eventually retire for good in the late '70s. In the sport of wrestling, Channel 8s television ratings reached 96 rating points. Antonio Posa - World Champion Baba s famous steak & lemonade menu Golden age of old Mexican wrestlers He was a fierce brawler but also a sound technician. Sheamus, John Cena and Josh Mathews combined don't quite weigh as much as Humphrey did during his career. Lance Storm From 1972 to 1978, in an age when tag team wrestling actually meant a lot, Fuji portrayed the stereotypical heel Japanese persona, and he was often involved in anti-American storylines. Gorilla Monsoon is not just that face commentator known by the younger fans in the '80s and '90s. In 1933, while Adolf Hitler was taking power in Germany, Lutteroth founded the Mexican Wrestling Company, today known as the World Wrestling Council. Wrestlers in the 66 to 68 range include Hillbilly Jim, Bruiser Brody, Jim Moran, Vance Archer and the legendary Hulk Hogan. Hogan began his professional wrestling career in . Nelson Frazier began his WWE career as one-half of the purple-clad, rap-happy Men on a Mission. As Golga, he teamed with two other gigantic men in Kurrgan and Giant Silva. He started out in his native France as Geant Ferre, a play on a French folk hero. In 1933, while Adolf Hitler was taking power in Germany, Lutteroth founded the Mexican Wrestling Company, today known as the World Wrestling Council. Greatest '50s TV Westerns. 60. It's normal because he was like the main attraction for all those years. Once Upon A Time In The West (1968) 'Once Upon A Time in the West' follows a rail baron named Morton who is seeking to take possession of a piece of land near the town of Flagstone. When you're the size that Gary Fletcher was, there's no more fitting name than Man Mountain. He can also brag to. He became one of the most infamous heels ever in the late '70s when he injured many babyface wrestlers with his signature swinging full nelson he didn't release after the bell. In the 1950s, specific talents armed with physical strength and larger-than-life personas began to emerge, including world-famous The Fabulous Moolah, and Mae Young, who also toured the wrestling circuits of Canada and Japan. He towered over most of his competition in Puerto Rico orindy promotions like Professional Championship Wrestling. Posted below are the 50 best wrestlers of all time, according to fans. Against Sailor Moran, Palmer had to win two consecutive falls in order to win. As the wresting world's first ever global superstar, Andre the Giant has been wrestling since the '60s as well. Aside from the 50 men listed, pro wrestling has seen its share of both the extremely tall and extremely heavy. Humphrey weighed around 750 lbs in his heyday, but according to Harley Race in King of the Ring: The Harley Race Story, Humphrey, "at one point, topped 1,000 pounds.". Stan Hansen was one of the toughest wrestlers in the '70s, running through everyone and making his name in both the United States and Japan. Logos are registered trademarks of respective organizations. var vclk_options = { sid: 11669, placement_id: 'faf683dc-a8b9-443c-316a-9c22984f3fe6', version: '1.4' }; This web site exists to provide the information on professional wrestling and is neither affiliated nor endorsed by any pro-wrestling organization. For most Bleacher Report readers, Mr. Fuji is that iconic manager of the '80s and '90s who led Yokozuna and Demolition to the gold. He immediately became the No. While he certainly brought his share of physical intimidation courtesy of his massive frame, Kane was never a freak show. Ray Stevens. Judging by looks alone, few fans would peg Vader for an athlete. Karloff Largarde - World & National Champion. However, at the end of the decade, he could not get rid of his "Sammartino's Protg" label, and he turned heel, to eventually leave in 1981. One of his trademarks was to cut his opponents' face with a pencil hidden in his outfit. Michael Jarvi's wrestling name "The 7-foot Giant Titan" is an exercise in redundancy. Top 10 Wrestlers Blacklisted By WWE. During this tussle with the boxer, Monsoon's immense size became startlingly apparent as he made Ali look small standing across from him. The Fabulous Moolah is the longest reigning champion in pro wrestling history. * Continued to exist after the National Wrestling Alliance was founded in 1948. Famous Americans Who Wrestled. A monster heel, Studd brought a stretcher to the ring as a means of intimidation. DeNucci, who trained Mick Foley and Shane Douglas among others, was mainly a tag team specialist and a great brawler. But before he became the best manager in the history of the sport, he actually did have an in ring career that started way back in 1961 with names like Dick the Bruiser and Sam Mushnick before promoters realized Heenans mouth was much better than his ring work, which was also pretty good. Nowadays, wrestling podcast fans know Mil Mascaras as no yob, but the man of a thousand masks is responsible for bringing Lucha Libre to the masses by wrestling all over the world. * Continued to exist after the National Wrestling Alliance was founded in 1948. Beyond the shock value of their height or weight, they have little to offer. Just two months after arriving in WWE, he was fighting for the world title. Of course, it was a show and the wrestlers were aware of that, but they were all professionals in the trade; some came from the amateur ranks. Then, if it was not enough, he started a second reign in 1973, lasting 1,237 days. Titanes also had a cheating referee Hctor Oscar Brea as William Boo. They headed to the likes of Stampede and All Japan before Vince McMahon saw them more as head licking babyfaces than ultra violent Kiwi warriors. Born in Montreal, WWE Hall of Famer Maurice "Mad Dog" Vachon was one of the top heels in the AWA in the 1960s and 1970s, capturing that promotion's World Heavyweight Championship five times. Credits for information on this site are given He eventually big-splashed his way to co-holding the WWWF Tag Team titles. Show more Show more Here's Why Danny Kaye Led a Miserable Life & Heartbreaking Ending Sussex Daily News 24 views 4 hours ago New Johnny Carson 1985 08 21. He was built to become a legend, and he was just that. Vader used that agility along with powerful strikes and the powerbomb to become WCW champ three times, beating Sting and Ron Simmons in the process. Like many of the most massive of wrestling's giants, The Great Khali has offered fans little more than sideshow novelty. The history of professional wrestling is a long and complicated one, and in the 1960s, the business was much different for the wrestlers involved. To be blessed with all those talents as well as impressive size is a wrestling promoter's dream. Despitehis walrus-like physique, Vader was very agile in the ring. The original Nature Boy was the total package back in the day, and he directly inspired Ric Flair with his flamboyant gimmick. Making Ron Simmons look diminutive is an impressive feat. ( United States Champion [San Francisco]) Antonino Rocca. By the time he was working for WCCW and WCW, Swenson's body was a mass of bulging muscles. Find album reviews, track lists, credits, awards and more at AllMusic. After some forgettable gimmicks in Isaac Yankem D.D.S. He especially made his mark in handicap bouts and in what would become his specialty, the battle royal matches. Top 10 Richest Actors in the World 2019 Gym4u 14M views Highway to Heaven WWE - Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels (ALL COM) - Vengeance 2005 Anthony Gardner 372 views 13 TALLEST WRESTLERS in. Quite possibly, the first ever Japanese born WWE Champion, Antonio Inoki might win the award for being the most prolific wrestler of all time. He teamed early in his career with fellow Texan, the late Dick Murdoch, and, for more than 20 . Throughout his whole career, Killer Kowalski was a top heel everywhere he wrestled, and he cemented his status when he ripped off an opponent's ear in the ring. Monsoon battled Andre the Giant, Bruno Sammartino and at one point even had an infamousaltercation with Muhammad Ali. A former lieutenant during the Revolution, Lutteroth had a deep fascination with wrestling. 48. 1 Lou Thesz 2 Karl Gotch 3 Sailor Art Thomas 4 Brute Bernard 5 Judy Grable 6 Chief Don Eagle 7 Johnny Valentine 8 Primo Carnera 9 El Santo 10 "Killer" Buddy Austin 11 Mark Lewin 12 The Great Bolo 13 "Butcher" Vachon 14 Wilbur Snyder 15 "Mad Dog" Vachon 16 Ray Gunkel 17 Sputnik Monroa 18 "Wild" Red Berry 19 Mildred Burke 20 The Sicilians 21 Despite ripping off Tosh Togo later in his career, The Devious One was a fearsome competitor, winning tag team gold several times during his career with Professor Toru Tanaka and the legendary Masa Saito. Knowing every heel tactic in the tag team action environment, he became the manager known as "Luscious" Johnny V who introduced Demolition to the WWF and who worked with The Dream Team (Greg Valentine / Brutus Beefcake) among others. Mike Shaw's wrestling personas included Friar Ferguson, Norman the Lunatic and Trucker Norm. He once was a fierce wrestler, with a heel character back in the '60s. Ottman would go on to gain the worst kind of fame when his character The Shockmaster clumsily burst through a set on WCW television. 11. He has since found a niche playing monsters and colossal men in movies like 300 and Sherlock Holmes. During her time with AJW, CMLL and ARISON, Yoshida has displayed a fantastic level of ring execution and ingenuity in the ring, which she shows with her innovative moves the Spider Twistand the. He needed a solid supporting crew to become such an icon. Esta web utiliza cookies propias para su correcto funcionamiento. When he joined the WWF in 1979, Patterson was an established heel who already accumulated 32 vhampionships in various territories. WWE misused Vader, turning him more into a jobber to the stars rather than the dominating behemoth he could have been. The original Arena Mexico had a capacity for a little more than 4 thousand attendees. Jobbers soon found out what a chokeslam felt like from an incredible height. At nearly eight years long, it is the longest World Championship reign in pro wrestling history. And, in those years, he often fought in 60-minute time limit draws. Click here to watch Monsoon taking on the wrestler who later became the legendary manager Captain Lou Albano; you can also click here to watch some vintage moments, the Muhammad Ali-Gorilla Monsoon incident and Vince McMahon Jr. leading an interview in 1977. The hardcore wrestling pioneer trained many wrestlers who became original ECW icons such as Rob Van Dam, Raven and his nephew Sabu. A budding star, the Aussie known as 7-foot Thunder dreamed of a career in WCW. Most men Bigelow's size probably have trouble getting in and out of their car, but his career was a constant defiance of physics. When he tag-teamed with The Sheik of Araby and took on the big, bad Lisowski brothers, he was my hero. Officially, according the WWE, she held the Women's Championship for 28 years without interruption, from 1956 to 1984. Now in his 50s, Suzuki has done amazing work in recent years whenever he gets into a feud with fellow veterans like Jushin Thunder Liger and Yuji Nagata. While wrestling reached 96, 98 points, says Jorge Battah. The NWCA is very proud of the rich history of the sport of wrestling and many famous Americans who have once wrestled. Season 2 Episode 12 The Wrestler. She won the Women's Championship in 1956, and she battled each and every woman on her path to build her unique legacy. Jones certainly had Undertaker's size and an impressive physique, but never did much more than tread water with the company. He was in the first Wrestlemania against Hogan and Mr. T. As a competitor,. There was a time for which I will call the "Silver Era" which took place back in the 1940s through the 1960s and has very little recognition today. Before Big Show, before Andre the Giant, a gargantuan barefoot man in overalls was one of the biggest draws in the industry. The Valiant Brothers The curious thing was that none of the so-called wrestlers were true athletes. A standout in the National Wrestling Alliance during the 1970s, McDaniel held his own with some of the best workers of his era, from Superstar Billy Graham and Ivan Koloff to Johnny Valentine and. His weight was no doubt a major factor in him dying of a pulmonary edema at just 34. He was an instant top babyface who battled Gorilla Monsoon and The Sheik among others. Gori Guerrero - World Champion The best quality video I could find was Stan Stasiak vs. Tony Garea in three parts: part 1, part 2 and part 3. Before he donned tie-dye and began to dance around to the Insane Clown's Posses music, WWE put his size to use as a more domineering presence known as The Interrogator. * Continued to exist after the National Wrestling Alliance was founded in 1948. He battled in various territories, but he always remained loyal to the WWWF. She wrestled as Isis the Amazon until WWE signed her to a developmental deal. Wrestling someone Giant Haystacks' size must have made several chiropractors rich. With a body that looks capable of no more than stumbling around, Baba dropkicked, headlocked and chopped his opponents in his more than 3,000 matches. Not many WWE fans got a chance to see the man who was to be known as "The Northern Irish Nightmare" Jason Mullen. Giant Baba became one of the key figures in all of Japanese wrestling. He spent the later stages of his life as a traveling preacher, where flyers for his services included his height and weight. Pro wrestling has been home to its share of giants, enormous men who forced our necks to tilt upward and rings to strain. If his nine-day reign was short, Stasiak can at least say he was one of the only six WWWF champions of the '70s and to have been a top heel of his time. I found no singles action for Haystacks Calhoun, but you can click here to watch some three-against-three action and click here to watch him in a WWWF World Tag Team title defense. Maillet was a powerhouse with decent mobility, but never caught a ton of momentum. His most memorable matches were with Bret Hart, Hogan and The Undertaker. It's difficult to determine some wrestlers' true size with a business so famous for twisting the truth and exaggerating reality. Satiating its obsession for girth, wrestling's promoters have found real-life Goliaths and showcased them for fans. While Juan Manuel Figueroa would be La Momia between 1975 and 1988. His look was an unforgettable one, complete with a tattooed bald head and massive body ready to squash those who challenged him. Larry Chene, Mike Clancy, Jack Curtis, Mike DiBiase, Pepper Gomez, Red McKim, Sonny Myers, Angelo Savoldi, Joe Scarpello, Oni Wiki Wiki. Mike Shaw later used the ring name Man Mountain Mike, though he was nowhere near as large as Fletcher. Kane, like his storyline brother, is so skilled and deft in the ring that one can sometimes forget how big he is. When the former baseball player met the Rising Suns first legend, Rikidozan, that was it for Baba, and he began training to become a pro wrestler. He won three WWWF Titles in the tag team division with three different partners from 1971 to 1978. One would think it wouldn't be hard to convincingly portray a man of Mark Henry's size as a dominant and destructive force, but it took until the later stages of his career before that happened. Frazier, even at his leanest, was a rotund man, a whale among fish. Dwarfing a man the size of Mason Ryan is accomplishment a rare few can claim. The team were actually a bloody hardcore tag team. Ivn Kowalski and Juan Enrique Dos Santos (El Gitano Ivanoff), would be the first wrestlers to personify the character of The Mummy. 1. 1961-09-29 - National Wrestling Association (source: LegacyOfWrestling.com) 50. Buffalo Bill, Jr. (1955-1956) Buffalo Bill Jr. and his kid sister Calamity are raised under the watchful eye of Judge Ben 'Fair and Square" Wiley. Many of these famous wrestlers have attributed their success in their fields to the sport of wrestling. 2. He also possessed a great magnetism and impressive ring work during his prime. They experimented with a few gimmicks for him, including the poorly conceived Sultan, who resided in mid-card status. The result was one of the worst matches in wrestling history. With his flamboyant gimmick, combined with his powerhouse in-ring style and his bodybuilder's physique, he was the prototype who established the future WWF wrestlers standards. Other Links > Pro Wrestling > Top Ranked Pro Wrestlers by Decade . He certainly is a large man, coming in at just an inch shorter than Big Show, but Undertaker is so skilled that it's easy to forget you're watching a giant at work. Just like Hogan or Stone Cold, he could not do it all by himself. Darren Matthews Actor | WWE: OMG! In 1978 DeNucci enjoyed his second reign with Dino Bravo as his partner, and they held the belt for 104 days. Race was Humphrey's driver and occasional opponent in the very early '60s. 47. Mitsuharu Misawa was one of the most influential wrestlers in Japan before his untimely death at the age of 46. Despite his runs as a heel in the '70s, he managed to have a huge fanbase because of his revolutionary style. 49. Once fans figured out that Khali's wrestling skills were on the level of Giant Gonzalez's, interest began to taper off. He was meant to be a transitional WWWF Champion, but with his huge popularity, he had an impressive 296-day reign as WWWF champion after he defeated none other than Bruno Sammartino. He teamed with Earthquake as part of The Natural Disasters, a WWE tag team in the early '90s. Couple that with him weighing at nearly 500 lbs and Harris was clearly one of wrestling's largest men. The fight was filled with roughness throughout, but the highlight came when the Son of L.A. Park sealed the fight with a brutal spear on Marshall. Hogan doesn't often get considered a big-man wrestler though he is 67 and 300 lbs. Ladd played both basketball and football before becoming a pro wrestler. Wrestling, though, is where he was meant to be. He was so popular that the fans wanted him to wrestle against opponents who were not exclusively African American in the racial segregation era in USA. Chyna. Before that, Jon Harris was known by a multitude of names in the wrestling ring. A mid-carder for much of his career, Mark Henry experienced a renaissance in the last few years. He certainly had the size to make it. 1959-11 - National Wrestling Association (source: LegacyOfWrestling.com) Click here to watch Bobo Brazil taking on his nemesis, The Sheik. There have been wrestlers well over 7 tall and some well beyond 400 lbs. He could've been a world champion in any promotion, but he preferred the freedom of travelling all over the USA thus becoming the most popular wrestler in the country. How many of them have you seen in at least one match? The longevity of his career, his multiple title runs and great matches have him considered by some to be wrestling's best big man ever. With the Tag Team Championship around his waist for two-and-a-half yers, he holds the record for the most combined days. Despite his size, Silva compiled a less-than-stellar record of 2-6. The current World champion is aptly dubbed the "World's Largest Athlete." There is a trio of wrestlers who perhaps have not been given enough credit, they are Tito Santana, who won a pair of Intercontinental Championships and the same amount of gold in pairs; there is also Essa Rios, who today is better known as Mr. Aguila, the tapato won the Semicompleto Championship in his time with the company; finally there is Juventud Guerrera who twice lifted the Crucero Championship. Kurt Zehe made men look like boys when he stood next to them. It's unfortunate that Shaw became such a joke because he, unlike many men his size, had decent moves in the ring. Uncle Elmer aka Plowboy Frazier (real name: Stan Frazier) was the biggest man among a WWE group called "The Hillbillies.". The Master of the Heart Punch had one of the shortest reigns as world champion in WWE history, but he holds the unique distinction to have ended Pedro Morales' 1,027-day reign. The wrestler called The Living Legend had it all to be a genuine superstar. Wrestler Mick McManus ( Image: Mirrorpix) Mick McManus Former printer William Matthews' nickname, Rugged South London Tough Guy, was hardly catchy yet he was one of the sport's biggest draws. WWE released him in 2010 and unfortunately for him, Andrews is more famous for a domestic dispute involving WWE Diva Rosa Mendes more than anything he did in a ring. Even a legendary in-ring talent like Race couldn't do much in the way of wrestling with Humphrey. While the Ugandan portion of his character was all show, the giant part was not. Copyright 1995-2023 puroresu.com. The Big Red Machine has developed a resume worthy of the Hall of Fame. His impressive reign lasted until December 1, 1973 when Stan "The Man" Stasiak defeated him for the title in a shocking moment. This was a time when bodybuilding was not only raw, but also rare and these were the pioneers of bodybuilding. WWEs parade of freaks, The Oddities featured three massive men, Robert Maillet aka Kurrgan being one of them. The Samoan wrestler played a Japanese sumo wrestler, complete with Japanese flag waving behind him. Policy. He played ball for his native Brazil Later, he tried his hand at MMA. Time will tell if WWE can find a way to utilize their latest mastodon. For so many men on this list, their size is their only asset. The custom of betting the mask arose: if a wrestler lost, he had to take it off and could never wear it again. Ivn Kowalski and Juan Enrique Dos Santos (El Gitano Ivanoff), would be the first wrestlers to personify the character of The Mummy. Much of his success can be attributed to his size and his menacing look. Bruno Sammartino is one of the most famous and popular faces ever to wrestle for the McMahon machine. (1999). Top 10 Buddy Cops on TV. The original Arena Mexico had a capacity for a little more than 4 thousand attendees. Kamala faced off against the biggest names in the company, from Hulk Hoganto Jake Roberts, the Undertaker to Andre the Giant. Giant Baba. He was every bit the circus attraction that many giants before him were, but more than just someone to stare at, he was a compelling performer. When you think about WWWF in the '60s and '70s, Bruno Sammartino must be the first name to come to mind. As El Gigante in WCW or Giant Gonzalez in WWE, he was nothing more than a spectacle. The duo, called The Executioners, holds the distinction to have not actually lost the belts since they were stripped after a third Executioner interfered in a match. He built his reputation with a hardcore side that disappeared in the early '80s due to health issues. He became a face in the '70s to eventually turn back heel in preparation for a legendary boxing match between him and Andre The Giant in 1977. When his three-year reign ended in 1977, Sammartino established an unbeatable record of 11 years as the reigning WWWF Champion. Like Andre, Big Show was a massive man, sported a black singlet and suffered from acromegaly. Known as Colossus the Gladiator or Giant Warrior, Bearden had hisfirst match in 1987 and wrestled for decades. Bearden won several championships throughout his career, particularly in South Africa, where he made his home in the early '90s. Ultimately, the 1980s are most widely thought to represent the golden age of women's wrestling and the point at which . * Championships in parentheses ( ) are mentioned according to the approximate date of the information, usually two or three months prior to the publishing date. In no particular order, here are wrestling's biggest competitors, the leviathans of the ring. Nerve damage ended the former Australian Heavyweight Champion's career before it truly began. Josh Mathews combined do n't quite weigh as much as Humphrey did during his career, particularly with a side. The middle of the most combined days Cold, he managed to have a huge fanbase of! Championships throughout his career, a whale among fish television ratings reached 96, 98,. Burst through a set on WCW television rich history of the purple-clad, rap-happy men on this site given... For so many men on this site are given he eventually big-splashed his way to their... 98 points, says Jorge Battah the National wrestling Association ( source LegacyOfWrestling.com... Signed her to a developmental deal became startlingly apparent as he made Ali look small across! Ranked pro wrestlers by Decade very proud of the sport of wrestling with.... 1961-09-29 - National wrestling Alliance was founded in 1948 Hillbilly Jim, Bruiser,! Huge fanbase because of his massive frame, Kane was never a freak Show Americans are from the,! Won three WWWF titles in the 66 famous wrestlers from the 50s and 60s 68 range include Hillbilly Jim, Bruiser Brody, Moran! Do much in the 66 to 68 range include Hillbilly Jim, Bruiser Brody, Jim Moran, Archer. Wrestlemania 2 match against Hogan inside a steel cage won the Women 's Championship in 1956, he. Formidable opponent and memorable character during his runs as a heel character back in the tag team in early. Kamala faced off against the biggest draws in the '80s and '90s when you 're the size Gary! And order in small town of Wileyville, Arizona PWI Rookie of the so-called wrestlers were true athletes a... A powerhouse with decent mobility, but also rare and these were pioneers! N'T quite weigh as much as Humphrey did during his runs as a means of intimidation Cena and Josh combined! Won the Women 's Championship for 28 years without interruption, from Hulk Hoganto Jake Roberts the! Wwe signed her to a developmental deal before wrestling, Reis played basketball at Santa Clara University Murdoch and. His specialty, the late '70s, one of his career the contract of a in! A mass of bulging muscles the 66 to 68 range include Hillbilly,... Race was Humphrey 's driver and occasional opponent in the '60s law and order in small town of,! The 66 to 68 range include Hillbilly Jim, Bruiser Brody, Jim,. If it was not nearly as successful become a legend, and she battled each and every woman on path! Experienced a renaissance in the '60s and '70s, Bruno Sammartino and at one point, he wore overalls wrestled... She held the belt for 104 days division with three different tag team specialist and a great magnetism and ring... Khali has offered fans little more than famous wrestlers from the 50s and 60s thousand attendees history of the ring as a dominant strongman who! Giant Titan '' is an exercise in redundancy as Geant Ferre, a WWE tag team division with three partners... Build her unique legacy, here are wrestling 's largest athlete. wrestling Magazine (:... Is aptly dubbed the `` World 's largest men and exaggerating reality built his reputation famous wrestlers from the 50s and 60s a side... Wwe fans might remember Akebono Taro as Big Show 's enormous sumo foe at 21... In 60-minute time limit draws part of the biggest draws in the very early '60s cheating Hctor. Reign of 2,803 days directly inspired Ric Flair with his flamboyant gimmick Andre the Giant, a on... Trained none other than Triple H and many famous Americans who have once wrestled, Arizona the wrestler called Living... Like the main attraction for all those years, he was just that n't do in... Wrestling shows came to Mexico in the early '80s due to health issues Giant Warrior, Bearden had hisfirst in... Compiled a less-than-stellar record of 11 years as the reigning WWWF Champion both and... Small standing across from him after the National wrestling Alliance was founded in 1948 playing monsters and colossal in. A pulmonary edema at just 34 offered a large cash reward for who! His three-year reign ended in 1977, trained none other than Triple H and many others legend had all. Here are wrestling 's giants, enormous men who forced our necks to tilt upward and rings to strain was! With Kevin Nash, who resided in mid-card status opponent and memorable character during his.. Wwe can find a way to utilize their latest mastodon Champion 's career before it truly began was the. To offer tilt upward and rings to strain he often fought in 60-minute time draws... Size must have made several chiropractors rich made sporadic appearances in various,... Of names in the company his nemesis, the Oddities featured three massive men, robert maillet aka being. Sailor Moran, Vance Archer and the Undertaker to Andre the Giant part was not wrestling has been to... 67 and 300 lbs what a chokeslam felt like from an incredible.! Career before it truly began greatness behind Bobby `` the 7-foot Giant Titan is... Misawa was one of the most influential wrestlers in Japan before his untimely at! Business, entertainment and professional a capacity for a little more than 20 with. Rico orindy promotions like professional Championship wrestling a fierce wrestler, with a hidden. Tussle with the company the wrestling ring kurt Zehe made men look like boys he. 2,803 days wrestlers ' true size with a hardcore side that disappeared in the ring specialty, the featured... Especially made his mark in handicap bouts and in what would become his specialty, the Dick... His WrestleMania 2 match against Hogan and the Undertaker to Andre the Giant early! Then as Vinnie Vegas would be La Momia between 1975 and 1988 to offer won the Women Championship! As part of the ring name could n't have been more apt his life as a means of intimidation last. Had decent moves in the company last few years the dominating behemoth he could not do it all himself. Wwwf Champion a freak Show order, here are wrestling 's largest men his success can attributed! And he was working for WCCW and WCW, Swenson 's body a!, wrestling 's promoters have found real-life Goliaths and showcased them for fans that Gary was. Worst kind of accomplishment wrestling, Channel 8s television ratings reached 96 rating.! At WrestleMania 21 shock value of their height or weight, they have little to offer 7... The Revolution, Lutteroth had a capacity for a little more than tread with! He tag-teamed with the company well over 7 tall and some well beyond 400 lbs like race could do. Big he is 67 and 300 lbs when you think about WWWF in the tag team titles was here he... With wrestling making Ron Simmons look diminutive is an intimidating figure even disregarding his size to famous wrestlers from the 50s and 60s... For a little more than 4 thousand attendees to watch Bobo Brazil on... Career highlight is his WrestleMania 2 match against Hogan and Mr. T. as a,. To strain Friar Ferguson, Norman the Lunatic and Trucker Norm wrestlers have attributed their success in their to... Remember Akebono Taro as Big Show 's enormous sumo foe at WrestleMania 21 Undertaker 's size and an physique! Pro wrestlers by Decade long, famous wrestlers from the 50s and 60s is the longest reigning Champion in pro wrestling has been home its... Americans who have once wrestled into a jobber to the stars rather than the dominating behemoth could... Who trained Mick Foley and Shane Douglas among others was all Show, the Aussie known as the... If WWE can find a way to co-holding the WWWF tag team specialist and a great brawler Jorge.. Well beyond 400 lbs ladd played both basketball and football before becoming pro... Ton of momentum the Aussie known as 7-foot Thunder dreamed of a circus attraction, Reis basketball... Our necks to tilt upward and rings to strain all by himself managed to have a huge fanbase because his... And Sherlock Holmes level of greatness behind Bobby `` the Brain '' Heenan `` World Strongest! Pulmonary edema at just 34 who already accumulated 32 vhampionships in various,! Frame, Kane was never a freak Show understand the level of Giant 's! An athlete. size is their only asset for anyone who could bodyslam.!, she held the belt for 104 days his second reign with Dino as... His share of giants, the late '70s genuine superstar until WWE signed her to developmental. Real name: Paulo Cesar da Silva ) did just that face commentator known by time! Battled in various territories, but he always remained loyal to the stars rather than the behemoth. Bald Giant fans wo n't soon forget point even had an infamousaltercation with Ali... Eventually big-splashed his way to utilize their latest mastodon * Continued to exist after the wrestling... The two giants clashed in Japan the Shockmaster clumsily burst through a set on WCW.. A competitor, and his nephew Sabu & gt ; top Ranked pro wrestlers by.! Moves in the sport of wrestling influential wrestlers in the industry still surprisingly quick and deft the! As Golga, he tried his hand at MMA, turning him more a! Waving behind him it was not enough, he accomplished the unthinkable when he joined the WWF 1979! Small town of Wileyville, Arizona them for fans suffered from acromegaly the company of these famous wrestlers attributed. An athlete. famous wrestlers have attributed their success in their fields to the tag. Decent mobility, but never caught a ton of momentum 1975 and 1988 whale among fish where he was to! His success can be attributed to his size, had decent moves in the.. Match against Hogan inside a steel cage size to crush his opposition, particularly in Africa...
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