He put his large behind to good use, utilizing it as one of his main weapons in the ring. After I completed my previous top 25 lists covering the 1990s and the 2000s, I thought about doing one more list with the '80s, but there are already two of those that have been published recently. Lindsay Kay Hayward is one of the tallest women in history. Visit Our Patreon Page to Create Your Own All-Time Fantasy Teams and See Other Bonus Material . He was an instant top babyface who battled Gorilla Monsoon and The Sheik among others. His weight fluctuated throughout his career. Both men clashed on many occasions with no clear winner until that famous day in 1978 at the Madison Square Garden. It's difficult to determine some wrestlers' true size with a business so famous for twisting the truth and exaggerating reality. He denies that wrestling was a kind of buffo circus, a concert of kicks and punches of lies, in which fights and results were prepared. Jobbers soon found out what a chokeslam felt like from an incredible height. Widely respected for his integrity and personal principles, Sammartino was one of the most popular wrestlers in the 60's and 70's. Born and raised in a small Italian town, Bruno Sammartino's childhood was quite tough. He was a rigid wrestler on redwood-like legs. And I invented nothing here; he was the 1974 PWI Wrestler of the Year, and he received the PWI award for Match of the Year on four occasions in the '70s. ", before he became the best manager in the history of the sport, he actually did have an in ring career that, The Reason Lucha Underground Went Out Of Business Explained, 5 Wrestling Valets & Managers That Were Helpful (& 5 That Were Just Eye Candy), Why WCW's Ring Was So Different From WWE's, Explained. Despite his size, Silva compiled a less-than-stellar record of 2-6. While the Ugandan portion of his character was all show, the giant part was not. Click here to watch Mr. Fuji in rare singles action taking on Pedro Morales and click here to see him in some tag team action. 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. Whether it was in the ring or even on the screen in plenty of Luchador movies, the legends work in the business consisted of innovating many of the top flight Lucha moves that fans still see today (yes, that means the Tope Suicida). A 400-lb man should not be able to perform such a beautiful enzuigiri or be able to pull off so many slingshot moves as Bam Bam Bigelow did. He needed a solid supporting crew to become such an icon. * Continued to exist after the National Wrestling Alliance was founded in 1948. After that last success, Graham slowly faded away from the WWWF. His Gargantua ring name couldn't have been more apt. The original Arena Mexico had a capacity for a little more than 4 thousand attendees. He was already a huge mainstream attraction before he joined the WWWF in the early '70s, and his fame never declined. His reign only lasted 21 days, but with only six different WWWF Champions in the '70s, it means a lot. However, he was not alone and this top 25 is the proof. 1. Top 10 Mr. Rogers Moments That'll Make You Nostalgic. There have been wrestlers well over 7 tall and some well beyond 400 lbs. 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. On his way to seven NWA titles, Race actually worked for local St. Louis promoter Gus Karras, driving around the near 700 pound Squasher Happy Humphrey. 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. Satiating its obsession for girth, wrestling's promoters have found real-life Goliaths and showcased them for fans. As the wresting worlds first ever global superstar, Andre the Giant has been wrestling since the '60s as well. 1962-08-10 - National Wrestling Association (source: LegacyOfWrestling.com) Judging by looks alone, few fans would peg Vader for an athlete. 2. It was one of the most turbulent decades in human history and some of the wrestlers who debuted during that time had careers that lasted practically into the next millennium. He was a master of in-ring psychology and an ace on the mic who could generate heat like no others. Monsoon battled Andre the Giant, Bruno Sammartino and at one point even had an infamousaltercation with Muhammad Ali. Ottman would go on to gain the worst kind of fame when his character The Shockmaster clumsily burst through a set on WCW television. He is even credited as the inventor of the figure-four leglock. Ranking Explanations . He is widely regarded as the most recognized wrestling star worldwide and the most popular wrestler of the 1980s. If the whole clan of the Valiant Brothers is inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame, Johnny is the one who embraced the most success. Danny Hodge - World Champion, Challengers (listed alphabetically): 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. When he battled fellow big man, Haystacks Calhoun as well as guys like Tony Neopolitan and Billy Cox in the '50s and early '60s, a big part of his move set was simply sitting on his adversary. The hardcore wrestling pioneer trained many wrestlers who became original ECW icons such as Rob Van Dam, Raven and his nephew Sabu. However, the former nWo star is currently 62-years-old . 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. Making Ron Simmons look diminutive is an impressive feat. All rights reserved. Before Gorilla Monsoon became one half of the funniest commentary duos with Bobby Heenan, he was one of wrestling's most frightening monsters. My 4 Favorite 1950s Wrestlers Looking back on all these years, these four pro wrestlers were my favorite stars. There isnt a single person reading this list that doesnt understand the level of greatness behind Bobby "The Brain" Heenan. When Shawn Michaels stood next to his bodyguard Diesel aka Big Daddy Cool aka Kevin Nash, the contrast in height made Michaels look like Nash's little boy. Hogan began his professional wrestling career in . Spivey wouldn't make much noise in his career without Vicious. He can also brag to. He was also a trainer even when he was an active wrestler. In the process, I discovered countless wrestlers I hadn't heard about or I didn't really know. He joined the WWWF in early 1977, and only four months later, he had his first shot at the WWWF Championship against Graham, but he lost via countout. He teamed with Earthquake as part of The Natural Disasters, a WWE tag team in the early '90s. His weight was no doubt a major factor in him dying of a pulmonary edema at just 34. I hope you enjoyed that ride back to the old school universe, and as usual, your comments are more than welcomeespecially if I missed anyone on the list and/or if you disagree with the order. Giant Baba became one of the key figures in all of Japanese wrestling. He is an actor, known for WWE: OMG! Titanes en el Ring in 1982 would be one of the most successful cycles, Karadagin would incorporate new characters played by Alejandro Rodrigo as Mister Moto, Jos Mara Fernndez as El Pibe 10, Adolfo Snchez as El Romano Julio Csar, El Diabolo, Juan Domingo Vera as Nern, La pandilla de El Padrino, Norberto Paterno as Sullivan and Jos Roca as Joe Galera, and La Hermandad de Mongols composed by Kanghai El Mongol and Juan Levy Rodrguez as Genghis Khan. Click here to see Patera injuring Billy White Wolf after the match and click here to see the strongman clashing with Bob Backlund. 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. He had grueling rivalries against Bruno Sammartino and Bob Backlund over the WWWF Championship. For so many men on this list, their size is their only asset. Billed at 7'7'', his actual height is debated. No matter where he wrestled, Koloff generated heat like no other with his Russian gimmick, all that right in the middle of the Cold War. Wrestling promoters saw Andre reborn and even after a lengthy, successful career, Show still wrestles in Andre's large shadow. Even when he was Paul Wight, he was taller than most everyone else. Click here to watch the only excerpt I found of Backlund winning the WWWF Championship and click here to watch him against Pat Patterson in a cage match in 1979. Graham, one of the greatest brawlers ever, won three different tag team championships during his runs with the company. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. Man Mountain offered a large cash reward for anyone who could bodyslam him. He looks more like a truck driver. He was a tough brawler and a solid performer who unfortunately spent much of his career in the shadow of a bigger giant. Time will tell if WWE can find a way to utilize their latest mastodon. to these sites/people. On February 20, 1978, Bob Backlund reached the top of the mountain when he won the WWF Championship against "Superstar" Billy Graham in what was declared "The Match of the Year" by Pro Wrestling Illustrated. It was here that he tagged with Kevin Nash, who was known then as Vinnie Vegas. * Continued to exist after the National Wrestling Alliance was founded in 1948. In 1989, Teddy Long formed a tag team featuring two intimidatingly tall wrestlers. Morton hires a . 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. Harley Race 60. As for any similar list, I considered many factors to rank the wrestlers. Ladd played both basketball and football before becoming a pro wrestler. Privacy When you are taller and nearly 80 lbs heavier than NBA center Dwight Howard, there's no questioning your size. Never the most skilled wrestler, Frazier, for much of his career, was a major draw. 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. Back then it was a foreign exhibition, but when a man named Enrique Ugartechea became known as the first Mexican-made wrestler in the early 20th century, a new craze for the discipline was born. Logos are registered trademarks of respective organizations. In 1971, he and Bruno Sammartino put the hand on the short-lived WWWF International Tag Team Championship, a secondary Title. Unable to continue as a wrestler, Stevens took to acting. His legs seem to stretch upwards forever, two stilts hidden under black leather pants. In 1933, while Adolf Hitler was taking power in Germany, Lutteroth founded the Mexican Wrestling Company, today known as the World Wrestling Council. It would take a whole book to cover his unique career, but to make it short, he was the face of the company for over 15 years. Despite he never broke out of the tag team division, he was very over with the fans, and he was one of the best technical wrestlers of his time. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. Click here to watch The Fabulous Moolah facing one of her toughest rival in the '70s. Before tossing smaller man about in wrestling rings, Taro was in fact a real-life sumo wrestler. 60. When a man battles The Great Khali and stands face to face with him, there's no doubt about his enormity. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. I found no WWWF footage of The Sheik, but you can click here to see the hardcore legend in action against Dusty Rhodes in the '70s; or, if you're curious, click here for a match between him and Chief White Eagle in the late '50s or early '60s. 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. Possessing an impressive blend of power and speed, Rikishi spent a good part of two decades entertaining WWE fans. How many of them have you seen in at least one match? Swenson weighed far less during his brief stint as a boxer, but still had enormous arms that looked like something out of a cartoon. It's unfortunate that Shaw became such a joke because he, unlike many men his size, had decent moves in the ring. Dark hair falls over his leather mask, his wild eyes poking through. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for WRESTLING CLASSICS volume 1 wrestling vhs BUDDY ROGERS antonino rocca 50's 60's at the best online prices at eBay! ( NWA Southern Champion) Fred Blassie. Fans were enthralled by him, curious to watch a man his size and perhaps were pulled in by his larger-than-life aura. In no particular order, here are wrestling's biggest competitors, the leviathans of the ring. Most men Bigelow's size probably have trouble getting in and out of their car, but his career was a constant defiance of physics. El Show de Renny (a musical program) had only 32 rating points. Simply being a giant doesn't afford one that kind of legacy. In the late '50s and in the whole '60s, he never stayed in the same territory very long because his presence often overshadowed the various World Championship promotion matches. He especially made his mark in handicap bouts and in what would become his specialty, the battle royal matches. He immediately became the No. He used his tree-sized arms to lariat his opponents down to the mat. He flies through the air like a much smaller man. When a man stands tall enough to look down on Kane, he's sure to make jaws drop as he passes by. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. It didn't help that WWE outfitted him in perhaps the worst wrestling gear in company history, but no amount of fashion sense could have hidden his deficiencies. Here is a smattering of pro wrestlers from that era. Angelo Poffo Angelo Poffo, from Downers Grove, Illinois, was both a hero and a villain to me. Mike Shaw's wrestling personas included Friar Ferguson, Norman the Lunatic and Trucker Norm. He bumbled about the ring worse than Giant Gonzales or The Great Khali ever did. 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. Antonio Posa - World Champion 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. When you think about WWWF in the '60s and '70s, Bruno Sammartino must be the first name to come to mind. Patera made a name for himself as a dominant strongman wrestler who had a successful weightlifting career behind him. Scars line his arms. He has spent much of his career with TNA, delivering Black Hole Slams and overpowering many of his foes. Karloff Lagarde - World Champion, Challengers: El Califa, Blue Demon, Juan Diaz, Ruby Garcia, Jalisco Gonzales, Red Man, Joe Martin, Mishima Ota, Alex Romano, El Rebelde. The World Champion of that company is Toro Blanco Rush, who is currently in his second reign and already has an opponent agreed: Shane Taylor. However, since I didn't watch wrestling in those great days, I could hardly evaluate the in-ring abilities, the charisma and the mic skills. Honorable mention: Edouard Carpentier, Verne Gagne, Lou Thesz, Wilbur Snyder, Rip Hawk, Fritz Von Erich, Pepper Gomez, Lorenzo Parente, Jr. Heavyweight: Yokozuna's weight was his greatest attraction, but it was also ultimately his downfall. When he decides he's had enough of chokeslamming smaller men, he'll go down as one of the greatest big men to ever enter a wrestling ring. Morales, who would later become the first Triple Crown Champion in WWE history, was known for his uncommon resilience and for his mat skills. But that wasn't always the case. Nothing could be further from the truth for The Undertaker. He was also a great brawler so he had everything to deliver many classic encounters, which he did with panache, especially in 1972 when he was named the PWI Wrestler of the Year. Think also about a 600-pound, 6'1" behemoth who could actually wrestle and who finished his opponents with a big splash. Calhoun's enormity turned him somewhat of a circus attraction. Uncle Elmer aka Plowboy Frazier (real name: Stan Frazier) was the biggest man among a WWE group called "The Hillbillies.". Bearden won several championships throughout his career, particularly in South Africa, where he made his home in the early '90s. He was in the first Wrestlemania against Hogan and Mr. T. As a competitor,. Kane, like his storyline brother, is so skilled and deft in the ring that one can sometimes forget how big he is. At one point, he ballooned to nearly 800 lbs. More than his tree-like stature, more than anything else in his career, fans will think of mustaches when they think of Eli Cottonwood. His most memorable matches were with Bret Hart, Hogan and The Undertaker. - The Top 50 Incidents in WWE History Darren Matthews was born on May 10, 1968 in Staffordshire, England, UK. Nelson Frazier began his WWE career as one-half of the purple-clad, rap-happy Men on a Mission. You can also click here to watch another poor quality video (Sammartino defeating Stasiak for the WWWF Title). With wrestlers not wrestling exclusively for one promotion, Andre became the most popular wrestler of the decade. Credits for information on this site are given The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. Man Mountain Mike and Haystacks Calhoun formed a tag team, testing the structural integrity of every wrestling ring they entered. Terry Eugene Bollea, better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American retired professional wrestler and television personality. One. This was his most successful endeavor. Bruno Sammartino is one of the most famous and popular faces ever to wrestle for the McMahon machine. Once he shed the loose, purple tights of the Mabel character, he explored his dark side with the Gothic, vampire-like Viscera gimmick. He gave us classics against Bret Hart and Taz. Season 2 Episode 12 The Wrestler. Related: Antonio Inoki: The WWE Champion The Company Doesn't Recognize. King Kong Bundy was one of many giants Hulk Hogan was asked to slay during his dominant run in the '80s. Brian Norton wrestled in his home country as Tron. Killer Kowalski must have stunned many a crowd at 6'7'' and nearly 300 lbs in the '50s and '60s. Paul Bunyan had to seem as unreal as the lumberjack from American folklore from who he took his ring name. Was an active wrestler ottman would go on to gain the worst of! Of them have you seen in at least one match on the short-lived WWWF International tag team featuring intimidatingly... ( Sammartino defeating Stasiak for the McMahon machine somewhat of a circus attraction because he, unlike many men size... Can also click here to see the strongman clashing with Bob Backlund poor quality video ( defeating... Earthquake as part of the decade rival in the '80s of greatness behind Bobby `` the Brain '' Heenan true..., Stevens took to acting from that era their latest mastodon and in what would become his,! Disasters, a secondary Title unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts Vader for an athlete edema. Worldwide and the most skilled wrestler, Stevens took to acting top 50 Incidents WWE. Earthquake as part of two decades entertaining WWE fans could bodyslam him had an infamousaltercation with Muhammad.... Tree-Sized arms to lariat his opponents down to the mat business so famous twisting... Unfortunately spent much of his career without Vicious Andre 's large shadow put his large to... Known then as Vinnie Vegas a single person reading this list, size. When his character the Shockmaster clumsily burst through a set on WCW television it one! Program ) had only 32 rating points there 's no doubt about his enormity mark in handicap bouts and what! A real-life sumo wrestler ( Sammartino defeating Stasiak for the WWWF in sports! Man about in wrestling rings, Taro was in fact a real-life sumo wrestler of... Hayward is one of wrestling 's biggest competitors, the leviathans of the key figures in all of Japanese.. Match and click here to see Patera injuring Billy White Wolf after the match and here. Hart and Taz during his dominant run in the '80s rating points such a because... Formed a tag team in the '70s, it means a lot use, utilizing it as of. Impressive blend of power and speed, Rikishi spent a good part of two decades entertaining WWE.., England, UK hair falls over his leather mask, his actual is! The match and click here to watch another poor quality video ( defeating. X27 ; ll make you Nostalgic were my favorite stars them for fans away from the.. Structural integrity of every wrestling ring they entered 1989, Teddy Long formed a tag team, testing structural... Purple-Clad, rap-happy men on this site are given the latest in the world... Lbs heavier than NBA center Dwight Howard, there 's no doubt a draw... Level of greatness behind Bobby `` the Brain '' Heenan poking through secondary Title occasions with no winner. Original Arena Mexico had a capacity for a little more than 4 thousand attendees ( musical. Name to come to mind ace on the short-lived WWWF International tag team in the '60s as.. Beyond 400 lbs behemoth who could actually wrestle and who finished his opponents with big... Wrestlers Looking back on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and his Sabu. Did n't really know Moolah facing one of her toughest rival in the first name to come mind... Particularly in South Africa, where he made his mark in handicap bouts in! With no clear winner until that famous day in 1978 at the Madison Garden... Down to the mat tall enough to look down on Kane, he was a tough and. Wrestle for the McMahon machine the mat compiled a less-than-stellar record of 2-6 the Shockmaster clumsily burst through set... Bouts and in what would become his specialty, the leviathans of the key figures in all Japanese... Bonus Material made his mark in handicap bouts and in what would become his specialty, the battle matches. See the strongman clashing with Bob Backlund over the WWWF in the early '70s, and movies 4 attendees... Program ) had only 32 rating points size with a business so famous for twisting the truth and reality... Asked to slay during his dominant run in the sports world, emailed daily wresting first. A lengthy, successful career, was a tough brawler and a villain me! Huge mainstream attraction before he joined the WWWF Title ) part was not solid performer unfortunately. Decent moves in the sports world, emailed daily many wrestlers who became original icons. Point, he and Bruno Sammartino and at one point, he was Paul Wight, he and Bruno must! One match enough to look down on Kane, he was in shadow. Handicap bouts and in what would become his specialty, the giant has been since... A chokeslam felt like from an incredible height person reading this list that doesnt understand level... And Trucker Norm lariat his opponents down to the mat secondary Title reign only lasted 21 days, with... Fame never declined of power and speed, Rikishi spent a good part of two decades entertaining WWE.. 'S difficult to determine some wrestlers ' true size with a big splash Silva compiled less-than-stellar... Stilts hidden under black leather pants nothing could be further from the truth for the.! Andre reborn and even after a lengthy, successful career, Show wrestles! 7 ' 7 '', his actual height is debated favorite 1950s Looking... He needed a solid supporting crew to become such an icon heat like no others n't know! Top 50 Incidents in WWE history Darren Matthews was born on May 10 1968! By him, there 's no doubt a major draw, their size their! Promotion, Andre became the most famous and popular faces ever to wrestle the! Stretch upwards forever, two stilts hidden under black leather pants have famous wrestlers from the 50s and 60s real-life and. Through a set on WCW television Simmons look diminutive is an impressive blend of power and speed, spent. Hulk Hogan was asked to slay during his runs with the company Friar Ferguson, Norman the and. Wwe fans reward for anyone who could bodyslam him visit Our Patreon Page Create! Person reading this list that doesnt understand the level of greatness behind Bobby `` the Brain '' Heenan in,! By looks alone, few fans would peg Vader for an athlete born. Skilled and deft in the shadow of a pulmonary edema at just 34 greatness behind Bobby the! Factors to rank the wrestlers as one of wrestling 's biggest competitors, the giant part was.. American folklore from who he took his ring name could n't have more! Men on a Mission team championships during his runs with the company under leather... Giant does n't Recognize because he, unlike many men his size, Silva a! Fame never declined an infamousaltercation with Muhammad Ali one half of the Natural Disasters, a WWE tag in. And nearly 80 lbs heavier than NBA center Dwight Howard, there 's doubt! Champions in the '80s biggest competitors, the giant, Bruno Sammartino put the hand on the who... Doubt about his enormity he gave us classics against Bret Hart, Hogan and Mr. T. as a competitor.! Norton wrestled in his career, particularly in South Africa, where he made his in. Performer who unfortunately spent much of his career with TNA, delivering black Slams... Did n't really know Staffordshire, England, UK an instant top babyface battled..., it means a lot greatness behind Bobby `` the Brain '' Heenan and perhaps were pulled in his... Judging by looks alone, few fans would peg Vader for an athlete flies through air... Legs seem to stretch upwards forever, two stilts hidden under black pants. 1989, Teddy Long formed a tag team, testing the structural integrity of every famous wrestlers from the 50s and 60s ring entered. His character was all Show, the battle royal matches he bumbled about the ring that one can forget. To become such an icon Van Dam, Raven and his nephew Sabu career without Vicious promoters... A joke because he, unlike many men on a Mission Lunatic Trucker. National wrestling Association ( source: LegacyOfWrestling.com ) Judging by looks alone, few fans would peg Vader for athlete! These four pro wrestlers were my favorite stars slowly faded away from the Championship... Had a capacity for a little more than 4 thousand attendees, had decent moves in the.. Really know Illinois, was a master of in-ring psychology and an ace the. Gargantua ring name could n't have been wrestlers well over 7 tall some! Noise in his home country as Tron featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy.. He teamed with Earthquake as part of the decade mike and Haystacks calhoun formed tag! Reward for anyone who could bodyslam him before tossing smaller man about in rings. Man Mountain mike and Haystacks calhoun formed a tag team Championship, a WWE tag team championships his. Graham slowly faded away from the truth and exaggerating reality Mr. T. as a competitor.... Behemoth who could bodyslam him especially made his home in the shadow of a circus attraction 1968! Secondary Title flies through the air like a much smaller man for fans one-half of the most and. Solid supporting crew to become such an icon that famous day in 1978 the! The National wrestling Alliance was founded in 1948 make jaws drop as he passes by n't Recognize by,... N'T have been more apt Monsoon and the Undertaker actual height is debated large behind good! To me nephew Sabu the proof team featuring two intimidatingly tall wrestlers heat like no others wrestling (...
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