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. He is widely regarded as the most recognized wrestling star worldwide and the most popular wrestler of the 1980s. The most famous of wrestling's giants made large men like Hulk Hogan and Big John Studd look small. 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. He headlined many Madison Square Garden supercards, mainly in two or three-men tag team action, and in 1973, he had a 105-day WWWF World Tag Team Championship reign along with Tony Garea. 1. 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. Honorable mention: Verne Gagne, Bill Miller, Karl Gotch, Dick the Bruiser, Reggie Lisowski, Wilbur Snyder, Buddy Austin, Bobo Brazil, Sailor Art Thomas, Lorenzo Parente, Light Heavyweight (Mexico): Dark hair falls over his leather mask, his wild eyes poking through. Greatest '50s TV Westerns. To be blessed with all those talents as well as impressive size is a wrestling promoter's dream. advertisememt. He used his tree-sized arms to lariat his opponents down to the mat. Also, you can track what you've seen, want to see, like, or dislike, as well as track individual seasons or episodes of shows. * Championships in parentheses ( ) are noted according to the approximate date of the information, usually three or four months prior to the publishing date, in order to give a better idea of why the wrestlers may be ranked. One. Find album reviews, track lists, credits, awards and more at AllMusic. While Juan Manuel Figueroa would be La Momia between 1975 and 1988. He especially made his mark in handicap bouts and in what would become his specialty, the battle royal matches. He is nimble and versatile. 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. Kane, like his storyline brother, is so skilled and deft in the ring that one can sometimes forget how big he is. Muhammad Malik Khan would later find success as an actor and eventually find work as a security guard at a Dubai supermarket. However, the former nWo star is currently 62-years-old . There have been wrestlers well over 7 tall and some well beyond 400 lbs. Giant Baba became one of the key figures in all of Japanese wrestling. WWEs parade of freaks, The Oddities featured three massive men, Robert Maillet aka Kurrgan being one of them. - The Top 50 Incidents in WWE History (2011), WCW Monday Nitro (1995) and WWE Smackdown! One built a reputation just meeting him in the ring. Larry Chene, Mike Clancy, Jack Curtis, Mike DiBiase, Pepper Gomez, Red McKim, Sonny Myers, Angelo Savoldi, Joe Scarpello, Oni Wiki Wiki. Logos are registered trademarks of respective organizations. The Valiant Brothers The curious thing was that none of the so-called wrestlers were true athletes. 19 Stan Hansen. Jackson Andrews wrestled for FCW from 2009-2011, where his colossal frame was his main asset. . He left that match bloodied and without the WWE title. Jarvi has wrestled on the independent circuit, where The Human Skyscraper double-chokeslams anyone within reach. Mike Shaw's wrestling personas included Friar Ferguson, Norman the Lunatic and Trucker Norm. When you're the size that Gary Fletcher was, there's no more fitting name than Man Mountain. 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. 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. When a man battles The Great Khali and stands face to face with him, there's no doubt about his enormity. When he left New Zealand after he signed with the WWWF in 1972, he quickly became a big star, earning the 1973 PWI Rookie of the Year. He held the new championship 233 days, then he hung his boots a couple years after his historic reign. However, on many occasions, he was caught at his own game, and it ended in a bloodbath after his rival returned the illegal object against him. In two reigns, one with Jimmy and one with Jerry, he was Tag Team Champion for a total of 600 days. While he certainly brought his share of physical intimidation courtesy of his massive frame, Kane was never a freak show. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. 1963-09 - Boxing Illustrated Wrestling News, 1967-10 - The Wrestler (credit: @wrestlerweekly), 1968-12 - Wrestling Revue "Official Wrestling Ratings" (credit: Tom Burke), 1968-12 - Ring Wrestling: "Official World Ratings". With that much weight, that's one of the most devastating moves imaginable. Fans were enthralled by him, curious to watch a man his size and perhaps were pulled in by his larger-than-life aura. He won the WWWF US Championship in 1971, but he had to drop it one month later, when he became the WWWF World Heavyweight Champion on February 8, 1971. In the U.S., he made his name thanks to a massive violent feud with Bruno Sammartino in WWE. He was already a huge mainstream attraction before he joined the WWWF in the early '70s, and his fame never declined. He has spent much of his career with TNA, delivering Black Hole Slams and overpowering many of his foes. Just two months after arriving in WWE, he was fighting for the world title. Even without the name, it's clear that Jarvi is a large man. Man Mountain Mike and Haystacks Calhoun formed a tag team, testing the structural integrity of every wrestling ring they entered. The original Arena Mexico had a capacity for a little more than 4 thousand attendees. His run as the World Champion officially lasted 2,083 days, and it took him less than one year with the company to win the title. The Parks faced Ross and Marshall Von Erich, whom they defeated in a Tornado Tag Match. The result was one of the worst matches in wrestling history. No one on this list changed with the times more than the legendary Terry Funk. 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. 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. He was a real animal in the ring, and his brutality was matched by only few other hardcore legends. Bruno Sammartino is the greatest 70's wrestler of all 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. At nearly eight years long, it is the longest World Championship reign in pro wrestling history. Jobbers soon found out what a chokeslam felt like from an incredible height. He is an actor, known for WWE: OMG! 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. Dorrel Dixon - World Champion, Middleweight: Fuji's tag team partner at the time. Who knows how much of that is wrestling promoters building things up, but regardless of any exaggeration, Calhoun was undoubtedly large. He was a rigid wrestler on redwood-like legs. The mystery that surrounded Khali, combined with his monstrous size, was the kind of television drama fans hope for from wrestling. Posted below are the 50 best wrestlers of all time, according to fans. The Atlanta Hawks drafted Gonzalez in the 1988 NBA draft. For many, including myself, that name is totally unknown, but he left a big mark on the WWWF from 1966 to 1975. Click here to watch Andre The Giant winning a battle royal in the mid-70s. It was that physique that helped him land the role of Bane in Batman and Robin. His look was an unforgettable one, complete with a tattooed bald head and massive body ready to squash those who challenged him. Other famous referees were Alfredo Giardina, Albert Jaitt, El Conde Schiaffino, Professor Eduardo Davis and Johnny Well. 11. Vicious in contrast, became a world champion several times over. The best quality video I could find was Stan Stasiak vs. Tony Garea in three parts: part 1, part 2 and part 3. Now, with no more introduction, let's travel back in time when pro wrestling was absent from the mainstream media and when it caused actual riots on many occasions. Click here to watch history being made when Ivan Koloff defeated Bruno Sammartino for the WWWF; and click here if you want to see The Russian Bear in a cage match again vs. Sammartino, in 1975. The team were actually a bloody hardcore tag team. A man Fred Ottmans size isn't often going to be referred to as "the smaller one," but as Typhoon, that's exactly what he was. His reign only lasted 21 days, but with only six different WWWF Champions in the '70s, it means a lot. He flies through the air like a much smaller man. 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. During this tussle with the boxer, Monsoon's immense size became startlingly apparent as he made Ali look small standing across from him. When he wore colorful facepaint he looked like Ultimate Warrior, only stretched out to the size of an NBA center. Top 10 Times Wrestlers Fought While Injured . 60. In between, he floated between gimmicks, WCW trying to find a way to best use Reis' immense size. 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. Stevens most recently played an orc chieftain in the new Hobbit trilogy. 50. In the sport of wrestling, Channel 8s television ratings reached 96 rating points. Before tossing smaller man about in wrestling rings, Taro was in fact a real-life sumo wrestler. Hulk Hogan. The contest ended after an hour-and-16 minute time limit draw in front of a crowd that went nuts after the officials declared they had to comply with a curfew. 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. * Championships in parentheses ( ) are mentioned according to the approximate date of the information, usually two or three months prior to the publishing date. Ruben Juarez - National Champion, Middleweight (Mexico): * Continued to exist after the National Wrestling Alliance was founded in 1948. They experimented with a few gimmicks for him, including the poorly conceived Sultan, who resided in mid-card status. Not as agile as Bam Bam Bigelow or Vader, Nash was still surprisingly quick and deft in the ring. He is a former WWWF United States Tag Team Champion, and his biggest achievement was to win the WWWF World Tag Team Title along with King Curtis Iaukea. 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). As The Shockmaster, Typhoon or the ridiculously dressed Tugboat, Ottman was a powerful, wide mass. After a stint in World Class Championship Wrestling, Bundy made a name for himself in WWE, squashing opponents with his Avalanche Splash. He made matches like his battle vs. Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania III an unforgettable experience. As Akeem "the African Dream," Gray teamed with Big Boss Man. You probably noticed that the name of Bruno Sammartino was repeated often and was featured in many videos. That is why he is known as the father of Mexican wrestling. Scars line his arms. His moves are limited to swats, chops and awkward slams. 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. * Continued to exist after the National Wrestling Alliance was founded in 1948. Orndorff was a professional wrestler from Florida who was a good mid-card performer before going to WWF and being a star. Policy. Steve Reeves was the first bodybuilder to put . The man known as Killer Kowalski Jr. was even bigger, a good two inches taller. He would carry that swagger to WWE along with his "Big Cat" nickname. I also considered the longevity with the WWWF, a point not very important after the early '80s and the death of the territories concept. A former NWA and ECW World Champion, and a violent hardcore wrestler. Back in the days, most wrestlers moved from one territory to another, or in other words, there was no promotion exclusivity. In a career that began in the '60s and ended for good in the '90s, Baba became a legend in his home country. Imagine trying to pick up a man over 600 lbs to perform a wrestling move. Possessing an impressive blend of power and speed, Rikishi spent a good part of two decades entertaining WWE fans. He was an instant top babyface who battled Gorilla Monsoon and The Sheik among others. A monster heel, Studd brought a stretcher to the ring as a means of intimidation. Related: Every Wrestler To Body Slam Andre The Giant. 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.". He eventually big-splashed his way to co-holding the WWWF Tag Team titles. The Samoan wrestler played a Japanese sumo wrestler, complete with Japanese flag waving behind him. He was a tough brawler and a solid performer who unfortunately spent much of his career in the shadow of a bigger giant. His monikers included Big John Harris, Silo Sam and Trapper John. Antonio Posa - World Champion 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. These famous Americans are from the political, business, entertainment and professional . Even today, there are wrestlers who wont dare try the now 75-year-old Jerry. Too bad the giant's resume doesn't boast much more than this kind of accomplishment. 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. His size wasn't enough to capture all the fans he did, though. He was a master user of foreign objects and one of the best ever to sell opponents' moves. We'll likely never see such a combination of greatness and size again. Big Show has been big for a long time. All rights reserved. He began his WWE career as one-half of the Headshrinkers in a crowded tag team division. 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. Danny Hodge - World Champion, Challengers (listed alphabetically): To counteract his significant size advantage, some of his matches featured special stipulations. Privacy He was a top draw in Australia and in Europe when he headed to America to join the company. Satiating its obsession for girth, wrestling's promoters have found real-life Goliaths and showcased them for fans. 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. Kurt Nielsen of Slam! Kamala was a fun part of a fun time for wrestlingeasy to market and hard to look away from. He battled in various territories, but he always remained loyal to the WWWF. Most of the wrestlers didn't even have the physiques or follow the diet and workout regimen that many athletes follow today. The original Arena Mexico had a capacity for a little more than 4 thousand attendees. He's best known for his time as Big Sky in WCW. Lance Storm He managed to win two Tag Team Championships in the '70s, once with Sonny King and once with Billy White Wolf. Top 50 professional wrestlers. He only spent one year with the company in the '70s, but what a year it was! Reis left WCW in 1998, his height being the quality fans remember the most about him. In the process, I discovered countless wrestlers I hadn't heard about or I didn't really know. Gorilla Monsoon is not just that face commentator known by the younger fans in the '80s and '90s. Like many of the most massive of wrestling's giants, The Great Khali has offered fans little more than sideshow novelty. Taro would go on to try his giant-sized hand at kickboxing and MMA, but his size didn't translate to success in either case. 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. Despitehis walrus-like physique, Vader was very agile in the ring. Chyna. Giant Baba would have been big as an American wrestler, but in Japan he was simply massive. Happy Humphrey was the size of several men. The enemies-turned-allies carried on the tradition of wrestling's oversized pairings. Whether in WWE, TNA or elsewhere, Morgan has displayed an impressive amount of power and showmanship to go along with his largeness. Australian powerlifter Nathan Jones charged onto the WWE scene as The Undertaker's right-hand man. Many greats, including Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold, Ric Flair and Triple H, were inspired by him to forge their characters. Jones certainly had Undertaker's size and an impressive physique, but never did much more than tread water with the company. Shohei Baba helped to build the legacy of Japanese wrestling. His weight was no doubt a major factor in him dying of a pulmonary edema at just 34. His nickname is used by today's wrestlers as a tribute to his legacy, and they are now known as Superstars. World Title Vacant, Challengers: Bobby Bonales, Alejandro Cruz, El Enfermero, Cavernario Galindo, Humbero Garza, Carnicero Grimaldo, Rene Guajardo, Memo Rubio, El Santo, Huroki Sito, Welterweight: The NWCA is very proud of the rich history of the sport of wrestling and many famous Americans who have once wrestled. 8 Kevin Nash. Kevin Nash has rolled back the years as of late, putting himself in fantastic shape. Graham also managed to put the hand on the short-lived WWF International Tag Team Championship. As El Gigante in WCW or Giant Gonzalez in WWE, he was nothing more than a spectacle. When he tag-teamed with The Sheik of Araby and took on the big, bad Lisowski brothers, he was my hero. The guy has bought islands, fought on islands, was part of the Japanese government and despite it not being recognized, was a former WWE World Champion. It wouldnt be before long that he too had a career that turned him into his own mythic legend. Policy. She won the Women's Championship in 1956, and she battled each and every woman on her path to build her unique legacy. Famous Americans Who Wrestled. The Baron enjoyed a great career with the WWWF in the '60s and in the '70s as one of the top heels. In 1933, while Adolf Hitler was taking power in Germany, Lutteroth founded the Mexican Wrestling Company, today known as the World Wrestling Council. to these sites/people. Known as Colossus the Gladiator or Giant Warrior, Bearden had hisfirst match in 1987 and wrestled for decades. His most notable feud, that lasted for over two decades in and out WWWF, was against Bobo Brazil, and in the process, he became a two-time WWWF US Champion. 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. ( United States Champions) Mark Lewin & Don Curtis Antonino Rocca & Miguel Perez Fabulous Kangaroos ( International Champions) Ben Sharpe & Mike Sharpe ( World Champions [San Francisco]) Jackie Fargo & Don Fargo Reggie Lisowski & Stan Lisowski Bill Miller & Dan Miller Ivan Kalmikoff & Karol Kalmikoff ( World Champions [Minneapolis]) Whether he wrestled as G-Rilla, The Mastodon of Mayhem or the only living,breathing, rompin, stompinFunkasaurus in captivity, Brodus Clay's ring names and nicknames have all been references to his size.
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