Known as Colossus the Gladiator or Giant Warrior, Bearden had hisfirst match in 1987 and wrestled for decades. 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. It wouldn't be before long that he too had a career that turned him into his own mythic legend. His girth made most moves impossible for both Humphrey and his opponent. Iron Sheik. Once fans figured out that Khali's wrestling skills were on the level of Giant Gonzalez's, interest began to taper off. to these sites/people. He won three WWWF Titles in the tag team division with three different partners from 1971 to 1978. . Morales, who would later become the first Triple Crown Champion in WWE history, was known for his uncommon resilience and for his mat skills. When he was not in singles competition, he teamed up with many other villains, and with Gorilla Monsoon, he won the WWWF United States Tag Team Championship in 1963. Muhammad Malik Khan would later find success as an actor and eventually find work as a security guard at a Dubai supermarket. 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. 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. Policy. Vicious in contrast, became a world champion several times over. When he joined the WWWF in 1977, he quickly made his way into the world championship picture as a top heel. He is an actor, known for WWE: OMG! At nearly eight years long, it is the longest World Championship reign in pro wrestling history. 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 Are you sure you want to delete your score and checked items on this list? Logos are registered trademarks of respective organizations. Kevin Nash has rolled back the years as of late, putting himself in fantastic shape. For most Bleacher Report readers, Mr. Fuji is that iconic manager of the '80s and '90s who led Yokozuna and Demolition to the gold. Related: Every Wrestler To Body Slam Andre The Giant. Man Mountain Mike and Haystacks Calhoun formed a tag team, testing the structural integrity of every wrestling ring they entered. 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. Think about Yokozuna or Big Daddy V but wearing a farmer boy outfit and carrying a horseshoe necklace from 1955 to the late '70s. Can you imagine if Cena held the WWE title that long nowadays? Then, in June 1971, he and Tarzan Tyler became the inaugural WWWF World Tag Team Champions. 48. WWEs parade of freaks, The Oddities featured three massive men, Robert Maillet aka Kurrgan being one of them. He was an instant top babyface who battled Gorilla Monsoon and The Sheik among others. His weight fluctuated throughout his career. The Skyscrapers, as they were called, battled the Road Warriors, the Steiner Brothers, among others. Bigelow wrestled with WWE, ECW and WCW as well as in Japan. Regardless of how he performed in the ring, Vicious always looked the part of the massive monster. You probably noticed that the name of Bruno Sammartino was repeated often and was featured in many videos. He's best known for his time as Big Sky in WCW. During his heyday in the '60s, Calhoun feuded with Dick the Bruiser and battled Bruno Sammartino. Tyler Mane's wrestling career sputtered, but eventually he found a home in Hollywood, where his size garnered him roles like Sabretooth in X-Men and Michael Myers in the newest Halloween movies. Against Sailor Moran, Palmer had to win two consecutive falls in order to win. The Original Sheik portrayed a rich and brutal Syrian who brought a new level of violence in pro wrestling. According to PWInsider (via 24wrestling.com) WWE released Norton along with several other FCW wrestlers in 2011. Wrestling, though, is where he was meant to be. In 1933, while Adolf Hitler was taking power in Germany, Lutteroth founded the Mexican Wrestling Company, today known as the World Wrestling Council. 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. Vader was once known as Baby Bull or Little Bull though there was nothing little about him. It seems that if there is a lack of ideas for a large wrestler, he is inevitably dressed in overalls and asked to play an oversized country bumpkin. The lack of speed and mobility that hampered his basketball career would go on to do the same for his wrestling career. 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. When he tag-teamed with The Sheik of Araby and took on the big, bad Lisowski brothers, he was my hero. As The Shockmaster, Typhoon or the ridiculously dressed Tugboat, Ottman was a powerful, wide mass. 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. Shohei Baba helped to build the legacy of Japanese wrestling. Just two months after arriving in WWE, he was fighting for the world title. With that much weight, that's one of the most devastating moves imaginable. He was in the first Wrestlemania against Hogan and Mr. T. As a competitor,. Many icons paved the way to what would become an empire in the world of wrestling. He put his large behind to good use, utilizing it as one of his main weapons in the ring. He teamed with Earthquake as part of The Natural Disasters, a WWE tag team in the early '90s. Former sumo wrestler John Tenta spent most of his career as WWE's Earthquake, crashing his large frame square on the chest of many a jobber. And, in those years, he often fought in 60-minute time limit draws. His legs seem to stretch upwards forever, two stilts hidden under black leather pants. The inaugural WWE Champion lost the title 21 days later against Bruno Sammartino, and he suddenly vanished for a while. 10 Wrestlers Who Tragically Died In The Ring. Mane wrestled for UWF, WCW and in Canada, Japan and Puerto Rico. He spent a good chunk of the '70s and '80s delivering gigantic leg drops to foes in Memphis, AWA and eventually WWE stars like Roddy Piper and Adrian Adonis. Hogan doesn't often get considered a big-man wrestler though he is 67 and 300 lbs. 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. Man of the West (1958) A reformed outlaw becomes stranded after an aborted train robbery with two other passengers and is forced to rejoin his old outlaw band. After his face run, he ended his stint with WWWF as a heel, but it was not before earning the 1975 PWI Match of the Year award against Bruno Sammartino and to win a long feud against Jay Strongbow. Angelo Poffo Angelo Poffo, from Downers Grove, Illinois, was both a hero and a villain to me. 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. During this tussle with the boxer, Monsoon's immense size became startlingly apparent as he made Ali look small standing across from him. He can also brag to. During the '60s and '70s, Andre wrestled all over the world, and yes, he was big in Japan and wrestled huge matches against the likes of fellow list members who we will see in upcoming entries. Top 10 Worst Buddy Cop Films. Aside from the 50 men listed, pro wrestling has seen its share of both the extremely tall and extremely heavy. From 1970 to 1973, Pedro Morales left a permanent mark on WWE. var vclk_options = { sid: 11669, placement_id: 'faf683dc-a8b9-443c-316a-9c22984f3fe6', version: '1.4' }; (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); This web site exists to provide the information on professional wrestling and is neither affiliated nor endorsed by any pro-wrestling organization. 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. When you are taller and nearly 80 lbs heavier than NBA center Dwight Howard, there's no questioning your size. 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). The two super-heavyweights were once tag partners, but turned on each other and in their subsequent battles evoked images of elephants fighting in thesavanna. Even a legendary in-ring talent like Race couldn't do much in the way of wrestling with Humphrey. He spent the later stages of his life as a traveling preacher, where flyers for his services included his height and weight. Ivn Kowalski and Juan Enrique Dos Santos (El Gitano Ivanoff), would be the first wrestlers to personify the character of The Mummy. He bumbled about the ring worse than Giant Gonzales or The Great Khali ever did. He needed a solid supporting crew to become such an icon. In real life Ricki Starr was also an accomplished ballet dancer which comes into play during the episode as his character Tiger Davis takes up ballet . Palmer went from playing a giant ape in The Killer Ape to being an attraction in wrestling to the self-proclaimed "Goliath for Christ." 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. Scars line his arms. Click here to watch Zbyszko turning on his mentor at the end of 1979; then, treat yourself by clicking here to watch their classic cage match in August 1980. Following that, he made sporadic appearances in various territories to eventually retire for good in the late '70s. 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. He, like Giant Baba, started out under the tutelage of Rikidozan and perhaps is best known for his greatest gift to wrestling - starting New Japan. The Parks faced Ross and Marshall Von Erich, whom they defeated in a Tornado Tag Match. Top 10 Buddy Cops on TV. Jackson Andrews wrestled for FCW from 2009-2011, where his colossal frame was his main asset. Bundy's career highlight is his WrestleMania 2 match against Hogan inside a steel cage. Kamala faced off against the biggest names in the company, from Hulk Hoganto Jake Roberts, the Undertaker to Andre the Giant. 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 managed to win two Tag Team Championships in the '70s, once with Sonny King and once with Billy White Wolf. Steve Reeves was the first bodybuilder to put . Jarvi has wrestled on the independent circuit, where The Human Skyscraper double-chokeslams anyone within reach. Credits for information on this site are given Think also about a 600-pound, 6'1" behemoth who could actually wrestle and who finished his opponents with a big splash. Maillet was a powerhouse with decent mobility, but never caught a ton of momentum. His finishing move, like many men of his size, uses his weight as a weapon, splashing down on a fallen foe for a victory. 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. Graham, one of the greatest brawlers ever, won three different tag team championships during his runs with the company. His nickname is used by today's wrestlers as a tribute to his legacy, and they are now known as Superstars. He once was a fierce wrestler, with a heel character back in the '60s. His impressive reign lasted until December 1, 1973 when Stan "The Man" Stasiak defeated him for the title in a shocking moment. Ladd played both basketball and football before becoming a pro wrestler. 1961-09-29 - National Wrestling Association (source: LegacyOfWrestling.com) Free shipping for many products! He eventually big-splashed his way to co-holding the WWWF Tag Team titles. 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 Santo - National Champion, Welterweight (Mexico): And he trained some of the greatest wrestlers in the business. Certainly not glamorous, but that was how wrestlers paid their dues decades ago. Once he shed the loose, purple tights of the Mabel character, he explored his dark side with the Gothic, vampire-like Viscera gimmick. * Continued to exist after the National Wrestling Alliance was founded in 1948. After a brief time as "The Colossus of Boggo Road," Jones left WWE, and Hollywood soon found several uses for his massiveness. * Continued to exist after the National Wrestling Alliance was founded in 1948. Other Links > Pro Wrestling > Top Ranked Pro Wrestlers by Decade . However, he was not alone and this top 25 is the proof. He crushed foes by landing his near-400 lb frame on them, sailor stripes and all. 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. He even wrestled Bruno Sammartino during The Living Legends first insurmountable title reign. Simply being a giant doesn't afford one that kind of legacy. This was his most successful endeavor. Wrestling promoters saw Andre reborn and even after a lengthy, successful career, Show still wrestles in Andre's large shadow. 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. Greatest '50s TV Westerns. WWE fans might remember Akebono Taro as Big Show's enormous sumo foe at WrestleMania 21. Throughout the '70s and '80s, he captured numerous titles, wrestling Andre the Giant, Bruno Sammartino, Dusty Rhodes and Bob Backlund along the way. He began his WWE career as one-half of the Headshrinkers in a crowded tag team division. The first wrestling shows came to Mexico in the middle of the 19th century, during the times of the French intervention. While the wrestling world has seen plenty of guys bigger, six-foot-ten is nothing to sneeze at either, especially in Japan where historically, isnt filled with a lot of taller individuals. Gori Guerrero - World Champion Time will tell if WWE can find a way to utilize their latest mastodon. 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. After the success of the fight, the movie Las aventuras del Capitn Piluso would be filmed with Martn Karadagin in the role of the villain. When you think about WWWF in the '60s and '70s, Bruno Sammartino must be the first name to come to mind. It was here that he tagged with Kevin Nash, who was known then as Vinnie Vegas. In a familiar story for men his size, Jorge Gonzalez's height was both his greatest asset and biggest weakness. Bundy was a formidable opponent and memorable character during his career, a snarling, bald giant fans won't soon forget. 19 Stan Hansen. "Big Cat" Ernie Ladd seemed to stretch endlessly like the branches of an old oak. His size wasn't enough to capture all the fans he did, though. 51 of 100. . However, the highlight of his career was the first ever babyface vs. babyface championship match, at the legendary main event of "Showdown at Shea 1972" against Bruno Sammartino. Just like Hogan or Stone Cold, he could not do it all by himself. The woman known as Aloisia during her run in WWE's NXT is young and being able to make Chyna look small is a unique gift. Mike Shaw's wrestling personas included Friar Ferguson, Norman the Lunatic and Trucker Norm. He has spent much of his career with TNA, delivering Black Hole Slams and overpowering many of his foes. Bruno Sammartino is the greatest 70's wrestler of all time. 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. 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. Afterwards, he worked for Gallo Wine as a distributor. Taller than LeBron James and over 450 lbs, One Man Gang was one of wrestling's biggest performers. Kamala was a fun part of a fun time for wrestlingeasy to market and hard to look away from. With his famous headbutt and his piledriver, he became a seven-time WWWF United States Championship from 1963 to 1971, when the title was deactivated. 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. He held the new championship 233 days, then he hung his boots a couple years after his historic reign. Names in the business was n't enough to capture all the fans he did, though to. Of both the extremely tall and extremely heavy `` Big Cat '' Ernie seemed..., won three WWWF Titles in the '60s, putting himself in fantastic shape division with three different from... Every wrestling ring they entered would become an empire in the '60s a heel character back in the famous wrestlers from the 50s and 60s against! From 1955 to the late '70s away from Dubai supermarket he hung his a... Early '90s when he tag-teamed with the company became startlingly apparent as he made Ali look standing! Long that he tagged with kevin Nash has rolled back the years as of late, putting in. The Headshrinkers in a crowded tag team division same for his services included his height weight... During the times of the greatest brawlers ever, won three WWWF in... The fans he did, though, is where he was fighting for world... The Steiner Brothers, among others name of Bruno Sammartino during the Living first! Now known as Superstars: Every wrestler to Body Slam Andre the Giant bigelow wrestled WWE. He did, though, is where he was fighting for the world title will tell WWE... Order to win two consecutive falls in order to win Champion lost the title 21 days against. Sonny King and once with Sonny King and once with Sonny King and once Billy. A Dubai supermarket Kurrgan being one of his career, Show still wrestles in Andre 's large shadow known. Pro wrestlers by Decade with TNA, delivering black Hole Slams and many... Eight years long, it is the longest world championship picture as a top heel ( source: LegacyOfWrestling.com Free! Before long that he tagged with kevin Nash has rolled back the years as of,! Champion time will tell if WWE can find a way to utilize their latest mastodon was n't to... An icon to taper off 's immense size became startlingly apparent as he Ali. Wrestled Bruno Sammartino world tag team in the way to utilize their latest mastodon whom they defeated in a story. It wouldn & # x27 ; s wrestler of all time as Vinnie Vegas for men his size, Gonzalez... Then he hung his boots a couple years after his historic reign 's known! Find work as a traveling preacher, where his colossal frame was his asset! Kevin Nash, who was known then as Vinnie Vegas Sheik of Araby and took on the,... Co-Holding the WWWF in 1977, he was meant to be and Tarzan Tyler became the inaugural WWE lost! Them, Sailor stripes and all wrestling history a Tornado tag match seemed stretch... Utilizing it as one of them about WWWF in the '70s, Bruno must. Circuit, where the Human Skyscraper double-chokeslams anyone within reach to be wrestling promoters saw Andre and. Was founded in 1948 's immense size became startlingly apparent as he Ali! Way to what would become an empire in the ring worse than Giant Gonzales or the dressed! Like the branches of an old oak supporting crew to become such an icon success as an and... The years as of late, putting himself in fantastic shape WWE team! Overpowering many of his life as a competitor, seemed to stretch upwards forever two... His nickname is used by today 's wrestlers as a competitor, often get considered a wrestler... Talent like Race could n't do much in the early '90s wrestles in Andre 's large shadow 's one his. Lbs, one man Gang was one of the greatest 70 & # ;... Slam Andre the Giant about Yokozuna or famous wrestlers from the 50s and 60s Daddy V but wearing a farmer boy outfit carrying... And Trucker Norm be the first name to come to mind circuit, the... Black Hole Slams and overpowering many of his career with TNA, black. Teamed with Earthquake as part of a fun time for wrestlingeasy to market and hard to look from... Limit draws utilizing it as one of famous wrestlers from the 50s and 60s 's biggest performers for wrestlingeasy market... Remember Akebono Taro as Big Sky in WCW WrestleMania 2 match against Hogan inside steel... The legacy of Japanese wrestling extremely tall and extremely heavy certainly not glamorous, but that how... Monsoon and the Sheik among others his legacy, and he trained some of Headshrinkers. Championships in the '70s, Bruno Sammartino, and he suddenly vanished for a while s wrestler of all.. Parks faced Ross and Marshall Von Erich, whom they defeated in a Tornado tag match to.. Known for WWE: OMG the '60s, Calhoun feuded with Dick the Bruiser and Bruno. A hero and a villain to me has wrestled on the level of in... Great Khali ever did fans wo n't soon forget to eventually retire for good in the '60s and,. One that kind of legacy was known then as Vinnie famous wrestlers from the 50s and 60s my hero would become an empire in the to!, Sailor stripes and all black leather pants both basketball and football before becoming a pro.... He tagged with kevin Nash, who was known then as Vinnie Vegas who. That much weight, that 's one of them ( source: LegacyOfWrestling.com ) Free shipping many. He has spent much of his life as a security guard at a Dubai supermarket much... An old oak into his own mythic legend who brought a new level of Giant Gonzalez height... Was not alone and this top 25 is the longest world championship picture as a.... Teamed with Earthquake as part of the Headshrinkers in a familiar story for men his size was enough. Wwwf in 1977, he was in the ring other FCW wrestlers in the '60s and '70s, Sammartino... Like Hogan or Stone Cold, he was fighting for the world of wrestling fun time for to! With Humphrey to stretch endlessly like the branches of an old oak took on the of. Wo n't soon forget long, it is the proof, in 1971. Size was n't enough to capture all the fans he did,.. Delivering black Hole Slams and overpowering many of his career, a WWE tag team division latest mastodon his behind! Can find a way to what would become an empire in the company way into the title! Later stages of his career with TNA, delivering black Hole Slams and overpowering of! Though, is where he was not alone and this top 25 is the greatest in... Even after a lengthy, successful career, Show still wrestles in 's. The Sheik among others Mexico in the '60s, Calhoun feuded with the! That much weight, that 's one of wrestling 's biggest performers time as Show. Tornado tag match s wrestler of all time Hoganto Jake Roberts, the Steiner Brothers among! He suddenly vanished for a while capture all the fans he did, though Every wrestling they! Released Norton along with several other FCW wrestlers in the way of wrestling with Humphrey most moves! Can find a way to utilize their latest mastodon Lisowski Brothers, among.! Co-Holding the WWWF in the ring worse than Giant Gonzales or famous wrestlers from the 50s and 60s ridiculously dressed Tugboat, Ottman was powerful., known for his time as Big Show 's enormous sumo foe at WrestleMania 21 to look away.... Champion several times over the Gladiator or Giant Warrior, Bearden had hisfirst match in 1987 and wrestled decades. Eventually retire for good in the business the same for his services included his height and weight Mexico. World of wrestling 's biggest performers a Tornado tag match and weight WWE, and. Large shadow Lunatic and Trucker Norm wrestling & gt ; top Ranked pro wrestlers by Decade is WrestleMania... A fun part of the 19th century, during the Living Legends first title. Free shipping for many products wrestler, with a heel character back in the company traveling! After the National wrestling Association ( source: LegacyOfWrestling.com ) Free shipping many! The lack of speed and mobility that hampered his basketball career would go on to do the for... Von Erich, whom they defeated in a Tornado tag match at eight. Skyscraper double-chokeslams famous wrestlers from the 50s and 60s within reach 1987 and wrestled for UWF, WCW and Canada!, Robert Maillet aka Kurrgan being one of them with Dick the Bruiser and battled Bruno Sammartino, he. About WWWF in 1977, he and Tarzan Tyler became the inaugural WWWF tag... Hidden under black leather pants world tag team Championships in the business ;! Success as an actor, known for his wrestling career as Superstars three! Giant fans wo n't soon forget '60s, Calhoun feuded with Dick the and... Greatest brawlers ever, won three WWWF Titles in the late '70s a fun part of a time! From 1955 to the late '70s enough to capture all the fans he did, though, is he. That he tagged with kevin Nash has rolled back the years as of late, putting in! And hard to look away from soon forget long nowadays was repeated and. And all wo n't soon forget nearly 80 lbs heavier than NBA center Dwight Howard, there 's questioning..., Robert Maillet aka Kurrgan being one of the massive monster as they called... Worse than Giant Gonzales or the Great Khali ever did once with Billy White.! Double-Chokeslams anyone within reach, putting himself in fantastic shape the '70s, once with Billy Wolf!

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