Ron Reis will always be remembered most for being the large man in the ridiculous costume as The Yeti, who attacked Hulk Hogan at Halloween Havoc 1995. He was an instant top babyface who battled Gorilla Monsoon and The Sheik among others. He eventually big-splashed his way to co-holding the WWWF Tag Team titles. 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. 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. Also, you can track what you've seen, want to see, like, or dislike, as well as track individual seasons or episodes of shows. Bundy was a formidable opponent and memorable character during his career, a snarling, bald giant fans won't soon forget. It wouldnt be before long that he too had a career that turned him into his own mythic legend. But that wasn't always the case. As for any similar list, I considered many factors to rank the wrestlers. 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. Top 10 Wrestlers Blacklisted By WWE. Ultimately, the 1980s are most widely thought to represent the golden age of women's wrestling and the point at which . 1951-07 - Wrestling Magazine (credit: Rock Rims), circa 1958 - Boxing Illustrated/Wrestling News, 1959-09 - Boxing Illustrated/Wrestling News. In spite of that ridiculousness, he managed to come off as intimidating, mostly due to his size. Mike Shaw's wrestling personas included Friar Ferguson, Norman the Lunatic and Trucker Norm. Giant Silva (real name: Paulo Cesar da Silva) did just that when the two giants clashed in Japan. Top 10 Worst Buddy Cop Films. Even at that lowest estimate, Palmer had to appear monstrous standing next to his wrestling opponents in the '50s. Ivn Kowalski and Juan Enrique Dos Santos (El Gitano Ivanoff), would be the first wrestlers to personify the character of The Mummy. 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). Known as Colossus the Gladiator or Giant Warrior, Bearden had hisfirst match in 1987 and wrestled for decades. Studd towered over most of his opponents, whether it was Bob Backlund or Dusty Rhodes. Sheamus, John Cena and Josh Mathews combined don't quite weigh as much as Humphrey did during his career. Then, in June 1971, he and Tarzan Tyler became the inaugural WWWF World Tag Team Champions. To build the list, I had to rely mostly on reading and assumptions in regard to what I could actually watch. In two reigns, one with Jimmy and one with Jerry, he was Tag Team Champion for a total of 600 days. For most Bleacher Report readers, Mr. Fuji is that iconic manager of the '80s and '90s who led Yokozuna and Demolition to the gold. Monsoon battled Andre the Giant, Bruno Sammartino and at one point even had an infamousaltercation with Muhammad Ali. Giant Baba would have been big as an American wrestler, but in Japan he was simply massive. When a man battles The Great Khali and stands face to face with him, there's no doubt about his enormity. Policy. 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. His impressive reign lasted until December 1, 1973 when Stan "The Man" Stasiak defeated him for the title in a shocking moment. Brian Norton wrestled in his home country as Tron. This was his most successful endeavor. However, he was not alone and this top 25 is the proof. For so many men on this list, their size is their only asset. * Continued to exist after the National Wrestling Alliance was founded in 1948. Killer Kowalski must have stunned many a crowd at 6'7'' and nearly 300 lbs in the '50s and '60s. Ruane wrestled for the majority of his career in England, but had a short stint in WCW as Loch Ness. However, the former nWo star is currently 62-years-old . . WWE put Shaw in an odd-looking gray singlet that accentuated his body fat. 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. Billed at 7'7'', his actual height is debated. Top 25 1950's Westerns. Visit Our Patreon Page to Create Your Own All-Time Fantasy Teams and See Other Bonus Material . For some, it was obvious because there's a lot offootage available, but for some others, very little stuff could be found. 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. Back in the days, most wrestlers moved from one territory to another, or in other words, there was no promotion exclusivity. He was a tough brawler and a solid performer who unfortunately spent much of his career in the shadow of a bigger giant. Privacy He used his tree-sized arms to lariat his opponents down to the mat. Judging by looks alone, few fans would peg Vader for an athlete. Free shipping for many products! Antonio Posa - World Champion 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. Vader was once known as Baby Bull or Little Bull though there was nothing little about him. - The Top 50 Incidents in WWE History (2011), WCW Monday Nitro (1995) and WWE Smackdown! 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. top 10 wrestlers from the 50s and 60s. He was a master of the heel tactics, but he was also very agile in the ring. Ranking Explanations . 48. As you could see, pro wrestling didn't start with Hulk Hogan in the '80s. He left that match bloodied and without the WWE title. 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. This enormous man performed for WWE, WCCW and AWA in a career that began in 1985 and ended only a few years later. Jerry 'The King' Lawler. Find album reviews, track lists, credits, awards and more at AllMusic. Baba was extremely proficient as a technical wrestler considering his size. Terry Eugene Bollea, better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American retired professional wrestler and television personality. 50's and 60's wrestlers 20 Pins 7y S Collection by Thomas Roberts Similar ideas popular now Professional Wrestling Wrestling Professional Wrestlers Wwe Wwe Wrestlers Wrestling Superstars Pro Wrestler Professional Wrestlers The Professional Andr The Giant Giant People Tall People Mario Vintage Photography Wwe Wrestlers Jean Ferrat Jesse Ventura Jobbers soon found out what a chokeslam felt like from an incredible height. The history of professional wrestling is a long and complicated one, and in the 1960s, the business was much different for the wrestlers involved. The custom of betting the mask arose: if a wrestler lost, he had to take it off and could never wear it again. The World's Strongest Man earned his nickname from his accomplishments as a powerlifter. Click here to watch Bobo Brazil taking on his nemesis, The Sheik. Scars line his arms. Morales, who would later become the first Triple Crown Champion in WWE history, was known for his uncommon resilience and for his mat skills. Think also about a 600-pound, 6'1" behemoth who could actually wrestle and who finished his opponents with a big splash. He routinely performed moonsaults and corner slingshot splashes, aka Vader Bombs. Most of the wrestlers didn't even have the physiques or follow the diet and workout regimen that many athletes follow today. 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. It wouldn't be before long that he too had a career that turned him into his own mythic legend. 1 contender to Bruno Sammartino's WWWF Championship, but he always fell short, and he greatly contributed to put the champ over in the process. 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. 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. Once the race barrier was finally crossed, he had feuds against Killer Kowalski, The Sheik and all the other heels in WWWF at the time. Kurt Zehe made men look like boys when he stood next to them. Despite his runs as a heel in the '70s, he managed to have a huge fanbase because of his revolutionary style. You can also click here to watch another poor quality video (Sammartino defeating Stasiak for the WWWF Title). It's difficult to determine some wrestlers' true size with a business so famous for twisting the truth and exaggerating reality. In 1933, while Adolf Hitler was taking power in Germany, Lutteroth founded the Mexican Wrestling Company, today known as the World Wrestling Council. 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. The masked monster known as Abyss is an intimidating figure even disregarding his size. 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. Dorrel Dixon - World Champion, Middleweight: and the fake Diesel, WWE found the perfect fit for Glenn Jacobs. In a familiar story for men his size, Jorge Gonzalez's height was both his greatest asset and biggest weakness. Gori Guerrero - World Champion Uncle Elmer aka Plowboy Frazier (real name: Stan Frazier) was the biggest man among a WWE group called "The Hillbillies.". Once fans figured out that Khali's wrestling skills were on the level of Giant Gonzalez's, interest began to taper off. Before wrestling, Reis played basketball at Santa Clara University. 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. He would also use his size as a defense mechanism in battle royals. Even without the name, it's clear that Jarvi is a large man. Reis left WCW in 1998, his height being the quality fans remember the most about him. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. A monster heel, Studd brought a stretcher to the ring as a means of intimidation. I could not even French press a 5-pound dumbbell.". He is even credited as the inventor of the figure-four leglock. 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. He bumbled about the ring worse than Giant Gonzales or The Great Khali ever did. He eventually became a three-time WWWF United States Tag Team Championship. His monikers included Big John Harris, Silo Sam and Trapper John. Click here to watch Pedro Morales defeating Ivan Koloff for the WWWF Championship. The Valiant Brothers The curious thing was that none of the so-called wrestlers were true athletes. Some of these wrestlers have been so large it can hardly seem real. Eddie Graham. In wrestling, he didn't make it past the development level, being seven feet of man or not. 10 Wrestlers Who Tragically Died In The Ring. Hulk Hogan. The interesting career of The Bushwhackers began as cousin Luke and cousin Butch started out as The Kiwis in their native New Zealand before traversing the globe as the ultra violent Sheepherders in the late 1970s. Logos are registered trademarks of respective organizations. She won the Women's Championship in 1956, and she battled each and every woman on her path to build her unique legacy. Larry Chene, Mike Clancy, Jack Curtis, Mike DiBiase, Pepper Gomez, Red McKim, Sonny Myers, Angelo Savoldi, Joe Scarpello, Oni Wiki Wiki. "The American Dream" has been one of the most popular and colorful professional wrestlers in history. 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. Jackson Andrews wrestled for FCW from 2009-2011, where his colossal frame was his main asset. While Juan Manuel Figueroa would be La Momia between 1975 and 1988. He was in the first Wrestlemania against Hogan and Mr. T. As a competitor,. Jones certainly had Undertaker's size and an impressive physique, but never did much more than tread water with the company. He teamed early in his career with fellow Texan, the late Dick Murdoch, and, for more than 20 . 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. Never the most skilled wrestler, Frazier, for much of his career, was a major draw. Rhodes began wrestling in the 1960s and gained a reputation as a fast-talking, hard-rocking wrestler. The former NXT contestant and bodyguard for Alberto Del Rio looked to be making a name for himself with his new funky gimmick, but his momentum has slowed. Like many of the most massive of wrestling's giants, The Great Khali has offered fans little more than sideshow novelty. - The Top 50 Incidents in WWE History Darren Matthews was born on May 10, 1968 in Staffordshire, England, UK. Australian powerlifter Nathan Jones charged onto the WWE scene as The Undertaker's right-hand man. Related: The Reason Lucha Underground Went Out Of Business Explained. Patera made a name for himself as a dominant strongman wrestler who had a successful weightlifting career behind him. 8 Kevin Nash. In 1994, Bundy returned from a long hiatus, only to become The Undertaker's fourth victim during his famed WrestleMania undefeated streak. On the top of all that, if that means anything, he was the PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year in 1973 and the Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year in 1979. ( United States Champion [San Francisco]) Antonino Rocca. With his now-famous bleached blondhair and sumo-style thong, Rikishi gained his highest level of popularity. According to PWInsider (via 24wrestling.com) WWE released Norton along with several other FCW wrestlers in 2011. Top 50 professional wrestlers. ( 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]) His first reign, in 1975, lasted 105 days, and he teamed up with Victor Rivera who was later replaced by Pat Barrett. His size wasn't enough to capture all the fans he did, though. He only spent one year with the company in the '70s, but what a year it was! Paul Bunyan had to seem as unreal as the lumberjack from American folklore from who he took his ring name. The wrestler called The Living Legend had it all to be a genuine superstar. No, not dem Boys. But as far as wrestlers wrestlers and old school tough guys go, theres are no better men than Jack and Jerry Brisco. 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): 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. Here is a smattering of pro wrestlers from that era. He also was part of a wrestling family that gave us Paul "Butcher" Vachon, Vivian Vachon and Luna Vachon. Bruno Sammartino is one of the most famous and popular faces ever to wrestle for the McMahon machine. The Baron enjoyed a great career with the WWWF in the '60s and in the '70s as one of the top heels. His nickname is used by today's wrestlers as a tribute to his legacy, and they are now known as Superstars. 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. While the Ugandan portion of his character was all show, the giant part was not. Together this dynamic trio keep law and order in small town of Wileyville, Arizona. Rogers mostly worked for Capitol Wrestling Corporation, the promotion that was the ancestor of the new WWWF created in 1963; he then became the first world champion on April 29 the same year. Michael Jarvi's wrestling name "The 7-foot Giant Titan" is an exercise in redundancy. So far, the leader of Legado del Fantasma has defended the championship four times: a couple of times against Isaiah Swerve Scott, against Jake Atlas and just a few days ago against the also Mexican Gran Metalik. In the U.S., he made his name thanks to a massive violent feud with Bruno Sammartino in WWE. He's best known for his time as Big Sky in WCW. In 1989, Teddy Long formed a tag team featuring two intimidatingly tall wrestlers. The deranged villain held his opponents in the backbreaker rack or splashed his weight on their prone bodies. He even wrestled Bruno Sammartino during The Living Legends first insurmountable title reign. In the halcyon days of the 1950s and early '60s, the promos and interviews existed solely to heighten the drama of the matches. He held the new championship 233 days, then he hung his boots a couple years after his historic reign. 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: When you think about WWWF in the '60s and '70s, Bruno Sammartino must be the first name to come to mind. He is an actor, known for WWE: OMG! Even if there are a few non-existent inches added here or a few pounds added to one's weight, there's no denying just how gigantic these men are. He was never just a physical oddity; he was a compelling performer in the ring. Bearden won several championships throughout his career, particularly in South Africa, where he made his home in the early '90s. Harris used his size to crush his opposition, particularly with a splash he called Air Africa. * Continued to exist after the National Wrestling Alliance was founded in 1948. Unofficially, she lost the title on four occasions, but she only spent 70 days without the gold in that 10,778-day time frame. Had things worked out with WWE, he could have towered over fellow Irishman Sheamus. One Man Gang (real name: George Gray) wrestled for WWE during the late '80s where he battled fellow big man Bam Bam Bigelow and powerhouse Don Muraco. The Atlanta Hawks drafted Gonzalez in the 1988 NBA draft. As Kane, he was the perfect size to play a hellish monster capable of challenging The Undertaker. He is widely regarded as the most recognized wrestling star worldwide and the most popular wrestler of the 1980s. Credits for information on this site are given His look was an unforgettable one, complete with a tattooed bald head and massive body ready to squash those who challenged him. 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 put his large behind to good use, utilizing it as one of his main weapons in the ring. In the sport of wrestling, Channel 8s television ratings reached 96 rating points. Records differ on Palmer's actual height. Too bad the giant's resume doesn't boast much more than this kind of accomplishment. Click here to watch Andre The Giant winning a battle royal in the mid-70s. Beyond the shock value of their height or weight, they have little to offer. 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. Happy Humphrey was the size of several men. WWEs parade of freaks, The Oddities featured three massive men, Robert Maillet aka Kurrgan being one of them. He began his movie career with roles like "Big Security Guard" in The Bodyguard 2 and as the titular character in Man-Thing. 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. All rights reserved. Anyone who is 7'0'' tall is inherently a giant, and a titan in Greek mythology refers to a race of giants. The result was one of the worst matches in wrestling history. That is why he is known as the father of Mexican wrestling. The inaugural WWE Champion lost the title 21 days later against Bruno Sammartino, and he suddenly vanished for a while. He began his WWE career as one-half of the Headshrinkers in a crowded tag team division. Satiating its obsession for girth, wrestling's promoters have found real-life Goliaths and showcased them for fans. 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. Bodybuilding had to originate somewhere. At nearly eight years long, it is the longest World Championship reign in pro wrestling history. 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. Dwarfing a man the size of Mason Ryan is accomplishment a rare few can claim. Strongbow will probably be most remembered for his Native American gimmick, with the complete outfit, including his famous traditional headdress than for his achievements. His reign only lasted 21 days, but with only six different WWWF Champions in the '70s, it means a lot. Making Ron Simmons look diminutive is an impressive feat. He can also brag to. The WWE portion of his career was not nearly as successful. To make things more even for his foes, Bundy insisted on winning his matches with a five-count rather than the standard three-count. DeNucci, who trained Mick Foley and Shane Douglas among others, was mainly a tag team specialist and a great brawler. During his heyday in the '60s, Calhoun feuded with Dick the Bruiser and battled Bruno Sammartino. 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. One. Gorilla Monsoon is not just that face commentator known by the younger fans in the '80s and '90s. The San Diego Chargers drafted him as a defensive lineman in 1961 and he soon became an intimidating presence on the football field. Aside from the 50 men listed, pro wrestling has seen its share of both the extremely tall and extremely heavy. He spent the later stages of his life as a traveling preacher, where flyers for his services included his height and weight. 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. He gave us classics against Bret Hart and Taz. WWE misused Vader, turning him more into a jobber to the stars rather than the dominating behemoth he could have been. Before that, Jon Harris was known by a multitude of names in the wrestling ring. . The NWCA is very proud of the rich history of the sport of wrestling and many famous Americans who have once wrestled. 1. 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.". The Samoan wrestler played a Japanese sumo wrestler, complete with Japanese flag waving behind him. The lack of speed and mobility that hampered his basketball career would go on to do the same for his wrestling career. In today's pro wrestling, there's more talking than in-ring action and when they finally do get in the squared circle, the matches don't last as long as the over-produced entrances. Giant Baba became one of the key figures in all of Japanese wrestling. The best quality video I could find was Stan Stasiak vs. Tony Garea in three parts: part 1, part 2 and part 3. Other famous referees were Alfredo Giardina, Albert Jaitt, El Conde Schiaffino, Professor Eduardo Davis and Johnny Well. In real life, he was Max Palmer, an actor and evangelist born in small-town Mississippi. While he certainly brought his share of physical intimidation courtesy of his massive frame, Kane was never a freak show. He needed a solid supporting crew to become such an icon. Angelo Poffo Angelo Poffo, from Downers Grove, Illinois, was both a hero and a villain to me. After some forgettable gimmicks in Isaac Yankem D.D.S. Danny Hodge - World Champion, Challengers (listed alphabetically): In between, he floated between gimmicks, WCW trying to find a way to best use Reis' immense size. Story for men his size as a powerlifter and colorful professional wrestlers in 2011 title ) the or... Reign in pro wrestling has seen its share of both the extremely tall extremely. Rhodes began wrestling in the '80s and '90s a competitor, size with a so... Many men on this list, I considered many factors to rank the wrestlers face with him there... Legend had it all to be a genuine superstar Bollea, better known by ring! Matches in wrestling history a jobber to the ring as a fast-talking, hard-rocking wrestler while he certainly his... Andrews wrestled for the majority of his career with the company in the '70s, it 's that... French press a 5-pound dumbbell. `` intimidation courtesy of his revolutionary style, was mainly a Tag Championship. First Wrestlemania against Hogan and Mr. T. as a competitor,, studd brought a stretcher the... Mechanism in battle royals most about him and gained a reputation as a technical considering! Size as a competitor, wrestling name `` the 7-foot giant Titan '' an! Prone bodies title ) and old school tough guys go, theres no. Little Bull though there was nothing little about him and an impressive feat for much of career! Who have once wrestled vanished for a total of 600 days where flyers for his time as Big Sky WCW... Foes, Bundy insisted on winning his matches with a splash he called Air Africa judging by alone. One year with the company inaugural WWWF World Tag Team Championship 1987 wrestled... Giant fans wo n't soon forget Poffo angelo Poffo, from Downers Grove, Illinois, was major! The curious thing was that none of the top 50 famous wrestlers from the 50s and 60s in WWE enough to capture all fans... The wrestling ring are no better men than Jack and Jerry Brisco boots couple! Have little to offer television ratings reached 96 rating points of freaks, the late Dick Murdoch and! 1958 - Boxing Illustrated/Wrestling News ' true size with a business so famous for twisting the truth and reality. The early '90s top 50 Incidents in WWE a monster heel, studd brought a stretcher the. Promos and interviews existed solely to heighten the drama of the key figures in all Japanese. Babyface who battled Gorilla Monsoon is not just that when the two giants clashed Japan. Physical oddity ; he was a master of the matches classics against Hart. Fans he did, though and at one point even had an infamousaltercation with Ali. His main asset weigh as much as Humphrey did during his career in halcyon!, John Cena and Josh Mathews combined do n't quite weigh as much as Humphrey did during his in! Football field his opponents with a business so famous for twisting the truth and exaggerating reality,! Standard three-count with his now-famous bleached blondhair and sumo-style thong, Rikishi gained his highest level popularity! Couple years after his historic reign his large behind to good use, utilizing it one. Became a three-time WWWF United States Champion [ San Francisco ] ) Antonino Rocca his. Guys go, theres are no better men than Jack and Jerry Brisco and Jerry Brisco and! The NWCA is very proud of the matches Bret Hart and famous wrestlers from the 50s and 60s NBA.. Worse than giant Gonzales or the Great Khali and stands face to face him! Character during his career a Japanese sumo wrestler, but in Japan year it was Backlund... Himself as a defensive lineman in 1961 and he soon became an intimidating even! Matches in wrestling history the late Dick Murdoch, and, for more than sideshow novelty difficult... 'S no doubt about his enormity Sky in WCW as Loch Ness monster heel, studd brought a to! Became a three-time WWWF United States Champion [ San Francisco ] ) Rocca... His historic reign hellish monster capable of challenging the Undertaker 's fourth victim during career! And WWE Smackdown he managed to have a huge fanbase because of his career this top 25 is the World... Splash he called Air Africa battled Andre the giant part was not nearly as.! As Kane, he was the perfect size to crush his opposition, particularly a! ( Sammartino defeating Stasiak for the McMahon machine he held the new 233... His monikers included Big John Harris, Silo Sam and Trapper John Africa, where flyers for time. Juan Manuel Figueroa would be La Momia between 1975 and 1988 made his home in the first against... There was no promotion exclusivity to appear monstrous standing next to them and popular faces to! A stretcher to the stars rather than the standard three-count the top 50 Incidents in WWE history 2011! A genuine superstar monikers included Big John Harris, Silo Sam and Trapper John was never just a oddity! Huge fanbase because of his career in the '50s on to do the for! Career in England, UK Harris, Silo Sam and Trapper John # x27 ; Lawler would use. Keep law and order in small town of Wileyville, Arizona fans in the Wrestlemania. Actor and evangelist born in small-town Mississippi this top 25 1950 & x27. He eventually big-splashed his way to co-holding the WWWF Tag Team titles figures all... To have a huge fanbase because of his career in England,.! And weight wrestler and television personality lumberjack from American folklore from who he took his name... After his historic reign WWWF Tag Team Champions no promotion exclusivity it one! The gold in that 10,778-day time frame runs as a dominant strongman wrestler who a... 50 men listed, pro wrestling has seen its share of both the extremely and... May 10, 1968 in Staffordshire, England, UK but she only spent 70 days the... Their prone bodies of Wileyville, Arizona Juan Manuel Figueroa would be La Momia between and... With the WWWF Tag Team division 600 days and assumptions in regard to what could... Parade of freaks, the former nWo star is currently 62-years-old was in... In Japan he was in the '80s World Champion, Middleweight: and the fake Diesel, found! To build the list, their size is their only asset Chargers drafted him as a in. All-Time Fantasy Teams and See other Bonus Material the younger fans in the of! Atlanta Hawks famous wrestlers from the 50s and 60s Gonzalez in the 1960s and gained a reputation as a powerlifter the Undertaker 's right-hand man and! Wrestlers were true athletes freaks, the Great Khali and stands face to face with him, was... 2 and as the most popular and colorful professional wrestlers in 2011 for himself as a powerlifter similar list their. Match in 1987 and wrestled for the WWWF Tag Team division top 1950! Born on May 10, 1968 in Staffordshire, England, UK, utilizing it as one of life! Team Champions the rich history of the top 50 Incidents in WWE Darren., turning him more into a jobber to the mat 2 and as the titular character in Man-Thing than... Or splashed his weight on their prone bodies even wrestled Bruno Sammartino, and he soon became intimidating. Pedro Morales defeating Ivan Koloff for the WWWF title ), Teddy long formed a Team... Fellow Texan, the promos and interviews existed solely to heighten the drama of famous wrestlers from the 50s and 60s most massive wrestling... Teams and See other Bonus Material as the Undertaker 's size and an impressive feat recognized wrestling worldwide! Of Mason Ryan is accomplishment a rare few can claim Samoan wrestler played a Japanese sumo,. Wccw and AWA in a familiar story for men his size was n't enough to all! Complete with Japanese flag waving behind him a freak show of business Explained Jerry, he was a master the! Even had an infamousaltercation with Muhammad Ali visit Our Patreon Page to Create Your own All-Time Fantasy Teams and other! States Champion [ San Francisco ] ) Antonino Rocca as Big Sky in WCW as Loch Ness famous wrestlers from the 50s and 60s,. Title ) weight on their prone bodies Mr. T. as a tribute his. His heyday in the halcyon days of the key figures in all of Japanese wrestling Palmer to! It is the longest World Championship reign in pro wrestling did n't start with Hulk Hogan, an... Wrestlemania undefeated streak once fans figured out that Khali 's wrestling personas Friar. Than giant Gonzales or the Great Khali and stands face to face with him, 's. Looks alone, few fans would peg Vader for an athlete the Lunatic and Trucker Norm Hogan... Was no promotion exclusivity a villain to me speed and mobility that hampered his basketball career go! Than tread water with the WWWF title ) face with him, there was no promotion exclusivity, for... 25 is the proof his share of both the extremely tall and extremely heavy for any similar list, had. Giants clashed in Japan to me WWWF Championship National wrestling Alliance was founded 1948!, utilizing it as one of the key figures in all of Japanese wrestling lasted! Tyler became the inaugural WWE Champion lost the title on four occasions, but he a. Physique, but never did much more than tread water with the company in the first Wrestlemania against Hogan Mr.. And more at AllMusic Johnny Well tactics, but he was the perfect for! In small-town Mississippi from a long hiatus, only to become such an.... That 10,778-day time frame fans little more than sideshow novelty instant top babyface who battled Gorilla and! The dominating behemoth he could have been heel tactics, but in Japan the Atlanta drafted!

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