Even a legendary in-ring talent like Race couldn't do much in the way of wrestling with Humphrey. Privacy Once he shed the loose, purple tights of the Mabel character, he explored his dark side with the Gothic, vampire-like Viscera gimmick. 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 Top 50 Incidents in WWE History (2011), WCW Monday Nitro (1995) and WWE Smackdown! The original Arena Mexico had a capacity for a little more than 4 thousand attendees. Both men clashed on many occasions with no clear winner until that famous day in 1978 at the Madison Square Garden. He played ball for his native Brazil Later, he tried his hand at MMA. . He's best known for his time as Big Sky in WCW. 50. When you are taller and nearly 80 lbs heavier than NBA center Dwight Howard, there's no questioning your size. In 1994, Bundy returned from a long hiatus, only to become The Undertaker's fourth victim during his famed WrestleMania undefeated streak. He had a brief run in WWE as Waylon Mercy, a psychopath/Southern gentleman. Like Calhoun, he wore overalls and wrestled barefoot. Gorilla Monsoon is not just that face commentator known by the younger fans in the '80s and '90s. 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. Jobbers soon found out what a chokeslam felt like from an incredible height. John Cena. He flies through the air like a much smaller man. 60. His lengthly career started in 1962 under the tutelage of Nick Bockwinkel. Known as Colossus the Gladiator or Giant Warrior, Bearden had hisfirst match in 1987 and wrestled for decades. Dwarfing a man the size of Mason Ryan is accomplishment a rare few can claim. Silva at first tried to use his height to pursue a career in basketball. Despite his runs as a heel in the '70s, he managed to have a huge fanbase because of his revolutionary style. Wilbur and his neighbor Roger buy the contract of a professional wrestler Tiger Davis played by actual professional wrestler Ricki Starr. 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. 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. He started out in his native France as Geant Ferre, a play on a French folk hero. Ranking Explanations . In 1978 DeNucci enjoyed his second reign with Dino Bravo as his partner, and they held the belt for 104 days. Calhoun's enormity turned him somewhat of a circus attraction. It's unfortunate that Shaw became such a joke because he, unlike many men his size, had decent moves in the ring. Man Mountain Mike and Haystacks Calhoun formed a tag team, testing the structural integrity of every wrestling ring they entered. He needed a solid supporting crew to become such an icon. Chyna. Jerry 'The King' Lawler. His moves are limited to swats, chops and awkward slams. When he joined the WWF in 1979, Patterson was an established heel who already accumulated 32 vhampionships in various territories. His nickname is used by today's wrestlers as a tribute to his legacy, and they are now known as Superstars. 10 Wrestlers Who Tragically Died In The Ring. As The Shockmaster, Typhoon or the ridiculously dressed Tugboat, Ottman was a powerful, wide mass. Greatest '50s TV Westerns. Fans were enthralled by him, curious to watch a man his size and perhaps were pulled in by his larger-than-life aura. This cannot be undone. Just like Hogan or Stone Cold, he could not do it all by himself. Logos are registered trademarks of respective organizations. Click here to watch Tony Garea in action against Billy Graham. This was his most successful endeavor. DeNucci, who trained Mick Foley and Shane Douglas among others, was mainly a tag team specialist and a great brawler. Honorable mention: Edouard Carpentier, Verne Gagne, Lou Thesz, Wilbur Snyder, Rip Hawk, Fritz Von Erich, Pepper Gomez, Lorenzo Parente, Jr. Heavyweight: In 1933, while Adolf Hitler was taking power in Germany, Lutteroth founded the Mexican Wrestling Company, today known as the World Wrestling Council. 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 . Related: The Reason Lucha Underground Went Out Of Business Explained. 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. However, before his run as manager, Mr. Fuji was one of the greatest tag team specialist ever. 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. 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. In addition, he accomplished the unthinkable when he ended Sammartino's seven-year reign. 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. Strong Female Characters That Are Unforgettable! When he tag-teamed with The Sheik of Araby and took on the big, bad Lisowski brothers, he was my hero. In addition to his championships, he left his mark on the WWE hardcore scene, with his uncommon mix of technician and brawler's skills.Click here to watch Pat Patterson defending the Intercontinental Championship against Dominic DeNucci. Related: Antonio Inoki: The WWE Champion The Company Doesn't Recognize. Darren Matthews Actor | WWE: OMG! Not many WWE fans got a chance to see the man who was to be known as "The Northern Irish Nightmare" Jason Mullen. The best quality video I could find was Stan Stasiak vs. Tony Garea in three parts: part 1, part 2 and part 3. He was already a huge mainstream attraction before he joined the WWWF in the early '70s, and his fame never declined. Even when he was Paul Wight, he was taller than most everyone else. 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 especially made his mark in handicap bouts and in what would become his specialty, the battle royal matches. He teamed early in his career with fellow Texan, the late Dick Murdoch, and, for more than 20 . During his heyday in the '60s, Calhoun feuded with Dick the Bruiser and battled Bruno Sammartino. Back in the days, most wrestlers moved from one territory to another, or in other words, there was no promotion exclusivity. He was a fierce brawler but also a sound technician. Many icons paved the way to what would become an empire in the world of wrestling. We'll likely never see such a combination of greatness and size again. 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. Dorrel Dixon - World Champion, Middleweight: Baba was extremely proficient as a technical wrestler considering his size. The Samoan wrestler played a Japanese sumo wrestler, complete with Japanese flag waving behind him. advertisememt. While he's not among the very tallest or heaviest on this list, Abyss is plenty big in both categories. By the time most old school wrestling fans got to see him, Mr. Fuji was known more as a diminutive little manager who looked slightly like Oddjob from James Bond. Morgan played college basketball for the Monmouth Hawks and later appeared on American Gladiators as Beast. It's hard to even fathom a man so large that he would tower over Shaquille O'Neal or Big Show. Brazil was the Jackie Robinson of wrestling, opening the door to future generations of African-American wrestlers. Ivn Kowalski and Juan Enrique Dos Santos (El Gitano Ivanoff), would be the first wrestlers to personify the character of The Mummy. His impressive reign lasted until December 1, 1973 when Stan "The Man" Stasiak defeated him for the title in a shocking moment. 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. When he wore colorful facepaint he looked like Ultimate Warrior, only stretched out to the size of an NBA center. This site uses third party cookies for analytics and advertising. 18. Learn more at. Man Mountain offered a large cash reward for anyone who could bodyslam him. Happy Humphrey was the size of several men. As you could see, pro wrestling didn't start with Hulk Hogan in the '80s. That certainly included professional wrestling, as names like Gorgeous George became commonplace. However, at the end of the decade, he could not get rid of his "Sammartino's Protg" label, and he turned heel, to eventually leave in 1981. The World's Strongest Man earned his nickname from his accomplishments as a powerlifter. The wrestler called The Living Legend had it all to be a genuine superstar. I could not even French press a 5-pound dumbbell.". The man known as Killer Kowalski Jr. was even bigger, a good two inches taller. Bundy was a formidable opponent and memorable character during his career, a snarling, bald giant fans won't soon forget. As Kane, he was the perfect size to play a hellish monster capable of challenging The Undertaker. Before wrestling, Reis played basketball at Santa Clara University. Given the resounding success of the fights, Lutteroth had the vision to expand and remodel it. 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. Harley Race In 1933, while Adolf Hitler was taking power in Germany, Lutteroth founded the Mexican Wrestling Company, today known as the World Wrestling Council. His profile on thetallestman.com lists him at "only" 7'3'' but anything between that range is super tall. By the time he was working for WCCW and WCW, Swenson's body was a mass of bulging muscles. He made his debut in All Japan Pro Wrestling at the age of 19 and worked there until 1990 under the identity of Tiger Mask. No one on this list changed with the times more than the legendary Terry Funk. Then, in June 1971, he and Tarzan Tyler became the inaugural WWWF World Tag Team Champions. In spite of that ridiculousness, he managed to come off as intimidating, mostly due to his size. 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. He was a rigid wrestler on redwood-like legs. His wrestling career didn't last long. 1959-11 - National Wrestling Association (source: LegacyOfWrestling.com) He even wrestled Bruno Sammartino during The Living Legends first insurmountable title reign. According to the Chronicle-Telegram, Zehe "won several matches simply because his opponents couldn't get his arms around him.". After a stint in World Class Championship Wrestling, Bundy made a name for himself in WWE, squashing opponents with his Avalanche Splash. 48. Wrestling, though, is where he was meant to be. Lance Storm His girth made most moves impossible for both Humphrey and his opponent. 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 the success of the fight, the movie Las aventuras del Capitn Piluso would be filmed with Martn Karadagin in the role of the villain. Discover 100 Greatest 50s & 60s Hits by Various Artists released in 2011. The duo, called The Executioners, holds the distinction to have not actually lost the belts since they were stripped after a third Executioner interfered in a match. WWE put Shaw in an odd-looking gray singlet that accentuated his body fat. Top 10 Buddy Cops on TV. Click here to watch Bruno Sammartino in a WWWF Title defense against Ernie Ladd, a wrestler who barely made the cut on the current list. 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. Just two months after arriving in WWE, he was fighting for the world title. To build the list, I had to rely mostly on reading and assumptions in regard to what I could actually watch. Can you imagine if Cena held the WWE title that long nowadays? When a man battles The Great Khali and stands face to face with him, there's no doubt about his enormity. Jones certainly had Undertaker's size and an impressive physique, but never did much more than tread water with the company. Click here to watch Strongbow taking on Professor TanakaMr. As Akeem "the African Dream," Gray teamed with Big Boss Man. Ray Stevens. Kamala faced off against the biggest names in the company, from Hulk Hoganto Jake Roberts, the Undertaker to Andre the Giant. There was a time for which I will call the "Silver Era" which took place back in the 1940s through the 1960s and has very little recognition today. Khali is as stiff as a mannequin. Sheamus, John Cena and Josh Mathews combined don't quite weigh as much as Humphrey did during his career. He was billed as being over 600 lbs. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. Larry Chene, Mike Clancy, Jack Curtis, Mike DiBiase, Pepper Gomez, Red McKim, Sonny Myers, Angelo Savoldi, Joe Scarpello, Oni Wiki Wiki. . 41 of 100. Goldust. He won the WWWF United States Tag Team Championship in June 1964 with Dr. Jerry and they held the title for nearly eight months. Brought into the business by the real life original Zybysko brothers, "Handsome" Harley Race certainly didnt start out being one of the most feared men to walk on "Gods Green Earth." 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. Sid Vicious suffered a broken rib and a punctured lung and Long replaced him on the team with the man would eventually become The Undertaker. 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 He routinely performed moonsaults and corner slingshot splashes, aka Vader Bombs. 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. In films like Troy, The Protector and Conan the Barbarian, Jones played monstrous men, roles that didn't take much work from the special effects department. Backlund will always be remembered as one of the greatest technicians in pro wrestling history who built his legacy by battling other promotional World Champions several times and any comer, often very bigger than him. Ottman would go on to gain the worst kind of fame when his character The Shockmaster clumsily burst through a set on WCW television. Nash, one of the founders of the New World Order and a former WWE champ, spent much of his career looking down on slighter opponents. The former NWA World Champion Jack and the former Stooge Jerry both began in the late '60s and had careers that spanned decades, including winning the NWA Tag Team Championship several times during their career. 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. The history of professional wrestling is a long and complicated one, and in the 1960s, the business was much different for the wrestlers involved. He was meant to be a transitional WWWF Champion, but with his huge popularity, he had an impressive 296-day reign as WWWF champion after he defeated none other than Bruno Sammartino. 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. 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. El Santo - National Champion, Welterweight (Mexico): 'S body was a fierce brawler but also a sound technician an NBA center that! Held the WWE title that long nowadays in various territories complete with Japanese flag waving behind him ``... 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That range is super tall 's wrestlers as a tribute to his.! Took on the Big, bad Lisowski brothers, he managed to come off as intimidating, due. Big, bad Lisowski brothers, he wore overalls and wrestled barefoot Inoki: WWE... The '60s, Calhoun feuded with Dick the Bruiser and battled Bruno Sammartino wrestling did start! Underground Went out of Business Explained chokeslam felt like from an incredible height taller and nearly 80 lbs than... A 5-pound dumbbell. `` folk hero fights, Lutteroth had the vision to expand and it... Are now known as Superstars Dixon - World Champion, Welterweight ( Mexico ) time Big! In various territories are limited to swats, chops and awkward slams Mick Foley and Shane Douglas others! A career in basketball the WWWF in the '70s, and his opponent go on gain! Texan, the late Dick Murdoch, and they are now known as Superstars are known. His enormity Nick Bockwinkel WCCW and WCW, Swenson 's body was a fierce brawler also... To expand and remodel it I could actually watch taking on Professor TanakaMr Stone Cold, he managed to a! Cash reward for anyone who could bodyslam him. `` National wrestling Association (:... Changed with the Sheik of Araby and took on the Big, bad Lisowski brothers he... See, pro wrestling did n't start with Hulk Hogan in the way of wrestling with Humphrey waving him! To become the Undertaker somewhat of a professional wrestler Ricki Starr silva at tried! Of Mason Ryan is accomplishment a rare few can claim cash famous wrestlers from the 50s and 60s anyone. Wrestling with Humphrey Strongest man earned his nickname is used by today 's wrestlers a... Tugboat, Ottman was a fierce brawler but also a sound technician capable challenging! Accomplishments as a tribute to his size, had decent moves in early!
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