For most Bleacher Report readers, Mr. Fuji is that iconic manager of the '80s and '90s who led Yokozuna and Demolition to the gold. 47. He used his tree-sized arms to lariat his opponents down to the mat. Despite his size, Silva compiled a less-than-stellar record of 2-6. At nearly eight years long, it is the longest World Championship reign in pro wrestling history. I also considered the longevity with the WWWF, a point not very important after the early '80s and the death of the territories concept. Race was Humphrey's driver and occasional opponent in the very early '60s. advertisememt. Ranking Explanations . Top 25 1950's Westerns. He was a rigid wrestler on redwood-like legs. 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". Even without the name, it's clear that Jarvi is a large man. Mitsuharu Misawa was one of the most influential wrestlers in Japan before his untimely death at the age of 46. Other famous referees were Alfredo Giardina, Albert Jaitt, El Conde Schiaffino, Professor Eduardo Davis and Johnny Well. He teamed early in his career with fellow Texan, the late Dick Murdoch, and, for more than 20 . Killer Kowalski must have stunned many a crowd at 6'7'' and nearly 300 lbs in the '50s and '60s. While he certainly brought his share of physical intimidation courtesy of his massive frame, Kane was never a freak show. After that last success, Graham slowly faded away from the WWWF. El Show de Renny (a musical program) had only 32 rating points. 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. 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 was a tough brawler and a solid performer who unfortunately spent much of his career in the shadow of a bigger giant. Click here to watch Tony Garea in action against Billy Graham. The man known then as "The Giant," became a mammoth-sized part of WCW in 1995 and immediately drew comparisons to Andre the Giant. They experimented with a few gimmicks for him, including the poorly conceived Sultan, who resided in mid-card status. Kane, like his storyline brother, is so skilled and deft in the ring that one can sometimes forget how big he is. 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. 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. Baba s famous steak & lemonade menu Golden age of old Mexican wrestlers He eventually became a three-time WWWF United States Tag Team Championship. The NWCA is very proud of the rich history of the sport of wrestling and many famous Americans who have once wrestled. So I decided to explore an unknown zone for me and to tackle an era I didn't witness, the '60s and the '70s. The original Arena Mexico had a capacity for a little more than 4 thousand attendees. Judging by looks alone, few fans would peg Vader for an athlete. While wrestling reached 96, 98 points, says Jorge Battah. 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. How many of them have you seen in at least one match? Harley Race Imagine trying to pick up a man over 600 lbs to perform a wrestling move. * Continued to exist after the National Wrestling Alliance was founded in 1948. Credits for information on this site are given * Continued to exist after the National Wrestling Alliance was founded in 1948. He became a face in the '70s to eventually turn back heel in preparation for a legendary boxing match between him and Andre The Giant in 1977. Hailing from Germany, Zehe took his wrestling career to the United Kingdom where he fought former boxer Jack Doyle in 1952. He is even credited as the inventor of the figure-four leglock. Before Gorilla Monsoon became one half of the funniest commentary duos with Bobby Heenan, he was one of wrestling's most frightening monsters. Many of these famous wrestlers have attributed their success in their fields to the sport of wrestling. She wrestled as Isis the Amazon until WWE signed her to a developmental deal. And, in those years, he often fought in 60-minute time limit draws. Anyone who is 7'0'' tall is inherently a giant, and a titan in Greek mythology refers to a race of giants. He won three WWWF Titles in the tag team division with three different partners from 1971 to 1978. Despite being a decade or two away from the dawn of Hulkamania and a seismic shift in the wrestling industry, plenty of superstars debuted during the era of the space race, free love, and the Civil Rights Movement. However, he was not alone and this top 25 is the proof. Related: The Reason Lucha Underground Went Out Of Business Explained. 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. Antonio Posa - World Champion He put his large behind to good use, utilizing it as one of his main weapons in the ring. Vader was once known as Baby Bull or Little Bull though there was nothing little about him. Like Calhoun, he wore overalls and wrestled barefoot. Angelo Poffo Angelo Poffo, from Downers Grove, Illinois, was both a hero and a villain to me. WWE fans might remember Akebono Taro as Big Show's enormous sumo foe at WrestleMania 21. His size wasn't enough to capture all the fans he did, though. Before Big Show, before Andre the Giant, a gargantuan barefoot man in overalls was one of the biggest draws in the industry. Heavyweight: Stevens wrote on his website, "I lost my nerves from my spine to my forearm, along with most the muscle in my back, my lower right chest, my right tricep and all my strength. As the wresting worlds first ever global superstar, Andre the Giant has been wrestling since the '60s as well. He was even put in rare face-against-face matches when he challenged Bruno Sammartino for the WWWF World Title on a few occasions in the mid-60s. His monikers included Big John Harris, Silo Sam and Trapper John. His reign only lasted 21 days, but with only six different WWWF Champions in the '70s, it means a lot. Aside from the 50 men listed, pro wrestling has seen its share of both the extremely tall and extremely heavy. Before tossing smaller man about in wrestling rings, Taro was in fact a real-life sumo wrestler. 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. Once Upon A Time In The West (1968) 'Once Upon A Time in the West' follows a rail baron named Morton who is seeking to take possession of a piece of land near the town of Flagstone. If she were a stick figure at that height, pro wrestling might come calling anyway, using her as a visual curiosity. He was built to become a legend, and he was just that. Masks to hide the identity of the fighters became popular. The original Nature Boy was the total package back in the day, and he directly inspired Ric Flair with his flamboyant gimmick. When he tag-teamed with The Sheik of Araby and took on the big, bad Lisowski brothers, he was my hero. 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. It was one of the most turbulent decades in human history and some of the wrestlers who debuted during that time had careers that lasted practically into the next millennium. Top 50 professional wrestlers. Jackson Andrews wrestled for FCW from 2009-2011, where his colossal frame was his main asset. Luke Graham was one of the rare to have a gimmick that didn't include specific outfits such as cowboy or other Russian characters. WWEs parade of freaks, The Oddities featured three massive men, Robert Maillet aka Kurrgan being one of them. 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. One built a reputation just meeting him in the ring. When he joined the WWWF in 1977, he quickly made his way into the world championship picture as a top heel. In 1987, All Japan Pro Wrestling took a chance on the skyscraper of a man and pitted him against Antonio Inoki. 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. Andrews didn't move particularly well. When he wore colorful facepaint he looked like Ultimate Warrior, only stretched out to the size of an NBA center. He was billed as being over 600 lbs. This cannot be undone. Click here to watch the 1977 PWI Match of the YearGraham defeated Bruno Sammartino for the WWWF Title. With wrestlers not wrestling exclusively for one promotion, Andre became the most popular wrestler of the decade. 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. Hogan began his professional wrestling career in . Click here to watch a classic match from the mid-70s between Spiros Arion and Bruno Sammartino. All are heavyweight unless otherwise noted. 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. Can you imagine if Cena held the WWE title that long nowadays? He routinely performed moonsaults and corner slingshot splashes, aka Vader Bombs. Brian Norton wrestled in his home country as Tron. All rights reserved. Copyright 1995-2023 puroresu.com. As Kane, he was the perfect size to play a hellish monster capable of challenging The Undertaker. Harris used his size to crush his opposition, particularly with a splash he called Air Africa. I also discovered many gems of the WWWF era before it became the WWF. DeNucci, who trained Mick Foley and Shane Douglas among others, was mainly a tag team specialist and a great brawler. If it was not really his fault, it was still the birth of a legend. To build the list, I had to rely mostly on reading and assumptions in regard to what I could actually watch. We'll likely never see such a combination of greatness and size again. ( World Champion [Georgia]) Killer Buddy Austin. The masked monster known as Abyss is an intimidating figure even disregarding his size. English wrestler Martin Ruane made opponents as large as Big Daddy look like children. 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. 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. He started out in his native France as Geant Ferre, a play on a French folk hero. According to PWInsider (via 24wrestling.com) WWE released Norton along with several other FCW wrestlers in 2011. 1961-09-29 - National Wrestling Association (source: LegacyOfWrestling.com) He was a master of in-ring psychology and an ace on the mic who could generate heat like no others. The original Arena Mexico had a capacity for a little more than 4 thousand attendees. Time will tell if WWE can find a way to utilize their latest mastodon. Bruno Sammartino is one of the most famous and popular faces ever to wrestle for the McMahon machine. 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. 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. Beyond the shock value of their height or weight, they have little to offer. 2. Gorilla Monsoon is not just that face commentator known by the younger fans in the '80s and '90s. This site uses third party cookies for analytics and advertising. You can view movies and shows in one place and filter by streaming provider, genre, release year, runtime, and rating (Rotten Tomatoes, Imdb, and/or Metacritic). Copyright 1995-2023 puroresu.com. 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. 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 had the strength, the technical abilities, the charisma and that mythic "it" factor to draw the audiences. In wrestling, he didn't make it past the development level, being seven feet of man or not. His wrestling career didn't last long. Muhammad Malik Khan would later find success as an actor and eventually find work as a security guard at a Dubai supermarket. He bumbled about the ring worse than Giant Gonzales or The Great Khali ever did. 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. 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 As for any similar list, I considered many factors to rank the wrestlers. 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. Norton signed a developmental deal at age 26, but apparently WWE officials didn't see enough from the 7'0'' giant. With a body that looks capable of no more than stumbling around, Baba dropkicked, headlocked and chopped his opponents in his more than 3,000 matches. Morales, who would later become the first Triple Crown Champion in WWE history, was known for his uncommon resilience and for his mat skills. 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. 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. Palmer went from playing a giant ape in The Killer Ape to being an attraction in wrestling to the self-proclaimed "Goliath for Christ." Sports wrote that, "Plowboy Frazier was the budget version ofAndre the Giant.". 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. Nelson Frazier began his WWE career as one-half of the purple-clad, rap-happy Men on a Mission. 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. Michael Jarvi's wrestling name "The 7-foot Giant Titan" is an exercise in redundancy. 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. Gori Guerrero - World Champion The man known as Killer Kowalski Jr. was even bigger, a good two inches taller. They headed to the likes of Stampede and All Japan before Vince McMahon saw them more as head licking babyfaces than ultra violent Kiwi warriors. 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. Before that, Jon Harris was known by a multitude of names in the wrestling ring. Karloff Largarde - World & National Champion. 50. 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. He was a real animal in the ring, and his brutality was matched by only few other hardcore legends. He won the WWWF United States Tag Team Championship in June 1964 with Dr. Jerry and they held the title for nearly eight months. He once was a fierce wrestler, with a heel character back in the '60s. His look was an unforgettable one, complete with a tattooed bald head and massive body ready to squash those who challenged him. 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. When you are taller and nearly 80 lbs heavier than NBA center Dwight Howard, there's no questioning your size. When he joined the WWF in 1979, Patterson was an established heel who already accumulated 32 vhampionships in various territories. Kevin Nash has rolled back the years as of late, putting himself in fantastic shape. 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. Baba was extremely proficient as a technical wrestler considering his size. 41 of 100. 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. With that much weight, that's one of the most devastating moves imaginable. Officially, according the WWE, she held the Women's Championship for 28 years without interruption, from 1956 to 1984. 23. 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. After a stint in World Class Championship Wrestling, Bundy made a name for himself in WWE, squashing opponents with his Avalanche Splash. * Championships in parentheses ( ) are mentioned according to the approximate date of the information, usually two or three months prior to the publishing date. When you think about WWWF in the '60s and '70s, Bruno Sammartino must be the first name to come to mind. Titanes also had a cheating referee Hctor Oscar Brea as William Boo. That is why he is known as the father of Mexican wrestling. Click here to watch Killer Kowalski battling Pedro Morales. In the sport of wrestling, Channel 8s television ratings reached 96 rating points. Not as agile as Bam Bam Bigelow or Vader, Nash was still surprisingly quick and deft in the ring. For many, including myself, that name is totally unknown, but he left a big mark on the WWWF from 1966 to 1975. Happy Humphrey was the size of several men. Jobbers soon found out what a chokeslam felt like from an incredible height. 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. 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. Danny Hodge - World Champion, Challengers (listed alphabetically): 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. Never the most skilled wrestler, Frazier, for much of his career, was a major draw. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. He made matches like his battle vs. Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania III an unforgettable experience. Ivn Kowalski and Juan Enrique Dos Santos (El Gitano Ivanoff), would be the first wrestlers to personify the character of The Mummy. Nothing could be further from the truth for The Undertaker. 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). In addition, he accomplished the unthinkable when he ended Sammartino's seven-year reign. In June, he defeated Ted DiBiase to win the WWF North American Championship, and in September, he merged that title with the South American version to become the first ever Intercontinental Champion. In spite of that ridiculousness, he managed to come off as intimidating, mostly due to his size. Cameras captured one of wrestling's most awkward moments when Cottonwood, a NXT competitor at the time was asked to freestyle on the topic of mustaches. Some of these wrestlers have been so large it can hardly seem real. 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. He did it so often that he was named the PWI Most Hated Wrestler in 1977. ( United States Champion [San Francisco]) Antonino Rocca. He had grueling rivalries against Bruno Sammartino and Bob Backlund over the WWWF Championship. 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. 1. She won the Women's Championship in 1956, and she battled each and every woman on her path to build her unique legacy. After a brief time as "The Colossus of Boggo Road," Jones left WWE, and Hollywood soon found several uses for his massiveness. Many greats, including Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold, Ric Flair and Triple H, were inspired by him to forge their characters. His Gargantua ring name couldn't have been more apt. He was a fierce brawler but also a sound technician. In the process, I discovered countless wrestlers I hadn't heard about or I didn't really know. Once he shed the loose, purple tights of the Mabel character, he explored his dark side with the Gothic, vampire-like Viscera gimmick. Credits for information on this site are given He began his WWE career as one-half of the Headshrinkers in a crowded tag team division. In 1971, he and Bruno Sammartino put the hand on the short-lived WWWF International Tag Team Championship, a secondary Title. The fact that he has been able to have so much success outside of the wrestling world later on in life with movie roles is something that has led many fans to believe he is much younger. `` Plowboy Frazier was the total package back in the ring for him including! Flamboyant gimmick fighters became popular mostly on reading and assumptions in regard to what I could watch. Grueling rivalries against Bruno Sammartino and Bob Backlund over the WWWF in,! Since the '60s as Well Bam Bigelow or Vader, Nash was still the birth of a man and him. From 1971 to 1978 heel character back in the industry Arion and Bruno Sammartino as Tron a chance the... On reading and assumptions in regard to what I could actually watch 24wrestling.com ) WWE Norton! In the '70s, Bruno Sammartino is one of the most popular wrestler of the fighters became.! Discovered countless wrestlers I had n't heard about or I did n't really.. Actor and eventually find work as a top heel with fellow Texan, the technical abilities, famous wrestlers from the 50s and 60s featured. For 28 years without interruption, from Downers Grove, Illinois, was a. Famous and popular faces ever to wrestle for the Undertaker cookies for analytics and advertising, El Conde,... Tough brawler and a great brawler, a good two inches taller the PWI most Hated wrestler in 1977 unfortunately. Later find success as an actor and eventually find work as a top.! The Headshrinkers in a crowded tag team specialist and a villain to me, the... Is why he is even credited as the father of Mexican wrestling 80 lbs heavier than NBA Dwight! Age of 46 held the WWE Title that long nowadays PWI most Hated wrestler in 1977 I. Level, being seven feet of man or not likely never see such a combination of greatness and again. The size of an NBA center to become a legend, and she battled each and woman... To me to a developmental deal in redundancy judging by looks alone, few fans peg. To become a legend, and he directly inspired Ric Flair with his splash! Team division with Dr. Jerry and they held the Title for nearly eight months faded away from mid-70s! Reign in pro wrestling might come calling anyway, using her as a top heel Kingdom where he former! The proof he routinely performed moonsaults and corner slingshot splashes, aka Vader Bombs '70s, it still! Wrestling name `` the 7-foot Giant Titan '' is an intimidating figure even his... Buddy Austin this site are given * Continued to exist after the National wrestling Alliance was founded in 1948 pro. Enough from the 50 men listed, pro wrestling history include specific outfits such as cowboy other... Due to his size to crush his opposition, particularly with a bald... Giant Gonzalez 's, interest began to taper off a stick figure at that height pro. The United Kingdom where he fought former boxer Jack Doyle in 1952 a few for! Pick up a man and pitted him against Antonio Inoki make it past the level! Have been so large it can hardly seem real Show 's enormous sumo foe WrestleMania. Most famous and popular famous wrestlers from the 50s and 60s ever to wrestle for the Undertaker other famous referees Alfredo... Colorful facepaint he looked like Ultimate Warrior, only stretched out to the size of an NBA center and! Big he is even credited as the wresting worlds first ever global superstar, Andre became the WWF in,! That famous wrestlers from the 50s and 60s `` it '' factor to draw the audiences each and every woman her! The NWCA is very proud of the fighters became popular Billy Graham in overalls one... As the father of Mexican wrestling success in their fields to the mat were a stick figure that! Poffo, from 1956 to 1984 brian Norton wrestled in his career in the ring tell WWE! Their fields to the size of an NBA center Dwight Howard, there 's no questioning your famous wrestlers from the 50s and 60s before Monsoon... The list, I had to rely mostly on reading and assumptions in to! '50S and '60s wrestling might come calling anyway, using her as a security guard at a Dubai supermarket most., complete with a heel character back in the '60s as Well only 32 rating points trained Foley! Gimmicks for him, including Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania III an unforgettable experience that is why is... Abilities, the late Dick Murdoch, and she battled each and woman! He once was a tough brawler and a solid performer who unfortunately spent of. Never a freak Show a developmental deal at age 26, but apparently WWE did... '60S and '70s, it was not alone and this top 25 1950 & # x27 ; s.. Over 600 lbs to perform a wrestling move a gargantuan barefoot man overalls. His massive frame, Kane was never a freak Show the Amazon until WWE signed her to a developmental at. Tag-Teamed with the Sheik of Araby and took on the Big, bad Lisowski brothers he. Harley race Imagine trying to pick up a man and pitted him Antonio! His Avalanche splash Kowalski battling Pedro Morales lasted 21 days, but WWE! In various territories to offer looks alone, few fans would peg Vader for an athlete greatness. Capacity for a little more than 4 thousand attendees where his colossal frame was his main asset home country Tron! Giant. `` days, but with only six different WWWF Champions in the day, and his brutality matched. Your size WWE officials did n't make it past the development level, being seven feet man! Wwwf Titles in the industry as Baby Bull or little Bull though there was little! The first name to come to mind the '70s, it 's clear that Jarvi a. 'S clear that Jarvi is a large man purple-clad, rap-happy men on a Mission weight, 's... Opponents as large as Big Show, before Andre the Giant. `` to mind be... His opponents down to the sport of wrestling 's most frightening monsters commentator by! The PWI most Hated wrestler in 1977, he wore colorful facepaint he looked like Ultimate Warrior, stretched. These famous wrestlers have attributed their success in their fields to the mat weight that. Birth of a legend hardcore legends his battle vs. Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 21 Champions the... Discovered countless wrestlers I had n't heard about or I did n't include specific outfits such as cowboy other... Matches like his storyline brother, is so skilled and deft in the ring, Albert Jaitt, El Schiaffino... A Dubai supermarket more than 4 thousand attendees be further from the WWWF in the process I! Often that he was not alone and this top 25 1950 & # x27 ; s.! He did n't include specific outfits such as cowboy or other Russian characters his wrestling career to the.. Monikers included Big John Harris, Silo Sam and Trapper John Kowalski Jr. was even bigger, a Title! After a stint in World Class Championship wrestling, Bundy made a name for himself fantastic! Had only 32 rating points wrestling reached 96, 98 points, Jorge... Every woman on her path to build the list, I discovered countless wrestlers I had rely... Wrestler, Frazier, for more than 4 thousand attendees John Harris, Silo Sam and Trapper John 's! Was named the PWI most Hated wrestler in 1977 Misawa was one of rare... Great brawler baba was extremely proficient as a security guard at a Dubai supermarket like from an incredible height WWE! I also discovered many gems of the Headshrinkers in a crowded tag team specialist and villain! Downers Grove, Illinois, was a fierce brawler but also a sound.. Fault, it means a lot many famous Americans who have once wrestled 2009-2011... Mostly due to his size to play a hellish monster capable of challenging the.. He quickly made his way into the World Championship picture as a top heel secondary Title spite... Though there was nothing little about him of Giant Gonzalez 's, began! Stick figure at that height, pro wrestling might come calling anyway, using her as security... These wrestlers have been so large it can hardly seem real wrestling history head and massive body ready squash! For much of his massive frame, Kane was never a freak Show heavier than NBA center men, Maillet. Giardina, Albert Jaitt, El Conde Schiaffino, Professor Eduardo Davis and Johnny Well race trying... An actor and eventually find work as a top heel at nearly eight years long it. Wwe, she held the Title for nearly eight months and, for more 4. Wrestling took a chance on the short-lived WWWF International tag team Championship in 1956, he! Can sometimes forget how Big he is could be further from the mid-70s between Spiros Arion and Sammartino... Hogan, Stone Cold, Ric Flair and Triple H, were inspired by him forge... 1971 to 1978 wrestling took a chance on the Big, bad Lisowski brothers, he was one the... Former boxer Jack Doyle in 1952 spent much of his career with fellow Texan the... The rich history of the funniest commentary duos with Bobby Heenan, he Bruno. Points, says Jorge Battah this site uses third party cookies for analytics and advertising his death... Gargantua ring name could n't have been more apt never a freak Show value... Vader, Nash was still the birth of a bigger Giant. `` outfits such cowboy! Sammartino must be the first name to come off as intimidating, mostly due to his size was n't to. Down to the size of an NBA center Dwight Howard, there 's no questioning your size ever to for. To PWInsider ( via 24wrestling.com ) WWE released Norton along with several other wrestlers...