( 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]) Bodybuilding had to originate somewhere. Satiating its obsession for girth, wrestling's promoters have found real-life Goliaths and showcased them for fans. The Valiant Brothers The curious thing was that none of the so-called wrestlers were true athletes. 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. 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. He eventually big-splashed his way to co-holding the WWWF Tag Team titles. He especially made his mark in handicap bouts and in what would become his specialty, the battle royal matches. He built his reputation with a hardcore side that disappeared in the early '80s due to health issues. * Championships in parentheses ( ) are mentioned according to the approximate date of the information, usually two or three months prior to the publishing date. He was a real animal in the ring, and his brutality was matched by only few other hardcore legends. 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. Ultimately, the 1980s are most widely thought to represent the golden age of women's wrestling and the point at which . Quite possibly, the first ever Japanese born WWE Champion, Antonio Inoki might win the award for being the most prolific wrestler of all time. In a career that began in the '60s and ended for good in the '90s, Baba became a legend in his home country. Like Andre, Big Show was a massive man, sported a black singlet and suffered from acromegaly. If she were a stick figure at that height, pro wrestling might come calling anyway, using her as a visual curiosity. He looks more like a truck driver. The inaugural WWE Champion lost the title 21 days later against Bruno Sammartino, and he suddenly vanished for a while. The 1974 PWI Rookie of the year was trained and introduced to the WWWF by Bruno Sammartino. 49. There is a trio of wrestlers who perhaps have not been given enough credit, they are Tito Santana, who won a pair of Intercontinental Championships and the same amount of gold in pairs; there is also Essa Rios, who today is better known as Mr. Aguila, the tapato won the Semicompleto Championship in his time with the company; finally there is Juventud Guerrera who twice lifted the Crucero Championship. It's normal because he was like the main attraction for all those years. Terry Eugene Bollea, better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American retired professional wrestler and television personality. 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. Assistir Fulham X Leeds - Ao Vivo Grtis HD sem travar, sem anncios. That is why he is known as the father of Mexican wrestling. 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. ( World Champion [Georgia]) Killer Buddy Austin. Harley Race During her time with AJW, CMLL and ARISON, Yoshida has displayed a fantastic level of ring execution and ingenuity in the ring, which she shows with her innovative moves the Spider Twistand the. Top 10 Times Wrestlers Fought While Injured . To be blessed with all those talents as well as impressive size is a wrestling promoter's dream. During his heyday in the '60s, Calhoun feuded with Dick the Bruiser and battled Bruno Sammartino. 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. Garea made his mark in the tag team division by winning the gold on three occasions, with three different partners, for a total of 384 days with the title in the '70s. Eddie Graham. His legs seem to stretch upwards forever, two stilts hidden under black leather pants. Australian powerlifter Nathan Jones charged onto the WWE scene as The Undertaker's right-hand man. 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. 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. Jarvi has wrestled on the independent circuit, where The Human Skyscraper double-chokeslams anyone within reach. And, when we take a look at everything he did in 1980 and after he left, he is clearly one of the most misused talents in WWE's history. 1. He is even credited as the inventor of the figure-four leglock. 1. As for any similar list, I considered many factors to rank the wrestlers. 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. And he trained some of the greatest wrestlers in the business. Honorable mention: Edouard Carpentier, Verne Gagne, Lou Thesz, Wilbur Snyder, Rip Hawk, Fritz Von Erich, Pepper Gomez, Lorenzo Parente, Jr. Heavyweight: His finishing move, like many men of his size, uses his weight as a weapon, splashing down on a fallen foe for a victory. Michael Jarvi's wrestling name "The 7-foot Giant Titan" is an exercise in redundancy. 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. He needed a solid supporting crew to become such an icon. In the U.S., he made his name thanks to a massive violent feud with Bruno Sammartino in WWE. 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. Before that, Jon Harris was known by a multitude of names in the wrestling ring. 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: Related: John Cena's Career Told In Photos, Through The Years. 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. 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. 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. After a brief time as "The Colossus of Boggo Road," Jones left WWE, and Hollywood soon found several uses for his massiveness. WWE put Shaw in an odd-looking gray singlet that accentuated his body fat. Before tossing smaller man about in wrestling rings, Taro was in fact a real-life sumo wrestler. Now, with no more introduction, let's travel back in time when pro wrestling was absent from the mainstream media and when it caused actual riots on many occasions. Posted below are the 50 best wrestlers of all time, according to fans. He bumbled about the ring worse than Giant Gonzales or The Great Khali ever did. Other famous referees were Alfredo Giardina, Albert Jaitt, El Conde Schiaffino, Professor Eduardo Davis and Johnny Well. A former lieutenant during the Revolution, Lutteroth had a deep fascination with wrestling. Unofficially, she lost the title on four occasions, but she only spent 70 days without the gold in that 10,778-day time frame. In wrestling, he didn't make it past the development level, being seven feet of man or not. 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." With his flamboyant gimmick, combined with his powerhouse in-ring style and his bodybuilder's physique, he was the prototype who established the future WWF wrestlers standards. The man known as Killer Kowalski Jr. was even bigger, a good two inches taller. So, I took in consideration the impact, the popularity, the legacy and the "it" factor when I could. If he was officially undefeated for over 15 years, he never touched any WWWF gold in the '70s, proving there's no need to win championships to become a legend. 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). He teamed early in his career with fellow Texan, the late Dick Murdoch, and, for more than 20 . While he certainly brought his share of physical intimidation courtesy of his massive frame, Kane was never a freak show. These famous Americans are from the political, business, entertainment and professional . But the man from the Double Cross Ranch started when wrestling was much more about headlocks and working armbars than it was branding people and setting fire to arenas. 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. Gorilla Monsoon is not just that face commentator known by the younger fans in the '80s and '90s. The result was one of the worst matches in wrestling history. It's unfortunate that Shaw became such a joke because he, unlike many men his size, had decent moves in the ring. Famous Americans Who Wrestled. He was already a huge mainstream attraction before he joined the WWWF in the early '70s, and his fame never declined. He eventually became a three-time WWWF United States Tag Team Championship. He crushed foes by landing his near-400 lb frame on them, sailor stripes and all. He could've been a world champion in any promotion, but he preferred the freedom of travelling all over the USA thus becoming the most popular wrestler in the country. Known as Colossus the Gladiator or Giant Warrior, Bearden had hisfirst match in 1987 and wrestled for decades. Happy Humphrey was the size of several men. It was here that he tagged with Kevin Nash, who was known then as Vinnie Vegas. In 1971, he and Bruno Sammartino put the hand on the short-lived WWWF International Tag Team Championship, a secondary Title. When Shawn Michaels stood next to his bodyguard Diesel aka Big Daddy Cool aka Kevin Nash, the contrast in height made Michaels look like Nash's little boy. Most of the wrestlers didn't even have the physiques or follow the diet and workout regimen that many athletes follow today. Several years late Baba along with Rikidozans sons left the Japanese Wrestling Alliance to form All Japan. He is nimble and versatile. Graham, one of the greatest brawlers ever, won three different tag team championships during his runs with the company. Beyond the shock value of their height or weight, they have little to offer. He is an actor, known for WWE: OMG! His first reign, in 1975, lasted 105 days, and he teamed up with Victor Rivera who was later replaced by Pat Barrett. 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. Pat O'Connor - World Champion, Jr. Heavyweight: The original Arena Mexico had a capacity for a little more than 4 thousand attendees. In an era where the super-heavyweight appears to be on the way out, men like Abyss are the new giants. Privacy While the Ugandan portion of his character was all show, the giant part was not. Bundy's career highlight is his WrestleMania 2 match against Hogan inside a steel cage. Baba was extremely proficient as a technical wrestler considering his size. Vader was once known as Baby Bull or Little Bull though there was nothing little about him. Maillet was a powerhouse with decent mobility, but never caught a ton of momentum. Bruno Sammartino is one of the most famous and popular faces ever to wrestle for the McMahon machine. Before Big Show, before Andre the Giant, a gargantuan barefoot man in overalls was one of the biggest draws in the industry. Some sources list him at 7 8 and others go as high as 86. 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. He only spent one year with the company in the '70s, but what a year it was! Shohei Baba helped to build the legacy of Japanese wrestling. There have been wrestlers well over 7 tall and some well beyond 400 lbs. In 1987, All Japan Pro Wrestling took a chance on the skyscraper of a man and pitted him against Antonio Inoki. Find album reviews, track lists, credits, awards and more at AllMusic. Lindsay Kay Hayward is one of the tallest women in history. Larry Chene, Mike Clancy, Jack Curtis, Mike DiBiase, Pepper Gomez, Red McKim, Sonny Myers, Angelo Savoldi, Joe Scarpello, Oni Wiki Wiki. 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. 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. The Russian Bear was with the WWWF for only two years, but he claimed the most shocking world championship victory of all times when he defeated Bruno Sammartino on January 18, 1971. Danny Hodge - World Champion, Challengers (listed alphabetically): WWE fans might remember Akebono Taro as Big Show's enormous sumo foe at WrestleMania 21. Copyright 1995-2023 puroresu.com. For many, including myself, that name is totally unknown, but he left a big mark on the WWWF from 1966 to 1975. 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). 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. 50. He also possessed a great magnetism and impressive ring work during his prime. Man Mountain Mike and Haystacks Calhoun formed a tag team, testing the structural integrity of every wrestling ring they entered. He can also brag to. Ivn Kowalski and Juan Enrique Dos Santos (El Gitano Ivanoff), would be the first wrestlers to personify the character of The Mummy. Possessing an impressive blend of power and speed, Rikishi spent a good part of two decades entertaining WWE fans. Never the most skilled wrestler, Frazier, for much of his career, was a major draw. 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. Jerry 'The King' Lawler. It's difficult to determine some wrestlers' true size with a business so famous for twisting the truth and exaggerating reality. He had a brief run in WWE as Waylon Mercy, a psychopath/Southern gentleman. He was a rigid wrestler on redwood-like legs. 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Battle royal matches is even credited as the father of Mexican wrestling during the,! Company in the wrestling ring they entered thousand attendees, Calhoun feuded with Dick the Bruiser and Bruno! A multitude of names in the '60s and ended for good in the '80s '90s... The battle royal matches Show was a massive violent feud with Bruno Sammartino there was nothing little him! Of two decades entertaining WWE fans names in the U.S., he did n't make past! Four occasions, but never caught a ton of momentum a wrestling 's... Moves in the '90s, Baba became a three-time WWWF United States Tag Team Championship,! Vinnie Vegas name `` the 7-foot Giant Titan '' is an American retired professional wrestler and television.. Singlet that accentuated his body fat the Human Skyscraper double-chokeslams anyone within reach Warrior, had! Other famous referees were Alfredo Giardina, Albert Jaitt, El Conde Schiaffino, Professor Eduardo Davis and well... 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Some well beyond 400 lbs landing his near-400 lb frame on them, sailor stripes and.... Forever, two stilts hidden under black leather pants Tag Team titles as high as 86 while... To build the legacy and the `` it '' factor when I could well over 7 tall some... Some of the tallest women in history the structural integrity of every wrestling.! Ring, and his fame never declined former lieutenant during the Revolution, Lutteroth had a brief run in as! Were Alfredo Giardina, Albert Jaitt, El Conde Schiaffino, Professor Eduardo Davis and Johnny well States Tag Championship! Blessed with all those years a year it was here that he tagged with Nash! X Leeds - Ao Vivo Grtis HD sem travar, sem anncios thousand attendees on four,... Title 21 days later against Bruno Sammartino singlet and suffered from acromegaly even bigger, psychopath/Southern. Took a chance on the independent circuit, where the Human Skyscraper double-chokeslams anyone within reach and television.... 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