49. Before Big Show, before Andre the Giant, a gargantuan barefoot man in overalls was one of the biggest draws in the industry. 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. Regardless of how he performed in the ring, Vicious always looked the part of the massive monster. Before Gorilla Monsoon became one half of the funniest commentary duos with Bobby Heenan, he was one of wrestling's most frightening monsters. Giant Baba. The San Diego Chargers drafted him as a defensive lineman in 1961 and he soon became an intimidating presence on the football field. El Show de Renny (a musical program) had only 32 rating points. In spite of that ridiculousness, he managed to come off as intimidating, mostly due to his size. He is even credited as the inventor of the figure-four leglock. It was Big Daddy who served as his biggest rival. Robert "Jeep" Swenson resembled the sturdy girth of his namesake. Titanes also had a cheating referee Hctor Oscar Brea as William Boo. I also discovered many gems of the WWWF era before it became the WWF. These famous Americans are from the political, business, entertainment and professional . 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. 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. Morgan played college basketball for the Monmouth Hawks and later appeared on American Gladiators as Beast. 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 Pat O'Connor - World Champion, Jr. Heavyweight: For so many men on this list, their size is their only asset. 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. Click here to see Patera injuring Billy White Wolf after the match and click here to see the strongman clashing with Bob Backlund. to these sites/people. Heavyweight: Other Links > Pro Wrestling > Top Ranked Pro Wrestlers by Decade . Bruno Sammartino. 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. . For most Bleacher Report readers, Mr. Fuji is that iconic manager of the '80s and '90s who led Yokozuna and Demolition to the gold. The inaugural WWE Champion lost the title 21 days later against Bruno Sammartino, and he suddenly vanished for a while. 2. He is an actor, known for WWE: OMG! He put his large behind to good use, utilizing it as one of his main weapons in the ring. He immediately became the No. Both men clashed on many occasions with no clear winner until that famous day in 1978 at the Madison Square Garden. It seems that if there is a lack of ideas for a large wrestler, he is inevitably dressed in overalls and asked to play an oversized country bumpkin. As you could see, pro wrestling didn't start with Hulk Hogan in the '80s. Given the resounding success of the fights, Lutteroth had the vision to expand and remodel it. Time will tell if WWE can find a way to utilize their latest mastodon. Kamala was a fun part of a fun time for wrestlingeasy to market and hard to look away from. 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. 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. Larry Chene, Mike Clancy, Jack Curtis, Mike DiBiase, Pepper Gomez, Red McKim, Sonny Myers, Angelo Savoldi, Joe Scarpello, Oni Wiki Wiki. Yokozuna's size made nearly every match a David-and-Goliath battle, even with a man as large as Hulk Hogan. Click here to watch Strongbow taking on Professor TanakaMr. 10 Wrestling Legends You Didn't Know Competed In The 1960s, certainly included professional wrestling, as names like Gorgeous George became commonplace, John Cena's Career Told In Photos, Through The Years, New Zealand before traversing the globe as the ultra violent Sheepherders in the late 1970s, Every Wrestler To Body Slam Andre The Giant, the former baseball player met the Rising Suns first legend, Rikidozan, that was it for Baba, and he, former NWA World Champion Jack and the former Stooge Jerry both began in the late '60s, Antonio Inoki: The WWE Champion The Company Doesn't Recognize, 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, one of the most feared men to walk on "Gods Green Earth. 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. 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. Click here to watch the only excerpt I found of Backlund winning the WWWF Championship and click here to watch him against Pat Patterson in a cage match in 1979. Related: Every Wrestler To Body Slam Andre The Giant. So, I took in consideration the impact, the popularity, the legacy and the "it" factor when I could. Dark hair falls over his leather mask, his wild eyes poking through. 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. The lumbering and lovable behemoth set the standard for what a big man should be. 1951-07 - Wrestling Magazine (credit: Rock Rims), circa 1958 - Boxing Illustrated/Wrestling News, 1959-09 - Boxing Illustrated/Wrestling News. Then, in June 1971, he and Tarzan Tyler became the inaugural WWWF World Tag Team Champions. He towered over most of his competition in Puerto Rico orindy promotions like Professional Championship Wrestling. Vicious in contrast, became a world champion several times over. Monsoon battled Andre the Giant, Bruno Sammartino and at one point even had an infamousaltercation with Muhammad Ali. In 1987, All Japan Pro Wrestling took a chance on the skyscraper of a man and pitted him against Antonio Inoki. 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. Learn more at. In addition, you can see the most watched/liked stuff amongst your friends. That is why he is known as the father of Mexican wrestling. He was a fierce brawler but also a sound technician. Together this dynamic trio keep law and order in small town of Wileyville, Arizona. Wilbur and his neighbor Roger buy the contract of a professional wrestler Tiger Davis played by actual professional wrestler Ricki Starr. Throughout the '70s and '80s, he captured numerous titles, wrestling Andre the Giant, Bruno Sammartino, Dusty Rhodes and Bob Backlund along the way. Just like Hogan or Stone Cold, he could not do it all by himself. ( United States Champion [San Francisco]) Antonino Rocca. Mike Shaw later used the ring name Man Mountain Mike, though he was nowhere near as large as Fletcher. In 1978 DeNucci enjoyed his second reign with Dino Bravo as his partner, and they held the belt for 104 days. Monsoon lost the match, but he once again proved he could hold his own against the largest wrestlers in the business at the time, being himself a 6'5", 400-pounder. Lance Storm Ray Stevens. Back in the days, most wrestlers moved from one territory to another, or in other words, there was no promotion exclusivity. I also considered the longevity with the WWWF, a point not very important after the early '80s and the death of the territories concept. 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. Here is a smattering of pro wrestlers from that era. King Kong Bundy was one of many giants Hulk Hogan was asked to slay during his dominant run in the '80s. 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. On an interesting side note, Santino Marella's name is a tribute to Monsoon, who's real name is Robert Marella. 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. The Original Sheik portrayed a rich and brutal Syrian who brought a new level of violence in pro wrestling. Top 10 Buddy Cops on TV. - The Top 50 Incidents in WWE History (2011), WCW Monday Nitro (1995) and WWE Smackdown! (1999). Mitsuharu Misawa was one of the most influential wrestlers in Japan before his untimely death at the age of 46. Top 10 Times Wrestlers Fought While Injured . Brian Norton wrestled in his home country as Tron. From 1970 to 1973, Pedro Morales left a permanent mark on WWE. Who knows how much of that is wrestling promoters building things up, but regardless of any exaggeration, Calhoun was undoubtedly large. The hardcore wrestling pioneer trained many wrestlers who became original ECW icons such as Rob Van Dam, Raven and his nephew Sabu. A budding star, the Aussie known as 7-foot Thunder dreamed of a career in WCW. When a man battles The Great Khali and stands face to face with him, there's no doubt about his enormity. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. He used his tree-sized arms to lariat his opponents down to the mat. 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. Famous Americans Who Wrestled. He flies through the air like a much smaller man. For many, including myself, that name is totally unknown, but he left a big mark on the WWWF from 1966 to 1975. It's hard to even fathom a man so large that he would tower over Shaquille O'Neal or Big Show. He once was a fierce wrestler, with a heel character back in the '60s. Vader was once known as Baby Bull or Little Bull though there was nothing little about him. Top 50 professional wrestlers. Wrestler Mick McManus ( Image: Mirrorpix) Mick McManus Former printer William Matthews' nickname, Rugged South London Tough Guy, was hardly catchy yet he was one of the sport's biggest draws. He was a rigid wrestler on redwood-like legs. In fact, he was more than a pro wrestling top draw; he was, with his size, an attraction wherever he went. Widely respected for his integrity and personal principles, Sammartino was one of the most popular wrestlers in the 60's and 70's. Born and raised in a small Italian town, Bruno Sammartino's childhood was quite tough. Orndorff was a professional wrestler from Florida who was a good mid-card performer before going to WWF and being a star. Logos are registered trademarks of respective organizations. This was his most successful endeavor. The NWCA is very proud of the rich history of the sport of wrestling and many famous Americans who have once wrestled. The lack of speed and mobility that hampered his basketball career would go on to do the same for his wrestling career. According to PWInsider (via 24wrestling.com) WWE released Norton along with several other FCW wrestlers in 2011. No one on this list changed with the times more than the legendary Terry Funk. 10 Wrestlers Who Tragically Died In The Ring. It wouldn't be before long that he too had a career that turned him into his own mythic legend. advertisememt. Paul Bunyan had to seem as unreal as the lumberjack from American folklore from who he took his ring name. As El Gigante in WCW or Giant Gonzalez in WWE, he was nothing more than a spectacle. He had the strength, the technical abilities, the charisma and that mythic "it" factor to draw the audiences. The Pakistani known as Raja Lion had a brief, forgettable career as a pro wrestler. To counteract his significant size advantage, some of his matches featured special stipulations. Darren Matthews Actor | WWE: OMG! He did it so often that he was named the PWI Most Hated Wrestler in 1977. Click here to watch Mr. Fuji in rare singles action taking on Pedro Morales and click here to see him in some tag team action. 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: Ultimately, the 1980s are most widely thought to represent the golden age of women's wrestling and the point at which . 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. Frazier, even at his leanest, was a rotund man, a whale among fish. English wrestler Martin Ruane made opponents as large as Big Daddy look like children. Show more Show more Here's Why Danny Kaye Led a Miserable Life & Heartbreaking Ending Sussex Daily News 24 views 4 hours ago New Johnny Carson 1985 08 21. 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 1971, he and Bruno Sammartino put the hand on the short-lived WWWF International Tag Team Championship, a secondary Title. 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. In a familiar story for men his size, Jorge Gonzalez's height was both his greatest asset and biggest weakness. Angelo Savoldi - World Champion, Light Heavyweight: Many of these famous wrestlers have attributed their success in their fields to the sport of wrestling. In 1961 Karadagin would fight again at Luna Park against Capitn Piluso, played by the actor Alberto Olmedo. With his now-famous bleached blondhair and sumo-style thong, Rikishi gained his highest level of popularity. Unable to continue as a wrestler, Stevens took to acting. Not many WWE fans got a chance to see the man who was to be known as "The Northern Irish Nightmare" Jason Mullen. Now in his 50s, Suzuki has done amazing work in recent years whenever he gets into a feud with fellow veterans like Jushin Thunder Liger and Yuji Nagata. Too bad the giant's resume doesn't boast much more than this kind of accomplishment. 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. Facing a wrestler of decent size like Strangler Bright, Zehe looked like an unstoppable monster. While Juan Manuel Figueroa would be La Momia between 1975 and 1988. Wrestling, though, is where he was meant to be. While the Ugandan portion of his character was all show, the giant part was not. He would also use his size as a defense mechanism in battle royals. 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. 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. They did eventually release her, but Howard should get a shot at the big time at some point. 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. In a career that began in the '60s and ended for good in the '90s, Baba became a legend in his home country. Ladd played both basketball and football before becoming a pro wrestler. He's best known for his time as Big Sky in WCW. 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. Ivn Kowalski and Juan Enrique Dos Santos (El Gitano Ivanoff), would be the first wrestlers to personify the character of The Mummy. Terry Eugene Bollea, better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American retired professional wrestler and television personality. He won the WWWF World Tag Team Championship in 1976 with one of his students, Big John Studd. With his famous headbutt and his piledriver, he became a seven-time WWWF United States Championship from 1963 to 1971, when the title was deactivated. He has been married to Christina Beddoes since November 8, 1986. As Akeem "the African Dream," Gray teamed with Big Boss Man. Iron Sheik. In the process, I discovered countless wrestlers I hadn't heard about or I didn't really know. He only spent one year with the company in the '70s, but what a year it was! In real life, he was Max Palmer, an actor and evangelist born in small-town Mississippi. Some of these wrestlers have been so large it can hardly seem real. He was already a huge mainstream attraction before he joined the WWWF in the early '70s, and his fame never declined. It was here that he tagged with Kevin Nash, who was known then as Vinnie Vegas. He was often a top contender to the WWWF Championship, and he battled Bruno Sammartino on several occasions in high-profile matches. Gorilla Monsoon is not just that face commentator known by the younger fans in the '80s and '90s. Free shipping for many products! Season 2 Episode 12 The Wrestler. Most of the wrestlers didn't even have the physiques or follow the diet and workout regimen that many athletes follow today. It's hard to imagine someone Big John Studd's size being dwarfed, but that will happen when you face off against Andre the Giant. DeNucci, who trained Mick Foley and Shane Douglas among others, was mainly a tag team specialist and a great brawler. After a brief time as "The Colossus of Boggo Road," Jones left WWE, and Hollywood soon found several uses for his massiveness. Al hacer clic en el botn Aceptar, acepta el uso de estas tecnologas y el procesamiento de tus datos para estos propsitos. Before tossing smaller man about in wrestling rings, Taro was in fact a real-life sumo wrestler. His size wasn't enough to capture all the fans he did, though. Maillet was a powerhouse with decent mobility, but never caught a ton of momentum. Credits for information on this site are given 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. He built his reputation with a hardcore side that disappeared in the early '80s due to health issues. 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. Nothing could be further from the truth for The Undertaker. He was never just a physical oddity; he was a compelling performer in the ring. Billed at 7'7'', his actual height is debated. For many of his matches, Jeff Bearden had to bend down awkwardly in order to get a proper hold on his opponent. Pro wrestling turned Mississippi native Jim Harris into Kamala, The Ugandan Giant. The custom of betting the mask arose: if a wrestler lost, he had to take it off and could never wear it again. He spent a good chunk of the '70s and '80s delivering gigantic leg drops to foes in Memphis, AWA and eventually WWE stars like Roddy Piper and Adrian Adonis. His handler, Daivari, claimed that Khali could destroy the Undertaker, certainly an exciting prospect. 1962-08-10 - National Wrestling Association (source: LegacyOfWrestling.com) As Golga, he teamed with two other gigantic men in Kurrgan and Giant Silva. His weight was no doubt a major factor in him dying of a pulmonary edema at just 34. 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. 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. Classic Pro Wrestling matches of the 1960's, 1970's, 1980's (****3/4 and above) Allan Blackstock 42 videos 7,561 views Last updated on Oct 15, 2022 Here is a selection of matches that are. Jerry 'The King' Lawler. Race was Humphrey's driver and occasional opponent in the very early '60s. 18. He held the new championship 233 days, then he hung his boots a couple years after his historic reign. He certainly is a large man, coming in at just an inch shorter than Big Show, but Undertaker is so skilled that it's easy to forget you're watching a giant at work. The Valiant Brothers The curious thing was that none of the so-called wrestlers were true athletes. As a wrestler, he worked for several Japanese promotions where his immensity was even more impressive measured against generally smaller opponents. When he was not embracing success in the tag team division, he had some memorable feuds in singles against the likes of Billy Graham and Ken Patera. 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. Before that, Jon Harris was known by a multitude of names in the wrestling ring. 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. Morton hires a . The original Arena Mexico had a capacity for a little more than 4 thousand attendees.