Other famous referees were Alfredo Giardina, Albert Jaitt, El Conde Schiaffino, Professor Eduardo Davis and Johnny Well. The lack of speed and mobility that hampered his basketball career would go on to do the same for his wrestling career. Shohei Baba helped to build the legacy of Japanese wrestling. 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. Vader was once known as Baby Bull or Little Bull though there was nothing little about him. 1. When he joined the WWF in 1979, Patterson was an established heel who already accumulated 32 vhampionships in various territories. He was a rigid wrestler on redwood-like legs. The San Diego Chargers drafted him as a defensive lineman in 1961 and he soon became an intimidating presence on the football field. Despite his runs as a heel in the '70s, he managed to have a huge fanbase because of his revolutionary style. The . This was a time when bodybuilding was not only raw, but also rare and these were the pioneers of bodybuilding. Had the creative team seen something other than an opportunity for low humor with Shaw, we may be remembering him for more than the smelly "Trip to the Batcave.". 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. Top 50 professional wrestlers. He can also brag to. In two reigns, one with Jimmy and one with Jerry, he was Tag Team Champion for a total of 600 days. Had things worked out with WWE, he could have towered over fellow Irishman Sheamus. 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. He once was a fierce wrestler, with a heel character back in the '60s. 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. Mitsuharu Misawa was one of the most influential wrestlers in Japan before his untimely death at the age of 46. 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. It was Big Daddy who served as his biggest rival. Related: The Reason Lucha Underground Went Out Of Business Explained. Throughout his whole career, Killer Kowalski was a top heel everywhere he wrestled, and he cemented his status when he ripped off an opponent's ear in the ring. It's hard to even fathom a man so large that he would tower over Shaquille O'Neal or Big Show. The lumbering and lovable behemoth set the standard for what a big man should be. 60. Jerry 'The King' Lawler. Fans were enthralled by him, curious to watch a man his size and perhaps were pulled in by his larger-than-life aura. 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. His weight fluctuated throughout his career. Possessing an impressive blend of power and speed, Rikishi spent a good part of two decades entertaining WWE fans. In the halcyon days of the 1950s and early '60s, the promos and interviews existed solely to heighten the drama of the matches. As the wresting world's first ever global superstar, Andre the Giant has been wrestling since the '60s as well. * Continued to exist after the National Wrestling Alliance was founded in 1948. In the U.S., he made his name thanks to a massive violent feud with Bruno Sammartino in WWE. Dorrel Dixon - World Champion, Middleweight: With two different partners (Professor Tanaka and Mr. Saito), he managed to have five reigns as Tag Team champion, for a total of 932 days. While he certainly brought his share of physical intimidation courtesy of his massive frame, Kane was never a freak show. 2. Hogan doesn't often get considered a big-man wrestler though he is 67 and 300 lbs. He is even credited as the inventor of the figure-four leglock. Top 10 Wrestlers Blacklisted By WWE. Click here to watch Andre The Giant winning a battle royal in the mid-70s. In between, he floated between gimmicks, WCW trying to find a way to best use Reis' immense size. Bruno Sammartino. Morton hires a . 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. 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. Facing a wrestler of decent size like Strangler Bright, Zehe looked like an unstoppable monster. When he joined the WWWF in 1977, he quickly made his way into the world championship picture as a top heel. When a man stands tall enough to look down on Kane, he's sure to make jaws drop as he passes by. After a stint in World Class Championship Wrestling, Bundy made a name for himself in WWE, squashing opponents with his Avalanche Splash. You can also click here to watch another poor quality video (Sammartino defeating Stasiak for the WWWF Title). Some sources list him at 7 8 and others go as high as 86. After a brief time as "The Colossus of Boggo Road," Jones left WWE, and Hollywood soon found several uses for his massiveness. 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. Bodybuilding had to originate somewhere. 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. 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 . Big Show has been big for a long time. At one point, he ballooned to nearly 800 lbs. Like Calhoun, he wore overalls and wrestled barefoot. The best quality video I could find was Stan Stasiak vs. Tony Garea in three parts: part 1, part 2 and part 3. The Baron enjoyed a great career with the WWWF in the '60s and in the '70s as one of the top heels. Ruane wrestled for the majority of his career in England, but had a short stint in WCW as Loch Ness. While the Ugandan portion of his character was all show, the giant part was not. Palmer went from playing a giant ape in The Killer Ape to being an attraction in wrestling to the self-proclaimed "Goliath for Christ." Hailing from Germany, Zehe took his wrestling career to the United Kingdom where he fought former boxer Jack Doyle in 1952. * Continued to exist after the National Wrestling Alliance was founded in 1948. 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. 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. 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. In a familiar story for men his size, Jorge Gonzalez's height was both his greatest asset and biggest weakness. 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 Couple that with him weighing at nearly 500 lbs and Harris was clearly one of wrestling's largest men. He bumbled about the ring worse than Giant Gonzales or The Great Khali ever did. And he trained some of the greatest wrestlers in the business. He routinely performed moonsaults and corner slingshot splashes, aka Vader Bombs. Unable to continue as a wrestler, Stevens took to acting. On the Wichita State University basketball team, Wight towered over his teammates. He was a fierce brawler but also a sound technician. 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. Dark hair falls over his leather mask, his wild eyes poking through. The woman known as Aloisia during her run in WWE's NXT is young and being able to make Chyna look small is a unique gift. 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): Click here to watch Luke Graham in the ring; it's probably not a WWWF footage, but that's all I could find. He was a master of the heel tactics, but he was also very agile in the ring. Strong Female Characters That Are Unforgettable! Harris used his size to crush his opposition, particularly with a splash he called Air Africa. When he wore colorful facepaint he looked like Ultimate Warrior, only stretched out to the size of an NBA center. 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. Of course, it was a show and the wrestlers were aware of that, but they were all professionals in the trade; some came from the amateur ranks. He was also a great brawler so he had everything to deliver many classic encounters, which he did with panache, especially in 1972 when he was named the PWI Wrestler of the Year. When you are taller and nearly 80 lbs heavier than NBA center Dwight Howard, there's no questioning your size. Famous Americans Who Wrestled. Just two months after arriving in WWE, he was fighting for the world title. 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. Never the most skilled wrestler, Frazier, for much of his career, was a major draw. ( United States Champion [San Francisco]) Antonino Rocca. He put his large behind to good use, utilizing it as one of his main weapons in the ring. Ray Stevens. Nowadays, wrestling podcast fans know Mil Mascaras as no yob, but the man of a thousand masks is responsible for bringing Lucha Libre to the masses by wrestling all over the world. He began his WWE career as one-half of the Headshrinkers in a crowded tag team division. Calhoun's enormity turned him somewhat of a circus attraction. Click here to watch Tony Garea in action against Billy Graham. 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. However, the former nWo star is currently 62-years-old . Ladd played both basketball and football before becoming a pro wrestler. Bruno Sammartino is one of the most famous and popular faces ever to wrestle for the McMahon machine. Swenson weighed far less during his brief stint as a boxer, but still had enormous arms that looked like something out of a cartoon. His finishing move, like many men of his size, uses his weight as a weapon, splashing down on a fallen foe for a victory. His reign only lasted 21 days, but with only six different WWWF Champions in the '70s, it means a lot. His impressive reign lasted until December 1, 1973 when Stan "The Man" Stasiak defeated him for the title in a shocking moment. If it was not really his fault, it was still the birth of a legend. Harley Race Heavyweight: Studd towered over most of his opponents, whether it was Bob Backlund or Dusty Rhodes. Lance Storm Credits for information on this site are given He did it so often that he was named the PWI Most Hated Wrestler in 1977. 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. Aside from the 50 men listed, pro wrestling has seen its share of both the extremely tall and extremely heavy. While Juan Manuel Figueroa would be La Momia between 1975 and 1988. Here is a smattering of pro wrestlers from that era. Click here to watch Johnny Valiant teaming up with his brother Jimmy in 1974 and click here to watch him and his other brother Jerry in the late '70s. His wrestling career didn't last long. Top 25 1950's Westerns. 23. Sheamus, John Cena and Josh Mathews combined don't quite weigh as much as Humphrey did during his career. Both men clashed on many occasions with no clear winner until that famous day in 1978 at the Madison Square Garden. 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. He was a top draw in Australia and in Europe when he headed to America to join the company. Esta web utiliza cookies propias para su correcto funcionamiento. His legs seem to stretch upwards forever, two stilts hidden under black leather pants. In 1961 Karadagin would fight again at Luna Park against Capitn Piluso, played by the actor Alberto Olmedo. After that last success, Graham slowly faded away from the WWWF. Other Links > Pro Wrestling > Top Ranked Pro Wrestlers by Decade . Graham, one of the greatest brawlers ever, won three different tag team championships during his runs with the company. 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. The WWE portion of his career was not nearly as successful. And, in those years, he often fought in 60-minute time limit draws. The World's Strongest Man earned his nickname from his accomplishments as a powerlifter. 50. Top 10 Times Wrestlers Fought While Injured . This cannot be undone. Not as agile as Bam Bam Bigelow or Vader, Nash was still surprisingly quick and deft in the ring. Click here to watch a classic match from the mid-70s between Spiros Arion and Bruno Sammartino. The standard for what a big man should be, there 's no questioning your size for a. Extremely heavy served as his biggest rival size like Strangler Bright, Zehe like. Albert Jaitt, El Conde Schiaffino, Professor Eduardo Davis and Johnny Well man his size and were... N'T often get considered a big-man wrestler though he is even credited as the of... In 1977, he floated between gimmicks, WCW trying to find a way to best use Reis ' size. Does n't often get considered a big-man wrestler though he is 67 and 300 lbs the. 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