Top 10 big men in WWE history
WWE has a feature on its Web site in which it lists the Top 25 Big Men in WWE History. They define a “big man” as standing at least 6 feet 7 or weighing at least 300 pounds (some on the list are both).
I have come up with my own Top 10 list of big men, although I am using different criteria. Mine is about height, not weight, so rotund wrestlers on WWE’s list such as Haystacks Calhoun, Yokozuna and King Kong Bundy are not eligible.
I set a height of 6-6 as the minimum for inclusion on the list. Since the billed heights of wrestlers are routinely exaggerated by a few inches, I made an honest effort to select guys who are legitimately 6-6 or taller.
Like the wwe.com feature, this is a WWE-themed list and reflects only the wrestlers’ accomplishments in the WWWF/WWF/WWE. The rankings are based on star power and impact.
1. Andre The Giant: The first person I think of when someone says “WWE big man” is Andre. He was a special attraction for over a decade and was one of the most recognizable figures in wrestling in the ’70s and ’80s. His epic encounters with Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania III in 1987 and on “The Main Event” on NBC in 1988 are two of the most famous matches in history.
2. The Undertaker: “The Dead Man” has been one of WWE’s top stars for 20 years and has one of the most successful gimmicks of all time. He has had more opportunity to display his impressive agility and in-ring ability during the second half of his WWE run. His undefeated streak at WrestleMania has become legendary and his matches with Shawn Michaels the past two years are regarded as classics.
3. Killer Kowalski: One of wrestling’s all-time greatest heels moved incredibly well for a big man and had tremendous stamina. He was among Bruno Sammartino’s top rivals during Sammartino’s two WWWF title reigns in the ’60s and ’70s. Kowalski also held the WWWF tag team title in the ’70s along with John Studd as the masked Executioners.
4. Don Leo Jonathan: “The Mormon Giant” is perhaps the most agile big man ever. Like Kowalski, he had a number of classic encounters with Sammartino for the WWWF title, and also challenged Pedro Morales for the belt. In addition, Jonathan engaged in a battle of the big men against Andre The Giant.
5. Ernie Ladd: “The Big Cat” had several successful stints in the WWWF, challenging Bruno Sammartino, Pedro Morales and Bob Backlund for the world title in the ’70s. Ladd, who generated a lot of heat in his day, also tangled with Andre The Giant.
6. Kevin Nash (Diesel): His WWF title run in 1994-1995 is the ninth-longest reign in the company’s 47-year history. Although he was never regarded as a good in-ring performer, he did have exceptional matches with the likes of Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart during his first stint in WWE, and with Triple H in his second.
7. The Big Show: He has been with WWE for most of the past decade and has worked programs with a number of top stars during that span. He is a multiple-time world champion and has participated in several high-profile matches at WrestleMania.
8. Sid: He held the WWF title on two occasions between late ’96 and early ’97, defeating Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart, respectively, for the championship. As Sid Justice, he wrestled in the main event of WrestleMania VIII against Hulk Hogan.
9. John Studd: He is most famous for his Body Slam Challenge and his feud with Andre The Giant, which was capped by a match between the two at the first WrestleMania. Studd also challenged both Bob Backlund and Hulk Hogan for the WWF title.
10. Kane: The “brother” of The Undertaker has been a fixture in WWE for the past 13 years. As one of the few remaining holdovers from the Attitude Era, Kane remains popular with fans regardless of whether he works as a babyface or a heel.
Comments
Nice topic and almost perfect list. I would switch Kane and Sid, however. Kane's longevity with the same gimmick is worthy of some due, and in the past he was capable of some decent matches,
Andre IS the Big Man of all time. Too often I hear him dissed based on his last few years. People should see some of his work early in his career.
Taker is perfect at #2.
Thanks for the Executioners mention, my favorite team of all time.
Posted by: Brian in Bel Air | May 20, 2010 8:30 PM
Good list. I was first going to question why Bo Bo Brazil wasn't on the list, but wikipedia has him as 6' 6". Ernie Ladd was a groundbreaking heel. He was cocky, relished in the heat based on his racial identity, He had style that rivaled the Willis Reed and Walt Frazier era New York Knicks. My grandmother loved seeing his promos, so cool when he called Andre "the Dummy." Black wrestlers and fans of today need to recognize his contribution.
RESPONSE FROM KE: Bobo was one of the guys I considered. I saw him billed at 6-6, which means he wasn't 6-6. I saw somewhere else that he was legit 6-4. Hulk Hogan was billed at 6-7 but is believed to be 6-4 or 6-5.
Posted by: Frank King | May 20, 2010 9:15 PM
Wasn't (isn't) Hogan 6'9?
RESPONSE FROM KE: He was billed at 6-7 but it is believed he was 6-4 or 6-5
Posted by: Cd | May 20, 2010 9:36 PM
Great List. In complete agreement. If you have time some day, I'd love to see "Top 10 Athletic men in WWE history"
Posted by: rob | May 20, 2010 10:04 PM
Much better list than WWE's version. The undertaker above Andre? Really??? Grant it Undertaker has probably done more but Andre was the original Big Man.
Posted by: mikep51 | May 20, 2010 10:21 PM
What, no Giant Gonzales? His painted-on physique was nothing short of amazing.
Posted by: larry | May 20, 2010 10:51 PM
I remember Ernie Ladd wrestling Andre the Giant. Another frequent opponent of Andre's was Blackjack Mulligan.
Posted by: Rasslin Fan | May 20, 2010 11:16 PM
I remember Ernie Ladd wrestling Andre the Giant. Another frequent opponent of Andre's was Blackjack Mulligan.
Posted by: Rasslin Fan | May 20, 2010 11:16 PM
Diesel gets the sixth spot? I am surprised that you didn't rank him lower as he was the face of the company at a time when its bottom line was suffering.
Posted by: Christopher | May 20, 2010 11:57 PM
Dear Kev, what about Great Khali? Do you think he is below 6.6??????????
RESPONSE FROM KE: No, I think he sucks.
Posted by: Ujjwal Kushari | May 21, 2010 12:12 AM
What about the following: Giant Gonzales? Dennis Rodman and/or Karl Malone? Rhaka Khan? Great Khali?
Jokes aside - How about Big Bossman?
RESPONSE FROM KE: I wouldn't knock anyone off the list for Bossman
Posted by: RH | May 21, 2010 12:26 AM
I'd have Kane higher, personally. I don't think he has ever gotten enough credit for his in-ring work. For a guy his size, he was (and remains, to some extent) an exceptional worker.
Posted by: Michael in Virginia | May 21, 2010 12:27 AM
Hogan at 6'4? I think that is generous. In his latest tv commercials Troy Aikman towers over him and Aikman is listed at 6'4.
Posted by: Alex Lundquist | May 21, 2010 1:02 AM
Good list, Kev, much better than WWE's version.
Not only did WWE have some total head-scratchers in there (Big Daddy V? Really? Khali?) but they were missing some big names, particularly since they were going on billed stats. Hogan, Batista and Boss Man should all have earned places on their list, the first two because of their obvious success in the business and Boss Man because he was a tremendous worker for his size up until the mid 90s.
A couple of the guys WWE selected, Mike Awesome and Bruiser Brody, didn't even meet their own criteria. A nonsense list, frankly.
Posted by: Nick | May 21, 2010 4:17 AM
I can comment on your Top 2 and tie in live event experience:
My first live card was a house show in February 1985 in Buffalo, NY. The main event ended up being a double DQ between Andre & JYD vs. Studd & Patera when all four men were brawling in the ring. I remember thinking how huge all the guys were during the night (on TV you can't really tell because everyone is big), but when Andre came out he just was so much larger than everyone else.
As a side note, I was really looking forward on that card to seeing the Superfly, Jimmy Snuka. He ended up pinning Cowboy Bob Orton, but earlier in the match had missed his superfly leap from the SECOND rope.
I also was in attendance at Rochester, NY in November 1990 for a Superstars TV taping which saw the true debut of one Kane The Undertaker. The rest of the world saw him first a few days later at Survivor Series and the rest is history.
Speaking of history, that night in Rochester saw history made a second time as Curt Henning won the IC belt from Kerry Von Erich.
Kevin, can you imagine people sitting through those marithon TV tapings these days? You'd get to see Hogan but also a gazillion squash matches.
RESPONSE FROM KE: No, I can't. I hated sitting through them back in the day.
Posted by: Bradley | May 21, 2010 7:12 AM
I struggle with Big Show and Sid on this or any other list, but I can't come up with anyone else.
Were there others you considered but just didn't get in?
I couldn't add Khali, Uncle Elmer, or Giant Gonzales.
RESPONSE FROM KE: If guys like Hulk Hogan, Bruiser Brody and Bobo Brazil a a tad taller, they may have made it. Khali, depsoite how bad he is in the ring, would almost surely be top 15 just because there aren't that many giants. Giant Gonzales, however, was rewally bad in the ring, wore a ridiculous costume and made zero impact -- certainly less than Khali.
Posted by: Matt | May 21, 2010 9:51 AM
Hogan's 6'8" QUIT HATIN!!!
Posted by: Anonymous | May 21, 2010 9:59 AM
As much as I respect your views, and I do a lot, I can't take your pick of Diesel seriously in any way possible.
P.S. Get rid of that Manchester City advert!!!
RESPONSE FROM KE: Year-long title reign has to mean something. Strong matches with Michaels, Hart and Triple H do, too. When he was in the ring with the right opponent
Posted by: SteRDLK | May 21, 2010 10:01 AM
Good list, but I like countdowns more. Something feels more climatic about it.
Then again, maybe putting the listing more upfront like this could reduce the number of "complaints" from readers. I can imagine you have better things to do than explain 17 times whey you think Big Show had more merit than Big John Studd.
Posted by: Mr. Sarcasm | May 21, 2010 11:46 AM
On the Wrestlemania 3 telecast - Jesse Ventura did color commentary - and read off the measurements of the wrestlers and announced Hogan as 6 ft 8' - learn it live it know it - and grow a beard already- the contest is over - its like having Adrian Adonis staring at you as you try to read this blog
RESPONSE FROM KE: Like I said, billed weights are almost always kayfabe. No way Hogan was 6-8.
Posted by: KNOW YOUR WRESTLEMANIA 3 - KEV OR GET A TUMMY ACHE | May 21, 2010 1:36 PM
Hey Eck how about another list, a very fun one.....The ten worst big men.
Giant Gonzales, Giant Silva, Kurgan, etc....
RESPONSE FROM KE: I think you have the top three right there.
Posted by: michealdeff | May 21, 2010 2:33 PM
Hogan at 6'4? I think that is generous. In his latest tv commercials Troy Aikman towers over him and Aikman is listed at 6'4.
Posted by: Alex Lundquist | May 21, 2010 1:02 AM
---------------
Towers is a gross over-exaggeration although Aikman does appear to be a little bit taller. I think it would be safe to say that Hogan has shrunk a touch in height based on his age and back conditions. I'm willing to bet he was a legit 6'4" in his prime wrestling days.
Posted by: Joe Barber | May 21, 2010 5:32 PM
Vader is billed as 6'5" in wikipedia. Had he been 6'6", would he have made into your top 10 lists. That guy could do moonsaults from the top rope.
RESPONSE FROM KE: Again, I don't know that I would knock anyone off to get him on. He was great for his size, though.
Posted by: Kunal | May 21, 2010 5:40 PM
How much does dis fella weigh?
Posted by: loco | May 21, 2010 9:22 PM
In this era of political correctness, I assume you have prepared a short list as well. Not necessarily midgets (oops, is that politically correct?) such as Sky Low Low and Little Beaver (I know that is politically incorrect), but maybe guys standing less than six feet tall. Could be fun.
Posted by: LarryB | May 21, 2010 9:59 PM
"I think it would be safe to say that Hogan has shrunk a touch in height based on his age and back conditions."
___________________________
I agree. With all the leg drops Hogan has delivered over the years, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that his spine has been compressed an inch or two
Posted by: Christopher | May 21, 2010 10:28 PM
Thanks for the Kowalski love, Mr. Eck. I really enjoyed how he and Studd, as the Executioners, would argue with each other in their promos about which of them was Executioner #1 -- especially since there was a noticeable difference in their heights. (Earlier, and before their partnership ended in a great heel vs. heel feud, the Killer had briefly teamed with George "When He Really Was an Animal" Steele.)
On another note, was Nikolai (sp?) Volkoff not worthy of this list, or did he not "measure up"?
Posted by: Boomerang 41144 | May 22, 2010 12:25 PM