Best Big Man?

Mr.Shabby

Who do reckon the best big wrestler (>6'6 ish) has been in wrestling? It seems to be a very mixed bag. For every Kane and Vader that comes along you also get a Ginat Gonzalez/Khali that pops up occasionally. A lot of them dont seem to have much longevity (Snitsky/Heidenreich). I would venture that the likes of Kane, Taker and Vader seem to be the best in-ring guys (during certain era's) but again the sheer size of guys like Andre and Show might put them top of some people's lists.

(I write this column inspired by the latest Mark Henry debate)

My own choice is the Yeti (Yeteeeeeeyh) for obvious reasons :P

Why_So_Serious?

I'd say its Taker he can move around the ring pretty well for a guy of his height which not many others cud do.....

Or else Rikishi/Yokozuna the size of both them guys and the stuff they could do in the ring was great and both were pretty quick for guys there size/weight

MitchKoobski

Andre will always be the most popular and take the top spot.

As far as in-ring skills and athletic ability go though, I'd say Kane or Big Show. Paul Wight in his early days was an absolute beast. I mean late WCW, WWF debut it was just awe inspiring seeing the moves a guy his size pulled off. Kane was also doing amazing when he had the straps/mask outfit. Twas around the time of American Badass Taker.

I always just considered Taker to be really tall rather than a big man.

Reclaimer

For me it's got to be The Undertaker. Not only has he shown both tremendous power and uncanny agility for a man of his size, he's also shown incredible longevity and dedication which has endeared him to the WWE fan base.

The Deadman has taken a gimmick which could have potentially worked extremely well or been a complete flop and he managed to do the former and through his unique appearance, his own input and Vince McMahon's idea, he's created arguably the greatest gimmick of all time.

On top of all that, he's undeniably talented in the ring, having had bouts with Shawn Michaels, Mankind and Steve Austin which any middleweight would be proud to put their name to.

For the aforementioned reasons and the fact that I'm a creature of the night (:P) I believe that Undertaker is the greatest big man we've seen in the wrestling world so far.

rovert

Watched a lot of Mid South and Texas wrestling the past few years. So Terry Gordy needs a mention.

Why_So_Serious?

MitchKoobski wrote: »

Kane was also doing amazing when he had the straps/mask outfit. Twas around the time of American Badass Taker.

Yeah, That was probably the best time of his career, was in great shape and was constantly in a title picture, it was either World, or I.C but he still got a look in. I'll always be a kanenite (i think thats what they were called) :P

Reclaimer

Why_So_Serious? wrote: »

I'll always be a kanenite (i think thats what they were called) :P

Yeah I think that's the name for his followers. That was a good period for Kane, he was strong and very athletic for a man of his physical disposition, I'd rate him highly for best big man as well.

Kanenite and Jerichoholic for life!

Machismo Fan

I don't think Abyss ever gets the credit for how good he was from '03-'07 before he got too broken down and saddled with terrible gimmicks and too many turns. TNA type-cast him as a hardcore wrestler but he was so much more than that.

Reclaimer

I hadn't considered Abyss, he's well able to throw his weight around in the ring.

My mind is probably too WWE oriented!

chopperbyrne

Andre, Undertaker or Vader (who isn't very tall, but is definitely a big man)

rovert

Machismo Fan wrote: »

I don't think Abyss ever gets the credit for how good he was from '03-'07 before he got too broken down and saddled with terrible gimmicks and too many turns. TNA type-cast him as a hardcore wrestler but he was so much more than that.

He had sweet chemistry with AJ back in the day.

chopperbyrne wrote: »

Andre

Zero hyperhole here. Everyone MUST watch this match as it is not only one of my very favourite big man matches ever but it is extremely well worked. For those who dont know Andre is facing the legendary Stan Hansen, a burly Texan known for his lethal Lariat Clothesline.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrxUuRiA0Jg

It really is King Kong vs Godzilla. Just an exceptional match.

Machismo Fan

rovert wrote: »

He had sweet chemistry with AJ back in the day.

Their Lockdown match in particular was fantastic (not to mention some of their Asylum matches).

GTR63

Machismo Fan wrote: »

Their Lockdown match in particular was fantastic (not to mention some of their Asylum matches).

Always found Abyss to be very underrated,I just wished he did less gimmick matches. Always wanted him & Joe to have a match a few years ago. He'd a great match with Kazarian a few weeks ago too. In this category i'd have to go with Taker in terms of height & Vader in terms of what he could do with his frame a 400+lb Moonsault is some sight

chopperbyrne

Completely forgot about Stan Hansen.

LARIATOOOO!!!!!!!!!


Most people only remember Wrestlemania III and on when it comes to Andre, but that was right at the end of his career when he was really sick and in constant pain.

His match with Hogan was ridiculously good when you consider how bad a shape Andre was in at the time. Even Hogan gives him nothing but praise and that's very rare for Hogan.

Andre is without a doubt the best big man of all time.

Everyone else are playing for second place.

flahavaj

rovert wrote: »

Watched a lot of Mid South and Texas wrestling the past few years. So Terry Gordy needs a mention.

Far and away the greatest IMO.

Honourable mentions for Vader and Hansen.

waltersobchak

Honourable mention from me for Bam Bam Bigelow.. Always thought he was a fantastic big man..

Mr.Shabby

I disagree, Lawerence Taylor just made him look good :P

Yeah I forgot about Bam Bam there, I think guys like Nash/Syd also deserve a mention. Neither of them were in-ring mat specialists (Syd especially sucked IMO) but could play the imposing big man well against certain opponents in over to put them over (eg .Shawn Michaels). Then again Shawn Michaels could probably make anybody look good.

Earthquake and Typhoon worked well as a tag team. (Shame Golga and Shockmaster never teamed up!)

There were a lot of dud big men too though, (Nathan Jones springs to mind). Always a very mixed niche of wrestler imo.

Wolfe Tone

Vader was a beast

grames_bond

I have to give it to Vader!! The man was a beasty and incredibly agile for a big man!

jaykhunter

I don't think anyone will ever be as well booked as Andre. That's booking a big man right!

He's been quite stagnant in TNA but I see massive potential in Matt Morgan. Incredibly athletic and decent promo skills; unfortunately he's been in feuds with people who can't wrestle or speak. Hopefully in 5 years he'll be much closer to what he can be. But I imagine he'd need to be in WWE for that.

I hear Vader was great back in the day but I can't vouch for him. Taker has routine high-profile MOTY @ Manias, but once a year is not enough, ya gotta be there more. And when he was he's not the bees knees.

littlejp

Mike Awesome back in ECW could fairly get around.

d1975

What about Tom Lister aka Zeus the Human wrecking machine he was great back in the day in 1989 after being in that film No holds barred

rovert

d1975 wrote: »

What about Tom Lister aka Zeus the Human wrecking machine he was great back in the day in 1989 after being in that film No holds barred

The anti-Andre vs Hansen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpnyOlQUF8k

Charisteas

Not exactly going against the grain here, Undertaker has to be my all time fave big man, even to this day he can still putting on quality matches, actually really liked his triple series of matches with Kane late last year.

I was always a Hulk Hogan mark, but despite him being 6'7 I never really categorised him as traditional big man wrestler.

Of the current roster, always liked Kane's matches, but his booking has been seriously hit and miss for a few years now. Like I loved his monster persona last year when feuding with Taker, but then a month later he's in the worst storyline ever with Edge. Big Show and Khali I just plain dont like.

Was going to give a mention to Brock Lesnar too for making the best big man impression in the last decade, but after checking his stats I saw he was only 6'3, really thought he was taller than that.

the groutch

how has nobody mentioned Test yet?

also John Nord (aka The Berzerker) deserves a mention

Angron

For me it's always been Kane. He was my favourite when I first got into wrestling around '98 or so, and through all the crappy angles he got put in, he remained my favourite.

Undertaker is another I like, though never as much as Kane.

Bounty Hunter

Taker has always been my favourite but when I saw this thread I immediatly thought Vader and then Andre

-Kenny-

Props to my boy Viscera :P

rossie1977

Charisteas wrote: »

Was going to give a mention to Brock Lesnar too for making the best big man impression in the last decade, but after checking his stats I saw he was only 6'3, really thought he was taller than that.

he wasnt all that much taller than 6'1 cena much bigger mass wise at the time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k779CBQA-uc

i dont really consider the likes of gordy and hansen big men wrestlers per se, the likes of andre, big show and nathan jones stand next to hansen and you would have a massive difference, hansen and gordy would be in the same size category as the likes of lesnar, goldberg

brocks a huge dude but he doesn't look like a big man wrestler in this clip

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrHGyUgjyNw

JP Liz V1

I would think Big Boss Man, Kevin Nash and Bill Goldberg deserve a mention but not sure of their heights I guess to me they looked quite tall

steelcityblues

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

I would think Big Boss Man, Kevin Nash and Bill Goldberg deserve a mention but not sure of their heights I guess to me they looked quite tall

Bossman got a great cage match out of Hogan on Saturday Night Main Event in 1989.

Angron

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

I would think Big Boss Man, Kevin Nash and Bill Goldberg deserve a mention but not sure of their heights I guess to me they looked quite tall

I think Goldberg was around Lesnar's height, 6'2 or 6'3.. He was pushed very well in WCW, it was just a shame how he was used in WWE.

ricero

For me it has to be umaga or vader

parker kent

Charisteas wrote: »

I was always a Hulk Hogan mark, but despite him being 6'7 I never really categorised him as traditional big man wrestler.

That's because he isn't 6'7!

It has to be The Undertaker for me. He is an actual Phenom. A pity his physical peak came at a time he had to work that Zombie style and was saddled with every big, useless goon going. Post 1996 he has been fantastic (except for his ABA tubby time).

rovert

parker kent wrote: »

That's because he isn't 6'7!

It has to be The Undertaker for me. He is an actual Phenom. A pity his physical peak came at a time he had to work that Zombie style and was saddled with every big, useless goon going. Post 1996 he has been fantastic (except for his ABA tubby time).

If a little green he was really good in NWA and very, very athletic.

michael.etc...

Vader, Undertaker, and Bam Bam for me. Incredible workers. Boss Man's agility always derserves a mention too. Gordy and Hansen too.

Always thought of Takayama as a big man personally as well, and would have him in there.

Charisteas

parker kent wrote: »

That's because he isn't 6'7!

How tall is he?

EdK

Charisteas wrote: »

How tall is he?

Maybe 6'3

Charisteas

If Hogan is only 6'3, well then how tall was Andre? A google search brings up 7'4 on numerous websites, and there's no way that there was more than 1 foot difference between Andre and Hogan.

steelcityblues

Just a wrestling exaggeration,like 90,000 plus inside the Pontiac Silverdome.

chopperbyrne

You have to take at least two inches off almost all announced heights. Drop at least twenty pounds too.

rovert

chopperbyrne wrote: »

You have to take at least two inches off almost all announced heights. Drop at least twenty pounds too.

Hogan has lost a few inches since his prime due to aging and back surgeries too.

Charisteas

steelcityblues wrote: »

Just a wrestling exaggeration,like 90,000 plus inside the Pontiac Silverdome.

There were 93,000 fans at WM3 until concrete proof otherwise.

Charisteas

rovert wrote: »

Hogan has lost a few inches since his prime due to aging and back surgeries too.

So how tall is he now, and how tall was he in his prime? 6'3 still seems to small to me.

jaykhunter

Charisteas wrote: »

There were 93,000 fans at WM3 until concrete proof otherwise.

It should be proof enough that Meltzer, Alvarez, PowerSlam and Pollock contend that it was roughly 78,000. Considering the Pope's visiting numbers were also a lie, it seems highly dubious that WWE could get this famed number, finished counting the tickets halfway into the show. As a fan, who is more likely to be telling the truth - Vince McMahon, or wrestling journalists?

rovert

Charisteas wrote: »

If Hogan is only 6'3, well then how tall was Andre? A google search brings up 7'4 on numerous websites, and there's no way that there was more than 1 foot difference between Andre and Hogan.

Andre was closer to 6ft 9 btw

Charisteas

jaykhunter wrote: »

It should be proof enough that Meltzer, Alvarez, PowerSlam and Pollock contend that it was roughly 78,000.

We will never know the real number for sure.

Alvarez, PowerSlam and Pollock probably all got their source from Meltzer. And Meltzer got his source from Zane Bresloff, the man who promoted WM3, who told Meltzer (faxed him a document) showing the number as 78,000. This fax paper is all Meltzer has to go on, and who knows whether or not Bresloff was telling the truth, or if he held any grudges against Vince.

I'm not saying it's bull$hit, but it's not a credible enough source for me.

The Silverdome website also says 93,000, that's a better source for me.

rovert

Zane told Wade Keller before Meltzer, his falling out with Vince and joining WCW.

thebostoncrab

Vader every time for me. He is the benchmark I use for rating any "big guy" wrestler. Noone has been able to deliver a more brutal german suplex than him. He has had some classic matches over the years with the likes of Flair, Foley,Misawa, Inoki and Hansen. And few things make your eyes pop like watching him perform a moonsault.

Charisteas

rovert wrote: »

Zane told Wade Keller before Meltzer, his falling out with Vince and joining WCW.

Did Zane also send the same fax to Keller that he did to Meltzer? I'm just wondering why it was never uploaded to the Internet, some confidentiality agreement perhaps?

jaykhunter

The Silverdome site lists WWE's 93k but it also says "more than 80,000 people" which is a bit odd indeed. Silverdome Historical society quotes 80,000 aswell. tbf the actual promoter + a document, and Meltzer will be far more credible than someone with something to gain from it (Silverdome website, Vince McMahon). Who says Vince McMahon was telling the truth? Or would he just embellish the numbers as he does with all of his wrestlers' heights, weights, to crowd-sizes and buyrates (until they became a Publically Traded Company). Not that seeing the doc urself would change your mind; same as mine.

I wonder if I keep claiming that there were 90,000 people at my last birthday picnic it'll be true!

I don't see how 93k needs to be disproven; after all the lying carny shít wrestling is known for, they should have to provide concrete proof. It still doesn't explain how they came up with the exact figure halfway through the show and it never waivered. In 1988 that seems incredible dubious, if not impossible to be legit, even if the # did end up being around 93k.