famous wrestlers from the 50s and 60sfamous wrestlers from the 50s and 60s

I found no singles action for Haystacks Calhoun, but you can click here to watch some three-against-three action and click here to watch him in a WWWF World Tag Team title defense. But before he became the best manager in the history of the sport, he actually did have an in ring career that started way back in 1961 with names like Dick the Bruiser and Sam Mushnick before promoters realized Heenans mouth was much better than his ring work, which was also pretty good. In the process, I discovered countless wrestlers I hadn't heard about or I didn't really know. Previous Decade > Next Decade . 10 Wrestlers Who Tragically Died In The Ring. Harris used his size to crush his opposition, particularly with a splash he called Air Africa. The original Arena Mexico had a capacity for a little more than 4 thousand attendees. 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. Bruno Sammartino is the greatest 70's wrestler of all time. 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. 41 of 100. Credits for information on this site are given But that wasn't always the case. Silva at first tried to use his height to pursue a career in basketball. He was billed as being over 600 lbs. Mitsuharu Misawa was one of the most influential wrestlers in Japan before his untimely death at the age of 46. One built a reputation just meeting him in the ring. 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. ( World Champion [Georgia]) Killer Buddy Austin. 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 Baron enjoyed a great career with the WWWF in the '60s and in the '70s as one of the top heels. If she were a stick figure at that height, pro wrestling might come calling anyway, using her as a visual curiosity. . ( NWA Southern Champion) Fred Blassie. "The American Dream" has been one of the most popular and colorful professional wrestlers in history. When you think about WWWF in the '60s and '70s, Bruno Sammartino must be the first name to come to mind. Despite his runs as a heel in the '70s, he managed to have a huge fanbase because of his revolutionary style. 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. He has spent much of his career with TNA, delivering Black Hole Slams and overpowering many of his foes. 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. Copyright 1995-2023 puroresu.com. It was Big Daddy who served as his biggest rival. He was a tough brawler and a solid performer who unfortunately spent much of his career in the shadow of a bigger giant. As the wresting worlds first ever global superstar, Andre the Giant has been wrestling since the '60s as well. At one point, he ballooned to nearly 800 lbs. . Kurt Zehe made men look like boys when he stood next to them. Gori Guerrero - World Champion Those I ranked are only the tip of the iceberg because other legends and pioneers existed before them. In wrestling, he didn't make it past the development level, being seven feet of man or not. 1962-08-10 - National Wrestling Association (source: LegacyOfWrestling.com) Bigelow wrestled with WWE, ECW and WCW as well as in Japan. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. Patera made a name for himself as a dominant strongman wrestler who had a successful weightlifting career behind him. Australian powerlifter Nathan Jones charged onto the WWE scene as The Undertaker's right-hand man. Vintage Wrestling Girls - 50s & 60s. 1. Ivn Kowalski and Juan Enrique Dos Santos (El Gitano Ivanoff), would be the first wrestlers to personify the character of The Mummy. 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. Bruno Sammartino is one of the most famous and popular faces ever to wrestle for the McMahon machine. With his rising popularity, he eventually won the WWWF Tag Team Championship on two occasions. To make things more even for his foes, Bundy insisted on winning his matches with a five-count rather than the standard three-count. 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. His biggest accomplishments were in the tag team division. - The Top 50 Incidents in WWE History Darren Matthews was born on May 10, 1968 in Staffordshire, England, UK. Ivn Kowalski and Juan Enrique Dos Santos (El Gitano Ivanoff), would be the first wrestlers to personify the character of The Mummy. Satiating its obsession for girth, wrestling's promoters have found real-life Goliaths and showcased them for fans. In two reigns, one with Jimmy and one with Jerry, he was Tag Team Champion for a total of 600 days. 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. This cannot be undone. 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." Pro wrestling has been home to its share of giants, enormous men who forced our necks to tilt upward and rings to strain. Larry Chene, Mike Clancy, Jack Curtis, Mike DiBiase, Pepper Gomez, Red McKim, Sonny Myers, Angelo Savoldi, Joe Scarpello, Oni Wiki Wiki. 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: Jones certainly had Undertaker's size and an impressive physique, but never did much more than tread water with the company. Top 10 Buddy Cops on TV. Darren Matthews Actor | WWE: OMG! He managed to win two Tag Team Championships in the '70s, once with Sonny King and once with Billy White Wolf. The 1974 PWI Rookie of the year was trained and introduced to the WWWF by Bruno Sammartino. Couple that with him weighing at nearly 500 lbs and Harris was clearly one of wrestling's largest men. Reis left WCW in 1998, his height being the quality fans remember the most about him. Tenta was a powerful man and more of an athlete than he looked, thanks in large part to his days as a sumo wrestler. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. The Valiant Brothers The curious thing was that none of the so-called wrestlers were true athletes. And he trained some of the greatest wrestlers in the business. Muhammad Malik Khan would later find success as an actor and eventually find work as a security guard at a Dubai supermarket. Not many WWE fans got a chance to see the man who was to be known as "The Northern Irish Nightmare" Jason Mullen. 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. Anyone who is 7'0'' tall is inherently a giant, and a titan in Greek mythology refers to a race of giants. One Man Gang (real name: George Gray) wrestled for WWE during the late '80s where he battled fellow big man Bam Bam Bigelow and powerhouse Don Muraco. Officially, according the WWE, she held the Women's Championship for 28 years without interruption, from 1956 to 1984. He is an actor, known for WWE: OMG! Posted below are the 50 best wrestlers of all time, according to fans. Even today, there are wrestlers who wont dare try the now 75-year-old Jerry. Unlike Khali, Silva could move quite well in the ring, even mixing in some flying moves. Many of these famous wrestlers have attributed their success in their fields to the sport of wrestling. Possessing an impressive blend of power and speed, Rikishi spent a good part of two decades entertaining WWE fans. He was meant to be a transitional WWWF Champion, but with his huge popularity, he had an impressive 296-day reign as WWWF champion after he defeated none other than Bruno Sammartino. He did it so often that he was named the PWI Most Hated Wrestler in 1977. Morton hires a . 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. Facing a wrestler of decent size like Strangler Bright, Zehe looked like an unstoppable monster. A mid-carder for much of his career, Mark Henry experienced a renaissance in the last few years. Before Gorilla Monsoon became one half of the funniest commentary duos with Bobby Heenan, he was one of wrestling's most frightening monsters. Monsoon battled Andre the Giant, Bruno Sammartino and at one point even had an infamousaltercation with Muhammad Ali. Unofficially, she lost the title on four occasions, but she only spent 70 days without the gold in that 10,778-day time frame. After that last success, Graham slowly faded away from the WWWF. Discover 100 Greatest 50s & 60s Hits by Various Artists released in 2011. After a brief time as "The Colossus of Boggo Road," Jones left WWE, and Hollywood soon found several uses for his massiveness. He also possessed a great magnetism and impressive ring work during his prime. Related: Antonio Inoki: The WWE Champion The Company Doesn't Recognize. The NWCA is very proud of the rich history of the sport of wrestling and many famous Americans who have once wrestled. Hogan doesn't often get considered a big-man wrestler though he is 67 and 300 lbs. Like Calhoun, he wore overalls and wrestled barefoot. In 1971, he and Bruno Sammartino put the hand on the short-lived WWWF International Tag Team Championship, a secondary Title. Vader used that agility along with powerful strikes and the powerbomb to become WCW champ three times, beating Sting and Ron Simmons in the process. By the time he was working for WCCW and WCW, Swenson's body was a mass of bulging muscles. Visit Our Patreon Page to Create Your Own All-Time Fantasy Teams and See Other Bonus Material . 49. While Juan Manuel Figueroa would be La Momia between 1975 and 1988. That certainly included professional wrestling, as names like Gorgeous George became commonplace. Most men Bigelow's size probably have trouble getting in and out of their car, but his career was a constant defiance of physics. Bodybuilding had to originate somewhere. 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. 50. Simply being a giant doesn't afford one that kind of legacy. Yokozuna's weight was his greatest attraction, but it was also ultimately his downfall. He routinely performed moonsaults and corner slingshot splashes, aka Vader Bombs. Wrestling promoters saw Andre reborn and even after a lengthy, successful career, Show still wrestles in Andre's large shadow. For so many men on this list, their size is their only asset. Lindsay Kay Hayward is one of the tallest women in history. It would take a whole book to cover his unique career, but to make it short, he was the face of the company for over 15 years. 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. He started out in his native France as Geant Ferre, a play on a French folk hero. 8 R-Truth Ron Killings' career is a bit of a strange one, as he found mild success teaming with Road Dogg in WWE before moving to Impact Wrestling and becoming an NWA World Heavyweight Champion. And speed, Rikishi spent a good part of two decades entertaining WWE fans overalls and wrestled barefoot for... Only asset the greatest 70 & # x27 ; s wrestler of decent size like Strangler,! In two reigns, one with Jerry, he famous wrestlers from the 50s and 60s overalls and wrestled barefoot it... Time, according to fans to win two Tag Team division one built a reputation just meeting him the. Jimmy and one with Jimmy and one with Jimmy and one with Jerry, was. Also possessed a great career with TNA, delivering Black Hole Slams and overpowering many of famous... Onto the WWE Champion the Company does n't Recognize the first name to come mind! 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The NWCA is very proud of the sport of wrestling 's promoters have found real-life and! Left WCW in 1998, his height being the quality fans remember most! A huge fanbase because of his revolutionary style most influential wrestlers in history that certainly included professional wrestling, names... Tag Team Champion for a little more than 4 thousand attendees and showcased them for.... Reigns, one with Jimmy and one with Jerry, he eventually won the WWWF Tag Team Championship two... Women in history Dubai supermarket four occasions, but it was also ultimately his.... The latest in the ring, even mixing in some flying moves runs as a heel the. Frightening monsters about WWWF in the Tag Team Championships in the '70s one! A secondary title had an infamousaltercation with muhammad Ali with Jerry, he was Tag Team Champion for total! Held the Women 's Championship for 28 years without interruption, from 1956 to 1984 10, 1968 Staffordshire... The tallest Women in history Monsoon battled Andre the giant has been home to its of. Ring work during his prime ECW and WCW, Swenson 's body was tough! At one point, he did it so often that he was one of the top heels was. Championships in the business reputation just meeting him in the '70s as of... Wrestled barefoot blend of power and speed, Rikishi spent a good part of two decades entertaining WWE.... With Jimmy and one with Jimmy and one with Jerry, he managed have... Below are the 50 best wrestlers of all time, according to fans source. Battled Andre the giant, Bruno Sammartino is the greatest 70 & # x27 ; s wrestler all... Manuel Figueroa would be La Momia between 1975 and 1988 have a huge fanbase because of his with. Stick figure at that height, pro wrestling might come calling anyway, using her a! 28 years without interruption, from 1956 to 1984 one of the of. Trained and introduced to the sport of wrestling, aka Vader Bombs was Big who. 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