These Enormous WWE Wrestlers Are Larger Than Life
Professional wrestling boasts not only some of the biggest athletes but some of the biggest humans on the planet. If you are 220 or under, you are considered "small" in the sport. Some, though, are just larger-than-life in every way. There are the ones who are monumentally tall, while others are just all-around behemoths. And somehow these giants are able to athletically bounce and fly around a wrestling ring, though some much better than others. With nicknames like "Walking Condominium" and "The Devil's Favorite" these colossal men have gone down in history as some of the biggest wrestlers of all time.
Too Big For A Partner
First making it into the spotlight as Enzo Amore’s tag team partner, Big Cass was just too much of a powerhouse not to make a name for himself solo. He ended his partnership by picking Amore up over his head, throwing him 14 feet to the ground then kicking him right in the face.
Standing at a massive seven feet tall and weighing in at 276 pounds, Big Cass' real name is William Morrissey. At 30 years old, he's won 275 out of his 462 matches. Aside from Amore, he's also had some beef with another mega-sized wrestler, Big Show.
The World's Largest Athlete
When The Big Show first joined WCW, he was known as The Giant because of his 7 foot, 383-pound frame. He eventually joined the WWE went on to become a seven-time heavyweight champion. Throughout his two-decade career, he was known as "The World's Largest" athlete. One of his signature moves was a bearhug because when a man of that size puts you in one of those, there's no escaping.
He had a famous feud with boxing Heavyweight Champion Floyd Mayweather at No Way Out, during which Mayweather jumped into the WWE ring, and landed a vicious right hook, breaking Show's nose.
The Devil's Favorite
Kane is another seven-foot-tall wrestler, weighing in at over 300 pounds. He has racked up a few nicknames such as the Big Red Monster and The Devil's Favorite Demon because of the demon-like mask he wears. Kane is a three-time world champion and currently holds the record for cumulative Royal Rumble Eliminations (44).
His character is supposedly a pyromaniac and a half-brother of fellow wrestler The Undertaker. The "brothers" had a famous rivalry for years, with Kane even locking The Undertaker in a casket and setting it on fire. They eventually began teaming up as "Brothers of Destruction."
James "Kamala" Harris, The Ugandan Giant, Had Health Issues For Years
At 6'7" Kamala may not have been the tallest wrestler, but he sure was big, weighing in at 375 pounds. He posed as a wild savage from Africa, painting his body and face, and never wearing any shoes. Many challenges were intimated by his unorthodox tactics, and he feuded famously with Hulk Hogan and The Undertaker and battled Andre the Giant in a Steel Cage Match. Even though he was a legend in the ring, he may be most famous for eating a live chicken on WWE's Tuesday Night Titans.
He was forced to retire due to health complications, and his leg was amputated at the knee because of issues caused by high blood pressure and diabetes. On August 9, 2020, Harris passed away from COVID at the age of 70.
Gentle Giant
Andre the Giant, born Andre Roussimof, may have stood at a whopping 7'4", but it was his personality that truly made him larger than life. Dubbed the Eighth Wonder of the World, Andre was also known for his insatiable appetite, having once eaten 12 steaks and 15 lobsters in one sitting.
Andre went undefeated for 15 years until he was beaten by Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania III. Andre never lifted weights. All of his incredible strength was natural, and he even had Arnold Schwarzenegger in awe of his power. Despite this, he was always considered a gentle giant with a big heart.
Sideshow Freak
At 7'2" Giant Silva may not have gained the notoriety his fellow giants have, but he still made his mark. He began his professional career first as a pro basketball player in Brazil, then as a mixed martial arts fighter, and finally as a professional wrestler. He was the biggest wrestler in the “The Parade of Human Oddities,” Faction (later known as the Oddities Faction), in which his height was looked at like at as a sideshow attraction.
He mainly competed in tag team and handicap matches, and usually lost. However, he managed to get one major victory in SummerSlam 1998 in a 3-on-4 win against Kaientai.
Wheel In The Stretcher
Before becoming a professional wrestler, Big John Studd was a successful basketball player. Not surprising, considering he stood at 7'1". Fellow giant Killer Kowalski took Studd under his wing in the 1970s, and he went on to battle Andre the Giant a number of times. He adopted a gimmick in which he'd bring a stretcher to the ring because he'd beat his opponents so badly that they'd have to be wheeled out.
The highlight of his career was in 1989 when he won the second-ever Royal Rumble Match. He was inducted into the WCW Hall of Fame in 1995 and the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004.
Ground Shaking, Snake Eating
Earthquake got his name because he literally would shake the ring Earthquake when he stomped the mat. At 500 pounds, he started off as a successful sumo wrestler in Japan before joining the WWE in 1989. His signature move was the Earthquake Splash, which he used to crush Hulk Hogan's ribs during an edition of The Brother Love Show.
He used that same move to smash a bag that supposedly contained Jake The Snake Roberts' python, Damien, and then later claimed to cook and serve Damien's meat as burgers. He then teamed up with Typhoon, and they named themselves The Natural Disasters, winning the World Tag Team Championship.
Big As A House
Dubbed The Walking Condominium, King Kong Bundy weighed 440 pounds at 6'4". He made history when he pinned S.D. Jones at the inaugural WrestleMania in only nine seconds. Fellow wrestlers feared his signature Avalanche splash, which would leave opponents flattened on to the ring. While he didn't win, he had the opportunity to fight champion Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 2 in a Steel Cage Match.
He was such a legend during his day that the show Married... With Children decided to give the characters the last name "Bundy" as a homage to him. He would pass at the early age of 61 in 2019.
Mega-Sized Machine
During his prime in the 1970s, Blackjack Mulligan's size was only rivaled by Andre the Giant's. Prior to wrestling, 6-foot-7, 340-pound Mulligan was a U.S. Marine and then a player for the New York Jets. His signature move was the Iron Claw, and it left many opponents on their back. Along with Blackjack Lanza and manager Capt. Lou Albano, Mulligan formed The Blackjacks, who became World Tag Team Champions.
Wearing a mask and calling himself The Machine he also teamed up with Andre the Giant (The Giant Machine) and Super Machine (Bill Eadie) to form The Machines and won several high-profile matches against the Heenan family.
Flying Giant
The 390-pound Bam Bam Bigelow was known just as much for his incredible agility as he was for his power. Nicknamed The Beast from the East, Bigelow had little difficulty tossing opponents the same size as him. He became known for his moonsaults and diving headbutts from the top rope. The flames tattooed on his head made the behemoth even more intimidating.
He even defeated King Kong Bundy and One Man Gang in a single match and fought against Lawrence Taylor in the main match at WrestleMania XI. He was such a force to be reckoned with that manager's Bobby Heenan, Slick and Mr. Fuji all fought over representing him.
"It's Vader Time!"
Big Van Vader, or Vader, has three heavy World Heavyweight Championships under his belt. His massive 450-pound and 6'5" rame earned him the nickname The Mastodon. He was known for his athletic aerial moves and his signature phrase, "It's Vader Time." At one point he had a tag team stint with Bam Bam Bigelow, creating one fierce and giant duo.
He had famous feuds with Shawn Michaels and The Undertaker, and he defeated both of them. He teamed up with Mick Foley (Mankind at the time) and the two became known more for brawling with each other rather than against opponents.
Once We Were Warriors
Yokozuna named himself after the highest rank one could receive in sumo wrestling, though the Samoan never actually sumo wrestled. Clocking in at 568 pounds, he was the first wrestler of Samoan descent to hold the WWF World Heavyweight Championship, after beating Hulk Hogan and Bret Hart.
Along with Owen Hart, he won the WWF Tag Team Championship twice, and also won the 1993 Royal Rumble. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2014. Despite his size, Yokozuna would plunge from the second rope onto the chest of his opponent, in a move that he called the Banzai Splash.
Identity Crisis
At 6'9" and nearly 500 pounds, with skulls tattooed on the sides of his mohawked head, One Man Gang was was a force to be reckoned with. He gained immediate fame in 1987 when he ended the in-ring career of WWE Hall of Famer "Superstar" Billy Graham. His move called the 747 Splash would easily pin many of his opponents, though he usually lost to the bigger names, like Hulk Hogan and Macho Man.
In 1988, in a strange turn of events, he was reintroduced as "Akeem the African Dream," having supposedly rediscovered his "African" roots.
Crazy Monikers
Trained by Big John Studd, Ron Reis acquired many names during his time as a professional wrestler, such as Reese, Big Ron Studd, the Super Giant Ninja, and the Yeti. He stood at 7'2", though there were rumors that he would wear lifts in his shoes in order to be taller than The Big Show.
Regardless of these rumors, he is considered the seventh-tallest wrestler in history. During his time as the Yeti, he would enter the ring dressed up like a mummy to fight his opponents, and then he later competed as a masked ninja as the Super Giant Ninja.
Worst Wrestler Of All Time
Dubbed by some as the worst professional wrestler of all time, 7'2" Raja Lion's massive height was the only advantage he had in the ring. Born in Pakistan, Lion first made a name for himself in film, with his height being exaggerated to be 7'9".
He had one epic battle against Giant Baba, which garnered him a lot of attention, but for the wrong reasons, considering it has been called the "Worst Match Ever." Lion managed to kick over Giant Baba's head. This match seems to be the only one that can be found of Lions.
Bone Crushing Love Machine
Big Daddy V, AKA Mabel, AKA Viscera was a pretty threatening opponent at 6'9" and 487 pounds. The man born Nelson Frazier Jr. racked up over 10 championships. There is an urban legend that a custom title was made for him after he won the King of the Ring in 1995.
One of the highlights of his career was when he became the first ever to pin The Undertaker, crushing his orbital bone and thus forcing him to wear a mask. One of his sillier monikers was "The World's Largest Love Machine." For the stunt, he would wear pajamas and make overtly sexual gestures while in the ring.
The Tallest
The tallest wrestler in history is Giant Gonzalez, towering his massive opponents at eight feet tall. The former professional basketball player would wear a furry, full-body jumpsuit with muscles drawn in, which gave him a comical appearance. He made his debut in the 1993 Royal Rumble Match, though he wasn't an official competitor, and got noticed for not only his massive size but for the fact that he immediately went after The Undertaker.
He gained popularity with his feuds with the disliked villains Sid Vicious and Ric Flair, but he lacked the charisma and skill necessary to take him to the top.
Size Doesn't Always Matter
Previously an officer for the Punjab State Police, The Great Khali was the first WWE wrestler to hail from India. At 7-foot-1, 347-pounds, Khali was never really a fan favorite and was often the butt of many an internet joke. Fans felt that he was a poor wrestler and the only thing he had going for him was his size, and they eventually began to see that as a marketing ploy.
Regardless, he was the victor in a 20-Man Battle Royal on SmackDown in 2007, earning him the title of World Heavyweight Champion.
A One Man Show
Known by his nickname Gorilla Monsoon, Robert James Marella was both a super-heavyweight wrestler and a commentator and backstage manager! He was a huge guy, standing at 6 foot 2. And he was heavy as well, weighing 330 pounds when he started his wrestling career. He eventually got up to 440 pounds, but for most of his career maintained a 375-pound weight.
In 1976, a now-infamous incident occurred in which Gorilla was in the middle of a match against Baron Mikel Scicluna. The legendary boxer Muhammed Ali unexpectedly jumped into the ring and Gorilla picked him up using his Airplane Spin, then threw him to the ground. Gorilla died of heart failure in 1999.
The Legend
The Undertaker may be the fiercest name on this list, with not only his 6"10 and 300-pound frame to his advantage, but also his ability to submit opponents with his Hell's Gate move, his buoyant top rope maneuvers, and his powerhouse strikes. He has beaten just about every giant on this list, and if he hasn't, it is because they never got the opportunity to battle.
In fact, his WrestleMania Streak is considered the most impressive record in all of sports-entertainment. He's been called the "soul of WWE" and regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time.
Crushing Opponents Left And Right
"Crusher" Jerry Blackwell, who weighed in at 474 pounds, started his wrestling career in the 1970s. He was a lot quicker and agiler than his enormous appearance indicated and he grew to huge fame when he repeatedly defeated WWE Champion Bob Backlund in the mid-1970s. Blackwell eventually dropped the "Crusher" nickname after he was defeated by Reginald Lisowski, who also used the moniker.
He suffered several serious injuries during his career, including nerve damage to his arm, broken vertebrae, and three broken ribs. Tragically, Blackwell died at the age of 45 after a car accident.
A Farm Boy For Life
The gargantuan wrestler known as Haystacks Calhoun was hugely popular during the 1950s and ‘60s. He was born William Dee Calhoun and grew up on a farm in Texas. From the time he was a baby he was a big boy with an even bigger appetite. He grew to be more than 300 pounds by the time he was 14, eating at least a dozen eggs for breakfast each day!
Calhoun eventually reached 600 pounds and fought in overalls and white t-shirts during his career as a wrestler. In 1973 he became the heaviest man ever to win the title World Tag Team Championships, which he did with Tony Garea.
The Mormon Giant
Don Leo Jonathan’s career spanned the 1950s through the ‘70s. A second-generation wrestler, he stood at 6’6” tall and weighed around 340 pounds. He was born in Utah and raised as a Mormon, hence the nickname. Jonathan was famous for his Spinning Full Nelson, which he would frequently use to wipe out his opponents. Wrestling was a family business, as his father “Brother Jonathan” had been involved in the sport as well.
The Mormon Giant fought in matches across the world and was inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2006. Fun fact: Jonathan had a cameo part in the 1978 film Paradise Alley.
Super Tall AND Heavy
Akebono Tarō, who is a Hawaiian-born Japanese wrestler, is one formidable foe. A former sumo wrestler, Akebono joined the professionals in the late 1980s and made his debut with the WWE in 2005. That same year he made it to the finals in the Real World Tag League 2005.
He's now active in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) and has been named a two-time World Tag Team Champion, two-time Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion, and two-time All Asia Tag Team Champion. He was one of the tallest and heaviest sumo wrestlers of all time, at 6’ 8” tall and more than 500 pounds.
Here, Kitty Kitty
Ernie Ladd was one of the largest athletes in the industry. Known as the Big Cat, Ladd was 6 foot, 9 inches tall, and he weighed in at a massive 315 pounds. The Big Cat was a gifted athlete and actually transitioned to wrestling after being a pro football first. He played for the San Diego Chargers, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Houston Oilers before turning to wrestling in 1969.
As a wrestler, Ladd liked playing the more villainous roles. He had legendary feuds with famous wrestlers like including André the Giant, Dusty Rhodes, Bobo Brazil, and Mr. Wrestling.
The Cowboy
In addition to being physically large, Stan Hansen also had one of the biggest nicknames in the business: “The Bad Man from Borger, Texas.” The cowboy hat-wearing hulk made his wrestling debut in 1973, after some time playing football. He weighed in at 320 pounds and had a violent wrestling style that frequently left his opponents injured.
He broke WWE Champion Bruno Sammartino’s neck in a 1976 match, and knocked Vader’s eye out of its socket in 1990! Hansen retired from wrestling in 2000, after a career that spanned three decades.
Another Large Texan
Here’s another gargantuan WWE wrestler who hails from the great state of Texas. Mark Henry’s signature move is called the World’s Strongest Slam for good reason. He stands at 6 foot, four inches and weighs in at a whopping 360 pounds. He grew up admiring Andre the Giant and got a chance to meet him in person at a match.
Henry was signed to the WWE in 1996, where he quickly rose to stardom. He’s smeared some of the biggest names in the industry like Kane, Shawn Michaels, Big Show, and The Undertaker. He’s also participated in two Olympics and the Pan American Games.
The Biggest Boss Around
His real name might have been Ray Washington Traylor Jr., but everyone knew this large dude as Big Boss Man or Big Bossman. At six foot six inches and 300+ pounds, it’s easy to see why. Other fitting nicknames for Traylor Jr. included The Man, The Guardian Angel, and Big Bubba Rogers. He held the WWF Hardcore Championship four times and the WWF World Tag Team Championship one time.
He was a corrections officer before beginning his career in the ring. One of his most notorious stunts ever was when he showed up at his rival Big Show's father's funeral and dragged the casket out of the funeral home after chaining it to his truck. Sadly, Traylor Jr. died of a heart attack in 2004. He was just 41.
Leaving His Opponents Bruised
The story of Bruiser Brody (who was born Frank Donald Goodish) is a good example of just how dangerous the sport of wrestling can be. During his career, the 6 foot 8 inch tall, 283-pound guy was known for his difficult and outlandish behavior. He also had a scarred face which only added to his menacing appearance. Some of his key moves included the diving overhead chop, vertical suplex powerslam, dropkick, and heart punch
In 1988, he was in the locker room before a match and was stabbed to death by a fellow wrestler named José Huertas González. González was acquitted of the murder in 1989.
Madman Sid
Sid was a madman of a wrestler standing at 6-foot-9 and 309. His wild and erratic behavior made him one of the most feared stars of the WWE during the 90s. During his career in the WWE and the WCW, he was known or his unmatched energy and intensity, along with his powerful maneuvers, in particular, his move called the powerbomb.
He used his size and skill to defeat his foes such as Bret "Hit Man" Hart and Shawn Michaels on his quest to earn two WWE titles during the mid-1990s. He also took this energy to the WCW during the early 2000s.
Umaga Doesn't Take Prisoners
Edward Smith Fat, better known as "Umaga" was an American Samoan professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with the World Wrestling Federation/ World Wrestling Entertainment during the 2000s. His size, nationality, and ferociousness in the ring also earned him the name of "The Samoan Bulldozer" with his tattooed face and incredible build.
Weighing 340 pounds, he was known to crush the likes of his opponents such as WWE superstars John Cena and Triple H. To this day, he is remembered as one of the most dangerous WWE superstars to ever step foot in the ring.
Diesel Wasn't Content Being A Bodyguard
Kevin Nash, better known as "Diesel" in the ring entered the WWE in 1994 as wrestler Shawn Michael's incredibly large bodyguard. Yet, his desire to win the gold sent him on a path of destruction in order to get to the top. In the 1994 Royal Rumble Match, Diesel destroyed seven opponents in 18 minutes demonstrating that he was a true force to be reckoned with.
During the same year, Diesel had a WWE Title Victory over Bob Buckland that would be the greatest win of his career as he beat the Hall of Famer in 8 seconds using a Jackknife Powerbomb.
Giant Baba
Giant Baba, or the great colossus of Tokyo as he was a Japanese wrestler with one of the largest ring presence and the ruler of All Japan Pro Wrestling from the early 1970's up until his death in 1999. He stood at 6-foot-10-inches and was a student of the legendary Japanese wrestler Rikidizan.
His huge height was uncommon for Japanese wrestlers, which also led to the development of his other nickname "Giant of the Orient: As he got older, although his arms got smaller and his chest bonier, he would still remind his opponents who was the boss once they stepped in the ring.
Abdullah The Butcher Has Battle Scars
With a name like Abdullah the Butcher, it's no surprise that this wrestler was an absolute animal both in and outside of the ring. Hailing from Sudan, he was nearly 400 pounds and wasn't afraid to inflict pain on his opponents. Instead of just rely on his size and weight to best his opponents, he was known to incorporate a variety of weaponry into his fights, yet was especially known for his use of a fork.
If the scars on the top of his head didn't already scare you, then him running at you with a weapon certainly will. Although he never won a World Heavyweight Championship, he had an incredibly successful career nonetheless.
Man Mountain Mike Was A Beast
Man Mountain Mike weighed in at a whopping 623. he was first discovered at an all-you-can-eat buffet and soon began training with Al Lovelock to begin his wrestling career. He eventually formed a tag team with Haystacks Calhoun with the two weighing over 1,200 pounds together. Neither wrestler could fit on the outside edge of the ring, so the one not fighting would have to watch from inside the ring.
He spent time wrestling in the WWWF where he teamed up with Jerry Blackwell. He was known to wrestle in overalls and barefoot, flattening his opponents. He passed away in 1998 for a blood clot after a wound on his leg became infected.
Maximum Capacity Was A Force
During his athletic career, Maximum Capacity was known as the World's Largest Athlete, a title well deserved having weighed 650 pounds of straight mass. Before taking up wrestling, he used to work as a bouncer in Florida. During his career, he wrestled in the United States, Europe, and Japan. One of his life goals was to go up against the giant Yokozuna but unfortunately never got his shot.
He experienced numerous health problems throughout his life constantly battling with hypertension, asthma, and diabetes. in 2011 he was diagnosed with colorectal cander and died three years later.
Martin "The Blimp" Levy
In the mid-1930s, Martin Levy was discovered working as a fat man at a circus. Although over the years, he weighed around 625 pounds, his weight was known to fluctuate over the years and at some points during his wrestling career he was reported to have weighed closer to 700 pounds!
During the time he was wrestling, he was without a doubt the biggest wrestler that the world had ever seen. However, aside from his size, he was also known to be fairly nimble for his size yet died at 56 years old and weighing around 900 pounds.
Hornswagglin' Hillbilly Was No Joke
Horsewagglin' Hillbilly was involved with Juggalo Championship Wrestling and weighed 725 pounds. During a match against the 141 pound Tom Dub, the commentators said that he probably had WWE wrestler King Kong Bundy stuffed in his pants in order to make him that big.
During that same match, Hillbilly had a hard time even climbing up the stairs into the ring and basically just fell on Dub in order to end the match in a quick 30 seconds. Hillbilly also went on the wrestle in Japan where he was named the Haystack Calhoun Jr.
Giant Haystacks Was Also Loch Ness
Giant Haystacks was a massive wrestler that was also referred to as LochNesss when he was his heaviest around 690 pounds. He was born in England and weighed 14 pounds as a baby. Eventually, he grew to be 6-foot-11 pursued a wrestling career in England and the United States. He made his WCW debut in 1996 as Loch Ness and was known for his feud with Hulk Hogan before he was diagnosed with cancer.
Along with wrestling, he released a single song titled "Baby I Need You" in 1983 as Giant Haystacks, and was known as the worlds' largest recording artist. He passed away in 1998 at 52 years old.
