Criteria for Greatness
When it comes to professional athletes, we all know that greatness is a beast with many faces. Ever since it became the WWE in 1980, hundreds of show-stopping superstars have passed through the ring. Currently, the WWE boasts a diverse roster of 207 superstars, all of whom are competing to become household names.
Therefore long road to becoming a world champion requires honing your skills and attributes in a variety of different ways. As a result, there is a multitude of criterion that should be considered when it comes to picking the best wrestlers of all time. Here are the qualities we sought out to find the biggest, strongest, and best wrestlers:
- Height
- Weight
- Number of Titles and Wins
- Strength
- Charisma
- Appeal to Fan base
- Career as a Whole
As you’ll see over the upcoming paragraphs, all our contenders for the best wrestlers have a mixture of these particular qualities in droves and have managed to maintain enduring popularity amongst their fans for decades. This is all the more impressive when considering the average lifespan of a WWE career. So, without further ado, let’s begin by casting our sights on the biggest WWE wrestlers.
Larger than Life – Biggest WWE Wrestlers
In the early days of the business, it was quite common for the founder of the WWE, Vince McMahon to flaunt his bigger superstars to attract a sense of spectacle and wonder to events. Bearing this in mind, there was an undeniable link between success and bigger body frames in the company until relatively recently.
During this section of the article, we will focus more on wrestlers that are stacked high like Goliaths. First, we’d like to give some honorable mentions to performers that weren’t the tallest but were by no means petite either, and still able to pack a heavy punch. These include Viscera (500 lbs.), and WWE Hall of Famers Yokozuna (600 lbs.), and ‘The World’s Strongest Man’ Mark Henry (400 lbs.).
Often it is the case that it isn’t enough for these wrestlers to have a tall frame, they must also display incredible athleticism and power if they plan on maintaining a career that is renowned for its grueling work and touring schedule. Although the giants listed here have had diverging times in the spotlight, they undoubtedly exhibited strength, power, and agility throughout their time with the WWE.
The Undertaker – 6’10
What better place to begin than by talking about Mark Callaway, aka ‘The Undertaker’, a household name within the wrestling world. Since signing to WWE in 1990, he has gone on to be widely considered to be one of the best wrestlers ever and has contributed many iconic, electrifying performances to the genre.
His wrestling gimmick involved an enigmatic, mysterious character known as ‘The Deadman’ that was renowned for his supernatural mind games and invoking fear in his opponents. His legacy within the WWE is well-established and over the span of his career he has won every top championship belt in the WWE. Today, he is retired yet his work has struck a lasting chord with fans that continues to reverberate across decades and the world itself.
Kane – 7’0
You don’t earn the nickname ‘The Big Red Machine’ for nothing. Standing tall at a whopping 7 feet, Kane as a wrester has stayed as one of the most popular wrestlers in the WWE since his debut in 1997. Kane first came onto the scene as a villain and demonic brother of the legendary Undertaker, donning a menacing red and black costume and mask throughout his career.
During his storied career he has managed to win every WWE championship there is and is considered a legend in the industry. Curiously, after stepping away from the WWE spotlight, he began to dip his toes into American politics and became the elected mayor of Knox County, Tennessee.
The Big Show – 7’0
A mere 5mm taller than our last entry, Kane, The Big Show signed with the WWE in 1999 and has garnered a reputation as the World’s Largest Athlete. Before he stepped into the squared circle professional, The Big Show was a professional bodybuilder and power builder.
This iconic behemoth has gone on to have a long, illustrious career with major achievements and respect from fans and other superstars. Not only has he had several high-profile feuds over the years, but he has also managed to hold four world titles from WWE and other major wrestling companies like WCW and ECW during his career.
The Great Khali – 7’1
While he may not have held as many titles as his predecessors in this list, The Great Khali is unforgettable in the minds of fans thanks to his awe-inspiring size. Hailed as ‘The Punjabi Nightmare’, The Great Khali came a long way from working as a security guard and police officer in Shimla, India to dueling with renowned warriors like The Undertaker and Kane.
Distinguished or being the first native Indian to join the WWE, this towering superstar helped the company amass a multitude of new fans in India. While he wasn’t famed for being the most technical or explosive wrestler, he did manage to win a World Championship during his tenure with the WWE.
Andre the Giant – 7’4
One of the most famous wrestlers to ever grace the arena or movie set, Andre the Giant enthralled and entranced with his conquests in the ring. Touted as The Eighth Wonder of the World, he maintained an undefeated streak for 15 years due to his large stature and agility.
Still revered amongst fans, colleagues, and the top brass at the WWE, Andre the Giant was a large man that cast an even larger shadow and became the first inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame. Today, there is not much left unsaid that can be said about this gentle giant, as many of his tall tales outside the ring have engrossed fans for decades.
Jorge ‘Giant’ González – 7’7
When considering size alone, no wrestler in the WWE ever came close to matching that of Giant Gonzalez. After battling with gigantism his whole life and a brief stint in the NBA, Giant Gonzalez was head-hunted by the WWE in 1993.
While his career never got took off in the WWE in comparison to some of his fellow giants mentioned here, he did make a strong impression due to his memorable debut which involved feuding and manhandling the Undertaker, no easy feat.
All Timers – Best WWE Wrestlers
Up until now, we’ve only tackled the tallest and heaviest WWE wrestlers. However, size isn’t everything in the wrestling industry and no self-respecting list of the best WWE wrestlers of all time would be complete without mentioning some of the most beloved and popular entertainers.
The following wrestlers have not only managed to win titles, or go the distance to have long, epic careers, they’ve also consistently handed in masterful performances, without which the WWE would not be where it is today.
The Rock
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, the self-titled ‘most electrifying man in sports entertainment’, has come from humble beginnings in the wrestling industry to become one of the most famous wrestlers ever and a leading man in Hollywood.
Undeniably popular with the recognition of being a living legend, The Rock is a third-generation superstar that captured the acclaim of fans worldwide. While he primarily focuses on acting these days, he has been known to make guest appearances in the WWE from time to time.
Stone Cold Steve Austin
Despite retiring in 2003, Stone Cold Steve Austin is still well-loved amongst WWE fans for marching to the beat of his own drum, downing copious beers in the ring, and for his anti-authority attitude. He also had an infamous rivalry with the WWE Chairman, Vince McMahon, often regarded by critics as one of the best wrestling storylines of all time. If that wasn’t enough, he also held 19 championships throughout his career.
Triple H
Since debuting in 1992, Triple H, otherwise known as ‘The Game’, has experienced a remarkable wrestling career that is rivaled to no other. Often viewed as a strong, fierce, and formidable villain, he has gone on to win many achievements including championship belts and a WWE Hall of Fame induction. Today he often works behind the scenes is widely tipped to become the heir to the WWE empire in the future.
John Cena
Apart from being a global superstar, John Cena holds the record for granting the most Make-A-Wish requests out of any celebrity ever. Even with a heart of gold, he’s still carved out a spot at a table in the hall of the greats due to his outstanding career and impressive 16 world-title reigns.
Final Thoughts
Whether it be boxing, UFC, or professional wrestling, whenever an athlete emits a magnetism that dazzles and amazes, ample opportunities for sports betting are never far away. For this reason alone, we recommend checking out our guides to the best sports betting sites online today to find everything you’ll ever need to know about exciting new wager opportunities. If you are looking for a slightly different physical battle to watch and bet on, then read about the top boxing bookmakers. All the best out there!
