largest wrestlers in wwe history

A basketball star in his youth, Big John Studd entered professional wrestling under the tutelage of fellow giant Killer Kowalski in the mid70s. A legitimate 7foot1, Studd had the mass of an NFL linebacker with hands like baked hams. This size would help the Los Angeles native in his many battles against Andre the Giant throughout the mid80s. The crowning moment of Studds career, however, came in 1989 when he won the secondever Royal Rumble Match. This huge win was one of the many reasons the enormous grappler was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004.

Dubbed The Samoan Bulldozer, this relentless, tattooed titan debuted in WWE in 2006, utterly flattening his opponents as he set his sights on top Superstars such as John Cena and Triple H. Armed with his sadistic Samoan Spike and surprising agility given his 340pound frame, this former Intercontinental Champion is remembered as one of the most dangerous Superstars in WWE history.

At 6foot9 and 309 pounds, Sids size was imposing enough, but it was his certifiably insane behavior that made him one of the most feared Superstars of the 90s. A major force in both WWE and WCW, Sid controlled the ring with a mixture of unbridled intensity and high impact power maneuvers, including his destructive powerbomb. The madman used this backbreaking arsenal to defeat the likes of Bret Hit Man Hart and Shawn Michaels on his way to picking up two WWE Championships in the mid90s. He experienced similar championship success in WCW when he returned there at the dawn of the millennium.

The 400plus pound Samoan emerged in WWE as onehalf of The Headshrinkers, but it wasnt until he joined forces with Too Cool in 1999 that this bleached blond behemoth endeared himself to WWE fans with his funky dance moves and funloving attitude. Rikishis success extended beyond the dance floor, though, as he captured the World Tag Team Championships, Intercontinental Championship and WWE Tag Team Championships. Still, he is perhaps best known for using his dimpled posterior to humiliate opponents with his signature Stink Face maneuver.

Entering WWE in 1994 as Shawn Michaels massive bodyguard, Diesels fullthrottle ascent to the main event was fueled by his thirst for championship gold. In the 1994 Royal Rumble Match, Diesel eliminated seven opponents in just 18 minutes. Later that year, Big Daddy Cool captured the Intercontinental Championship and the WWE Tag Team Championships with his partner, HBK. But it was Diesels WWE Title victory over Bob Backlund that would stand as his most monumental victory as he beat the WWE Hall of Famer in 8 seconds flat with a Jackknife Powerbomb.

Considered by many to be the most dangerous and unpredictable brawler of his era, Bruiser Brody battled his way across the globe throughout the 1970s and early 80s, leaving behind a path of destruction that few Superstars have equaled. Revered in Japan for his wild matches against the likes of Abdullah the Butcher and Terry Funk, Brody is best remembered by WWE fans for his gory battles with legendary WWE Champion Bruno Sammartino, which cemented his reputation as a serious tough guy who was willing to do anything to win. This mix of size and ring smarts earned the big man the moniker of the Intelligent Monster.

Starting off as a successful sumo wrestler, the enormous Earthquake built his reputation as a destructive force in Japan before making his way to WWE in 1989. Weighing almost 500 pounds, Earthquake literally shook the ring when he stomped on the mat. His Earthquake Splash was even more destructive, squashing everything from Hulk Hogans ribcage to Jake Roberts python, Damien. Quakes size doubled in the 90s when he formed The Natural Disasters with Typhoon, capturing the World Tag Team Championships and flattening countless competitors.

While the 330pound Big Boss Man had the immense size of an offensive lineman, he moved with the speed of a running back, which made him incredibly dangerous. The imposing corrections officer from Cobb County, Ga., had no problems heaving his opponents around the ring like an unruly inmate. The poor saps that fell to Boss Man got the full prison treatment, too, getting cuffed to the ring ropes and introduced to the business end of a nightstick. Miranda rights didnt exist in Big Boss Mans world. Lets face it, who was going to ask this monster to call their attorney?

A member of the 1966 New York Jets, Bob Windham began training for a professional wrestling career at the urging of teammate and mat legend Wahoo McDaniel. It was a natural fit for the 6foot7, 340pound former U.S. Marine who was rivaled only by Andre the Giant in terms of size and power during his prime years in the mid70s. A no nonsense competitor, the gruff Texan finished off foe after foe with his signature Iron Claw. In 1975, Mulligan formed The Blackjacks alongside Blackjack Lanza and manager Capt. Lou Albano and went on to win the World Tag Team Championships under manager Capt. Lou Albano. In addition, Mulligan enjoyed great success in territories like Florida, MidAtlantic, World Class and the AWA.

Some WWE fans were critical of the fact that it took Mark Henry 15 years to embrace his status as the squared circles most intimidating figure. Truth is they should be thankful. Had the powerhouse from Silsbee, Texas, spent the last decade behaving the way he did in fall 2011 then WWE history would look a lot different. Imagine rings destroyed. Legends hobbled. The Streak? A few digits less impressive.