OPINION: PART II OF THE TOP 5 MOST IMPORTANT AND MEMORABLE BIG MEN AND GIANTS IN PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING

 

Welcome to Part 2 (Part 1 is here) of this article on the most memorable big men and giants that have left an indelible mark in the annals of pro wrestling. I would like to start with the one of the best villains in pro wrestling: 

4. ERNIE LADD

Ernie Ladd was one one of the biggest men to ever enter the wrestling ring at 6 foot 9 and 320 pounds. Ladd started his career in wrestling in the 60's after a successful NFL career with teams like the Chargers and the Oilers. The 60's was a time of racial turmoil in America and Ernie Ladd was one of the first black villains. He won many championships in the NWA (National Wrestling Alliance) during the territory days while having great feuds with Andre The Giant, Dusty Rhodes, The Von Erichs, and The Junkyard Dog.

5. BROCK LESNAR

Brock Lesnar at 6 foot 3 and 287 pounds has been one of the most dominant and intimidating big men in professional wrestling for the last 20 years. He has had great feuds with The Rock, Kurt Angle, John Cena, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, Bobby Lashley, and Cody Rhodes. Lesnar has won championships in WWE and UFC. He is widely considered as the most decorated athlete in combat sports. 

Professional wrestling has been filled with many big men and giants during the past 50 years. These five men have left an indelible mark in pro wrestling for not only their size but their impact on this business. I hope you enjoyed Part 2 of this article.

THE POP CULTURE PROFESSOR

OPINION: THE TOP 5 MOST IMPORTANT AND MEMORABLE BIG MEN AND GIANTS IN PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING PART 1

 

Throughout the history of Pro Wrestling there have been many big men and giants that have graced the squared circle. In this article, I'd like to look at five of the most memorable big men and giants that have left an indelible mark in the annals of pro wrestling. I would like to start with the greatest giant in the history of pro wrestling: 

1. ANDRE THE GIANT

Andre The Giant was one of the greatest attractions in pro wrestling. He began his career in 1964 and traveled the world wrestling in places like France and Canada. In 1966 he began a world tour wrestling in the UK, Australia, Germany, Japan, and Africa. In 1973, he entered the WWE (then known as the World Wide Wrestling Federation) and began a career that would make him a pop culture icon. In the 1970's it was the heyday of the territory system and the WWE kept Andre on the road visiting different places once a year so that people would come in droves to see him. This made Andre a national superstar while other wrestlers were confined to their respective regional promotions. While in WWE, Andre never lost a match so he was billed as being undefeated from 1973 to 1986. The first person to beat him on the main roster was Hulk Hogan in 1987 at Wrestlemania 3.

2. HULK HOGAN

When Hulk Hogan entered the WWE in 1983, he was marketed as a superhero. He defeated the Iron Sheik, an Iranian sympathizer in 1984 to become the World Champion. This was a time when fans still remembered the Iranian hostage crisis and Hulk Hogan was an American hero. At 6'7 and 300 pounds, Hulk Hogan had a superhero appeal to fans. WWE marketed him to the hilt having him face all the major villains of that era like Rowdy Roddy Piper and monsters like King Kong Bundy. Hogan would have his biggest win, literally and figuratively against Andre The Giant at Wrestlemania 3. With that win Hogan cemented his legacy as a superstar. In 1994, Hogan left WWE for World Championship Wrestling. His presence in WCW made the company into a national powerhouse. Hulk Hogan is the only wrestler that was apart of two companies that he helped become mainstream entities.

3. THE ROCK

Before he was the biggest star in Hollywood, he was the most electrifying man in sports and entertainment. Dwayne Johnson a.k.a.The Rock has held the WWE World title eight times during his illustrious career. He had amazing feuds with Triple H, The Undertaker, Chris Jericho, Kurt Angle, and Hulk Hogan. His biggest feud was against Stone Cold Steve Austin who was the champion of the working class. The Rock in sharp contrast was Vince McMahon's corporate champion. His feud with Austin would make him the biggest star in the wrestling business and give WWE global notoriety. The Rock left the WWE in 2003 but has made sporadic appearances since 2011. In 2012 and 2013 he appeared at Wrestlemania to square off against John Cena.

This concludes Part 1 of this opinion piece. I hope you enjoyed it. 

THE POP CULTURE PROFESSOR

THANK YOU TERRY FUNK

 

Terry Funk, one of pro wrestling's biggest stars during the 70's and 80's passed away on August 23rd. He was 79. Funk is survived by his older brother Dory Funk Jr. and his two daughters. Through out his career Funk wrestled for all the major wrestling promotions including WWE, WCW, NWA, and ECW. He also wrestled internationally in Japan.

Funk started his career in wrestling in 1965 in Texas where his father, Dory Funk Sr. had his own promotion. In those days, wrestling was built on different territories in different states under the auspices of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). Funk worked in tag team matches with his brother Dory and singles matches until he finally reached the top of the mountain.

Terry Funk worked his way up and became an attraction in every territory he visited. In 1975, he defeated Jack Brisco and became the NWA World Heavyweight Champion. During the 70's and 80's,  the NWA Worlds title was the pinnacle of professional wrestling. Funk held the title for 14 months and in that time he became a superstar having feuds with legends like Giant Baba in Japan, Jack Brisco in Florida, and Pat O'Connor. His greatest feud was against the legendary Dusty Rhodes in Florida. Both men were from different parts of Texas and Dusty was the top star in Florida so whenever Terry Funk and Dusty Rhodes clashed it was a monumental event. By 1977, Terry Funk would lose the NWA World title to Harley Race but by then he was known all around the world. 

In the 1980's he moved onto Memphis where he started a feud with "The King" Jerry Lawler and he wrestled in Japan having feuds with legends like The Sheik, Abdullah The Butcher, Stan Hansen, and Bruiser Brody. Overseas, the wrestling style was more physical and Terry Funk built his reputation as a "hardcore" wrestler in Japan. 

From 1985 to 1986 he and his brother Dory worked in the WWE appearing at Wrestlemania 2. During that year in WWE, Terry Funk did get to challenge Hulk Hogan for the WWE World Championship. In 1989, Funk moved onto to World Championship Wrestling (WCW) where he had an epic feud with Ric Flair who was the World Champion at the time.

In the 90's, Funk moved onto Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) a regional promotion located in Philadelphia and run by Paul Heyman. ECW used different styles to attract an audience such as lucha libre and American style wrestling but it was primarily known for being a violent, blood, and guts promotion. Terry Funk fit in perfectly with his reputation. He had great feuds with Shane Douglas, Sabu, Cactus Jack (Mick Foley), The Sandman, and Raven. Terry Funk became the ECW World Champion in 1997 at ECW's first Pay Per View, Barely Legal.  

Terry Funk was the epitome of professional wrestling. His persona as a wild man made him an attraction all around the world. His toughness and willingness to elevate young talent made him a legend. Rest in Peace Terry Funk and thank you for everything you did in pro wrestling. You've left a legacy that has given fans a lifetime of memories. 

THE PROFESSOR

HULK HOGAN: POP CULTURE ICON

On August 11th, Hulk Hogan celebrated his 70th birthday and over 40 years as a celebrity. It all began in 1982 when Hulk Hogan popped off the screen in Rocky 3 as Thunderlips and became a household name. Before Rocky 3, Hogan began wrestling in 1977 in Florida, and from 1977 to 1979, he bounced around different territories in the southeast including Alabama, Memphis, and Georgia. By 1979, Hulk Hogan entered the WWE (then known as the World Wide Wrestling Federation) as a villain. From 1979 to 1980 Hogan was a villain and he feuded with Andre The Giant and he had a World title match with Bob Backlund. In 1980, Hogan left the WWE after a dispute with Vince McMahon Sr. over his role in Rocky III.

After filming his role in Rocky III, Hogan entered the AWA (American Wrestling Association) in 1981. He quickly became a fan favorite feuding with Bobby Heenan and The Heenan Family which included Ken Patera, Mr. Saito, and the AWA World Champion, Nick Bockwinkel. At 6'7 and 300 pounds, Hulk Hogan had a superhero appeal to fans. Hogan was the biggest star in the AWA and Vince McMahon took notice making him an offer to come to the WWE.

In December of 1983, The Hulkster entered the WWE and beat the Iron Shiek in January of 1984 to become the WWE Champion changing pro wrestling in the process. His feuds in the 80's with stars like Rowdy Roddy Piper, King Kong Bundy, Andre The Giant and Macho Man Randy Savage made  WWE a national brand and Hulk Hogan a superstar. He would go on to have roles in TV shows like The A-Team and movies like No Holds Barred and Suburban Commando which would cement his pop culture status. 

In 1994, Hogan left WWE for World Championship Wrestling. His presence in WCW made the company into a national powerhouse. Hulk Hogan is the only wrestler that was apart of two companies that he helped become mainstream entities. 

Happy Birthday Hulkster! and Thank you for your contributions to pop culture. 

THE PROFESSOR

R.I.P. SUPERSTAR BILLY GRAHAM AND THANK YOU

 

Superstar Billy Graham passed away on Wednesday. He was 79 years old. In the 1970's, Graham was a revolutionary figure in professional wrestling because of his physique. Superstar Billy Graham began his career as a bodybuilder and he became friends with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the late 60's in California. After starting his wrestling career in California, by 1972 Graham moved to the American Wrestling Association (AWA) and he had great feuds with legends like Verne Gagne, Wahoo McDaniel, The Crusher, Ken Patera, and Billy Robinson. With his mythic physique and his colorful attire, Graham was a franchise star and soon he would move into the big leagues. In 1975, Graham moved onto the World Wide Wrestling Federation which is now the WWE. 

Superstar Billy Graham was at the pinnacle of his career in WWE. While in WWE, Graham feuded with Bruno Sammartino, Ivan Putski, Pedro Morales, Dusty Rhodes, and Mil Mascaras. Graham reached the top of the mountain in WWE on April 30, 1977, when he defeated Bruno Sammartino for the World Title in Baltimore. Superstar held the title for nine and a half months and became one of the biggest stars in pro wrestling. 

Superstar Billy Graham influenced so many stars including Dusty Rhodes, Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, Jesse Ventura, and Scott Steiner. Graham's promos and his physique changed the way pro wrestling was presented and marketed. Thank you Superstar Billy Graham. Your contributions to the wrestling business will never be forgotten. 

THE PROFESSOR