By D.C. Wood
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WCW was indeed where the Big Boys played, as titans from all over the world arrived to dominate the company. Men like Sid Vicious and Kevin Nash arrived and quickly rose up the ranks, decimating all opposition en route to becoming World Heavyweight Champion.
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10 Heaviest WCW World Champions, Ranked By Weight
WCW was known as "the land where the big boys play," and it showed with some of their World Champions!
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But even if the likes of Bam Bam Bigelow never became WCW World Champion, the fact remains is that WCW's roster consisted of some of wrestling's biggest gladiators. And these are ten of the heaviest wrestlers to work for WCW.
10 Bam Bam Bigelow Found Success With The Jersey Triad And In WCW's Hardcore Division
Billed Weight: 395lbs
Birthdate | September 1, 1961–January 19, 2007 (45) |
Years In WCW | 1998–2001 |
Career Highlights | WCW World Tag Team Champion (2 times), WCW Hardcore Champion (1 time), ECW World Heavyweight Champion (1 time), ECW World Television Champion (1 time) |
Regarded as one of the most talented giants in wrestling, Bam Bam Bigelow was a walking tank blessed with uncanny agility, speed & grace. After great runs in both WWE and ECW, Bam Bam made his WCW in November 1998.
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Fans usually expect big man wrestlers to work a certain way, but these guys offered a lot more than just a big body.
Bigelow achieved even more success in WCW, having a brief, but memorable feud with Goldberg, forming the Jersey Triad with Diamond Dallas Page & Chris Kanyon, as well as winning the Hardcore Championship. Unfortunately, after WCW folded in 2001, Bam Bam fell into obscurity, spending the last years of his career competing on the independent scene. He tragically passed away in 2007.
9 Norman The Lunatic (AKA Mike Shaw) Was Managed By Teddy Long In WCW
Billed Weight: 401lbs
Birthdate | May 9, 1957–September 11, 2010 (53) |
Years In WCW | 1989–1991 |
Career Highlights | Stampede International Tag Team Champion (2 times), Stampede North American Champion (3 times) |
On paper, Norman The Lunatic seemed an unlikely babyface. Originally starting out as a heel, Norman's mistreatment at the hands of manager Teddy Long garnered sympathy from WCW fans. Eventually, The Lunatic would rebel against Long's abuse to become a babyface.
At 401lbs, Norman The Lunatic had gone from hulking force to beloved teddy bear. Norman's rise in popularity even saw him receive World Title shots against Ric Flair. Unfortunately, Mike Shaw received a random gimmick-change in the form of Trucker Norm and never rebounded in WCW. Following his departure in 1991, Mike Shaw suffered the atrocious Bastion Booger gimmick in WWE, and spent the rest of his career competing on the independent scene. He passed away in 2010.
8 The Giant Achieved A Great Legacy In WCW, Beating Hulk Hogan To Win The World Title In His First Match
Billed Weight: 430lbs
Birthdate | February 8, 1972 |
Years In WCW | 1995–1999 |
Career Highlights | WCW World Heavyweight Champion (2 times), WCW World Tag Team Champion (3 times), WWE Champion (2 times), World Heavyweight Champion (2 times), ECW World Heavyweight Champion, WWE United States Champion, WWE Intercontinental Champion, WWE/World Tag Team Champion (8 times), WWE Hardcore Champion (3 times) |
One of the biggest legends of wrestling - in every respect - Paul Wight's career got off to a suitably-massive beginning straightaway in WCW. Originally billed as the son of Andre The Giant, this new Giant proved his worth by defeating the likes of Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair to become World Champion, conquering the biggest names of WCW, and even joining the NWO.
Although billed as being seven-feet-tall and weighing 500lbs, Paul Wight's true weight has been difficult to measure due to his shape & size fluctuating throughout his career. When competing in WCW as The Giant, his actual weight was reported to be approximately 430lbs. Nonetheless, Paul Wight towered above most, also conquering any super heavyweight put in front of him.
7 The One Man Gang Won The WCW United States Championship From Kensuke Sasaki
Billed Weight: 450lbs
Birthdate | February 12, 1960 |
Years In WCW | 1991, 1995–1996 |
Career Highlights | WCW United States Champion (1 time), UWF World Heavyweight Champion (1 time), NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Champion (1 time) |
George Gray achieved fame & recognition in the WWE as both Akeem (of the Twin Towers) and The One Man Gang. Regularly facing legends like Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage, Gray had a good run in the Golden Era, despite never once holding a title in WWE.
After leaving WWE in October 1990, Gray arrived in WCW in March 1991 for a brief forgettable run before taking a hiatus from wrestling. He again reprized the role of The One Man Gang upon his return to WCW in 1995, where he soon became the United States Champion. At 450lbs, The One Man Gang was indeed a great behemoth in both WWE and WCW.
6 Big Van Vader Was One Of The Greatest Stars WCW Ever Had
Billed Weight: 450lbs
Birthdate | May 14, 1955–June 18, 2018 (63) |
Years In WCW | 1990–1995 |
Career Highlights | WCW World Heavyweight Champion (3 times), WCW United States Champion (1 time), WWE Hall Of Famer (2022) |
One of the most incredible talents to ever compete, Vader shocked, amazed and terrified audiences with his ferocity and brutality, coupled with his astonishing agility. Weighing in at a massive 450lbs, Leon White is remembered as being one of the most intimidating giants to ever conquer WCW.
Famous for his legendary wars with Cactus Jack, Sting, Ron Simmons and Ric Flair, Big Van Vader became a three-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion, leaving behind a legacy that was as huge as his talent. Leon White passed away in 2018 at the age of 63, and was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall Of Fame in 2022.
5 Krusher Kong Was One-Half Of The Heaviest Tag Team In WCW History
Billed Weight: 453lbs
Birthdate | April 16, 1971 |
Years In WCW | 1993 |
Career Highlights | PCW Heavyweight Champion (1 time), Once competed against Ric Flair & Sting at WCW Clash Of Champions #24 |
The Colossal Kongs weighed in at a combined total of 850lbs. These two massive behemoths were easily the heaviest tag team in WCW history, but despite their monstrous image, and being managed by the legendary Harley Race, they achieved very little success, being voted the Worst Tag Team of 1993 by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Scott Thompson took on the role of Krusher Kong, weighing in at an almighty 453lbs, but like his partner, failed to make any impact. After their stint in WCW ended, The Colossal Kongs would continue to team on the indies until they disbanded in 1999. Krusher Kong would continue as a singles wrestler until his retirement in 2010.
4 El Gigante Had A Four Year Stint In WCW, Before His Infamous Tenure As The Giant Gonzalez In WWE
Billed Weight: 460lbs
Birthdate | 31 January 1966–22 September 2010 (44) |
Years In WCW | 1988–1992 |
Career Highlights | Challenged Ric Flair for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, also competed against The Undertaker at WrestleMania 9 |
The Giant Gonzalez was infamous for being one of the worst wrestlers of all time. Although a massive attraction, the late Jorge González lacked the mobility and skill to utilize his size & power to become an effective worker. Prior to his critically-panned WWE run in 1993, the Argentine Giant had a four-year stint in World Championship Wrestling.
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The 29 Heaviest Wrestlers In WWE History
WWE has always been the land of the giants, but these massive wrestlers tower over their competition with height and weight.
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As El Gigante, Jorge feuded with the likes of Sid Vicious, The One Man Gang, and was even a contender for Ric Flair's World Title. But Gigante's inability to wrestle or even cut a promo ultimately hindered him, and he eventually left WCW. After his disastrous run in WWE ended, González was forced to retire due to ill-health. He passed away in 2010 at the age of 44.
3 The First Awesome Kong Was Even Heavier Than His Colossal Tag Team Partner
Billed Weight: 466lbs
Birthdate | January 5, 1958–November 17, 2012 (54) |
Years In WCW | 1993 |
Career Highlights | USWA Unified World Heavyweight Champion (1 time), Once competed against Ric Flair & Sting at WCW Clash Of Champions #24 |
Although the legendary Kia Stevens made the name "Awesome Kong" famous in TNA, she was not the first wrestler to bear that name. Dwayne McCullough put on a mask to become Awesome Kong in WCW, joining his partner Scott Thompson (Krusher) to form the Colossal duo.
McCullough was even heavier than his fellow giant, weighing-in at 466lbs. But like Thompson, McCullough failed to achieve any success in WCW, even having the dubious distinction of losing to The Shockmaster at Starrcade 1993. Dwayne would ultimately retire in 1999, and sadly passed away in 2012.
2 After A Legendary Run In WWE, Earthquake Jump-Shipped To WCW In 1994 Where He Became The Avalanche
Billed Weight: 468lbs
Birthdate | June 22, 1963–June 7, 2006 (42) |
Years In WCW | 1994–1997, 1999 |
Career Highlights | WWE Tag Team Champion (1 time), NWA Canadian Heavyweight Champion (1 time), UWA Heavyweight Champion (2 times) |
John Tenta was one of the greatest titans to ever compete in WWE as the monstrous Earthquake. From feuding with the Immortal Hulk Hogan, to winning the Tag Team Championship with Typhoon as The Natural Disasters, Earthquake had a great, memorable run in the Golden Era.
After leaving WWE in 1994, John Tenta arrived in WCW, becoming The Avalanche and joining Kevin Sullivan's Three Faces Of Fear. Unfortunately, John's WCW run suffered from having to change his name/gimmick due to legal threats from WWE, and despite still being a capable wrestler, his career never rebounded. John Tenta sadly died in 2006 following his battle with cancer. He remains a beloved legend of the sport.
1 The Legendary Giant Haystacks Competed As Loch Ness In His Final Match At WCW Uncensored 1996
Billed Weight: 685lbs
Birthdate | October 10, 1946–November 29, 1998 (52) |
Years In WCW | 1996 |
Career Highlights | BWF European Heavyweight Champion (1 time), Joint Promotions British Heavyweight Champion (1 time), Stampede International Tag Team Champion (1 time) |
When ITV's World Of Sport (and British Wrestling) were at the height of their popularity, Giant Haystacks was front-and-center as one of the household names who made British Wrestling hugely popular in the seventies and eighties. Famous for his clashes with arch-rival Big Daddy, Giant Haystacks also competed internationally as Loch Ness, particularly in Canada for Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling.
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8 Wrestler Who Did The U.K. Proud And 7 Who Disgraced It
The U.K. has witnessed quite the resurgence in wrestling over the past few months, with WWE's U.K. Championship announcement coming just weeks after bosses at ITV decided to recommission World of Spor
Joining WCW in February 1996, Loch Ness became the heaviest wrestler in the promotion's history, joining the Dungeon Of Doom, and even feuding with Hulk Hogan. Unfortunately, Martin Ruane was diagnosed with lymphoma soon after his debut and left WCW after losing to The Giant at Uncensored in what would be his final match. Martin passed away in November 1998, with the wrestling world mourning the loss of this larger-than-life icon.
- Wrestling
- WCW (World Championship Wrestling)
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