During his heyday in the '60s and '70s, Calhoun feuded with men like Dick the Bruiser and battled Bruno Sammartino. Both brothers were released from WWE in midst of a merchandise scandal, as they were accused of selling WWE products without permission. Andre started his career in 1964 and by the 1970s he was a top star all over the world. These portrait photographs of Russia's ruling Romanovs were taken in 1903 at the Winter Palace in majestic. Superstar spawned a number of imitators that include Hulk Hogan, Jesse the Body Ventura, and Scott Steiner. Used primarily for their looks, these two glamour models -- Brie and Nikki -- often competed as a tag team and even had an onscreen breakup not long ago. WWE's Greatest Superstars of the 21st Century 2 Roddy Piper 3,754 votes #5 of 48 Professional Wrestlers with the Best Stage Names #4 of 32 The Best Brawlers In Wrestling History #14 of 49 The Best Wrestling Announcers Of All Time 3 Randy Savage 4,962 votes #138 of 183 The All-Time Greatest Action Stars #206 of 248 The Best Marvel Movie Actors Ever She also likes to stay away from the public eye. He died aged 76 in January 2013. Ted Dibiase. Unlike a twosome formed by strangers-turned-best friends, twins possess an extra edge because they are mirror images of each other -- not only do most look identical, they know what their sibling is thinking more often than not. Jamaica Kid and Little Beaver backstage at a wrestling arena April 25, 1969. You can also support us by signing up to our Mailing List. Thanks to photographerDavid Maciejewskiwe can see pictures of thelittle wrestlers before the hype and hoopla of WWF took hold. Bubby Rodgers and Bruno Sammartino were just among the few renowned wrestlers that faced Calhoun. Koloff is one of the only former WWE Champions who is still not in the WWE Hall of Fame. Cowboy Bob Bradley was born Robert Claton Bradley in Dickens County, TX, in February 1935. Bruno Sammartino was the biggest name in WWE in the '60s and '70s, but in the late '70s, another man took his spot. The world of sports has seen its fair share of successful twin tandems, including NHL's Sedin brothers, MMA's Nogueira brothers, football's Pouncey brothers, and the Lopez brothers competing in the NBA, to name a few. Standing at 610, Giant Baba was one of the biggest wrestlers in the WWE. Dave Hebner, the assigned referee, greeted his doppelganger mid-match and the two brothers began clawing at each other to prove who was the real referee. While he never beat Bruno for the world title, Kowalski teamed up with Gorilla Monsoon and Big John Studd to win tag team titles. On top of that, the win would mark one of the longest reigns as Bruno would retain the title for 8 consecutive years. The twins are former CMLL World Tag Team Championship, but wrestling fans will most likely remember them for appearing in the 1996 Royal Rumble Match as The Squat Team. Widely respected for his integrity and personal principles, Sammartino was one of the most popular wrestlers in the 60s and 70s. Kayfabe is often seen as the suspension of disbelief that is used to create the non-wrestling aspects of promotions, such as feuds, angles, and gimmicks, in a manner similar to other forms of fictional entertainment. Hogan began his professional wrestling career in . Terry Eugene Bollea, better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American retired professional wrestler and television personality. Honored as the best tag team of 2014 by Pro Wrestling Illustrated, the brothers had a lengthy feud with Luke Harper & Erick Rowan and its safe to say both teams delivered in some incredible matches. Competing in Ohio Valley Wrestling for five years with a combined four title reigns, Hannah and Holly made a name for themselves wrestling under TNA, first appearing on TNA Wrestling: British Bootcamp, where Rockstar Spud and Mary Scurll were also discovered. Carnies, who traveled and wrestled at these events, used tricks to protect their money and reputations during competitions, devising little-known and often dangerous wrestling moves, called "hooks." Though their reign was short, it affirmed them as true legends of Tag Team Wrestling. Many wrestling fans will remember him for his feud with WWEs golden boy, Tito Sammartino. He is widely regarded as the most recognized wrestling star worldwide and the most popular wrestler of the 1980s. Although the world of 80s pro-wrestling was filled with neon tiger stripes and cocaine dreams that decade was also a time of immense athleticism, over-the-top characters, and intrepid innovation in the art of combat sports. For a while Race was a record holder as far as World Heavyweight Title reigns went until he was bested by Ric Flair. Killer Kowalskis reputation went beyond the world of wrestling thanks to his fearsome and terrifying nature. Only Keith would be given PPV time, competing in the Lethal Lottery alongside Ron Simmons at Battlebowl 1993. A Montreal native, The Wild Bear was a dominant force in the WWF. Entering the ring to Queens infectious anthem, Another One Bites The Dust, Junkyard Dog was a paradigm of pure power. Many old-school wrestling fans remember the House of Funk for their Wrestlemania 2 appearance. After a ban on masks in the WWF was lifted, Mil Mascaras would join WWE where he began his long-running feud with Superstar Billy Graham for the World Heavyweight title. The legendary Lord Littlebrook (aka Eric Tovey), in Milwaukee July 7, 1968. This was Afa and Sika, the men who were the patriarchs of the Samoan Dynasty. He started wrestling at the age of fifteen and went on to become one the worlds top midget wrestler over a 30 year period, during which time he won the NWA World Midget Championship twice. In the year 1971, Ivan Koloff managed to end Sammartinos 7-year streak as world champion. Television also helped many wrestlers break into mainstream media, becoming influential celebrities and icons of popular culture. And of course, the omnipresence of Hulk Hogans red and yellow logo will forever be etched into wrestling history. He eventually big-splashed his way to co-holding the WWWF Tag Team titles. 1971-10 - The Ring Wrestling (credit: Doug McLeer) Men: Pedro Morales Verne Gagne Bruno Sammartino Gene Kiniski Dick the Bruiser Ray Stevens Victor Rivera Bobo Brazil The Sheik The Claw Ernie Ladd Gorilla Monsoon Killer Kowalski Bill Watts Pat Patterson The Battman Nelson Royal George Steele Chief Jay Strongbow Ciclon Negro Women: Giant Babas most memorable match would be a tag team match with Andre the Giant against Demolition at the Wrestling Summit. The legendary Lord Littlebrook (aka Eric Tovey), in Milwaukee July 7, 1968. Their parents bought a farm to increase their physical activity and they ate only 1,000 calories per day but could not stop gaining weight. [3], Benny died at age 54 on March 26, 2001 of heart failure. Both Hebners served as referees, with Dave taking on more of the backend stuff like promoting and working as a road agent. Earl still officiates TNA Wrestling matches alongside his son and former WWE employee, Brian Hebner. 12K views 6 years ago Led by the NWA in Detroit this territory was highlighted as the first renegade promotion in the USA, their battles were bloody their feuds were intense with such stars as The. Fans who started watching professional wrestling in the 1980s never got to see how great the Valiant Brothers really were. Whod be a Midget Wrestler during the 1960s and 1970s? A wrestling promoter saw them in El Paso, Texas and convinced them to begin a wrestling training program in Ciudad Jurez, Mexico, lifting weights and running often. IN THAT WORLD where the world of Sports & Athleticism collides with the universe of the Melodrama, the Morality Play and Mythological Heroes & Monsters, we find the American phenomenon of Professional Wrestling. He went on to win one world title. During his early years as a professional wrestler, Killer Kowalski managed to land a knee on an opponents head. Members of the renowned Anoia family, the Wild Samoans were not only barbaric and ruthless but also a force to reckon with back in the 70s and 80s. By the end of his illustrious wrestling career, The Macho Man had accumulated an impressive 11 titles. He worked as a villain when he was given the title, with Lou Albano as his manager, but when he broke away, he became one of the most popular WWE wrestlers of his era. Nonetheless, Richter won championships around the globe before her retirement in 2005. He died aged 75 on June 24, 2010 in Amarillo, Texas. Prior to his professional wrestling debut, Giant Baba was a professional pitcher for one of the biggest baseball teams in Japan. Played by Satoru Sayama, who Bret Hart once called the Bruce Lee of professional wrestling, Tiger Mask I was both a real-life wrestling character and the star of a popular Japanese cartoon. Cheerfulness kept creeping in." Standing at 610 and weighing more than 360 pounds, Big John Studd is one of the greatest 70s wrestlers. They dont quite look alike, but to the Olsens credit, they often wore matching outfits, which facilitated the gimmick, also helping tag teams like The Fabulous Ones, The Dicks, and The Basham Brothers to look like similar siblings in the past. While the 1970s may seem like a bit of a forgotten time for wrestling, some of the best wrestlers ever performed in this decade. Dubbed the Executioners, the duo would go ahead and capture the World Tag Team belts in the same year. Because of his ability to stand out and cut amazing promos, many WWE fans flocked to the ring to see the superstar in action. Although the conceit might seem silly, Sayama had the skill to back up the story: his match at NJPW Sumo Hall Show in 1983 (against Dynamite Kid Thomas Billington) was the first fight Meltzer ever granted a 5 Star rating. In 2014, the New Age Outlaws would win the WWE World Tag Team titles from the Brotherhood. Apart from doing all he could to win matches, Mr. Fuji always took it a step further and hid bags of salt within his pants. RELATED: The 10 Best Wrestlers In The World Outside WWEHe later went to the WWE where he would become the first masked wrestler to appear at Madison Square Garden while working alongside legends like Superstar Billy Graham, Andre the Giant, and Dusty Rhodes. The company released Dean from his contract in 2007. Here are four WWE Superstars you may not know have twin siblings. And you can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 1960. The result, a ripped cauliflower ear and tons of bandages. Whatever the roles may be, theres no overlooking the upper hand some identical siblings have over their rivals. After working for AWA for a few years, Tito Santana eventually attracted the attention of Vince McMahon. During the 70s, he spent time in the AWA, All-Japan Pro Wrestling, Stampede Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling where catch wrestling was emphasized. Since leaving Vince McMahon's company, Dave Hebner has become a wrestling manager and has appeared in a few other promotions. This win meant that Bruno became the second-ever WWE champion. Make no mistake, though, that didnt mean the action wasnt good. Feuding with teams such as The Road Warriors and The Nasty Boys, Mike and Todd caught a big break winning the NWA World Tag Team Championship, which lead to a stint in TNA Wrestling, where they appeared on the very first pay-per-view (PPV) event. All-Star Wrestling footage (and AWA footage as a whole) is now owned by World Wrestling Entertainment . Giant Baba and Antonio Inoki became two of the most popular Japanese wrestlers of all time. The prototypical arrogant pretty boy, Rude was known for insulting the mostly-male crowds before enticing women with promises of sexual promiscuity. They are the main cast members of reality show Total Divas, and if thats not enough, both sisters are dating WWEs top stars, John Cena (dating Nikki) and Daniel Bryan (married to Brie). Arguably the most popular set of twins in wrestling today, The Bellas arent everyones forte, but theyve been at the forefront of WWEs Divas division for quite some time. They laced up the boots to face tandems like Harlem Heat and The Hollywood Blondes, both sporting mullets and looking like long-lost cousins of Ricky Morton and Dan Spivey. Throughout the 1990s, professional wrestling achieved highs in both viewers and financial success during a time of fierce competition among competing promotions, such as WWF, World Championship Wrestling, and Extreme Championship Wrestling. In 1974, Killer Kowalski would have his last match against Bruno Sammartino for the WWF World heavyweight championship. A 3-time tag team champion, Mr. Fuji made a name for himself as one of the biggest rule breakers in sports entertainment. His over-the-top video packages established him as a kind of miraculous meta-human that, despite or because of their inherent campiness, catalyzed his global superstardom. A co-founder of NJPW, Antonio Inoki did not hold as many titles as other Japanese wrestlers at the time and those who came after him. Unlike his brother, Dash, Tweek still competes to this day and both twins have wrestled indie vets like Austin Aries, The Briscoe Brothers, Chris Sabin, and The Young Bucks. The American Dream Dusty Rhodes rose to the top of the professional wrestling world in the 1980s. worlds heaviest twins were wrestlers "the mcguire twins" - bigtime memories clip - wrestling legends. His first run lasted more than 1,700 days from 1975-1980. Also, since wrestling is performed in front of a live audience, whose interaction with the show is crucial to its success, kayfabe can be compared to the fourth wall in acting, since hardly any conventional fourth wall exists to begin with. As much a wrestler as a cultural ambassador, Mscaras starred in over 20 films. A symbol of the spirit of Lucha Libre, Mil Mscaras is one of the few masked fighters ever inducted into WWEs notorious Hall of Fame. The curious thing was that none of the so-called wrestlers were true athletes. Farmer Pete wrestling in Milwaukee, December 3, 1972. During his stint with JWA, Antonio Inoki faced Bruno Sammartino in one of the most controversial matches of all time. For great art and culture delivered to your door, visit our shop. As the match got underway, it could have been anybodys win; until the grand finale. Its no surprise that The Crush Gals are often considered the greatest womens tag team of all time considering the duos perfectly honed and incredibly powerful movesets. Even an alternative canon of pro-wrestling would have to include Andre The Giant. Pat Patterson was the first man to hold the WWE Intercontinental Championship. One of the first true giants in professional wrestling, Haystacks Calhoun weighed more than 600 pounds making him one of the biggest wrestlers of all time. Syndicated series featuring wrestling matches as promoted by the American Wrestling Association (AWA). Little Bruiser in action against Bobo Johnson in Chicago, September 1972. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . The Dynamite Kid was one of the most innovative wrestlers of the 1980s. [5] They used the stage name McGuire, which is the French version of their last name, since it was easier for Japanese ring announcers to pronounce. Simon Dean made a few appearances for McMahon in the early 1990s. Varnado made her acting debut in season 2 of the acclaimed show The Mandalorian (2019) in the role of Koska Reeves. Moving forward into the 1930s, however, professional wrestling became identified with modern day theatrics and "admitted fakeness. The sport of wrestling had started becoming so scripted that critics began viewing it as somewhat of a joke; particularly in comparison to boxing, mixed martial arts, amateur wrestling, and the real sport itself, wrestling. During her wrestling career in the WWE, Fabulous Moolah won various Womens World Championship titles. Aside from a week in December 1974, Brisco held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship from July 1973 to December 1975. Billy the Kid born John William Guillot in Waco, Texas in 1936. Little Bruiser and Billy the Kid, September 23, 1972. While Andre the Giant took part in various high-stakes matches in his professional career, it is his match at Wrestlemania 3 against Hulk Hogan that would earn him a spot in the anarchs of sports entertainment. In the U.S., he made his name thanks to a massive violent feud with Bruno Sammartino in WWE. [5], From 1974 to 1978, they participated in several matches in Japan, organized by New Japan Pro-Wrestling, defeating other notable wrestling tag teams including Kantaro Hoshino and Seiji Sakaguchi as well as Osamu Kido and Riki Choshu.

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