Image via Complex Original
Frankenstein. Hannibal Lecter. Jason Voorhees. The Boogeyman. In a game of word association, these would be the usual suspects associated with the term “monster.” But in the world of professional wrestling, the characterization takes on the different form. It’s an extreme heel, a bad guy with a larger-than-life build, bizarre psyche, and no real ulterior motive. Just cruel intentions of decimating all those who step into the squared circle.
They’re the ones responsible for cutting sinister, razor sharp promos and making wrestling’s biggest superheroes look weak by performing heinous acts for mere shock value. They’re frightening grapplers who fear no men and feel no pain—the last guys you ever want to be stuck in a room with, let alone steel cage. These are The Biggest Monsters in Pro Wrestling.
Gorilla Monsoon
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 401 lbs
Generation X knows Gorilla Monsoon best for his color commentary on WWF and WWE programming in the early ’90s. If only they saw the real Gorilla in action during his heyday. Wrestling historians described him as a wrestler with a “genuinely frightening” image that left fans both “afraid and respectful.” As a former Heavyweight champ, he utilized well-executed grappling techniques to outwrestle and obliterate the competition. His barbarous look only added to the intimidation factor.
Sid Vicious
Height: 6'9"
Weight: 317 lbs
We’re not talking about Sid Justice or Sycho Sid here. Our sights are on the reckless screwball with a destructive intensity of power-bombing wrestlers onto the mat and nearly ending their careers. At his peak, Sid imposed fear throughout the stands and the WCW locker room like no other big man. Those unnerving promos made fans truly believe that he was “the master and ruler of the world.” Well, at least the wrestling world, but you get the picture.
Brock Lesnar
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 286 lbs
Whether in the UFC or WWE, Brock Lesnar has made a living dishing out beatings and destroying legends with his freakish strength. He disposed of every heavyweight champ before him, turned this generation’s Hulk Hogan (that being John Cena) into a rag doll on numerous occasions. And he’s “the 1 who put the 1 in 21-1,” as Paul Heyman so eloquently phrases it every week. Seriously, anyone capable of breaking sports entertainment’s most coveted record and beating the Undertaker convincingly on the grandest stage is truly a beast incarnate.
André the Giant
Height: 7'0"
Weight: 323 lbs
Sports entertainment’s most formidable titan has the championships and stat sheet to cement his monstrous legacy. As the medium grew into a global phenomenon, fans caught a glimpse of the “Eighth Wonder of the World” and gazed in awe every time the colossal figure stepped foot into a ring. His hulking presence was enough to persuade opponents into self-eliminating themselves during battle royals. Had he been cleared to appear at the 1991 Royal Rumble as advertised, that would have been a strong possibility. Tall and robust superstars such as Big John Studd and the immortal Hulk Hogan dwarfed in comparison to André. Interestingly enough, Bobby ‘The Brain’ Heenan claimed, “André wasn't the friendly guy that he appeared to be,” and though he was pushed as an unbeaten baby-face, those who ever got on his bad side took severe licks in the ring. Now imagine experiencing such punishment with him as a heel.
Ernie Ladd
Height: 6'9"
Weight: 320 lbs
The former football-player-turned-wrestler spent most of the ’70s arrogantly taunting crowds and terrorizing WWWF (World Wide Wrestling Federation) talent with his immense size and strength. Despite a lack of technical skills, the “Big Cat” boasted some of the best microphone work ever—enacting brutal promos that provoked grueling matches against legends such as André the Giant and Dusty Rhodes. The beat downs he issued were a testament to his tough-guy demeanor.
Kane
Height: 7'0"
Weight: 323 lbs
Only one Brother of Destruction was making this list. So to be fair, it only seemed right to include the Big Red Machine over his undead brethren. Feel free to debate it, but Kane has been a more consistently active heel, plus he’s spilled blood and tormented wrestlers at a higher volume than any other demon in tights. His gimmick as a burned alive victim with an insatiable appetite for slaughtering innocent prey is something out of a horror film. Combine that with his chilling entrance of blazing pryo and tenacious will to chokeslam people straight to hell, and there goes Satan’s hitman in the flesh.
Vader
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 450 lbs
“It’s Time! It’s Time! It’s VADER TIME!” Most wrestlers soiled themselves watching the heavyweight bully walk down the ramp in his trademark mastodon mask, as the chant echoed throughout the arena. Vader didn’t have the height and muscular presence of other mainstream heavyweights. You think he cared? This guy specialized in smashing faces and took pride in being the stiffest worker in the biz. Translation: He constantly threw real punches and connected most of the time. Watching his matches with Shawn Michaels will leave your face swelling.
Bruiser Brody
Height: 6'8"
Weight: 283 lbs
The tale of Bruiser Brody is the stuff of legends and nightmares. According to dirt sheets, he was basically Mick Foley on 100. Brody headlined many of history’s goriest matches across the world with punishment specialists like Abdullah the Butcher and Terry Funk. His way of working the crowds both mentally and physically garnered him the title of the “Intelligent Monster.” Bray Wyatt might want to start taking notes.
Yokozuna
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 589 lbs
Sure, his nonchalant facial reaction and near-600 lb mass scared off WWE’s most heroic grapplers. But what really messed with their psyche was the thought of having the earthshaking Samoan rear planting himself onto their chest via Banzai Splash. Watching him reach towards the second rope was the equivalent of seeing King Kong climb the Empire State Building, only to fall splat on top of an innocent bystander. Need we reminisce of when he bench-pressed Macho Man out of the ring, on his back mind you (sorta), to win the Royal Rumble? It goes without saying that Yokozuna devoured the locker room like pieces of sushi during his championship run.
Kevin Nash
Height: 6'11"
Weight: 317 lbs
Every clique has its enforcer. And in the case of the NWO, the super faction of heels surrounded itself with industry renegades hell-bent on destroying WCW. Hollywood Hogan might have called the shots, but it was Kevin Nash (alongside Scott Hall) who put in the dirty work to annihilate those stupid enough to walk through the gorilla position. The Outsiders’ criminal-like activities and guerilla warfare tactics made them a menace to society, at least in the eyes of the WCW brass. From watching him launch poor Rey Mysterio Jr. into a trailer like “a dart” to power-bombing colossal forces like The Giant, “Big Sexy” possessed the strength of a brute and a relentless swagger that came off scary at times.
Big Daddy V
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 450 lbs
As Mabel, viewers considered him a stock champion. Then came his transformation into Viscera that led him to become an official WWE jobber losing out to wrestlers nearly half his size. The third time proved to be a charm as the Big Daddy V character showed just how ghastly vicious the 450-pounder could be in the ring. The hired muscle of Matt Striker took pleasure in crushing ECW originals such as Tommy Dreamer and showed the federation his potential as a top heel for the repackaged brand. Besides, any guy bold enough to break The Undertaker’s face and still live to see another day deserves a spot on this list.
Bam Bam Bigelow
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 390 lbs
A flame-patterned outfit with a mean grille, tattooed scalp, and toothless grin—Bam Bam had the look down pat. The irony in this is that the New Jersey-born wrestler was more feared for his actual wrestling talent. Here is someone with the agility to slam guys bigger than him that could also perform the aerial stunts of a cruiserweight. Not to mention he’s been praised as one of the most underrated in-ring psychologists ever. Just ask Paul Heyman. To know he dropped both King Kong Bundy and One Man Gang in the same match pretty much confirms Bigelow wasn’t the one to test.
Abdullah the Butcher
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 360 lbs
Indie circuits embrace his hardcore approach, while big-league promotions tolerated it before shifting all programming toward the PG market. As if his 400-pound frame wasn’t horrifying to deal with, the unorthodox Sudan brawler has established a rep for showcasing his high tolerance of pain by constantly forking his forehead until it bleeds. One time he even broke his left pinky finger with a hammer. Ouch. It’s gimmicky, yet also sadistically disturbing.
The Big Show
Height: 7'0"
Weight: 425 lbs
Contrary to what was shared with the viewing public during his WCW debut, Paul Wight is not the son of André the Giant. Though, the way he manhandles grown men makes you second-guess it at times. Either way, “the world’s largest athlete” remains the most athletically gifted big man in WWE history. Big Show was at his best when booked as an indestructible force of nature with the ability to execute drop kicks and lift grapplers over his head like toddlers. This is the same behemoth responsible for chokeslamming The Undertaker through the mat and causing an entire ring to collapse when suplexed off the top ropes—twice. Cue the outrageous Jim Ross “OMG” call.