Who's the best big man?
 

We've seen them come and go and turn heel/face week after week or be fodder for just about everyone but who do you think the best big man is and why?

Vader

SlickyTrickyDamon

Undertaker. I feel like he's got to be considered a "big man". He's sustained longer than anyone at a high level and has to be considered in the same conversation as who is the best of all time.

But also Vader, Bam Bam, Yokozuna, and Big Show.

Actually I'm gonna replace Yoko with Kane. Kane has been around forever, and he is a great worker in so many different ways. I bet there is something left we haven't seen from him even still.

I dont feel like current big show deserves to be considered great, yeah hes been around forever but he peaked in wcw and everything after was meh, i love me some vader and i feel like Kane has been around forever and can be someone who stays around for a long time if not in an active role maybe in some other way.

I'm collectively thinking of Kane's career and if you go through year by year there are tons of really good matches. Same thing with Big Show but to a lesser extent. I put Big Show on the list for his matches with Brock and Angle, and his ECW run alone. Remember when he busted the ring?

Mark Henry, would really like to see him get the WWE title before he retires but don't see it happening.

Sadly his Hall of Pain run was his best shot, he was amazing and as a dominating heel champ :drool: what could have been doubt he has another run like that in him.

The best part of all of it was just how BRUTAL a man Mark Henry portrayed himself as it was super easy to forget that the real Mark is a very sensitive man.

Well he did have a fantastic WHC run.

I'm only 5'7" about 193, but thanks.

Answer: Vader.

Zeeboe then.

I have to change my mind on what i said i agree big show did do some awesome shit on smackdown in the 2000's but in recent memory hes been kinda shit. Im a big fan of the hall of pain gimmick from Henry and think that he would be a great champion if they hadnt been using him as fodder lately.

Wouldn't Brock Lesnar be considered a big man if Mark Henry is? Or if Undertaker is? Or Kane? Or Vader for that matter?

I'd consider Brock a big guy yea.

Also Kevin Owens.

Did a fun podcast on this topic ages ago, and my pick was Andre. If you have an idea in your head of Andre as the immobile big lug he was in his late WWF run, search for "Monster Rousimoff Vs. Strong Kobayashi" on YouTube, it's a much better representation of his early work. Seeing Andre tombstoning fuckers in 1972 is really something, not to mention he is the best drawing big man ever.

I'll listen to the Vader argument in terms of a better body of work in the ring though. I'll also listen to the Brock Lesnar argument (especially if his next three years continues on track) in terms of a freak athlete who plays his role perfectly and is just incredible in the role of big man.

I blow hot and cold on Taker depending on the day, which I probably shouldn't if I thought he was the best big man.

Yoko, Kane and Sid don't belong in this discussion at all.

Andre
Taker/Vader

Crash Holly or Bob Holly both were super heavyweights weighing in at over 400lbs

Rikishi had the best tits of any non-diva.

Christ no

BUNDY MANIA! BUNDY! BUNDY! BUNDY! BUNDY!

Undertaker at the top. He was pulling out watchable matches against shit big men early on, and became one of the most consistently great performers on the roster.

Lesnar is my number 2. Guy is a fucking athletic abnormality. Size, power, speed and ring presence. The fact that he was legitimately an excellent in ring performer was a bonus. It's cliche, but Lesnar is the prototype for what a near perfect wrestler looks like.

Andre was really agile in his youth, but I just haven't been exposed beyond what WWE has shown and the angles and matches I have seen from youtube in the early 80's and 70's. He was pretty fucking awesome, but even his working punch just doesn't compare one bit to The Undertaker, or Vader.

Undertaker

I'm partial to Yoko, although Vader & Bam Bam are fine considerations.....

yokozuna had bazukas like Fujisan.

Undertaker.....nuff said.

Taker

come the fuck on

Nobody has said Earthquake?

Allegedly. You can't forget that important word, as it was part of the billing.

And my answer, lik the other thread, remains Vader. He wasn't the top of any category judging "good" big men, but he is in the argument against the frontrunner in EVERY category.

If Brock Lesnar counts, I think it's him.


If not - then you go with Taker.

As far as money goes - Andre the Giant.

As far as wrestling goes - They all pretty much suck. They are there more for visual appeal. Like a modern-day freak show.

Vader was good though because he could do work off the turnbuckles and wasn't slow. His matches typically looked real too. Probably cause he really hit guys.

Taker was the full package.

Amazing look and presence

Could talk on the mic

Fantastic in ring

Easily adapted his gimmick to fit changing times


Seriously, I don't know how this is even a question.

Taker had a great career. But he also performed at the level of his opponents, and as a result had far more years of shitty matches than good ones. Having said that, his high points are legendary and as a character his staying power is very unique.

People acting as if Andre isn't an option? What?

You then have to include Undertaker, I guess, for an overall contribution to the industry as one of the most iconic figures in wrestling history (right up there with Andre). But right now I think you need to include Brock Lesnar in the discussion. And as far as ring work goes, Vader can go in there. The best big guy working right now (that isn't Brock) is Luke Harper. That man is fantastic.

Would have rather seen Harper (w/ Wyatt) vs. Taker than Taker vs. Wyatt, to be frank.

Oh shit Harper vs Taker would be AMAZING.

I'm not counting Brock. I see him in a different class tbh. All these other people being mentioned aren't jacked like he is; none of them have ever been anywhere near to the physical specimen he is. Lesnar would go in a class with people like a Lashley, or a HHH, people like that. BTW I'm aware Lashley is a shit reference but in terms of build he is as close to Lesnar as I can think right off the top of my head.

Saying that, I'm doing a top 5 here with a bit of reasoning as to why.

Undertaker. He's good in ring; not great, but definitely well above average. But here it is: He has the best gimmick ever and he was absolutely brilliant pretty much the whole way through. Even with the biker play on the gimmick. I was one of those that always thought, and still do, that the biker gimmick should have never happened; however he pulled it off with style.

Andre. I almost listed him number 1. He was amazing, especially considering his stature. I may have been young, but I know I'm not alone in remembering looking at him in what can only be described as sheer awe. Plus he was a household name, and still is. You say Andre the Giant and people know who you are talking about. That's something most people in any industry will never achieve.

BIG DADDY MOTHERFUCKIN COOL, VINNIE VEGAS BABY. Number 1 in my heart. Kevin Nash has been my favorite performer since the first time I saw him. Don't really remember seeing him as Vinnie Vegas, or Oz , but I remember him as Diesel for sure. He was just cool as shit for some reason to me. But what did it for me was when he and Scott Hall invaded WCW and formed the now with Hogan. I was a WCW guy over WWF back then, and that was the defining moment in wrestling for me. When he beat Goldberg via taser. The Wolfpac being formed. And let's not forget Dr. Nash in TNA. I love the man. Not necessarily for what he did (to his quads) in the ring, but because I was always entertained when he was on my screen. I miss him being around.

Big Show. Closest thing to a successor to Andre ever. He's a journeyman, he works well for his size, and he has always been willing to do the job to put over the younger guys. He just comes off as the consummate professional to me and seems like he would be awesome to work with in any capacity. Plus he has staying power, been going for like 20+ years now. And really, he still looks pretty damn good. That's a pretty big feat for someone his size.

Kane. He has/had a great gimmick forever. Limited moveset and never really sold well, but I feel like that was more of him being built as a monster. Regardless, he's another that I feel is just a great addition to the workplace. I'm pretty sure Kane is the king of all jobbers; unlike other prolific jobbers though, he is still seen as a monster. It's seen as something when you beat Kane. And it's because of that monster aspect he had. Regardless, he has used his rep to put over shit tons of people who were on their rise, and that is what's best for business. I feel like he has been way more important to WWE than many people realize. I also feel like he has been way underappreciated and deserved to have multiple WHC/WWE title runs. At least 4 or 5. And I really think WWE owe it to him to put the damn strap on him at least once more and let him successfully defend it a few times. If anyone in that company has earned that respect, it's him. ALSO BRING BACK THE DEMON KANE.

/stoned Noid post.

Real talk. Kane should win the WWE title and defend it against Undertaker at WM. Regardless of outcome, they retire together afterwards and the title is then placed on the winner of a tournament announced the next night on RAW.

No that would be horrible.

Slaters gonna slate.

yokozuna had huge titties could have feed babies for years.

Bam Bam Bigelow was probably one of the most mobile. His early days he was heavily over and one of the few guys near 400lbs that would come off the top rope (Kamala being the other one that I can recall) .

Andre used to come off the top rope