This list would be Art Donovan’s dream.
OK, so that’s a very niche way to open, but anyone who has watched King Of The Ring 1994 will get a kick out of it. Back then, ex-NFL great and guest commentator Art repeatedly asked exasperated duo Gorilla Monsoon and Randy Savage one question: “How much does this guy weigh?”. Donovan was fascinated by the size of each wrestler.
In fairness, it’s easy to see why, and this isn’t exclusive to the biz. Indeed, fire up any major league football game now and you’ll hear NFL pundits marvel at hefty defensive ends. Pro wrestling has always had a thing for freakish physical size too, but…who’s the heaviest ever? It might surprise you to learn that WWE didn’t get their hands on him.
Some names that’ll instantly spring to mind don’t even crack into the top five. Obviously, those closest to the top didn’t live comfortable lives. It was impossible for them to function daily without some sort of discomfort or serious pain, and their lifespans were often shortened because they were so heavy.
Behold the heaviest wrestlers to ever lace up a pair of boots!
Weight In KG: 212.2
John Tenta was a huge man who looked way, way, way older than he actually was. Put it this way: John was in his 20s during his peak run as Earthquake in the WWF. Without being cruel, he easily could’ve passed for a dude in his 40s at least. Being fair, Tenta’s look was perfect for the monster heel gimmick he played.
At his heaviest, Earthquake was billed at 468lbs. It’s vital to point out that WWE (and pro wrestling in general) has added a few pounds to someone’s weight here or there to make numbers seem more impressive, but 468 is too specific to be a kayfabe weight. They’d have rounded it up to 470 at least.
Tenta was believably heavy anyway. A gentle giant, he was known for being really careful not to hurt opponents when hitting his sit-down squash for the win. Even enhancement workers brought in to get him over barely felt a thing once it came time for the painful-looking finish.