Mark Henry is a name most people know from the WWE realm, but there is another side to the 6'4 beast we know. Henry made his professional debut in the WWE in 1996, and during that time, the 360-pound menace was also making his name in the powerlifting realm. He had some of the most astonishing lifts during his prime. Let's find out his records.
Recently, Mark Henry featured in a podcast with Chris Van Vliet, and the host asked about his records.
"My actual best lifts are not on barbell," replied the 6'4 beast.
Mark Henry continued sharing his records, starting with squats. The former WWE star athlete claimed to squat 1,006 pounds, and not only that, this is just the start. He bench-pressed 601 pounds and deadlifted 903 pounds raw with no equipment at the 1995 USAPL (ADFPA) Nationals. Henry had recorded a 924-pound deadlift in his training camp before he made the 903 record.
The former WWE star athlete also claimed to have snatched over 400 pounds, and in clean and jerk, he lifted over 500 pounds. Mark Henry even won the 2002 Arnold Strongman Classic, showcasing his insane strength.
"It's only been about three Americans that have ever done that. And, strong man, I won. It was the heaviest competition that had ever been created. I'm trying to be as humble about it as possible I could be," said Mark Henry.
Mark Henry's notable victories (via Wikipedia)
- He was the two-time powerlifting champion at his school.
- Texas State High School Powerlifting Championships, 1988, 1st place.
- National High School Powerlifting Championships, 1990, 1st place.
- International Junior (20–23) Powerlifting Championships, 1991, 1st place.
- American Open Weightlifting Championships, 1992, 1st place.
- U.S. Olympic Festival Championships, 1993, 1st place.
- U.S. Olympic Festival Championships, 1994, 1st place.
- ADFPA (USAPL) National Powerlifting Championships, 1995, 1st place. (He made his 903-pound deadlift record.)
- WDFPF World Powerlifting Championships, 1995, 1st place.
- North America, Central America, and Caribbean Islands Championships, 1996, 1st place.
- USAPL National Powerlifting Championships, 1997, 1st place.
- In the Pan American Games, Henry was a silver medalist in the Olympic weightlifting championship.
- He earned a gold medal in snatch in the same championship.
- Arnold Strongman Classic, 2002, 1st place.
- Henry became the first man in history to one-hand clean and push press the "unliftable" Thomas Inch dumbbell. The dumbbell weighs 172 pounds and has a 6.03 cm diameter.
- The former WWE star athlete made his name in the International Sports Hall of Fame. (Class of 2012).