Size matters: 10 of wrestling's best big men

While wrestling fans thrill to the exploits of smaller sized athletes like Finn Balor and AJ Styles, there is just something awe-inspiring about seeing the biggest examples of humanity duke it out in the ring.

Just being big isn't enough to make this list: A wrestler needs to have good chemistry in the ring and be capable of doing more than letting people run into their boot. Without further ado, here are ten of wrestling's best big men.

---

#10 Kevin Nash

Kevin Nash is just under seven feet

Whether he's going by the name of Oz, Diesel, or just plain Kevin Nash, there's not doubt the founding father of the NWO belongs on the list of best big men. Nash won world titles in both the major promotions of the 90s, WCW and WWE.

He turned a lot of heads when he defected from Titansports and jumped ship to Turner's WCW, and the ratings triumph of the latter for nearly three years is proof of this.

While Nash doesn't have the skill set of someone like The Undertaker, he still belongs on this list due to his charisma and promo cutting skills. When Kevin Nash speaks, people tend to listen.

He is also one of the goofiest talents in wrestling history, and refuses to take himself too seriously.

#9 Big Cat Ernie Ladd

Former NFL great Ladd was close to the seven-foot mark

There is a long list of pro wrestlers who used to lace up their cleats on the gridiron, and Ernie Ladd is one of the most successful. A force in Pro Wrestling in the 1970s, Ladd mixed it up with everyone from Jerry Lawler to Mr. Wrestling.

Ladd won titles in every promotion he worked for, and was considered a top draw whether working heel or babyface.

Ladd is one of the few men to have slammed Andre the Giant, which is no mean feat. Like Nash, Ladd also had the gift of gab, and took trash talk to new levels during his heyday.

#8 Haystacks Calhoun

Haystacks Calhoun was a mammoth of a man.

Though not as tall as others on this list -- he was 'only' 6'7"-- Haystacks Calhoun weighed six hundred pounds, and had the strength to match his gargantuan frame.

The Texas native exaggerated his own hillbilly persona to become Haystacks Calhoun. Feuding with legends like Pat O'Connor and teaming with such luminaries as the Brisco Brothers, Calhoun was one of the biggest draws of the fifties and sixties.

He laid the groundwork for a lot of the bigger men to follow him in the sport.

#7 One Man Gang

OMG, it's One Man Gang!

At 6'9" and well over 400 pounds, One Man Gang towered over most of his opponents. With a penchant for brutality, the strong and usually silent Gang powered through most of his competition. He had notable feuds with Bam Bam Bigelow and (as Akeem) Hulk Hogan.

WWE hasn't mentioned him of late due to a class action lawsuit he is involved in, but Gang will forever be remembered for being a force of pure power in pro wrestling history.

#6 Gorilla Monsoon

Though most modern fans remember Monsoon as an announcer, he had a long and illustrious career as a wrestler

One of the most athletic of all wrestling's big men, Monsoon was a three sport athlete in high school, competing in football, track and field, and of course, wrestling.

Though Monsoon was massive, he also had a wicked tongue, and delivered great promos and later became one of the most beloved announcers of all time. He and Bobby "The Brain" Heenan would form wrestling's odd couple, with Heenan rooting for the heels and Monsoon trying to garner sympathy for the babyfaces.

Monsoon even had a fight with Muhammad Ali... which went about as you would expect, with Ali going for an airplane spin...

#5 King Kong Bundy

Bundy vs Hogan in a cage match

A big man whose grace belied his bulk, King Kong Bundy was one of the most dominating forces in pro wrestling. Holding his own against athletes large and small, he was known for demanding the referee make a 'five count,' just to prove how badly he had beaten them.

Bundy held the record for fastest victory in WWE history, when he defeated SD Jones in kayfabe nine seconds (in reality it was seventeen seconds.) Utilising his finisher, the Avalanche, he put genuine fear into his opponents, who went out of their way not to upset Bundy backstage. Otherwise, SQUISH!

Though Bundy never won a major world title, he did face Hulk Hogan in a cage at Wrestlemania 2.

#4 Bam Bam Bigelow

The man with the flaming skull (no, not Ghost Rider)

Bam Bam Bigelow wasn't just one of the biggest wrestlers -- he was also one of the most agile, capable of pulling off cartwheels and top rope splashes with the dexterity of a cruiserweight.

From his iconic skull tattoo to his flaming ring gear, Bam Bam was one of the most instantly recognisable wrestlers in the world. Before his death, he had competed in all of the 'big three' promotions of the 80s/90s -- WCW, WWE, and ECW, where he would win his first and only world title.

Bam Bam was as revered for his legit toughness as his easy-going personality backstage. Something of a primadonna, he often left federations if he felt they weren't utilizing his talents or paying him enough money.

A shrewd businessman, he also kept the copyright on the Bam Bam Bigelow name, which allowed him to remain unchanged as he floated throughout the various federations.

All that, and he can play a mean saxophone!

#3 The Great Khali

The Great Khali

Standing a Legit 7'1" tall, Khali is one of the tallest pro wrestlers to ever work a match. Drawing on a chiselled physique earned in bodybuilding competitions, Khali first worked as an actor, appearing in such films as The Longest Yard, before making the jump to pro wrestling.

Upon his debut, he devastated The Undertaker, and entered into a feud with him. After that, he would face Batista in a Punjabi Prison match, a variant that still gets play in the WWE today.

Khali doesn't wrestle as actively as he used to, but he has become a great mentor and teacher to Indian wrestlers of the modern era. Khali is also a former world champion, adding to his prestige and mystique.

#2 Big John Studd

Big John Studd

Trained by the legendary Killer Kowalski, Big John Studd was as graceful as he was large, capable of pulling off technical moves like the victory roll. He often carried bigger men like Andre the Giant and King Kong Bundy to excellent matches, doing the bulk of the 'selling' or taking bumps.

Big John Studd has held the prestigious NWA American heavyweight championship, and trained former Raven's Flock member Ron Reese/Studd for the ring. He once competed in a 10,000 dollar body slam match against Andre the Giant, which he lost. Andre would then throw most of the cash to the live crowd, further incensing the big man.

Though Studd is no longer with us, his legacy lives on as a big man who could work, cut promos, and put over talent.

#1 Andre the Giant

Andre the Giant

The biggest man in wrestling history also had the biggest heart. Andre was known for his warm, engaging personality and was one of the best 'ribbers' in the business, meaning he liked to pull practical jokes on his fellow wrestlers. He once replaced all the paint remover in an arena with water so Rowdy Roddy Piper would have to wear his bizarre body paint home.

Andre was larger than life in more ways than just the wrestling ring. He once drank over a hundred beers in one sitting, then ordered wine with his dinner! Allegedly, Andre needed a fifth of scotch to feel a 'good buzz, bossman.'

Hulk Hogan recounts stories of Andre taking him out to eat...as in staying at a restaurant ALL DAY, and eating breakfast, lunch, and then dinner with only a few bathroom breaks in between. Andre had one of the shortest WWE title reigns in history, where he 'surrendered' the belt to Ted DiBiase after taking if off of Hulk Hogan.

No conversation about wrestling's big men would be complete without Andre, which is why he is at the top of this list. Here he is capturing his only world title from Hulk Hogan in 1988.

Ten of the biggest men in wrestling; ten undeniable icons. Who do you think was the best big man? Leave your comments below!