Professional wrestling has always been viewed from two different aspects: The storytelling that precedes the actual in-ring action. And it goes without saying that despite all the drama building up, it’s the in-ring action that people wait for. There have been excellent promos and storylines, but nothing tops those better than a perfectly delivered match.And to do that in the ring, it is quite essential to have the material for it. A wicked body structure and agility in the ring are possibly the eye-catching traits for any wrestler. To show for that, none could be better suited than Brock Lesnar. Brock Lesnar’s very presence in the ring is enough to create an irresistible aura and there’s a reason he only makes sporadic appearances. However, not every wrestler was as gifted as Brock Lesnar.Some had physiques that weren’t really imposing, but still managed to make a great impression in the WWE. Let’s take a look at the top 5 wrestlers who made it big with rather unorthodox physiques:
#5 X-Pac
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Apart from the big guys like Shawn Michaels and Triple H, X-Pac is probably the only guy that was on all the major stables of the 90s era, both in WCW and WWE. He was part of the Kliq, then one of the main men involved in the formation of the DX before going on to become a part of the New World Order. And to think he did all this without becoming the big name in either is something remarkable, indeed.
However, he wasn’t the proper wrestling tough guy you’d want at a height of 6 feet. He had a rather unimpressive physique that was somewhere between that of a high-flyer and a technical wrestler. X-Pac was a significant part of the Attitude Era and showed us why looks and a tough-guy body weren’t the only things necessary to make it big in the WWE.
#4 Honky Tonky Man
A name that suited his gimmick and impressive skill on the mic, the Honky Tonky Man was a refreshing figure back then and an initial crowd favourite. And once he turned heel, he was very good at that having some excellent feuds against Jake “The Snake” Roberts and eventually, ”Macho Man” Randy Savage. He had a record title run with the Intercontinental Championship for 64 weeks.
While he later went on to work for the WCW, he was never the quintessential wrestler. He had a huge body that hardly seemed fit and athletic, as you’d have to come to expect of a pro wrestler. And considering his long dress back then, you wouldn’t be smirked upon if you mistook him for a music star. And thus, he does find a place in our list of wrestlers who made it big with unimpressive physiques.
#3 CM Punk
The man, who boldly proclaimed “Pro-Wrestling is fake” in a recent interview, finds himself at third spot in our list. The voice of the voiceless, the man who took the entire WWE Universe for a ride last year was always one of the best talents to emerge out of the Indies. He was the complete package, lacking in nothing. He delivered some of the best promos of the past decade, while giving the viewers some outstanding matches as well.
However, if you could look into everything that CM Punk possessed and analyze what he lacked, it was the gigantic build. Maybe that’s what made him so famous, but for a man who was so proficient in the ring and the mic, Punk lacked the bossy stature in the ring. He could do it all on the mic, but never was he able to stand toe-to-toe against the Brock Lesnar in the ring. Perhaps, UFC will help him grow his physique and make him a truly dangerous guy.
#2 Bray Wyatt
Bray Wyatt has always shown a lot of promise. His promo work is undoubtedly top-notch, while he works really hard to persist with his gimmick, but then, due to poor booking, he always fails at the big stage. That has made him seem less of a threat than he was initially, but his gimmick allows him to overcome those shortcomings in the ring.
Although Wyatt’s in-ring work is very good, his appearance is unorthodox and ragged, to say the least. Luke Harper might be the one wearing the dirty clothes, but Wyatt’s entire body shape looks rather clumsy and out of hand with his gimmick. The Wyatt we see on the mic behind a lamp is totally different from the one we see in the ring. And hopefully, that changes for better and Bray Wyatt achieves a lot more in the near future.
#1 Mick Foley
It had to be him to top the list, without a doubt. Perhaps, the greatest hardcore performer in the WWE, Mick Foley will always be remembered for his legendary matches and great spots. Taking on various characters and performing them very well, Foley was one of the mainstays of the attitude era. His segment as Mankind with Rock “This is your life” is still the highest viewed segment in the history of the WWE.
However, we should question ourselves, did he really look like the fittest guy on the planet? One thing we know is that he took crazy bumps which literally no one else would have, but then, he hardly seemed like the strong guy. He had a pretty bulky structure, not exactly reminiscent of a professional wrestler, but made up for that with his determination and grit which is unmatched till date. Mick Foley is a truly one-of-a-kind performer and to say that he did it all with such an unorthodox and bizarre-looking physique is a great feat.