While playing college football for the University of Iowa, Big E quickly discovered he had a rare form of raw strength, unlike anyone else he'd ever been around. Coaches, family members and friends would praise him for his strength, but it truly sank in once he was on the football field, tossing 300-pound offensive linemen around as if they were lightweights.
Following his tenure at the University of Iowa, Big E turned his attention to powerlifting.
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In 2010, Big E competed in his first USA Powerlifting meet, at the US Open Championships. He actually shattered all four raw powerlifting records at that event. He would also go on to break the National deadlift record as well, en-route to becoming the top overall Heavyweight lifter.
His numbers would include a 611-pound squat, 490-pound bench press, 490-pound back squat, as well as 749-pound deadlift. All combined, his raw totals were 1850 pounds. Since Big E became a WWE Superstar, he has maxed a 575-pound bench press record, 799 pounds on the deadlift, as well as a 711-pound squat, without straps or wraps.
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About the author
J. Carpenter
Jonathan Carpenter is a pro wrestling journalist at Sportskeeda. After obtaining a degree in political science from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, he started writing WWE articles in 2016. Jonathan believes integrity is vital in journalism and ensures his work is high on accuracy. He conducts in-depth research and verifies information from various sources before curating a feature.
Jonathan has engaged in many meaningful conversations with prominent pro wrestling personalities like Drew McIntyre and DDP. He grew up in Memphis, admiring Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan during WWE’s Golden Era in the ‘80s. He has attended many pro wrestling events and credits The Hulkster for making his childhood memorable.
Jonathan, a big fan of Bray Wyatt, would like to see the latter's brother, Bo Dallas, continue his legacy as Uncle Howdy. If he were to work on the storyline, Jonathan would book the return of Erick Rowan as Howdy’s muscle. He thinks it would be a great way to honor the former Universal Champion.
When not writing pro wrestling features, Jonathan likes to collect sports memorabilia and has amassed a large collection of event-used and autographed relics over the years.
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