5 Best Big Men in WWE history

WWE has had its share of larger-than-life characters over the years. Some, by their sheer size and mass, have stood out larger than others.

History shows that wrestling fans love the feats and strength of men of size. Since the early days, promoters have sought out men whose larger than life dimensions drew fans from far and wide.

Size is not limited to how tall a wrestler is but also the girth. With that in mind, WWE has always had a role for the occasional behemoth that can almost literally fill the ring. In today’s WWE, Omos has shown promise. While he is never going to have a five-star match, his massive stature will always be a drawing card in WWE.

The two superstars who will not appear on this list despite their large appearances are Kane and the Undertaker. Both men are indeed large, but their gimmicks were less about their size and more about the aura and darkness that surrounded their characters.

Kane and the Undertaker are WWE legends for sure, but they fit other categories that might suit them better. This list will focus on superstars that were defined by their size in WWE.

On this list, size truly matters. So here are the 5 greatest big men in WWE history:

#5 WWE’s monster among men: Braun Strowman

When Braun Strowman first appeared in WWE as a large, masked black sheep wielding member of the Wyatt Family, few could have predicted his future success.

Strowman went on to become an integral part of Wyatt's feuds with the likes of The New Day, Kane, The Big Show and Ryback. He also had a memorable outing at the WWE’s Royal Rumble 2016, scoring the most eliminations in the event.

In WWE’s draft the fall after the Royal Rumble, the Wyatt family broke up and Braun Strowman was placed on Raw as a singles competitor. The 6’8” and 385 lb Strowman took off from there. WWE positioned Strowman perfectly as a giant wrecking machine.

Strowman would dominate meager competition and demand better opponents. He briefly feuded with Sami Zayn before setting his sights on Roman Reigns. By the time of that year’s Wrestlemania, Strowman was without a marquee match-up and, instead, performed in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Surprisingly, Strowman didn’t win but continued to look unstoppable.

A renewal of his feud with Reigns would follow after Wrestlemania and a variety of backstage feats of strength only enhanced Strowman’s growing popularity. He would eventually challenge for the WWE Universal Championship but was thwarted by his attempts repeatedly.

Strowman would go on to capture the IC title in 2019 before finally winning the WWE Universal Championship over Goldberg at Wrestlemania in 2020. His run as champion ended after 141 days, but Monster Among Men has proved his worth as a headlining WWE superstar.

WWE surprisingly went on to release Strowman in June of 2021. He has since resurfaced elsewhere, but it would not be a surprise to see Strowman in a WWE ring again sometime down the road.

#4 WWE’s bodyguard turned champion: Kevin Nash/Diesel

Kevin Nash’s career was floundering when he got a call from WWE to come in and serve as Shawn Michaels bodyguard. His new character, a 7ft giant of a man with a leather jacket and dark sunglasses, soon became nearly as popular as the Show Stopper himself. By the time Kevin Nash aka Diesel’s first WWE run was over, he had become Big Daddy Cool and a true WWE Superstar in his own right.

Diesel’s action spoke louder than his words when he first appeared to protect the Heartbreak Kid, Shawn Michaels. At 7ft tall and 328 lbs, Diesel was the rare big man that had the looks to go along with his imposing size.

Vince McMahon recognized the talent he had and soon elevated Diesel to the role of a regular in-ring performer. Diesel would go on to throw out 8 competitors in the 1994 Royal Rumble, claim his first title by defeating Razor Ramon for the Intercontinental title and win tag team gold with Shawn Michaels.

Before exiting WWE for WCW and becoming one of the founding members of the NWO as Kevin Nash, Diesel would also capture the WWE Title. He had the brawn, the looks and the appeal that made him a WWE legend and Hall of Famer.

#3 WWE’s mobile big man: Yokozuna

WWE Hall of Famer Yokozuna was listed as 6’4” and 568 pounds at the height of his success in the company. Some say that he got up well over 700 pounds before his untimely death at the age of 34 due to heart failure.

In his brief time in the WWE, Yokozuna was, pound for pound, one of the best performers in the company. He would capture the WWE title twice, the WWE tag titles twice and was the winner of the 1993 Royal Rumble.

Yokozuna was a member of the famous Anoaʻi family and was Samoan American rather than his billed Japanese heritage. His cousins include Roman Reigns, Rikishi, The Rock and Umaga to name a few. Brought in as a member of Mr. Fuji’s stable, Yokozuna quickly rose to the ranks as an unstoppable and nearly immovable big man.

He moved up the ranks quickly and had a match with Bret Hart at Wrestlemania IX for the WWE title. After winning the title, he lost it minutes later to Hulk Hogan in an impromptu match after his bout. He would then defeat Hogan at King of the Ring 1993 and hold onto the belt for 280 days.

Despite his immense size, Yoko was able to have quality matches with opponents ranging from Hogan to Hart to Lex Luger to The Undertaker. No less of a legend than 'Taker calls Yokozuna his toughest opponent ever.

It was always a spectacle to watch Yokozuna lumber to the ring in his kimono and prepare for battle. His Banzai Drop, in which he landed his ample backside on the chest of his opponent from a second rope drop, remains iconic.

WWE has had plenty of big men in its time as a company, but few matched the imposing presence of Yokozuna. Agile and nimble for such a large man, Yokozuna was one of the greatest big men to ever dawn the tights.

#2 WWE: It's the Big Show

Whether he was known as The Giant, The Big Show or simply Paul Wight, the Big Show was always a spectacle. WWE truly knows only one other wrestler with a more imposing presence.

Listed as 7ft and close to 500 lbs at the height of his career, The Big Show regularly found his way near the top of any WWE card. He was truly a giant among men.

Few superstars could possibly imagine the start of their career going like the Big Show’s career. He was hired by WCW and in his first match, was booked to take on the WCW World Champion Hulk Hogan.

He would go on to have a successful run as part of the NWO before joining the McMahon faction in WWE. He fluctuated between baby face and heel throughout his career but was always near or at the main event level.

His massive hands soon became a weapon either as a means to chokeslam his opponent or knock them out with one giant punch.

Big Show would have memorable feuds with the Rock, John Cena and even a boxer/wrestler match with Floyd Mayweather at Wrestlemania. Big Show was always a draw and always ready to entertain the WWE Universe whether he was a heel or a babyface.

#1. WWE’s 8th wonder of the world: Andre the Giant

There can only be one name atop any list of the greatest big men in WWE history and that name is Andre the Giant.

Billed as the 8th Wonder of the World, the 7’4” 500+ lb Andre was one of the most popular and beloved figures in WWE history. He was, at one time, unquestionably the most well known professional wrestler in the world. His legendary "undefeated streak" would not end until he faced Hulk Hogan at Wrestlemania III in one of the biggest bouts in WWE history.

Until his eventual heel turn vs. Hogan in 1987, Andre the Giant was one of the most popular WWE Superstars of all-time. He would take on all comers and sometimes two or three at once.

Andre had legendary feuds with Hogan, Big John Studd, Kamala and Black Jack Mulligan to name a few. He was known for his freakish strength, enormous head and hands and his temper when provoked. Andre never needed a world title because he was an attraction all his own. He was always the feature attraction wherever he traveled.

By the time of his heel turn and match with Hogan, Andre was nearing the end. His large body was worn down and he struggled to get through his matches. Andre had gone from an amazingly agile giant to a lumbering one, unable to move about the ring without the help of the ring ropes themselves. Yet even that version of Andre the Giant was one that drew 93,000 people into the Pontiac Silverdome to watch him square off with Hogan.

WWE made Andre the Giant the original inductee into its Hall of Fame. Truthfully, they could name an entire wing of the Hall after him and it would probably not do him justice.

He was the last of his kind; an attraction, a legend and a true experience. If you were lucky to see him in person, get close to him, you would understand the mystic of the 8th Wonder of the World, Andre the Giant.

---

Who do you think is the greatest big man in WWE history? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.