HeadLocker — Jay Shannon
The Toughest Wrestlers in History
Our resident philosopher, Jay Shannon, takes a look at some of the most brutal and vicious competitors to ever lace up a pair of boots.
While running errands, earlier this week, I took a side-trip into a local toy store. I was looking for something soft and fuzzy for our pup, Molly. What I found was a Bruiser Brody action figure. I was happy to find the little doll that represented one of my favorite wrestlers of all time. That little figure now sits on my desk, clutching his tiny chain. That gave the inspiration for this column.
I’ve always been a fan of the tougher wrestlers. I wasn’t all that impressed with the pretty boys that looked like they had just walked off the catwalk to wrestle. I can appreciate the Rick Martels, the Shawn Michaels, and the Marcus Bagwells, but to really enjoy wrestling, I need someone seriously brutal in the mix. I present to you my choices for The Toughest Wrestlers of All Time.
15. Freddie Blassie
The Freddie Blassie that most fans know was the elderly manager who had to use a cane to walk. The Freddie Blassie that I like to think of was the man known as “The Vampire”. Back in the ’50s and 60s, Freddie Blassie was one of the most sadistic heels to tour the country. At one time, Freddie was forced to wear a face protector, much like Hannibal in Silence of the Lambs, just to prevent his from biting his opponents.
Blassie used a claw hold to take out his opponents. He was also known to gnaw on opponents like most people chomp down on Bar-B-Qued ribs. Blassie held numerous titles. The only person that could rival Blassie for brutality was one of his biggest rivals, The Sheik. Blassie was so well-known during the 1960s that he actually made a cameo appearance on The Dick Van Dyke Show.
14. New Jack
He was one half of The Gangstas. He is on every ECW highlight reel for Balcony Dives. New Jack was not afraid to bleed in the ring. He was even less afraid to rip open his opponents.
New Jack has been so brutal that he’s actually been jailed for excessive violence towards an opponent. When the WWE acquired ECW, it was rumored that Vince McMahon flatly refused to have New Jack under contract to the company, due to New Jack’s volatile behavior. New Jack did work for TNA, short term. New Jack is in no way a role model for children. His profanity-laced rants are an embarrassment to wrestling. His skills in (and out) of the ring are undeniable.
13. Terry Gordy
In North America, Terry was the Quiet Giant member of the Freebirds. In Japan, he was legendary for his toughness. Terry received a lot of brutality training from Stan Hansen, Jimmy Snuka, Steve Williams, and others. He was also coached by Bruiser Brody when both men worked for World Class.
I was lucky enough to meet Terry on a few occasions while I attended the University of North Texas. Terry was a very soft-spoken man who loved his family and respected his friends. In the ring, Gordy was a juggernaut that could power through opponents with ease.
12. Dick The Bruiser
This barrel-chested brawler would just as soon take out rowdies at a local watering hole as battle Verne Gagne inside the squared circle. Bruiser often teamed with another powerhouse, The Crusher. They held the AWA World tag team titles on multiple occasions. He also joined with Wilbur Snyder to hold tag team gold.
Dick won several singles titles, as well. He feuded with some of the toughest men in the sport, Including King Kong (Bruiser) Brody, Ernie Ladd, Ivan Koloff and Harley Race. Dick The Bruiser wrestled actively until 1985. After he retired, he worked for WCW as a road agent. Dick the Bruiser died in late 1991, at age 62, from a ruptured esophagus.
11. “Dr. Death” Steve Williams
Williams was a former college football player that was scouted by Bill Watts. Williams became one of the cornerstones for Watts’ Mid-South/UWF organization. Williams teamed with Ted DiBiase to form a brutal, yet successful tandem. After the absorption of the UWF, Williams was paired with Terry Gordy in WCW. They moved from tag team supremacy in WCW to legendary status in Japan.
Williams also held numerous singles titles during his career. Williams was a Triple Crown champion in Japan. He was also a UWF champion, defeating Big Bubba Rogers (Big Boss Man). Williams had a brief run with the WWE that ended in near-disaster. Jim Ross had talked the Powers-That-Be into bringing in Wiliams. The original plan was to create the Brawl-For-All as a vehicle for Williams to dominate the federation. Williams was injured in the opening round by Bart Gunn. WWE lost faith in Williams and killed his “push”. They eventually released him with little fanfare.
Williams returned to Japan, where he dominated the island nation. Williams had to retire, temporarily, due to health issues. His recovery from cancer cemented his legend as a survivor and a tough man. Steve Williams has recently returned to wrestling in Texas and Oklahoma. Williams may yet have a successful run in WWE.
10. The Sheik
Ed Farhat was a vicious grappler that used fireballs like most men used Fore-Arm Smashes. The Sheik was actually voted The Most Sadistic Wrestler of All Time by one of the leading wrestling magazines. The Sheik embraced the Hardcore style of wrestling, decades before the ECW was created.
The Sheik was a world traveler who based himself out of the Detroit area. The Sheik was the promoter for the area. He was also a much sought after trainer. Sheik’s two most famous students were his nephew, Sabu, and Rob Van Dam. Sabu has been called the heir apparent to Sheik’s legacy. The Sheik was the most evil force to ever step into a wrestling ring. Ed Farhat was a credit to the industry.
9. The Road Warriors (Hawk and Animal)
These two men started out as bouncers at a popular wrestler’s bar in Minnesota. They were introduced to legendary wrestler/trainer, Eddie Sharkey. Sharkey took the two brutes and converted them into wrestling machines.
The Road Warriors (aka The Legion of Doom) were the toughest team of the 80s and 90s. They held tag team gold in every federation that they fought for. They destroyed everyone in their path. Originally dressed in biker leathers, the duo eventually morphed into face-painted wrecking machines dressed in football shoulder pads that were augmented with steel spikes.
There were two additional versions of the Legion of Doom, one with Droz and the other with Heidenreich. Both were pale imitators to the original. Hawk and Animal were monsters that could brutalize better than anyone in the industry.
8. “Dr. D” David Schultz
Schultz was a former bodyguard and bouncer that was brought into wrestling. He had a lousy attitude and a nasty temper. That temper would lead to one of the most infamous television interviews in wrestling history.
John Stossel, of 20/20, was sent to interview the various people in the WWF. Everything went fine as Stossel talked with Hulk Hogan and a few others about the world of wrestling. Stossel made the mistake of crossing verbal swords with David Schultz. Stossel provoked Schultz by suggesting that wrestling was fake. Schultz hauled off and Open-Hand Slapped the reporter, twice. Stossel suffered some inner ear damage, due to the attack. Vince McMahon and the WWF were sued for the incident.
David Schultz was fired for his actions. Schultz also found himself black-balled from pro wrestling. No one wanted to deal with the unpredictablity of Schultz. Schultz returned to bodyguarding to make a living. Eventually, he moved on to bounty hunting, as well. He hasn’t been seen near a wrestling ring in close to 25 years.
7. Stan “The Lariat” Hansen
He was known as The Bad Man from Borger, Texas. Stan Hansen was a nasty-tempered Texan that had no qualms about tearing his opponents apart. Hansen held the AWA championship until he refused to defend it and was stripped. Stan’s most notorious action was in “breaking the neck” of Bruno Sammartino with his Lariat Clothesline. Stan also had a nasty feud with Lex Luger, in WCW, over the US title.
Stan’s biggest success came in Japan. Stan joined other American superstars like Vader, Bruiser Brody, Terry Gordy, Steve Williams and Jimmy Snuka to become legends and idols in the Land of the Rising Sun. Hansen still battles occasionally, though age has slowed him down. He is still seen as one of the toughest men to enter the ring.
6. The Undertaker
The “Dead Man” has battled for two decades in this great sport. He was trained by The Spoiler, one of the most brutal grapplers of the 60s and 70s. From humble beginnings in World Class, the man now known as the Undertaker moved on to a brief stay in WCW as “Mean” Mark Callous. He was one half of the Skyscrapers under the leadership of Teddy Long.
When Mark moved to the WWE, he became a near-unstoppable force that destroyed everyone who crossed him. His win streak at Wrestlemania will likely never be matched. Undertaker has battled some of the largest men in the industry. King Kong Bundy, Mark Henry, The Big Show, Giant Gonzales and more have all fallen before the might of the Undertaker.
Physically, the Undertaker is impressive. In addition to his enormous size, Undertaker is also covered in tattooes. Undertaker is a huge fan of the motorcyclic way of life. Undertaker went through a phase in his career, known by many as the Underbiker stage, where he rode a chopper to the ring and dressed in leathers. No matter what ring attire the Undertaker chooses to wear, he still strikes fear in the hearts of his opponents.
5. Abdullah the Butcher
The Madman from the Sudan was one of the bloodiest competitors to ever step through the ropes. He utilized a wide variety of weapons to rip, shred and tear apart his opponents. His most trusted tag team partner was a fork. The two of them would literally carve a path of destruction through opponents all around the world.
Abby never spoke in the ring. He intimidated his opponents through sheer brutality. The wars with Bruiser Brody and Dusty Rhodes were not for the weak at heart. They spilled more blood than an over-turned Bloodmobile. The scars on Abby’s head looked like a road map of the LBJ Freeway in Dallas. Abdullah was one who never surrendered. Even when he was electrocuted in WCW (one of the worst gimmick matches ever), he simply passed out.
Abdullah the Butcher brought pain and destruction to every opponent he ever faced. He scared small children (and a few adults, as well). The man behind the persona may be a nice restaurant owner than loves to talk to fans that come in for some great Atlanta ribs, but Abdullah the Butcher was a psychopath that enjoyed ripping the flesh of his victims to the horror and disgust of fans.
4. “Big” Van Vader (Leon White)
Leon White left football to work for Verne Gagne’s AWA. He started out as a non-descript character known as the Baby Bull. It would take a change of scenery and a change of character to create one of the most dominant and destructive forces in wrestling history.
When Leon went to Japan, he was renamed “Big” Van Vader. Many people believe that the name was based on Darth Vader, but he was actually named after a Japanese comic book character. The odd headdress that Vader wore in Japan, WCW and WWE was created in tribute to the character from Japanese literature. Vader was vicious and brutal in Japan. Vader had the unique status of being the first person to hold championship gold on three continents at the same time (Asia, Europe and North America). Vader’s success brought him to the attention of WCW.
Vader cut a wicked path of destruction during his WCW days. He caused Mick Foley to lose part of his ear in Germany and forced Nikita Koloff into early retirement due to injuries. Vader also caused a severe back injury that temporarily paralyzed prelim wrestler, Joe Thurman. Vader also had a brutal pair of runs in WWE.
Vader returned to Japan after his final run with WWE in 2005. He is considered one of the top five American imports to Japan. He is also one of the most brutal competitors to work in the North American markets.
3. Bruiser Brody
Brody was a huge man that towered over most of his opponents. With long hair and beard and huge muscles, Brody looked like someone that walked out of the Neaderthal Era. Brody battled on six of the seven continents during his career. He brutalized opponents with sadistic fury matched by only a select few.
Brody often stomped to the ring brandishing a length of logger’s chain. Brody would swing the chain to clear a path to the ring. He would also use the chain to do further damage to his opponents. Brody worked for most of the major companies, including the WWE, the AWA and the NWA. His top three territories were World Class, Japan and Puerto Rico.
It was in Puerto Rico that Brody’s life came to a sudden and bloody end. Jose Huertas Gonzales, also known as Invader I, attacked Brody in a cowardly assault in a locker room shower. Gonzales stabbed Brody several times, and tried to cut Brody’s throat. Brody died of the injuries. Thanks to Tony Atlas’ refusal to testify, Gonzales was never convicted of the murder of Brody.
Brody is still honored as a legend in Japan and the US. His legacy lived on in the form of John Nord, also known as the Berserker. Nord was trained by Brody to become a similar character. Cactus Jack also had many Brody-esque characteristics. Terry Gordy was also one of Brody’s students. 20 years after his murder, Brody is still considered one of the toughest characters to ever work in wrestling.
2. Sabu
Trained by his uncle, The Sheik, Sabu is a daredevil beyond equal. The majority of his moves involve high-risk aerial moves. Sabu is also not afraid to bleed.
One of the most infamous stories regarding Sabu was a match against Terry Funk, where Sabu’s arm was sliced open by barbed wire. Sabu used tape to close up his arm, so that he could finish up the match. Terry Funk referred to it as “the damndest thing I’ve ever seen”. Sabu also came close to having his neck broken due to a botched landing from a Back Body Drop against Chris Benoit. Sabu’s neck was re-injured by Taz when Sabu went through a table at an odd angle. Sabu has endured numerous broken ribs during his career. He has also had his jaw broken in the ring. Despite all the injuries, Sabu always returned to the ring to fight.
1. Terry Funk
At 64 years old, Terry Funk should be watching his grandchildren wrestle. Instead, he’s still working the independent circuits in both the US and Japan.
Terry Funk is considered The Grandfather of Hardcore. He has battled in some of the most insane matches of all time. He and Sabu were involved in the horrific barbed wire match that Paul Heyman claimed was the most evil match ever created. Terry’s skin was shredded by the sharp barbs and his clothing was turned into rags.
Terry went from a basically scientific wrestler to a brutal brawler. He has teamed and feuded with some of the greatest of all time. He was the NWA World champion and the ECW champion. He is considered an icon of wrestling in Japan. Terry has helped to further the careers of dozens of stars, both directly and indirectly.
Terry has retired on numerous occasions, but the sound of the ringside bell keeps calling him back. While he is not the oldest wrestler on the scene (his brother, Dory, is actually three years older), he is the most active of the older wrestlers on the circuit. For his age, his ability and his over-all ruggedness, Terry Funk is most likely the toughest wrestler to ever step through the ropes.
In Conclusion:
There are dozens of men (and a few ladies) that come to mind when thinking of tough wrestlers. I didn’t even mention Ox Baker, Mark Lewin, Steve Austin, Crusher, Awesome Kong, or the Vachons.
The truth is that each and every performer that works a wrestling show is a tough person. The travel and physical demands on their bodies requires a certain intestinal fortitude that the normal man or woman just doesn’t have. This column is dedicated with much respect to all the wrestlers. You all deserve credit for being some of the toughest people on the planet.
–Jay Shannon
JayofPWD@SBCGlobal.net
(4/1/08)
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