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WWE Champions of black descent in the last decade included Bobby Lashley, Big E, and Kofi Kingston. Lashley was the most successful black WWE superstar in this regard. He became Champion for the first time on March 1, 2021, for 196 days after defeating The Miz. Lashley became Champion on a separate occasion for 21 days after defeating Brock Lesnar at the Royal Rumble 2022, but injury issues turned out to be detrimental to his prospects.

Kofi Kingston had a less popular run in the WWE than Lashley. He defeated Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania 35 to win the title. He held the title for 180 days before losing it to Brock Lesnar on the debut episode of SmackDown on Fox.

Hulk Hogan passed away at the age of 71 due to a cardiac arrest on July 24. He was at his Florida residence when paramedics were called for an emergency. His family later confirmed the news. Hogan made his professional wrestling debut in 1977 and joined the WWE (then WWF) in 1979. In no time, he became the most popular star in the sport.

Hulk Hogan was the face of WWE when they kick-started WrestleMania. He was the baby face of WWE at the time. He won six heavyweight championships with the company, helping to achieve mainstream status for the company. However, he wasn’t the most pleasant star to work with in the WWE.

Many wrestlers had a problem with Hogan outside of the ring. Some of the legends who worked with him back in the day have shared stories about nightmare experiences with the Hulkster. Here are a few wrestlers who did...

Top 5 Longest-Reigning WWE Champs: From Hulk Hogan To Pedro Morales (Photo Credit – Instagram)

Ever wonder who’s left their mark by holding the WWE World Heavyweight Championship for ages? It’s one thing to grab the gold, but holding onto it while hungry challengers circle is a different game altogether. These legends didn’t just win; they dominated, turning their reigns into epic sagas. From the Hulkamania days to the unforgettable dominance of Bruno Sammartino, these champs turned their title runs into iconic chapters of WWE history. Imagine becoming unbeatable by even the fiercest competitors.

So buckle up as we look at five wrestlers who won and held the WWE title for what seemed like forever. The longest-reigning champions showed that staying on top is more challenging than getting there.

1. Bruno Sammartino: 2,803 days

Bruno Sammartino’s name is the ultimate gold when you think of top-notch WWE champs who’ve...

Only a few families have left a mark as unforgettable as the Anoa’i clan in the world of wrestling. It began with High Chief Peter Maivia and was carried forward by his nephews, Afa and Sika Anoa’i, who brought their electrifying presence to the WWE in the late ’70s and early ’80s. And now continues with names such as Roman Reigns and Dwayne Johnson.

Dwayne Johnson as Luke Hobbs in Fast Five | Credits: Universal Pictures

With the recent passing of Sika Anoa’i in June, the wrestling world has now mourned the loss of his brother and tag team partner, Afa Anoa’i. Dwayne Johnson, another shining star from the Samoan wrestling heritage, honored his late uncle with a heartfelt tribute on Instagram.

The Other Half of The Wild Samoans, Afa Anoa’i, Passes Away Two Months After His Brother Sika Anoa’i

Wrestling legend Afa Anoa’i passed...

Since securing the WWE Universal title at Payback, 2020, against Braun Strawman and the late Bray Wyatt, Roman Reigns has yet to lose his title and is currently standing at 1,294 days. And with WrestleMania 40 inching closer, which will see the WWE Superstar Star going against Cody Rhodes, many believe the champion will be finally pinned for his title on Night Two of Wm.

However, WWE might book it otherwise in order to push the Hobbs & Shaw Star towards one huge record, held by Wwwf legend Bruno Sammartino.

Roman Reigns Is the Closest a Modern Superstar Has Been to Bruno Sammartino’s Record

Bruno Sammartino | Credit: WWE

On January 20 this year, Roman Reigns surpassed the Italian Strongman’s 1,237-day reign as the champion, which Sammartino reached during his second run as the company’s champion. However, this is nowhere close to his unparalleled feat of 2,803 days, which is a testament to Sammartino’s longevity.

When you hear the words “professional wrestler,” whose face comes to mind? “Well, let me tell you something, brother…” there may be no more iconic figure in the world of professional wrestling than Terrence Gene Bollea. But you may know him as Hulk Hogan.

So Wtf happened to Hulk Hogan? With a career that spans over 45 years, a lot. Let’s start at the beginning. But before we do, let’s keep in mind that the source of a lot of what follows is Bollea, himself. The complete record of Terry Bollea’s life is My Life Outside the Ring, his 2009 autobiography, which is more exhaustive than 2002’s Hollywood Hogan. In an industry stocked full of duplicitous people, Hulk Hogan’s long been considered to have perhaps the most strained relationship with the truth of any of them. But neither should we let the truth get in the way of a good story.

Dyane Johnson has been the talk of the tow for quite a while, and his return to WWE has just increased the gossip more than ever. Recently, the professional wrestler/actor has trademarked a list of his catchphrases; one doesn’t even belong to him.

Dwayne Johnson. Image: WWE

Johnson as heal in WWE throughout his career has been mesmerizing. He is good in the mics, one must admit that. In his heal phase, The Rock has used several catchphrases, and now he is legally on the path to owning them all.

Suggested“He’s also stylishly trying to clear his name”: Dwayne Johnson’s Heartfelt Support for Rebecca Ferguson Feels Like Damage Control to a Few Fans for the Wrong Reasons

Dwayne Johnson Trademarks Several WWE Catchphrases He Used

Dwayne Johnson. Image: WWE

Just give him a mic, Dwayne Johnson will make the best use of it, at least for great fun.

Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, better known to wrestling fans as The Iron Sheik, is no longer with us. According to the wrestling legend’s Twitter account, the beloved athlete died at 81. “It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of The Iron Sheik,” the announcement reads, “but we also take solace unknowing that he departed this world peacefully, leaving behind a legacy that will endure for generations to come.”

Respect The Legend Forever pic.twitter.com/Cr6CC9pXSO

— The Iron Sheik (@the_ironsheik) June 7, 2023

According to his official bio on the WWE website, The Iron Sheik began his amateur wrestling career in his native Iran. As a master of the suplex, he often dominated opponents with hard-hitting moves, including the Camel Clutch maneuver. In 1983, The Iron Sheik became WWE Champion after he defeated Bob Backlund at Madison Square Garden. However, his victory was short-lived...

WWE fans are mourning a legend.

On Wednesday, the family of former pro wrestler Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, known worldwide as The Iron Sheik, shared the sad news that he has passed away at age 81.

Read More: Billy Graham, WWE Hall of Fame Legend ‘Superstar,’ Dead At 79

“With his larger than life persona, incredible charisma, and unparalleled in-ring skills, he captivated audiences around the globe,” he family said in a statement on his Twitter account. “He was a trailblazer, breaking barriers and paving the way for a diverse range of wrestlers who followed in his footsteps.”

Respect The Legend Forever pic.twitter.com/Cr6CC9pXSO

— The Iron Sheik (@the_ironsheik) June 7, 2023

“Beyond the glitz and glamour of the squared circle, The Iron Sheik was a man of immense passion and dedication,” the statement continued. “He embodied resilience. He overcame countless challenges in his life, both inside and outside the wrestling ring.

Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, the man known to millions of wrestling fans as The Iron Sheik, has died. He was 81.

The news was announced through Vaziri’s official Twitter account. “Today, we gather with heavy hearts to bid farewell to a true legend, a force of nature and an iconic figure who left an incredible mark on the world of professional wrestling,” reads Wednesday’s Tweet. “It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of The Iron Sheik, but we also take solace unknowing that he departed this world peacefully, leaving behind a legacy that...

Greco-Roman wrestler and WWE legend The Iron Sheik (real name Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri) has died at the age of 81. The former WWF World Heavyweight champion has been in the WWE Hall of Fame since 2005 and is remembered for his rivalries with Hulk Hogan, Bob Backlund, and Sgt. Slaughter. News of his passing comes via his Twitter account. “With his larger-than-life persona, incredible charisma, and unparalleled in-ring skills, he captivated audiences around the globe,” said the statement from his Twitter account. “He was a trailblazer, breaking barriers and paving the way for a diverse range of wrestlers who followed in his footsteps.” Before becoming a wrestler, Vaziri was a bodyguard for the last Shah of Iran, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. He then became a wrestler for his home country, almost making it on the 1968 Olympic team. Following this, Vaziri moved to the United States, where he won an Aau Greco-Roman wrestling championship,...

Hossein Khosrow Vaziri, the Iran-born wrestler known as the Iron Sheik, who channeled America’s hatred of his homeland to build a career as one of the most despised ring villains of his era, died Wednesday. He was 81.

“Today, we gather with heavy hearts to bid farewell to a true legend, a force of nature and an iconic figure who left an incredible mark on the world of professional wrestling,” read a statement posted to the Iron Sheik’s Twitter account announcing his death. The WWE also paid tribute on Twitter; a cause of death was not disclosed.

A former bodyguard for the Shah of Iran, Vaziri came to the U.S. in the late 1960s. For his wrestling persona, he shaved his head, grew a mustache, sported a ghutra headdress and curled-toe boots, and swung a pair of 75-pound Persian meels above his head as a demonstration of his strength.

The Iron Sheik, the notorious pro-wrestling villain who warred with Hulk Hogan in the 1980s and whose gimmick capitalized on U.S. tensions with Iran, has died at 81. The Sheik’s death was announced Wednesday via his popular yet polarizing Twitter account, which helped turn the sports-entertainment cult figure into an online presence.

“Today, we gather with heavy hearts to bid farewell to a true legend, a force of nature, and an iconic figure who left an incredible mark on the world of professional wrestling,” the post read. “We also...

The man born Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri but known to millions of pro wrestling fans as The Iron Sheik has died. He was 81.

His death was announced on his official Twitter page. “It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of The Iron Sheik,” the announcement reads, “but we also take solace unknowing that he departed this world peacefully, leaving behind a legacy that will endure for generations to come.”

A cause of death was not disclosed. Read the entire statement below.

According to his official bio at the WWE website, Vaziri was an amateur wrestler in his native Iran before becoming a leading star and top villain, or “heel,” of professional wrestling during the World Wrestling Federation’s heyday in the 1980s. He had relocated to the United States in the early 1970s to work for as a wrestling coach and trainer for the U.

Former WWE champion and Hall of Famer the Iron Sheik has died at the age of 81.

Per WrestleZone, the untimely passing of Sheik, real name Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, was confirmed by his family via his official Twitter page. Details surrounding his death were not revealed. "Today, we gather with heavy hearts to bid farewell to a true legend, a force of nature, and an iconic figure who left an incredible mark on the world of professional wrestling. It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of The Iron Sheik, but we also take solace in knowing that he departed this world peacefully, leaving behind a legacy that will endure for generations to come," said Sheik's family in a statement.

Respect The Legend Forever...

Roman Reigns' run as the WWE Universal Champion broke another milestone after he surpassed 1000 days with the belt.

The WWE Superstar and Universal Champion celebrated his crossing of the 1000-day marker with a post on Twitter. This historic marker plants the "Tribal Chief" as one of the longest-reigning world champions in WWE history, with only Pedro Morales, Hulk Hogan, Bob Backlund, and Bruno Sammartino ahead of him. Reigns currently holds two belts in the promotion, having also reigned as WWE Champion for over 400 days, making his official title the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.

Related: John Cena Says He Regrets His WWE Feud With Dwayne Johnson

☝...

Superstar Billy Graham, the professional wrestler whose larger-than-life ring persona and charismatic style was hugely influential on the likes of Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin, Jesse Ventura and Ric Flair, has died. He was 79.

In a tweet, Flair confirmed that Graham had died. “The Superstar Billy Graham just left us. Thank you for all your influence on my career!” Flair tweeted. No cause of death was provided but Graham had been suffering poor health for a number of years and was hospitalized in February.

Born Eldridge Wayne Coleman in Phoenix, Arizona in 1943, Graham began bodybuilding at an early age. After dabbling in boxing and pro football, he had his first taste of notoriety when he was featured in a Muscle and Fitness magazine spread with then-fellow bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger.

In 1969, he decided to enter the world of professional wrestling, and adopted the ring name Billy Graham, as a tribute to the...

Pro wrestling legend “Superstar” Billy Graham died Wednesday at 79. No cause was given, but he had been battling ill health for some time and had been hospitalized in the ICU on life support.

Graham, real name Eldridge Wayne Coleman, was a three-time former world champion professional wrestler, including a 1977-78 title run in the Wwwf, which eventually became the WWE. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004.

His wife, Valerie, posted Monday morning on Graham’s Facebook account that she had refused to remove his life support.

His colleagues mourned his loss, but saluted his legacy.

“The Superstar Billy Graham Just Left US,” wrestling colleague Ric Flair tweeted. “Thank You For All Your Influence on My Career!”

“Superstar Billy Graham. One Of My First Teachers Of The Heat,” the Iron Shiek tweeted. “The Real Legend Bubba. He Love Me I Love Him. Together We Hit The Gym And Shock The Earth.

Wrestler Hulk Hogan today led tributes to legendary wrestling Hall of Famer Paul Orndorff who has died at the age of 71. "Mr Wonderful" has suffered with numerous health issues over the last few year, including serious illnesses such as cancer and dementia. In a sad day for wrestling fans, the announcement was made earlier today, along with the setting up of a GoFundMe page link, which was set up a few days ago to help prepare for the idol's farewell funeral. Writing on his Instagram account the wrestler's son, Travis Orndorff gave this tribute.

"It is with great sadness that I announce the passing of my father, Paul Parlette Orndorff Jr. . He is better known as "Mr. #1derful" Paul Orndorff. Most of you will remember him for his physique. Many will remember his intensity. But if I could only get you to understand and see his heart. He will always be Pop,...

Welcome to this weeks review of Aew: Dark which, like its namesake Elevation, is a shorter show this week. Thank god. Like the show, let’s keep this review short and sweet too – let’s go!

Match #1: Dark Order def. Jake St. Patrick, Sage Scott, & Chandler Hopkins

My Thoughts: Godammit, Evil Uno and Stu Grayson are good, aren’t they? They made this look easy, ebbig and flowing, tagging in and out, destroying the team of St. Patrick, Scott and Hopkins. Throw Reynolds in the mix and you have. tremendous trios team! Hell, throw Any Drak Order member in with Uno and Grayson and you have a damn good Trios team! Short and sweet.

My score: 3 out of 5 Match #2: Team Taz def. Brick Aldridge, Justin Law, & Hayden Backlund

My Thoughts: A Backlund… on Aew? Ok, so Hayden might only be a distant relation of the legendary Bob Backlund but still.

Wrestling superstar Pat Patterson, who spent decades working behind the scenes in WWE after his own retirement as a professional wrestler, has sadly passed away. One of the first-ever inductees, Patterson was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by Bret Hart in 1996 and became a major fixture for the company backstage. According to reports, Patterson died on Wednesday morning in a Miami hospital after a battle with cancer. He was 79 years old.

Patterson was born Pierre Clermont in Montreal, Quebec, Canada in 1941. He launched his wrestling career in 1958, competing as "Killer" Pat Patterson in various wrestling organizations including Big Time Wrestling, New Japan Pro Wrestling, and Vern Gagne's American Wrestling Assocation. He'd wind up in WWE (then WWF) in 1979, finding a permanent home in the wrestling business as he'd remain with the company all the way up to his death.

Within his first year as a pro wrestler in WWE,...

Welcome to this review of Extreme Rules 2020, right here on Nerdly. I’m Nathan Favel and Vince has done it again, you shmucks! The Horror Show Of Extreme Rules?! Genius! This show will suck so much, that he put it into the promotion itself! This show is a happening, happening, happening, happening, happening, happening! Are you ready for Extreme Rules you Kane Frizz, Rubbish Ronnie Garbage, Roidy Magoo, Brah Brah, Myah Myah Myah, Aloha Arn, Nogger, Dammit D’Lo, Shave Them Sideburns, Duck Arse, Toad Stool and Fudge Fingers, Bag of Ham, What Bar son of a butches? Screw Osw (Old School Wrestling Review)! These are my catchphrases and there is absolutely no one who will back me up on that! No one! That’s how smart I am! So, no credit goes to Osw and their show about Bob Backlund’s duck ass and all the credit goes to...

We might see another celebrity enter the race for President of the United States in 2020, as WWE Hall of Famer, movie star, and former Governor of Minnesota Jesse Ventura is "testing the waters" for a presidential campaign this year. Taking to Twitter on Monday, Ventura revealed he'd be interested in running on behalf of the Green Party, and the ball now seems to be in their court. "If I were going to run for president, the Green party would be my first choice. I've endorsed the party and I'm testing the waters," Ventura noted in the tweet.

Ok, I've decided I'm going to test the waters. If I were going to run for president, the Green party would be my first choice. I've endorsed the party and I'm testing the waters. #mondaythoughts#MondayMorning#MondayMotivaton#MondayMood

— Jesse Ventura (@GovJVentura) April 27, 2020

To be clear: I haven't filed anything. I authorized a letter...

Welcome to this review of WWE Super Show-Down, right here on Nerdly. I’m Nathan Favel and we have another trip to the Middle East that is still marred in controversy, but has a chance to be a quality wrestling event. Okay, let’s see what grand spectacle we have on hand.

Match #1: The Usos beat The Revival

My Opinion: 3 out of 5 – This was a good match, therefore it got no attention from the booking. Why not put this match in a better position to be seen as important? I guess the prince that is paying for this party doesn’t care about tag team wrestling.

Match #2: Seth Rollins beat Baron Corbin – WWE Universal Title Match

My Opinion: 1.5 out of 5 – Well, this sucked. Baron just can’t wrestle well enough yet to warrant this kind of match…or any match, on most occasions. I hate being mean, but...

Welcome to this week’s Raw review, right here on Nerdly. I’m Nathan Favel and we have Kurt Angle’s big Wrestlemania announcement, Batista complaining about Triple H and Brock Lesnar gearing up for his big title match with Seth Rollins.

Match #1: Finn Bálor & Braun Strowman def. Intercontinental Champion Bobby Lashley & Lio Rush The following is courtesy of wwe.com:

If Finn Bálor is serious about keeping his championship drought a short one, he certainly got off on the right foot. The Irishman selected Braun Strowman as his mystery partner against Lio Rush & Intercontinental Champion Bobby Lashley, and his selection paid off in a major way. The Monster Among Men has been in a little bit of a mood thanks to Colin Jost and Michael Che, and he was so dominant that The All Mighty straight-up bailed on his hype man in the middle of the match. Lashley...

WWE Hall of Famer Pedro Morales has died, WWE reports. He was 76. Morales, a native of Puerto Rico, was WWE’s (then WWF) first-ever “Triple Crown” Champion.

Not only did Morales find great success in the ring, he was a fan favorite and important figure among New York City’s growing Hispanic population.

In 1972, more than 22,000 fans turned out to Shea Stadium to watch Morales battle Bruno Sammartino in the main event of the inaugural Showdown at Shea supercard, WWE.com remembered in its obituary. After 75 minutes of action, the bout between the two friends was ruled a draw in accordance with the state athletic commission’s strict 11 p.m. curfew.

Also Read: Dean Ambrose to Leave WWE in April

Morales won the WWE Championship from Ivan Koloff at Madison Square Garden in 1970. His reign lasted until 1973, when Stan Stasiak took the belt off him. Morales won tag team gold alongside Bob Backlund,...

Welcome to this review of Ring of Honor’s Death Before Dishonor Pay Per View, right here on Nerdly. I’m Nathan Favel and we have seven matches to get to, so let’s do so.

Match #1: Kenny King beat Jushin Liger

My Take: 3 out of 5

This was a good match that was booked to establish King as a heel, or at least getting closer to it. The action was good but the crowd didn’t seem to care. The crowd became a bit of a problem all night, by the way. Over-all, this was a good opener.

Match #2: The Briscoes (Jay and Mark) beat So-Cal Uncensored (Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian) – Ring of Honor Tag Team Titles Match

My Take: 3.5 out of 5

This was an excellent match that the crowd had no interest in, for the most part. These two teams worked hard, but couldn’t get...

Brock Lesnar recently completed the longest WWE world title reign in modern day history when he finally lost his Universal Championship to Roman Reigns. While holding the title, many fans grew disenchanted with Lesnar since he was a part-time star who rarely showed up on Monday Night Raw and only wrestled a handful of matches a year. There were also fans who grew tired of his repetitive matches, which mostly included him hitting numerous suplexes on his opponents until they were beaten down and out. WWE Hall of Fame star Bob Backlund held the WWE Championship title for 2,135 days — […]

The post WWE Hall of Famer Bob Backlund slams Brock Lesnar’s wrestling style in recent interview appeared first on Monsters and Critics.

Ivan Koloff, aka The Russian Bear who wrestled to fame for years as a supreme villain, has died. Rick Flair posted the news Saturday morning. The 74-year-old Koloff had been battling liver cancer. Koloff was a former Wwwf World Heavyweight champion who fought the likes of Bruno Sammartino, Superstar Billy Graham and Bob Backlund. He was especially big in the 80's as Ronald Reagan challenged Russia on the world stage. The news comes just 1 day...

George “The Animal” Steele — one of the WWE’s most notorious villains know for his green tongue, hairy torso and wild, unpredictable style — has died, the WWE announced Friday. He was 79.

Steele, whose name out of the ring was James Myers, had long been battling Crohn’s disease. He was diagnosed in 1988 after a nine year struggle with its symptoms, he explained on his website, and had his colon removed in 2002.

According to a Facebook post by pro-wrestling agent Eric Simms, Steele had entered hospice care on Thursday. His wife Patricia told TMZ he died Thursday of kidney failure.

After news of his death,...

The world of sports entertainment is in mourning today, as it was confirmed this morning that legendary WWE Superstar George 'The Animal' Steele, a.k.a. William James Myers, has passed away at the age of 79. The pro wrestler's death was confirmed by his wife Patricia, who revealed that he passed from kidney failure last night in Florida. The wrestling legend had been in and out of hospice care since April.

TMZ broke the news of George 'The Animal' Steele's passing last night, although wrestling promoter Eric Simms of Ess Promotions had previously shared that the late wrestler had entered hospice care, asking fans to pray for him, before he ultimately passed. This morning, a number of WWE Superstars took to Twitter to pay tribute to this wrestling legend, and the WWE released a statement, confirming George 'The Animal' Steele's death. Here's the full statement below, which reveals how he...

So, we are heading quickly towards WWE’s second May PPV, Extreme Rules, and there are lots of rematches from Payback likely to happen at that show. I hope this doesn’t mean the product will be stale for the next month or so, but we shall see.

Raw (9th May 2016) Results: Baron Corbin defeated Dolph Ziggler R Truth beat Fandango Paige beat Charlotte Sami Zayn defeated The Miz Sin Cara pinned Rusev Roman Reigns & The Usos beat Aj Styles, Anderson & Gallows by Dq Kevin Owens defeated Zack Ryder The Dudleys beat The New Day Big Cass versus Chris Jericho went to a no-contest

This week’s Raw opened with Chris Jericho’s Highlight Reel. Big Cass interrupted and got a very strong response from the fans. He faced off verbally with Jericho before challenging Y2J to a match. I’m glad WWE have chosen to keep Cass on Raw since Enzo’s accident,...

So, we just had WWE Payback and now we enter a new week of WWE… Let’s go.

Raw (2nd May 2016) Results: Cesaro and Kevin Owens wrestled to a no-contest Tyler Breeze pinned Goldust Big Cass & The New Day beat The Dudleys and The Vaudevillains Emma beat Becky Lynch Rusev won a Battle Royale to become number one contender to the Us Title Aj Styles, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson beat Roman Reigns & The Usos

Raw opened this week with Shane and Stephanie talking about being co-runners of Raw. Stephanie gave Shane a photograph of Vince and Shane together as a peace offering. The two appeared to agree to work together. Kevin Owens interrupted and demanded a match for the Intercontinental Title. Cesaro then came to the ring to ask for the same thing. Shane announced that the two would have a match with the winner being the number one...

WWE.com

Stan Hansen was officially announced as the latest inductee to the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2016 evening during last night’s Raw broadcast.

Hansen will be honored alongside this year’s other inductees on Saturday, April 2nd, the night before WrestleMania 32.

Hansen has long been regarded as one of the greatest brawlers in professional wrestling history. He started his career in 1973 and wrestled all the way up until 2001. Though Hansen did appear for Wwwf, WWF, Awa, and several regional promotions in America, most of his success came as the stiff-working American in Japan. He wrestled for both All Japan Pro Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling during his time in Asia. He is arguably the most successful American wrestler in the history of Japan.

Hansen’s time in McMahon’s territory was highlighted by feuds with Bruno Sammartino, Andre The Giant, and Bob Backlund. He famously broke...

WWE.com

The WWE Hall of Fame news continues with a report that former All Japan Triple Crown and Awa Heavyweight Champion Stan Hansen and former WWE Women’s Champion Jacqueline will be inducted into this year’s class.

Though WWE has not acknowledged the inductions on television or online, the company released a special commemorative WrestleMania 32 magazine last week that named Hansen and Jacqueline as 2016 inductees.

WhatCulture.com actually broke the news of Jacqueline’s induction several weeks ago…

Though Stan Hansen primarily made his reputation in Japan, he also competed for WWE in the 1970s, quickly becoming one of the company’s top heels. When Bruno Sammartino suffered a broken neck in a match with Hansen, credit for the injury was given to “The Lariat’s” devastating finishing maneuver. He headlined shows with Sammartino and Bob Backlund before heading to All Japan Pro Wrestling, where he would spend...

WWE.com

The professional wrestling world lost another member over this past weekend, as former WWE (then WWF) superstar “Iron” Mike Sharpe passed away. He was 64 years old.

WWE.com confirmed the news Monday.

Sharpe, whose father and uncle wrestled professionally as a tag team in the 50s, began training at the age of 25, under Dewey Robertson, and made his debut back in 1973. The Hamilton, Ontario native would wrestle for numerous Canadian promotions including Gene Kiniski’s Nwa All-Star Wrestling, and also appeared in Mid-South wrestling, winning a couple of belts after moving to Louisiana.

He signed with the then-wwf in 1983, calling himself “Canada’s Greatest Athlete” and wearing a trademark black arm brace supposedly covering up an injury that just never seemed to heal – and which doubled as a hiding spot for foreign objects he could then sneak into matches.

Sharpe actually fought for the World Wrestling Federation championship...

WWE.com

The Royal Rumble is less than two weeks away, and for the first time in history, the WWE Championship will be defended in the over-the-top-rope match (the title was on the line in 1992, but it was vacant). For years, the Rumble has been one of the most anticipated nights of the WWE calendar, because the Rumble match itself only happens once a year.

There are many aspects of the Rumble match that are great, with the surprise of who enters at which number being one of the more exhilarating parts. Over the past decade or so, we have seen the inclusion of many surprise entrants who were not previously announced.

Sometimes it’s how people make their return to the company, or their return from injury. Other times, it’s a one-time-only return simply to pop the crowd and give them a nice dose of sweet nostalgia. Either way,...

WWE.com

The very first Survivor Series event took place way back in 1987. Originally, the concept was very simple. Teams of 4 or 5 men/women would band together and attempt to eliminate – one-by-one – their opponents. Whomever was left standing at the end would be declared a survivor. If only a single person was left remaining, they would be decreed a ‘Sole Survivor’, something which was designed to put them over.

As the years progressed, the then-wwf moved away from the team-based premise and started presenting more standard matches on the Pay-Per-View. 1992 marked the first time the show didn’t finish with a traditional Survivor Series elimination match. Instead, Bret Hart faced Shawn Michaels in a singles bout to close out the show.

In 2010, the event’s history was threatened. Feeling the concept was a little tired, Vince McMahon announced to investors that he was going to move away from the idea of the Survivor Series.

Gavin Jasper Nov 2, 2018

Whether real or fake, sometimes WWE's world champ has to give up their belt. From Antonio Inoki to Roman Reigns, here are 33 examples.

Making the championship vacant is something that pops up every now and then in all promotions for a variety of reasons. Like with the current situation with Roman Reigns, real life disaster can get in the way of pre-planned storytelling and it can’t be helped. Other times it comes from politics. Then there’s many instances where vacating a title is nothing more than a planned plot device. Maybe you want to dethrone a wrestler without them truly losing. Maybe you want to build up a rematch without having the title actually change hands. Or maybe you just want to add more interest by making a scenario where multiple wrestlers have an opportunity to be crowned the undisputed champion.

Here’s a...

WWE.com

Submission holds are an integral part of professional wrestling, despite how it changes over time. Some of the greatest wrestlers of all time, such as Bret Hart, Kurt Angle, Bob Backlund, Daniel Bryan and many others, have relied on such holds as their finishing maneuvers, instead of the usual grapple moves or strike attacks.

Some submission holds are simple, holding one part of the body and stretching it as much as possible. Others are a bit more complex, and require both user and victim to be in specific positions for the hold to work perfectly.

In a previous article on WhatCulture.com, a fellow writer submitted what they considered the deadliest submission holds ever:

That list contains many well-known submission holds that will not be seen on this list. They are: the Ankle Lock, Camel Clutch, Last Chancery, Iron Claw, Stepover Toehold, Crossface, Bearhug, Figure-4 Leglock, Sleeper Hold,...

wwe

Love him or hate him, there’s no denying Big Daddy Cool has had a remarkable career. Kevin Nash’s name is synonymous with controversy, even as recently as last month when his name made headlines in mainstream media for an arrest related to a family dispute. Over the course of his career, Big Sexy has been called many unflattering names for various reasons by small-minded wrestling fans and bitter wrestlers alike.

But one name he should be called is “Hall of Famer.”

The former WWE Champion and five-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion may have his detractors, but there is no question that he belongs in the WWE Hall of Fame beside many of the legends who have already been immortalised with the honor. The combination of being an intelligent and charismatic individual has allowed Nash to forge a prominent place in the wrestling business that has endured for over twenty years.

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The 1993 Royal Rumble was a bit of a transitional event for WWE. The roster was very different from a year earlier because some of those guys were on short term deals while others were gone because WWE had to clean house due to the steroid investigation trial they were involved in.

It was a year where Bret Hart walked into the show as the WWE Champion. A year earlier he was in the Ic Title picture. He won the WWE Title for the first time in September 1992 and the company was ready to build around him as the new WWE Champion.

Yokozuna went into the Royal Rumble match as a heavy favourite. He only debuted in WWE a few months earlier and had one PPV match before the Rumble. Just based on his size, people just knew he was going to be a big deal in WWE.

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The wrestling business is a big man’s game. Always has been. Always will be. Smaller wrestlers come and go, but wrestling promoters like Vince McMahon are always looking for the next great big guy to be the “face” of a wrestling company. Why do you think guys like The Undertaker, Big Show, Brock Lesnar and others were top guys so quickly? They’re big.

As we have seen many times in WWE history, being big isn’t all that matters. There have been plenty of great WWE/World Champions that have been on the smaller side and that’s what we’re here to look at today.

When looking at all of these smaller wrestlers, there is something in common for nearly all of them. Almost all of them had to put in several years of consistently great work before they made it to the top of the company.

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Your time is up, because his time has been now for a long time. John Cena is definitely a man who needs no introduction. He has been in the WWE since 2002 and the top guy of the company since his first title win at WrestleMania 21 back in 2005. He is an astounding 15-time world champion, only trailing Ric Flair who is a 16-time world champion. Cena has won the WWE Championship 12 times, and the World Heavyweight Championship 3 times. HIs combined days as WWE World Heavyweight Champion ranks fourth all time behind Bruno Sammartino, Bob Backlund, and Hulk Hogan.

As many of you know, the WWE is focused on entertainment just as much as it is wrestling. It is no surprise that it’s top star for about a decade is involved in more than just the WWE. He has made many television cameos, including Hannah Montana and Psych.

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The evolution of man is charted by representations of each species; Australopithecus, Homo Habilis, Homo Erectus, Homo Neanderthalensis, Homo Sapiens. There were crossovers and periods between each stage, but with perspective and hindsight we can mark distinct eras. The evolution of WWE can be charted in a similar fashion; Bruno Sammartino, Bob Backlund, Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold Steve Austin, John Cena. Single superstars who were chosen to represent the values of the Wwwf, the WWF and then the WWE. The face of the company, the poster boy, the Top Guy.

Going all the way back to the territory days, there were two ways to run a wrestling company. Either you run a babyface territory, or a heel-based territory. The WWE method or the Nwa method. As always, if you want an articulate description of a pro-wrestling practice, ask Paul Heyman. He was recently interviewed on Steve Austin’s podcast,...

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Kevin Nash is one of the most well known big man wrestlers in the history of American wrestler. He had a short career in WCW in the early 1990s before moving on to WWE as a bodyguard of Shawn Michaels named Diesel. Within a couple of years he was a top guy in WWE after winning the WWE Title from Bob Backlund on November 26, 1994 in eight seconds.

His original WWE career ended in May of 1996 due to a lucrative contract that he signed with World Championship Wrestling. It was a game changer because he was part of the New World Order stable that was booked to make it look like they were WWE guys there to legitimately take over WCW. He became a key performer in WCW until the company died in March of 2002.

With WCW out of the picture, WWE brought back Nash along with Hulk Hogan...

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After years of working as a lower-card comedy act as a member of 3Mb, it appears as if Heath Slater is getting a push– to mid-card comedy act.

Following the release of 3Mb teammates Jinder Mahal and Drew McIntyre, Slater seemed to be left without a direction and was getting the majority of his WWE screen time as a part of the “Jbl & Cole Show” on Youtube.

At WWE Battleground, Slater participated in the Intercontinental Title battle royal, where he shocked fans by eliminating Cesaro, who was a favorite by many to actually win the match. Slater’s good fortunes continued when he was paired with former Prime Time Player Titus O’Neil in a tag team in which Slater called “Slater Gator,” referring to O’Neil’s Florida ties.

Slater Gator has picked up three consecutive tag team wins against Zack Ryder & Sin Cara, Ryder & Tyson Kidd,...

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After the reveal of a disappointing WWE Network subscriber account, the WWE has looked to fix flaws as it pertains to the service. Pretty soon, you may not have the luxury of sharing your Network password with your friends and family.

According to Figure 4 Weekly, the WWE has finally acknowledged a major issue with the Network, in that users can share their passwords with multiple users. On a recent edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Bryan Alvarez revealed that someone e-mailed him stating that they shared it with up to ten users at once, without any problem. It’s more than likely that WWE will be looking to fix this soon, in an effort to increase subscribers.

WWE also recently sent a survey to fans in an effort to check fan interest in the possibility of running WWE Fantasy Camps at their state of the art Performance Center in Orlando.

The highly anticipated WWE 2K15 roster has allegedly leaked online. The big news is that Cm Punk is in the game, alongside a range of Nxt stars. There’s 92 wrestlers in total, including Mick Foley who had been in doubt after not signing a WWE legends deal earlier this year.

The leak surfaced on GameFAQs, where it was claimed that the list came from the August edition of Game Informer Magazine. The post has since been removed.

The official roster reveal will be on August 16th in Los Angeles. 2K will be working in partnership with WWE’s SummerSlam event which takes place on the same weekend. That timing ensures maximum publicity for the video game’s content.

Is there any validity to this apparent leak ahead of time? The list certainly looks plausible. Punk’s contract may have expired, but he would have been under a deal when production of the game started.

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The WWE World Heavyweight Championship is one of the most historic titles in pro wrestling history.

After splitting off from the Nwa World Heavyweight Championship in 1963, the esteemed belt has been in use for over half a century. During that time, we’ve witnessed some mightily impressive reigns.

Cm Punk recently enjoyed a 434-day reign as the champ, while Hall of Famers Hulk Hogan, Bob Backlund and Pedro Morales have each managed to hold onto the strap for over 1,000 consecutive days. And of course Bruno Sammartino, one of the industry’s pioneering figures, officially donned the belt for an astonishing 2,803 days.

But what about the guys at the other end of the scale?

For every Sammartino, there’s an unfortunate victim of an ill-timed Money in the Bank cash-in. And despite their brevity, it’s arguable that these short-lived reigns are just as memorable as the more enduring ones.