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Vince McMahon has always been fond of big men. Throughout the course of the company, Vince has pushed giants. Some of them ended up being successful ventures while others, bombed quickly. A major problem that big men faced in WWE is the prejudice with which the fans see them. These superstars are often tagged as dominating wrestlers. This in turn overshadows their athleticism and selling side.
Even though it is one of the most basic lessons of being a wrestler, the art of selling does not come to every superstar just like that. But certain big men have learned it beyond expectations. With that said, here is a look at some of the ‘Big Men’ in WWE history who know to sell well.
Rikishi
The Hall of Famer, Rikishi was one of WWE’s major names in Attitude Era. He was part of some crucial mid card feuds back then and gave us a lot of memorable moments. His drop from the top of the Cell is still iconic among the fan base.
Rikishi moved between the ropes like a lightning bolt for a man of his size. His dance moves were impressive to be frank, but it was Rikishi’s ability to sell certain moves that stood out. Clothesline, in particular, tops the list.
Rikishi would perform a good turn in the air while taking vicious clotheslines. Someone of his size selling like that was a sight that inspired awe. The Samoan also had some impressive selling skills for other moves as well.
Umaga
Eddie Fatu has two notable stints in the WWE. The first one saw him as Jamal, but the run was short lived. Fatu was released from WWE for being involved in a bar fight. A few years later, he returned to the promotion and this time, he was pushed as Umaga. The monster heel character took off pretty well. He was soon in the main event scene and feuded with the likes of John Cena and Batista.
One thing that helped him to stay in the main event scene was his athleticism. Apart from this, Fatu also had impressive selling skills. He sold almost every move exceptionally well for his size. His career soon got derailed and Fatu passed away unexpectedly.
Kane
Ever since Kane made his debut in 1997, he has been a mainstay in the WWE. He is currently one of the longest serving wrestlers in WWE’s roster. At first, Kane was introduced as a monster that was tough to beat. This demanded less selling by the big red monster. However, as his career progressed, WWE toned down Kane.
He is taking a lot of losses these days and most of them require selling. Kane does this job perfectly and despite being miles away from his prime, he sells like a pro. CM Punk once said in an interview about how easy it is to work with Kane. A man of his size deserves respect for earning such praise and for being able to sell all those moves that come around.
Undertaker
Like Kane, Undertaker’s early run projected him as a superhuman character. Although selling was required, Taker did not need it in plenty. Once Taker took his first loss in the company, things changed. The Attitude Era and the years that followed provided Taker with a stage to showcase his selling skills.
The matches that he had at WrestleMania are the biggest examples. Taker faced off against the likes of Randy Orton, Triple H, CM Punk, Brock Lesnar and Shawn Michaels at the Mania. WWE mixed in a lot of near falls into these matches to add drama. This called for Taker’s selling skills. The Phenom never disappointed. Despite his size, Taker stood out with the way he sold the moves.
Brock Lesnar
First of all, yes, Brock Lesnar is a giant. He has the size to be in the category and the dominance to be called a monster. One thing that gets overlooked about Lesnar is his selling skills. The Beast is considered to be a legitimate shoot fighter and this makes the selling part tougher for him.
But thankfully for Lesnar, he is good at it. He is capable of selling the hell out of a move. Seeing a tough superstar like Lesnar taking moves is something the fans love to see. He might not appear in the WWE every now and then but when he does, Lesnar steals the show. His most recent match at WrestleMania was a class act as well. The way he sold the moves of Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins added realism to the match. And after all, what could feel more real than a legitimate fighter getting his rear kicked?
