matclone

I'm not normally a 'who's the greatest' fan, but just wondering if anyone cares to weigh-in on this question (inspired by IdeaMark's thread on Minn. Hwts).

Chris Taylor immediately comes to mind but then you get into the unlimited v. weight limit question.

In the restricted era, I'd venture Stephen Neal.

Trusty

Carlton Haselrig!

fanforlife

He definately gets my vote as well.

__________________
Champions are made while no one is watching.

homerdindon

Were you even born when Haselrig was wrestling fan?

fanforlife

Nice try Homer - and that answer would be yes I was.

__________________
Champions are made while no one is watching.

ideamark

I'd ask you to consider Dick Hutton, 3x NCAA heavyweight champ for Oklahoma State (1947-48, 1950)... If it hadn't been for a referee's decision, he would have been the first 4x NCAA champ at ANY weight, long before Pat Smith or Cael Sanderson were gleams in anyone's eyes. In fact, his controversial loss to Minnesota's Verne Gagne in the 1949 NCAA hwt finals -- based on a few seconds' riding time advantage for the Gopher, according to the ref, the criteria he used to make Gagne the champ -- Hutton would have been undefeated in college.

To see pics and info on Hutton: http://sports.ph.groups.yahoo.com/gr...os/browse/3078

Carlton Haselrig's 6 NCAA titles (three each in two divisions) is an accomplishment that ranks him among the best, IMHO.

From what I've read, of the supersized heavyweight champs, Chris Taylor was surprisingly agile... as agile as a 400 lb + man can be.

Mark

__________________
Peace
www.RevWrestling.com

Those who are ignorant of wrestling history are doomed...

Ground&Pound

1. Haselrig
2. Angle

Spider

I was always impressed by how he used legs - not that common among heavyweights. Good choice.

__________________
"Love never dies." The Beatles

goferphan

BIG? In his own mind.

__________________
"That is what Gable would have done to Owings the second time around. (Metcalf/Caldwell)"

phillywrestler

Lou Banach. He wrestled in the unlimited weight class, yet made 220 for international competitions. He won the NCAA title in 1981 and 1983, and took third in 1982. In 1981, he pinned Bruce Baumgarten -- the most decorated American Olympian ever -- in the finals despite giving up 50 pounds.