Top 8 Surprisingly Agile Big-Man Wrestlers

We have seen many a behemoth walk into a ring, giants who we can’t help but gawk at.  Who doesn’t like wrestlers that look like they were drawn by comic book artists?  Many of these guys however, couldn’t wrestle.  They lumber around the ring, two moves at their disposal.    

But for every Great Khali and Giant Gonzalez, there is a big man who braves the top rope and amazes us with their nimbleness.  These are monstrous men who could just get by with powerslams and the like, but instead have us marveling at moonsaults, dropkicks, and splashes. 

Here is a look at eight such great men. 

8. Kevin Nash

Should he decide to climb back in the ring with this current CM Punk angle, I don’t think we’ll see much dexterity displayed. 

But in his heyday, Nash was very quick for his size.  His moves are for the most part power-based, but he could slip in some agility-based stuff here and there.   

7. Earthquake

During his run-ins with Jake “the Snake” and Hulk Hogan in the early '90s, Earthquake did his fair share of elbow dropping and suplexing.  His finishing move (a running seated senton) was not so such much a display of agility but surprising speed. 

Later in his career, he dropped a ton of weight and was saddled with a weird gimmick where he was obsessed with Cartman from South Park.

I always thought Earthquake was a good heel and an above average wrestler, but was always relegated to to being "the fat guy."  I have never approved of the Stinkface by him or anyone.  Why do so many big guys have a variation on the “I’m going to put my butt in your face” maneuver?

6. Big Show

When Big Show first arrived on the scene, it was quite evident that WCW intended on him being the second coming of Andre the Giant.  If it weren’t enough to suit him in an identical black singlet, they also gave him the name “Giant.”

But Big Show was never Andre.   He was much quicker and frankly, much more skilled than Andre.  At this stage in career, Big Show isn’t doing a ton of high flying moves, but he used to throw a mean dropkick.

Extra points for immenseness. 

5. Umaga

Though I was always put off by the direction the WWE chose for him (how is a thumb to the face a finishing move?) I generally enjoyed the late Umaga’s matches. 

He possessed a great combination of power and a frenetic energy.   Seeing him bounce around the ring with such a natural ease was captivating. 

Umaga often performed exciting flying headbutts and diving splashes, including this especially tasty one on Jeff Hardy in the video.

4. The Undertaker

One of the greatest performers of all time, the Undertaker is one of those wrestlers who makes you forget just how big he is.

He demonstrates amazing balance along the ropes when he performs Old School and has lately made a habit of using suicide dives in big matches.

When he’s inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, there’ll be a big long list of accomplishments to read.  On top of everything else, they shouldn’t forget to mention his impressive agility.

3. Kane

Kane routinely goes up to the top rope.  For such a beastly man, majestic high-flying moves are an odd sight, but he does them extremely well.  

Being the Undertaker’s kayfabe brother, it’s not a surprise how similar their wrestling styles are.  The one thing Kane has on the Undertaker, though, is that he is the better aerial wrestler. 

He performs flying clotheslines and dives out of the ring more crisply and naturally than his fake brother.

2. Vader

Vader doesn’t look like an athlete.  He looks like a truck driver. 

Despite his walrus-like physique, Vader was very cat-like in the ring.  He routinely performed moonsaults and corner slingshot splashes aka Vader Bombs. 

For me, it was always unnerving to see a man that big move that well. 

One of my favorite wrestlers, Vader gave us the best of both worlds, displaying a vicious power attack as well as his impressive aerial moves.    

1. Bam Bam Bigelow

Vader’s former tag partner in Japan, Bam Bam is the best of the agile big men, a Lucha Libre wrestler trapped in an NFL lineman’s body. 

What other man his size has such a repertoire of “little man’s” moves?  More often than not, Bam Bam was flying off the top rope.  Every other move was a splash or a dive of some sort.

I don’t know if any other dude on this list can pull off an enzugiri.  Bam Bam Bigelow was one of a kind; a mesmerizing blend of athleticism, strength and crazy skull tattoo.