The world of professional wrestling has traditionally been filled with some legendary individuals who hit hard. While some built a legacy as a result of their high-flying or grappling acumen, others preferred a different method of dispatching their opponents. Many made a living out of not only being tough as nails but also from hitting their opponents with some heavy, punishing blows.
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These wrestlers made a mark in the industry, and although some are either no longer on this planet or have retired from active competition, the legacies they left will never be forgotten from pro wrestling folklore.
10 Brock Lesnar
Lesnar made his debut in 2002 after a successful collegiate career at the University of Minnesota where he won an NCAA Division I Wrestling Championship. Fans knew from the moment he arrived on WWE television that they were witnessing something special as Lesnar was a specimen like no other.
He had size, strength, and the freakish athleticism (still does) that made him not only one of the most dangerous professional wrestlers alive, but also one of the most terrifying men in the world. Throughout his career, "The Beast Incarnate" has been responsible for the slaughter of many WWE Superstars and has built a solid reputation as one of the toughest dudes to ever step between the ropes.
9 Vader
Over the years, Vader made a habit out of legitimately punishing people and also established a reputation for being one of the toughest, hardest-hitting professional wrestlers ever. At well over 400 pounds, Vader routinely threw some stiff shots during his matches while also possessing an arsenal of maneuvers that hurt, such as the "Vader Bomb." He could even do a moonsault off the top rope, a move that you would have to see to believe. Though Vader didn't directly cause Mick Foley to lose part of his ear during a match against him in Germany, he had no issues claiming responsibility for it, either.
8 Bradshaw
Bradshaw made his WWE debut in the mid-1990s and was managed by Uncle Zebekiah, a man known around wrestling circles as "Dirty" Dutch Mantell. Utilizing the nickname of "Hawk" while resembling an image reminiscent of Stan Hansen, Bradshaw didn't find success early on. However, his career reached a new level when he teamed with Ron Simmons, also known as Faarooq, to form The Acolytes.
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After some successful years on the tag team circuit, he rebranded himself as John "Bradshaw" Layfield and captured the WWE Championship in 2004. While he was a bonafide heel who had no issues letting the world know how successful he was financially due to his stock market knowledge, deep down, he was still a rough, tough Texan capable of nearly decapitating someone utilizing his dreaded "Clothesline from Hell."
7 Goldberg
Golberg appeared from the world of football after an unsuccessful stint in the NFL. Trained in World Championship Wrestling's infamous Power Plant, the former Atlanta Falcon made his debut in September of 1997 against Hugh Morrus. After gaining his first win, he would go on to put together one of the most impressive streaks in professional wrestling history, culminating in a WCW World Heavyweight Championship win over "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan in the Georgia Dome on the July 6, 1998, edition of Monday Nitro. Goldberg had a physique and power that wasn't rivaled by many, and his pure intensity caused most of his opponents to feel it the next morning without a doubt.
6 Chris Benoit
Chris Benoit’s career will forever be shadowed by the unacceptable final days of his life. However, there may have never been—or ever will be—a superstar who is pound-for-pound as tough as Benoit. Not only was he known for his technical prowess inside the ring, but when anyone faced “The Crippler,” they knew about it, primarily since he had a plethora of dangerous maneuvers as well as a lethal chop that could be heard over the loudest of crowds throughout the world.
5 Yokozuna
Managed by Mr. Fuji, Rodney Anoa'i made his debut in the World Wrestling Federation as Yokozuna, with his gimmick being that of a former champion Sumo Wrestler from Japan (even though he was Samoan). He was an imposing figure, and his lack of compassion toward his opponents made him one of the most feared superstars in the WWF. Yokozuna also maintained a move-set that caused plenty of pain for his opponents.
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His belly-to-belly suplex was brutal, his throat thrust was mortifying, and his "Bonsai Drop" was as destructive as it could get. He held the WWF Title twice during his career, and though his life tragically ended far too soon, he left a legacy of being one of the hardest-hitting professional wrestlers ever to step foot in a ring.
4 Scott Norton
Scott Norton will forever be one of the most imposing men in the professional wrestling industry. Gaining the nickname “Flash” from his arm-wrestling days, he also tended to defeat some of his opponents expediently as well. While he never gained significant notoriety in the United States, he was a well-known name in Japan and held the IWGP Championship on several occasions. Norton was mean and nasty and made a living dominating his opponents with chops, punches, various suplexes, and a shoulder breaker that likely hurt the viewers at home just as much as his opponent.
3 Steiner Brothers
Making the list as a duo, the Steiner Brothers are among the best tag teams of all time. Both siblings wrestled at the University of Michigan before breaking into professional wrestling and gained notoriety by establishing themselves as two of the toughest men in pro wrestling locker rooms. This was because Rick and Scott had a devastating repertoire that stemmed from their days as collegiate grapplers. They will go down in the history books as two of the scariest men due to their ability to put a hurting on their opponents, with their reign of terror lasting for decades.
2 Bam Bam Bigelow
Bam Bam Bigelow served as a bounty hunter before entering the squared circle. For a man his size, he was more agile than most and was known for his trademark cartwheel and flame tattoo that covered most of his bald head. Billed at well over 400 pounds, Bigelow dominated many men over the years. He also notoriously ended his matches with a diving headbutt from off the top rope, a move that won him many contests throughout his career.
1 Tank Abbott
Although Tank Abbott’s career as a professional wrestler didn’t last long, he still has a spot on the list as one of the hardest-hitting competitors ever. He earned fame by competing in the early days of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he scored several victories by knocking his opponents out cold. He was as bad as they came, also possessing an amateur wrestling background as well as unparalleled strength that made him extra dangerous.
