wrestler's heights mystery

[bleemo]

OK RD I know this is isn't wrestlecrap but you are the only person I know of that has been around wrestlers in general for atleast enough time to get a good look at their heights.

Anyway I heard recently that Hogan admitted he was 6ft4, though he still claimed that he was 6ft7 in his prime. Dubious to say the least, but because of his age I will give him the benefit of the doubt. Also since the Rock's gone to Hollywood I have noticed people refer to him as being 6ft3-6t4 as opposed to his regular listing of 6ft5.

Anyway I searched around and heard all manner of opinions on wrestler's heights and I still cannot decide. I've heard people swear blind that for example Taker is no taller then 6ft6 really, yet the man himself said on a radio show he is 6ft8 really and has lost an inch or more to back surgery which to be honest sounds cocha.

The thing is one of my friends is legit 6ft7, we measured him because we didn't believe it, yet to look at him you'd think he was 6ft4 ish.

People even insist the Big show is nowhere near the 7ft billing and wears built up boots. But that seems ridiculous to me surely you can't get more then say 2-3 inch lifts in a shoe and still wrestle it would be like walking around with boats under your shoes otherwise lol. I know you worked with this guy (though it's a painful memory sorry) so I figured he'd be a good place to start.

I guess the question is this, do wrestlers bump their heights up big time and do they all use lifts? or is it an exception rather then the rule? If they do lie is it by much or is it just a big scam and are they much shorter then they seem.

cheers and sorry for the long post

p.s. good luck with the baby fella

[jzbadblood]

People even insist the Big show is nowhere near the 7ft billing and wears built up boots. But that seems ridiculous to me surely you can't get more then say 2-3 inch lifts in a shoe and still wrestle it would be like walking around with boats under your shoes otherwise lol.

Have you ever watched a Big Show match?

I kid, I kid.

[crazyrose]

I've seen Hogan billed as tall as 6'8"

Giant was billed as 7'2" in WCW

[Rorschach]

Andre was another great example of this; he was billed as 7-0 or more his entire career, but by the time he wrestled Hogan, the two could almost look each other in the eye.
Which means one of two things: Hogan was way taller than he was billed, or Andre was way shorter.

I've heard it's not uncommon for wrestler's to exaggerate their hieghts and weights, so either thing wouldn't surprise me.

[bleemo]

Well I've read in a few places that when Andre died he was measured bare foot at 6ft9.5, but he had said previously he'd lost some height due to his illness and his back.

I just find it hard to believe that they would lie so much about their heights and by that I mean to the tune of 3 inches or more. I know it's common that celebs add 2 inches to their height and I could well believe that wrestler's do too. But the idea that taker is only 6ft6 as opposed to say 6ft8 barefoot just seems off to me, it means he's lying about 4 inches of height. I mean they wrestle in front of crowds every week, how wouldn't the crowd notice they are nowhere near their alledged heights?

Also I visit this site about celeb heights and people are currently arguing the toss about several wrestlers heights, namely Steve Austin, Andre, the Rock, Hogan and often Taker and co in the comments section.

www.celebheights.com/

[rdreynolds]

Wrestler heights and weights are almost always worked. Watch old footage of Vince interviewing Andre; Vince is standing in what appears to be a three foot deep pit. That or Andre was legit 9' tall.

RD

[sunwukong]

Wasn't Andre standing on an out of view crate or something?

[bleemo]

Haha, that was a very reserved answer did you have to sign a NDA agreement to say if you blabbed about their real heights the Big Show would come around your house and chokeslam you again.??

cheers for the answer anyway... ;D

[scbg]

If you look at Booker T in street clothes, he can't be much more than 5'11".

[Creamstick]

Look at Jericho's wrestling boots - those are some huuuge lifts in the sole.

[BrianTKessler]

So since I'm a legit 6'3" 255lbs then what would my wrestling size be?

Oh yeah, Mr. Tenta on the other forum claims to be 6'7"... which is odd because I've seen him billed as shorter.

[bleemo]

briantkessler said:

So since I'm a legit 6'3" 255lbs then what would my wrestling size be?

Hmm well based on what I am beginning to learn here, we will start you off as 6ft6 and have some interviews of you stood on a crate next to someone real small like Funaki. When you wrestle you'll have to wear 2 inch lifts and stand real straight at all times near the crowd.

Also wearing a big massive hat like JBL doesn't hurt as it makes it harder to gage your height. You'll also be billed as a 280lbs monster and to make this known to the fans we'll have JR bellow, "bah gawd king this man is 6 and half foot tall and 280lbs of pure granite muscle! what a stud! he's a hoss!!"

Then at some point when the fans find out you're really a little shorter, you'll have to concoct a back injury and point out you lost an inch due to this.

Then when you make you're 10th inevitable comeback despite retiring that many times you'll stop wearing the lifts and point out you lost inches due to old age, even though your only 50 and you don't lose height that quick.

p.s. actually I've got it since you need a hat, how about your ringname being, "the great whizzo," you could come to the ring as a wizard and wear a massive pointy hat and leave the ring in a puff of smoke, "bah gawd Whizzo appeared outta nowhere, b'ness just picked up king!"

[BrianTKessler]

Wow, wrestling sounds awesome! I need a finisher though... how about "Taking a Whiz?" I'll be sort of an enigmatic heel, but given the power of this gimmick, I'll eventually have a face push, and I'll have to cut a comedy face promo, where I call all of my fans my "Whiz Kids."

"Triple H, you may be big and bad, but I've got all of my Whiz Kids right here!!! You may think you're gonna win, but remember... NOBODY BEATS THE WHIZ!!!"

[bleemo]

Well if and when you do make the switch from heel to face make sure you change your robes from crimson red to all white. There's also a storyline with midgets as hobbits but i need more time to work the fine details.

Hmm now that I think about it what with your long robes you could get away with strapping small reinforced boxes to your feet, so we'll go for 6ft8. Just make sure that you don't go for the big boot or any kicking moves for that matter and no mounting the turnbuckles either!

The sad truth is that had I been on the writing team during the early to mid nineties at the WWE this would be white hot as ideas go.

[vampirebadger]

im not sure about other wrestlers but andre was legitamitly over 7 ft he had some sort of illness which meant he never stopped growing but he did stand on a crate to do vinnie mac interviews.

[OGBoardPoster2005]

Was Giant Gonzales actually 8 feet tall

[scbg]

Kevin Nash is legit 7 foot, and I believe Jorge Gonzales was a legit 7'7". They probably said eight feet because it's an even, and more impressive, number.

[bleemo]

scbg said:

Kevin Nash is legit 7 foot, and I believe Jorge Gonzales was a legit 7'7". They probably said eight feet because it's an even, and more impressive, number.

Hmm you sure, apparently he once told a fan he was 6ft10 which I think makes more sense since I believe Big Show is maybe 6ft11 which was his university height apparently, but some say smaller as they say about Nash also.

One guy that does definitely wear lifts and is shorter is Kane, he was listed as 6ft8 before he became Kane and is clearly wearing lifts. Also on Jericho I hear he is 5ft10 without heels but many say even smaller, he never looks big.

The strange thing about it though is that some guys really don't lie apparently the Hardy's don't nor RVD or Eddie. Plus I think Nathan Jones really was 6ft10 as he was taller then taker and lookers enormous in Troy. Plus I recall JBL commenting what a huge human being he was, which I thought was odd considering guys like Nash and Big Show are supposed to be bigger.

Like I said before though one of my friends is legit 6ft7 and yet to look at him you would guess he was 6ft5 tops, I think once people get to a certain height it's all up and becomes difficult to gage.

[HoagieWithPastrami]

Jericho is like 5' 9" tops. I've seen him in street clothes. Him, Benoit, and Guerrerro are all around that height.

[BrianTKessler]

Bleem, that Whiz stuff was hilarious I gotta say. As a follow-up, Bleemo, RD, anyone... I was wondering does this increased size apply to every region of the body?