Sports Feles: Largest Arms In The World

I think the first wrestler to really make the large arms famous was obviously Superstar Billy Graham. However, following in his footsteps was Hulk Hogan and Jesse The Body Ventura. Unfortunately, Ventrua's wrestling career was even more short-lived that Graham's. In Graham's case years of steroid use crippled his bones and his hip shattered in the wrestling ring. In Ventura's case he found out he had air-bubbles in his blood from years of underwater missions in the Navy Seals. However, Hulk Hogan was the one that was in the right place at the right time. When Vince Jr. took over the WWE and wanted to build his promotion around the largest arms in the world, Hogan's 24 Inch Pythons were the top guns in the world. Thus he became the largest draw and biggest name in wrestling. He landed the role of "Thunder Lips" in Rocky 3 and that lead to Hulkamania. The rest as they say is history.

Hulk Hogan's 24 Inch Pythons

But since the days of Hogan, who has the torch been passed to? The obvious answer was Scott Steiner who's 26 Inch Peaks surpassed Hogan's previous claims to having the largest arms in the world. As a result, Steiner was taken from his role as a Tag-Team Champion with his brother to the next big thing in WCW. He was brought in to Hogan's NWO and given a new look. His long black hair was gone, replaced with short bleached blonde hair, just like Hogan, Ventura, and Graham. And he had a new attitude to boot. He was suddenly the cockiest wrestler in the world. Freakzilla's Peaks were the largest draw in wrestling now, replacing Hogan's Pythons, but not for long. Steiner flew through the ranks in WCW from Television Champion, to United States Champion, until eventually becoming WCW World Champion. That was until the day Vince bought the company. Then Steiner was out of work. By the time he got his chance in WWE it was too late and he was passed his peak. For the record he was never given a fair chance in WWE in my opinion. Triple H was just out to ruin him the same way he did with Booker T and Goldberg and every other major WCW Champion. Now Steiner is in wasteland aka TNA and only a shell of his former self. In fact, all he has left is his Peaks since his wrestling ability seems long gone. However, as long as he can show them off he will always be a draw.

Scott Stenier's 26 Inch Peaks

The question now is who will take up that torch. Or have the Pythons and Peaks become outdated? Are wrestling fans no longer interested in seeing a gladiator who resembles Hercules showing off his superhuman strength?

There have been many powerhouses such as the Ultimate Warrior, Goldberg, and Brock Lesner, but they have all fizzled faster than they arrived. And despite all their strength and power, none of them ever had the arms that wrestling fans have always come to associate with power and strength.

I think the most recent power wrestler that was really over with the fans was Batista. He could not make the claim of having the 'largest arms in the world' or being 'the world's strongest man' but he did impress the crowd just as the Warrior, Goldberg, and Brock had in the past. In his case he went the long road slowly building up his reputation in the group Evolution under Triple H who eventually seemed to pass the torch to him. However, again this seeming future top gun disappeared without a trace.

The Animal Batista

So this leaves me with the question, will Batista ever return? People still keep waiting for Goldberg or Lesnar to return but I think its safe to say their times have passed. However, its still not too late for Batista! He should return before its too late and make another run in the WWE because he may be the last of a dying breed. Just as Steiner may be the last of the large arms, Batista may be the last of the powerhouse monsters. We seem to be turning into a world of CM Punks and AJ Styles. I can't complain that champions today are more gifted wrestlers, its just hard to imagine a world of wrestling that won't consist of gladiators demonstrating their feats of strength by picking up slamming giants and other wonders of the world. It is a tradition that I think will be gone shortly and actually missed. When Hulk Hogan body slammed Andre The Giant he shook the world more than any submission move or high flying move ever will!