FAILED GIANTS | Wrestling's Forgotten Big Men 

Thanks for watching, what should we cover in future videos? Also, make sure to drop a like to help get the video picked up by RU-vid’s algorithm 💪🏻👊🏻🤘🏻

I thought a "giant" had to be billed at about a minimum 6'8'' or 9.

Batista never took Jindrak's spot in Evolution, the spot was originally meant for Batista but he got hurt so they were gonna use Jindrak instead. But HHH and Flair hated him because he and Orton were good friends but were too immature together and drove the older 2 nuts.

Now we need the opposite list: the times Vince tried to cash in on the success of rey mysterio. You got ultimo dragon, Sin Cara, Sin Cara 2, Kalisto and it doesn't have to include just masked lucahadores, you can add small high flying guys booked as underdogs who gets upset wins like Evan Bourne

It wasn't just that they felt Jindrak wasn't gelling with the rest of them, it was also the fact that he and Orton were already good friends from their time in developmental but, as Jindrak himself has put it, they were negative influences on each other. So the only solution was to separate them.

I was expecting to see Matt Morgan in the list. Honestly I'm surprised they didn't try to push him more.

You have to wonder how many potential superstars were just ruined early on by a combination of insufficient training, terrible WWE creative decisions, backstage WWE "politicking", and Vince McMahon's notoriously erratic whims. Sure, some of these guys just didn't have the talent or charisma to go with their size, but a good half of them were just misused.

Kurrgan has had a fairly successful career as a character actor in movies

Andy, you forgot to mention that Jindrak had a brief stint as "The Reflection of Perfection" and had Teddy Long as his manager.

Omos will be next on this list I dont see the potential at all

HHH mentioned in a interview about the group that Jindrak and Orton at the time were friends backstage both young and immature and acting like fools instead of taking the position he was given seriously.... Jindrak as since addmited he wasn't ready for such a push.

You left out Nathan Jones even though the fact he was a big man Vince never really knew how to utilize him but and other wrestling promotions Nathan Jones was a threat but like I said you left out Nathan Jones

The Oddities managed to have 2 forgotten giants in that group Kurgan (who came in as an unstoppable heel in the Jackel’s group the Truth Commission) and Giant Silva (who I saw lose in Pride MMA)

I was on a flight with big giant Gonzalez. Poor guy had to have two seats and his head He had to tilt to the side so when it touch the lights and stuff above him.the entire flight from New York to Arizona He had to sit like that.all the wild people were pointing and talking about him...I was an 11-year-old kid flying alone to go visit my grandmother.I felt so sad for him. I went up to him and sat down on the edge of one of his seats and started talking to him and he was the friendliest guy I ever met ..the entire flight we talked and he told me stories about him as a kid,his wrestling career and his movie and tv roles...best flight of my life....

Mike Knox had a look and a move set that legit scared me. I thought on ECW he would thrive and replace the role that Mike Awesome had left. Due to his size he was the only one who could made a spinning complete shot look amazing and brutal. Unlike Sister Abigail and Fandango's Dirty Tango. He went to Impact and became Knux which was dumb and introduced Crazy Steve and Rosemary as part of his "raised in a carnival" gimmick but I really loved Mike Knox

Kurrgan works at a prison that a close friend of mine works at. I always laugh thinking about him putting his claw hold onto some prisoner being out of line lol.

The oddities were over for a period of time during the attitude era. Loved seeing them

Fun fact I actually work for Tomko right now lol he owns healthy food restaurant/gym. His real name is Travis Tomko

Really a awesome topic to cover..."GAINTS" in wrestling have Been there since the start I think and have been a very important part of Wrestling as a whole... great video as always man👌🏻👌🏻

Some of these guys are not really giants. Maybe to us normies but in wrestling 6'6 is more of a big man than a giant unless the guy was like at least 350 lbs or something. I'm curious to what the criteria was for this or was it mostly an eye test.

Mark Jindrak would’ve made for an interesting bodyguard for Eric Bischoff instead of Nitro who really didn’t fit in that role of protector/enforcer. Luther Reigns being a monster heel would be a good heel as well maybe developing a winning streak and then challenging The Undertaker for a match at WrestleMania 20. Vance Archer being a top heel would work properly maybe with Archer on ECW and be booked up to the point after developing a complete streak of brutality could challenge for the ECW World Title and be the one to take it from Christian. Jackson Andrews would work properly if he was paired with Curt Hawkins as his manager to feud with Zack Ryder on ECW television. Bam Neely would be a good heel paired with Vickie Guerrero as her bodyguard and protect her from harm. Eli Cottonwood could’ve made for a good heel that would serve as a follower of The Wyatt Family. Mason Ryan should’ve remained in FCW until it’s transition into NXT and actually join The Nexus and serve as a top heel going after The Giants and become The Giant Killer. Tyson Tomko being transitioned into a managerial role was pretty cool and put as a manager of Christian actually helps and help him retain the IC Title until Christian loses and turns on Tyson. Mike Knox would work as a monster heel in ECW and maybe could’ve won the ECW World Title being the one to defeat RVD for the ECW Title. Kurrgan being brought into the Truth Commission would work with this helping to serve in the Gang Wars and show him as an absolute destroyer. Giant Silva being introduced as apart of the NWA would work with Giant Silva being given a contract by Jim Cornette.

Shame things didn’t align better. Jindrak and his “Reflection of Perfection” gimmick would of played well off of his old pal Sean O’Haire and his devils advocate character

At least Kurrgan was used as a monster in movies such as 300 and Sherlock Holmes to name a couple.

These channels always beaver cease to make me smile. You narrate like any performer had a choice in the way matches went that ultimately ended their careers.

I met Kurrgan where he now works, at a tourist attraction in New Brunswick, Canada a couple years ago. He barely looks any older, and it is a surreal experience being near someone who is of that stature. Was a really cool dude and took lots of time for the kids

Only a few of these guys are considered giants.. Omos is a failed giant, Khali, Gonzalez, Silva, Nathan Jones, Matt Morgan, all fails..Reese from The Flock too..

I was legitimately afraid of Kurrgan when he was part of the Truth Commission

Lance Archer is doing great right now. A solid mid carder in AEW, he beat Moxley last year to become IWGP US champion, and he’s wrestling in the G1 Climax right now for New Japan.

16:25 good ol Shawn putting everyone down at all times

Good video. The only thing to add though is that it was only really HHH who pushed for Jindrak to be replaced in Evolution. Orton was a close friend of Jindrak (having spent time together in OVW) & HHH saw Jindrak as something of a bad influence on Orton (who had yet to fully mature himself).

Eli Cottonwood: "What is a moustache?...I don't have one!"

Omos is getting the push us because the undertaker saw something in him that no one else sees. As I watched the new triple h era of Raw and saw no sign of Omos, I knew it was over for him.

Tyson tomko may have failed in wwe but was a big deal in tna

I missed a majority of these guys because I wasn't watching at all between 2006-2012. I was 16 when WWE launched it's version of ECW and it really put a sour taste in my mouth and I didn't come back until Cena v. Rock.

I really liked Kurrgan, especially with the Oddities. They were over as all hell with the ICP intro and honestly Silva was the only bad worker. Kurrgan was no Kurt Angle but for a giant he was competent.

Robert Mallett aka Kurrgan. Real cool dude.

Most recent ones is Lars Sullivan,Parker Boredow,Giant zanjeer,Oddysey Jones,Top Dolla

Felt bad for Giant Gonzales. Clearly they wanted to push him as the next Andre.

When Shawn eliminated Mike Knox then proceeded to turn around asking “Who was that guy?” And HHH & Matt Hardy going “Mike Knox? That was Mike Knox” KILLS me every time I watch it 😂😂😂

I have to give a shout out to the ruthless aggression podcast for how they described Tomko. He looks like a 12 year old made a create a wrestler and tried to make him look 'cool'

This channel is seriously underrated.

That Mason Ryan guy looks like Dave Bautista and Lance Storm had a giant baby

Never understood why they split up Jindrak and O'Hare in WCW. I thought they made a much better team than Palumbo/O'Hare or Stasiak/Jindrak. My only guess is they were both too raw and Stasiak and Palumbo were better workers to pair each with

WWE had a major missed opportunity with Tensai and Sean O Haire in my opinion

A lot of these big men were failed by the company’s creative team as these companies were often trying to reinvent the wheel they had success with in the past as replacements. It’s not entirely WWE’s fault. As many wrestlers had done before, such as John Cena JBL and The Rock, this would’ve been the time for a lot of these big men to take the initiative with reinventing themselves tbh. They should’ve definitely took the risk by taking the wheel on their own behalf vs playing ball with the multiple attempted reinvention’s of it. There comes the time where every man must take his own destiny in his own hands, and stop awaiting the arrival some unsung mastermind/ star spaded opportunity to solidify it for him.

Title is deceiving not all these guys are giants.

Sean O’Haire is still the biggest what if, to me. Dude had everything going for him but he couldn’t battle his demons.

Its sad but looking at Tomco, he would look like a monster on todays roster.

They are not failed, the writer and whoever build their characters are the real failure

Thanks Andy

Marco Corleone (Mark Jindrak) had hell of a career down in AAA & CMLL

Only memory I have of Eli Cottonwood is "moustache."

Wow that's a big list of guy's I totally forgot about.

I'm sorry but when you use the word Giants I'm thinking 6 ft 10 7 ft at least some of these guys are like 6ft 3 6ft 5 that's not really a giant compared to other wrestlers in the business good video though overall just should have put a different name for it.

"There's no business, like SHU-business!" "It's SHU-time!" Luther Reigns was great!

Batista was always the first choice for Evolution. Jindrak was an alternate due to injury to batista. Batista just came back and took his original place

Thank for The Video 📹🌟📹🌟📹🌟📹🌟

Tyson Tomko was a nightmare to anyone, he was a great enforcer.. also love his tattoos

Matt Morgan, Nathan Jones, Prince albert and Viscera as well

The problem with most big guys is their size will get people to look, but if they can't keep people's attention... those people are going to look away

Nash tore both quads while watching this video.

Roman Reigns was pushed so much. 10 years of constant push

Was that Luke Gallows dressed as a cop behind Luther Reigns?

I bet Vince loved Mason Ryan. "he looks exactly like Batista...and he's Welsh! And there's a few zeros knocked off that contract!"

There is a match I would have liked too seen in the WWF Attitude Era between the two giants back then they are as follows. Giant Silva vs The Big Show at WWF Wrestlemaina in the WWF Attitude Era in 1999

Great video!

the real crime of mark jindrak in DX was that terrible fitting suit

You obviously didn't do your homework on entry #9 He went on to be in multiple Hollywood movies. 300, Sherlock Holmes, Pacific Rim, Brick Mansion..just to name a few

I really liked Kergan. The monster heel and the comedic act

Jindrak eventually found success in Mexico, especially CMLL where he is now considered a legend and greatest non-Mexican wrestler in history of the promotion.

Is 6'5" truly a giant in wrestling?

Luther reigns looks like a DNA slice of Brocky Lesnar and Big Match John

Jindrak was a part of Evolution because Batista got hurt. He was the guy they were considering after Batista reinjured himself rehabbing. And it was just two of the members of Evolution that didn't gel with Jindrak. Orton and him where having fun together and got insufferable to be around so Hunter and Flair vetoed Jindrak and waited for Dave to come back. Jindrak would never have worked.

Tyson Tomko, or just Tomko, eventually found success in TNA, although it didn't last very long. Through his association with Christian and AJ Styles and later Kurt Angle he had a very decent run in TNA for nearly two years, before calling it quits eventually. TNA gave him the opportunity that WWE never gave him. Not just be a background muscle.

Vince would just see dudes for their muscles and physique rather than their charisma. A lot of these dudes couldn't talk

Interesting you bring Andre up about Giant Silva, especially since he looks like Andre in the face.

Knox had The Menagerie in TNA and was pushed in NWA main event.

Just imagine if Jindrak didn't get replaced by Batista in Evolution.

You forgot Matt Morgan

You really have to add Big Cass to this list. He found some successes throughout his career in WWE but based on how his singles run went he was a failure.

IT'S WEDNESDAY, AND YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS!!!

i remember wwe having matt morgan for a bit in the 2000s

4:35 how could you be an unbeatable monster when the results already preordained

Mark Jindrak is a giant? isn't he around 6'5 or 6'6?

We as youngsters thought kurgan was actually Kane! Lol he could have been much better booked!

When you have a 1000 word essay due in 30 minutes, but you're only have 768 words so you start dropping in "then" randomly.

Wwe need to have personality training for their wrestlers

Nice Edit: thanks brotha!

I mean “Giant” is definitely different than slightly taller powerhouse. Luther was 6’5. That’s Randy Ortons height. Are we calling Randy a “Giant”?

Giant Silva was a big man in the mold of Giant Gonzalez before him and Great Khali after him: Big and immobile in the ring.

Forgot to mention Heidenreich and Nathan Jones

jorge gonzalez was featured on baywatch.

You Forgot to mention Matt Morgan, Nathan Jones, Kamala,King Kong Bundy,A-Train, Tugboat, Earthquake,Warlord, Hercules Hernandez,Jamal and Rosie,Big Cass, Vader and Goodfather,

2:59 look at Luke Gallows as security

Ron Reese was very well WCW’s failed giant especially with the Yeti gimmick 🤦‍♂️

Amma just throw this out there Christian and tomko looked cool together

Good to see Luther's son Roman doing well.

Who are these people??? "Vince thought he would still shine- despite what fans thought of him?" That makes 0 sense. No wonder a lot of fans haven't watched this sh*t in decades

Jindrak´s name diddnts seem familiar to me but his face did. I knew him by the name of Marko Corleone,. That´s how he was presented here in México

Mark Jindrak may have failed in WWE but in Mexico Marco Corleone triumphed