WWWF Top Wrestlers
1963 - 1979
This list is based on number of years
competing in WWWF, Championships held, Win-loss record and level of
competition. Wrestlers who competed in any WWWF city are included.
1.
Bruno Sammartino
WWWF Champion on 2 different occasions, Bruno defeated
Buddy Rogers in 1963 and then defeated Stan Stasiak in 1973
to win the WWWF Heavyweight title.
Competed all 16 years in the WWWF. Known as Pro
Wrestling's Living Legend.
2.
Gorilla Monsoon
In the 1960's one of the most feared heels, co-holder of
the Tag Team Championship in the 60's. Turned babyface in
1969 and was a fan favorite the rest of his career.
Competed all 16 years in the WWWF. Monsoon died in 1997.
3.
Killer Kowalski
One of the most feared wrestlers of all time, Kowalski
had a stomach claw hold that very few wrestlers escaped
from. Competed in the WWWF from 1963 - 1977 and held the Tag
Team Title twice, Once as an Executioner wearing a mask in
the 70's. Killer Kowalski died in 2008.
4.
Dom DeNucci
In the late 1960's DeNucci was used as the number 2
babyface in the Pittsburgh area and teamed with Bruno
Sammartino on many occasions. Held the WWWF Tag Team title
on 2 different occasions. Was also recognized as the North
American Champion in the early 70's. DeNucci competed in the
WWWF from the mid 60's to the late 70's.
5.
Pedro Morales
A former WWWF Heavyweight Champion in the 70's, Morales
started in 1963 and competed in the WWWF until 1975 and
returned briefly in the late 70's.
6.
Baron Scicluna
One of the best conditioned athletes to ever enter a WWWF
ring, Baron Scicluna competed from the mid 60's to the late
70's and held the Tag Team Title on 2 different occasions.
From 1975 on Scicluna dropped down to prelim status but was
still a big draw. Baron Scicluna died of Liver Cancer in
March of 2010.
7.
Ivan Koloff
Former WWWF Heavyweight Champion and one of the toughest
wrestlers in the WWWF. Koloff competed from the late 60's to
the late 70's and was a top contender all the years he
competed.
8.
Haystacks Calhoun
All 601 pounds of the Country Boy, Haystacks Calhoun was
a big star in the 60's and held the tag title in the 70's.
By 1977 he really slowed down and worked mostly tag matches
and prelim matches. Calhoun was always a big draw on WWWF
cards as he competed from 1963 - 1978. Haystacks Calhoun
died in 1989.
9.
George Steele
Known as The Animal, George Steele was one of the most
exciting heels to watch in the WWWF. No matter who he took
on it was great action and you could be assured a foreign
object was being used. Steele competed in the WWWF from 1967
- 1979.
10.
Waldo Von Erich
Another real tough guy who competed in the WWWF from 1963
- 1977. Waldo Von Erich was always a contender for the
title. Held the Tag Team Title in the 60's. Waldo Von Erich
died in 2009
11.
Professor Tanaka
One of the best Oriental wrestlers of the 60's &
70's. Was 3 time co-holder of the Tag Team Championship and
feuded with Bruno Sammartino & Pedro Morales. Professor
Tanaka died in 2000.
12.
Bobo Brazil
Famous for his Co-co Butt move, Bobo Brazil competed all
16 years in the WWWF. Always a fan favorite in the WWWF
Brazil held the North American title in the late 60's. Bobo
Brazil died in 1998.
13.
Crazy Luke Graham
One of the famous Graham Brothers, when Eddie Graham
started to turn babyface Crazy Luke Graham and Dr. Jerry
Graham remained heels and won the tag title in the 60's.
Crazy Luke and Tarzan Tyler held the Tag Title in the early
70's. Crazy Luke competed for most of the 16 years of the
WWWF. Luke Graham died in 2006.
14.
Ernie Ladd
Known as The Big Cat, Ernie Ladd was a football player in
the 60's and became a full time wrestler in 1966 after his
retirement from football. Ladd wrestled mostly as a heel in
the WWWF and competed on and off from the mid 60's to the
late 70's. Ernie Ladd died in 2007.
15.
Johnny DeFazio
Worked mainly in Pittsburgh, DeFazio was the WWWF Junior
Champion on and off between 1966 and 1972. DeFazio along
with Geeto Mongol held a form of the WWWF Tag Titles in
1971-72. DeFazio competed all 16 years of the WWWF. By 1977
his status was dropped to prelim.
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16.
Victor Rivera
One of the most exciting high flyers of the WWWF during
the 60's & 70's. Rivera competed from 1965 to 1975 and
then returned as a heel in 1978. Rivera held the Tag Team
Title twice during his run in the WWWF. In 1975 he gave up
the Tag Title and moved to the IWA.
17.
Dr. Bill Miller
A real no nonsense brawler and wrestler during the 60's,
Miller had some great bouts with Sammartino, Watts, White
Owl & Monsoon. Held the WWWF Tag Title with his brother
Dan in the 60's. Turned babyface in 1968 and continued to
wrestle mainly in Pittsburgh during the 70's until he
retired in 1976. Dr. Bill Miller died in 1997.
18.
Spiros Arion
Competed in the WWWF in the late 60's and early 70's as a
babyface. Held the Tag Title in the late 60's. In 1974
turned on Chief Jay Strongbow and feuded with Strongbow and
Sammartino during the 70's.
19.
Lou Albano
Long before he was a manager Lou Albano was a pretty good
wrestler and held the Tag Team Title in the late 60's.
Started managing wrestlers in 1970, Albano would interfere a
lot in matches and then during the 70's would wrestle grudge
matches against a number of wrestlers. Albano was active
from the mid 60's to 1979 in the WWWF. Lou Albano died in
2009.
20.
Edouard Carpentier
A big international star in the 60's Carpentier wrestled
for a few years in the early part of the WWWF and returned
in the late 60's for a stint and wrestled now and then in
the 70's. He was Superstar Billy Graham's final challenger
before Graham lost his title. Carpentier died in 2010.
