As a kid, I loved the giant wrestlers. They seemed invulnerable. It didn't matter how athletic or aggressive their smaller opponents were, the big guys just couldn't be budged. And as Gorilla Monsoon always reminded us, "A good little man will never beat a good big man."
I remember Big John Studd turning his opponent upside down and hanging him by his feet in the corner after the match had already ended. Studd kicked him without mercy, repeatedly drilling the toe of his boot into the chest and belly of the poor schlep. I had never seen that level of brutality and bullying. That guy may still be hanging there to this day had Andre the Giant not charged the ring to make the save!
Despite his vicious style in the ring, Studd's colleagues described him as a kind person who was always generous with fans. In his autobiography, Bobby Heenan says that when he was curt with fans while traveling, Studd would tell him, "Be nice."
Nearly 40 years later, the 160-lb. daredevil has almost completely replaced the 360-lb. mauler in today's sling 'em, fling 'em wrestling ring. Enter Dalton Wade. At 6'6" and 300 lbs. of solid muscle, wearing leather and sporting a Mohawk, Wade is an intimidating presence. Think Road Warrior Animal on a Sid Vicious frame. Try to work Wade over in the corner, and a one-handed shove will send you flying across the ring. Do a cute high-flying move with the full force of your 160 lbs., and you'll land helplessly in Wade's arms while he decides whether to drill you across his knee for a back breaker or power slam you into the canvas.
But the same man who impatiently paces the corners of the ring before unleashing a primal fury on his adversary has a gentler side when it comes to his fans.
Dalton Wade pulls trucks and planes. He was in a truck-pulling competition to raise money for various charities when an acquaintance told him about a young boy from Kentucky with Cystic Fibrosis named Dalton. Wade reached out to the boy's mother to arrange a truck pull in front of their house. "He could not leave the house due to medical reasons, so we brought the show to him," Wade says. It's no coincidence that Wade and his friend share the same first name; Wade chose his wrestling name in honor of his young friend.
Wade is a big fan of the big wrestlers from his youth. He looks at their work for some tricks of the trade, both when it comes to wrestling and cutting promos. But he admires Stephanie McMahon and Triple H for their good deeds and charity that they show fans.
I'm glad to see the return of the big man to pro wrestling, especially one who can tear it up in the ring but is willing to sacrifice for his fans.
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