6.07.2011

#62: Haystacks Calhoun

Real Name: William Dee Calhoun
Biggest Fan: Barry M. Reardon "...because he used to dress like someone out of Hee Haw."

Haystacks Calhoun's legend could be attributed to many things: his "country boy" character (paving the way for Hillbilly Jim and others), his immense size (setting the stage for future super heavyweights like Andre the Giant), or his unexpected athleticism. But Calhoun also came to prominence thanks to a well-publicized lawsuit that was brought against him for collapsing an opponent's lung during his wrestling training. He was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing, and the national attention drew even more fans to the ring to see his matches.

Not that fans needed anymore reasons to watch this behemoth. At 6'4" and weighing beyond 600 pounds, the man himself was spectacle enough. But unlike other super-sized contemporaries, Haystacks could legitimately wrestle. His special finishing maneuver was a big splash off the top rope, and his mobility was remarkable for a man of his size.

Haystacks also formed a tag team with Mountain Man Mike; at 1,200+ pounds combined, their team is considered the second-largest tag team of all time, trailing only these guys:

Haystacks Calhoun is one of the most gigantic superstars to ever appear in the ring. Although it seems like a difficult task for pre-WrestleMania legends to crack this list, Calhoun is memorable enough to claim his spot here at #62. And just like his opponents in the ring used to quickly learn, the big grappler from Morgan's Corner, Arkansas isn't going to budge from his current spot. A true superstar of wrestling, Calhoun, who passed away more than two decades ago, will not soon be forgotten.

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