William Joseph Cobb (July 16, 1926 â€" March 14, 1989), best known by
his ring and screen names of Happy Humphrey, Happy Farmer Humphrey,
and "Squasher" Humphrey, was an American professional wrestler and the
heaviest professional wrestler of all time. His most active period was
in the 1950s and 1960s when he billed himself as "the world's largest
wrestler". Humphrey averaged 750 lb (340 kg) during his career.
Several times, he weighed in at over 800 lb (360 kg), and on one
occasion he weighed over 900 lb (410 kg).Humphrey, who at the time was
working on a farm where he was known for his uncommon strength, began
his wrestling career in 1953 by wrestling a bear for 28 minutes. For
about eight years, Humphrey wrestled a number of matches, some of them
televised, often against Haystacks Calhoun who regularly weighed over
600 lb (270 kg) himself. Humphrey's most notable match was a sold-out
main event against Calhoun at Madison Square Garden, promoted by Vince
McMahon Sr.Humphrey's promoters had a 1951 Pontiac heavily modified to
carry the wrestler around: seats were removed and extra shocks were
installed to support Humphrey's enormous weight (and also as a
gimmick). In addition, he was usually weighed before matches on meat
scales at rendering facilities.In 1960, Humphrey met future multiple
NWA World Champion Harley Race, who was only 17 at the time. Race, who
was just beginning his own career, was hired as Humphrey's driver and
he also wrestled Humphrey on multiple occasions. Race earned $5 per
day, plus room and board, for driving Humphrey, and $25 for each match
he wrestled with Humphrey. According to Race, Humphrey was so large
that normal showers could not accommodate him. As a result, Humphrey
was obliged to lie naked on the ground while Race would apply liquid
soap to his body, scrub him with a mop and then rinse him off with a
garden hose. Race also stated that while Humphrey was a huge man who
taught Race how to take bumps properly, he was also a very kind person
and one of the few wrestlers of his era who took the time to sign an
autograph for everyone and to socialize with fans.
his ring and screen names of Happy Humphrey, Happy Farmer Humphrey,
and "Squasher" Humphrey, was an American professional wrestler and the
heaviest professional wrestler of all time. His most active period was
in the 1950s and 1960s when he billed himself as "the world's largest
wrestler". Humphrey averaged 750 lb (340 kg) during his career.
Several times, he weighed in at over 800 lb (360 kg), and on one
occasion he weighed over 900 lb (410 kg).Humphrey, who at the time was
working on a farm where he was known for his uncommon strength, began
his wrestling career in 1953 by wrestling a bear for 28 minutes. For
about eight years, Humphrey wrestled a number of matches, some of them
televised, often against Haystacks Calhoun who regularly weighed over
600 lb (270 kg) himself. Humphrey's most notable match was a sold-out
main event against Calhoun at Madison Square Garden, promoted by Vince
McMahon Sr.Humphrey's promoters had a 1951 Pontiac heavily modified to
carry the wrestler around: seats were removed and extra shocks were
installed to support Humphrey's enormous weight (and also as a
gimmick). In addition, he was usually weighed before matches on meat
scales at rendering facilities.In 1960, Humphrey met future multiple
NWA World Champion Harley Race, who was only 17 at the time. Race, who
was just beginning his own career, was hired as Humphrey's driver and
he also wrestled Humphrey on multiple occasions. Race earned $5 per
day, plus room and board, for driving Humphrey, and $25 for each match
he wrestled with Humphrey. According to Race, Humphrey was so large
that normal showers could not accommodate him. As a result, Humphrey
was obliged to lie naked on the ground while Race would apply liquid
soap to his body, scrub him with a mop and then rinse him off with a
garden hose. Race also stated that while Humphrey was a huge man who
taught Race how to take bumps properly, he was also a very kind person
and one of the few wrestlers of his era who took the time to sign an
autograph for everyone and to socialize with fans.
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