10 WWE Champions Who Wouldn't Make It In Today's Developmental System
7. Ivan Koloff
Ivan Koloff, the fearsome Russian Bear that ended Bruno Sammartino's seven year title reign was billed as 6'1" and 298 lbs, but, uh, wasn't. Basically, Ivan was the 1970's version of Bull Dempsey, a guy pretending to be much bigger, stronger and heavier version of himself, not terribly convincingly. Of course, Koloff had the benefit of Cold War hysteria helping audiences buy him as a threat to top babyfaces, but without that context? Nothing special.
Picture the Rusev gimmick put on Bull Dempsey, with all the attendant rhetotric about Soviet super athletes. He's just a dumpy guy in an unflattering singlet with a bad accent and a truly soporific in-ring style. Perhaps Ivan could luck into that sweet "so fat he's eating during matches" gimmick that's doing so well for Bull.