9. Ivan Putski (1974-Early 80s)
WWE.comIn the era of professional wrestling, especially the 60s and the 70s, the nationally that a wrestler represented was very important to the sport. With Bruno Sammartino as the WWWF Champion from 1963-1971, and again from 1973-1977, Vince McMahon had just about every Italian that walked the face of this planet buying tickets and pulling for Bruno. In an effort to then capitalize on the Polish market, Vince Sr. hired, Polish Power Ivan Putski to hopefully bring his people into the house - much like Bruno did his. And the experiment worked; at 56, 250 pounds, Putski wasnt only loved by the Polish People, but he was in favor with everybody who ever saw him step into a ring. With a smile that stretched from ear to ear, and the raw, brute strength of a stubborn ox - much like Chief Jay Strongbow in fact - Putski became the second biggest baby face behind Champion Sammartino. Later, Putski would fall in line behind then Champion Bob Backlund, when he came back for a second tenure with the federation. You see, back then when you won the title it actually meant something. Not like when Vince Russo began writing 20 years later and he started flip-flopping the gold as if it were a dead trout at a fish market!!! Always the best man - never the groom.