Honorable Mention: Scott Steiner to Samoa Joe in TNA lol

For those unaware, Ryback asked RVD for permission to use the same artist that Rob used for his singlets. I believe his name is Joe Holland. RVD was happy to accept as that meant more business for Holland, and the rest is history

The big show is an example that you don't realise how good someone is till they gone

Gunther's transformation is savage . Glad that Vince like him or he would've released him long time ago lol 😂

Such a shame Yokozuna didn’t lose enough weight - he coulda been a multi time WWF champion.

I'm surprised that Vince told Sheamus to lose weight because whenever I've seen Sheamus wrestle he's always been in good physical condition & I don't ever remember a time where Sheamus wasn't in good physical condition. So he's the most shocking one out all of them in this list

Gunther’s transformation from NXT UK to NXT, and then to SmackDown looked absolutely AMAZING to see.

Gunther is a sure badass..he took his career seriously n lost weight..one the best wrestlers..

I'm shocked to see Sheamus in this list 😳

Sheamus was never fat 🤔

Paul Wight struggled with his weight ever since his pituitary gland surgery. His metabolism slowed, meaning he had to work harder to lose and maintain his weight; at 7 feet and 380 pounds, Wight is in great shape, especially for a man now in his 50's. Given his gigantism, the weight loss and fitness regimen probably saved his life. Nelson Frazier deserves to be listed as well. The 6 ft 9 in monster heel arrived in WWE at 560 pounds, and while he lost some weight it wasn't enough to satisfy Vince McMahon. WWE commentators were impressed with Frazier's agility for his size but also mentioned he could be more agile if he dropped some weight. His inability to control his massive frame also made him dangerous in the ring as noted by serious injuries to Undertaker and Kevin Nash. After his WWE runs as Mabel, Viscera, and Big Daddy V ended, Frazier managed to drop over 100 pounds prior to starting wrestling with a Qatar promotion. Sadly, the weight loss happened too quickly and Frazier died of a heart attack in 2014.

Vince basically "chubby-chased" Yoko, so he could adequately portray a Sumo. It's vaguely disgusting that they suddenly decided he was "too fat" when they got him up to 700+ pounds. And what was Rikishi's selling point, exactly? For all the McMahon family did/is doing for the Anoa'i's, they have some responsibility...

Sheamus deserves to get push again

From what I recall in one of Big Show's interviews, his gigantism was the reasons he was in such fantastic shape in the beginning. He could eat anything and never gain weight. Look at him in WCW and you can see that. Problem is, it'd eventually kill him. So he got surgery to fix it. But now he didn't have the increased metabolism and so put on a hefty amount of weight he wasn't used to to dealing with.

Nothing but respect for Gunther took constructive criticism and accepted it if a certain limitless one would be done the same he'd still have job with the greatest company in pro wrestling

Ryback's singlets were a blessing, they had these cool machinery art style which definitely helped him stand out. I liked the Surge green one he feuded with Cena with after Mania 29.

Gunther is a future World Champion and HOFer as long as he doesn't do drugs or get into any IRL issues..

R.I.P Bray Wyatt 😢❤

I'm quite surprised with Ryback. He's always been in great shape all throughout his career. He's always had this brolic stature.

" I'm not fat I'm big boned " - Eric Cartman 🤣🤣

When Keith Lee came back as Bearcat, he looked alot more out of shape to me, I know he health issues, but I was surprised they allowed him to come back looking like that.

Gunther's transformation is wild. Literally

I like that Kevin Owens isn't chisled and cut. He looks like a normal dude that somehow still has great cardio in the ring and agility and mobility to do the things he can do

On my opinion sometimes for certain wrestlers their weight is a definition of their gimmick and that's what makes them unique compared to other wrestlers

Massive respect for Gunther. The amount of dedication he put to his character to fit as a masculine intercontinental champion.

Big Show is underrated legend . Shame that he had to lose his weight plenty of times

I'm surprised Mick Foley isn't on this list. But then again, Mick's weight never seemed to cause an issue with his in ring performance.

Bray actually got in pretty good shape. I mean he just has the body type that has a lot of mass on his body but in terms of muscle he definitely got into pretty damn good shape so I don’t know why they’d be mad at him for his body when compared to his husky Harris says he was in amazing shape

Prime Gangrel was too scary

Vince McMahon had his flaws and many flaws at that but I completely understand why he wanted his talent in shape. Firstly, you're on TV. Being in shape is more marketable and easier for the casual fan they're trying to make permanent fans. Most overweight wrestlers were made to wear clothing to cover their fat. Secondly, being massively overweight or underweight is very unhealthy. I completely get why Vince had that mentality. Especially since he was a massive fitness addict.

That clip of Vince storming to the ring during the Rikishi part is hilarious Vinny was pissed he wouldn't lose the weight

I mean Big Show left WWE in 2000 and was sent to developmental territory OVW because of he needed to lose weight and then he was brought back in 2001 at the Royal Rumble

I was surprised to see Sheamus on this list considering he’s always been in very good shape throughout his career.

It's a shame Vince released Gunther's brother. He was the best thing in NXTuk. Gunther and Walter would have been a formidable tag team on the main roster

A lot of them transformed their bodies and look in amazing shape.

I'm shocked viscera wasn't mentioned. I used to watch wrestling with my cousin when we was kids in the 90s, back when viscera used to wear goth attire and he's always been big like that.

Honestly, it’s always been for the better.

I'm surprised, Braun Strowman ain't on here he had tons of weight when he first came to WWE, but he's in hell of a lot better shape now.

Honestly I enjoyed some of these wrestlers when they were kind of bigger because it shows that wrestling takes all types. Obviously I don't want them to put their health in danger but some wrestlers like Mick Foley really stand out to me for not being super ripped

I know he isn’t on this list or maybe wasn’t made to do it but Brawn looks like a beast now he is jacked compared to before

Keith Lee was so agile for his size. Really enjoyed watching him wrestle.

Keith Lee: Gets told to lose weight, and leaves becomingan after thought Gunther: Gets told to lose weight, Dudes a MONSTER in WWE

I always love new videos.

Great video! Thank you!

im glad Gunther did! theres no way he will look good on the last royal rumble if hes that big. His 1hr performance was great.

This has Mr burns "Shave those sideburns" energy for a lot of these guys.

It may at first glance seem harsh for Vince to be overly obsessed with weight, but image is literally the entire industry.

Nah I don't blame Vince, I think he just wants guys to be at least in good physical shape. He still pushed guys like Austin, HBK, Edge, Jericho... even though they were not physical specimen. If you are average height and fat, it makes you look less intimidating. Now if you are really tall and a little fat, that's another story lol

John Cena also helped influence The Big Show to lose all that weight

RIP Bray Wyatt When I see him in a video I feel sad and lose my mind cant think correctly.

To be honest, in the case of Yokozuna, Rikishi and The Big Show, they made the right choice to make them lose weight, because it was for their own good, and of course for their well being... And as for Gunther, he looks so great now that he lost some weight, and of course he must stay in that shape 🔥🔥

Gunther for sure what a transformation signs of a hard worker 🙌

Gunther stated that his weight loss was of his own volition. He wasn't ordered to.

How was it out of touch that wrestling fans look to see wrestlers in shape

This guy comes up with some brilliant ideas for videos

I think Gunther being heavier gave him more credibility in my opinion.

Mad hopefully Gunther and Emperium continue to get a push. Would love to see A Emperium vs The Bloodline storyline. Neither faction has to be babyface.

Just hope Keith Lee will be fine & will not suffer the same fate Yokozuna & Mabel got

In sports, including wrestling, physicality means a lot. The NFL won't grab anyone off the streets to play just because they wanna play football. You gotta be a good shape to play and not be a liability to the company they perform for, same with WWE.

When you hear stories about how they use to check on their Uncle Yoko and how he had to sleep sitting up, they had to check him to make sure he was still breathing..it’s heartbreaking…I’m sure it’s hard to keep yourself on a workout schedule but when you are doing something so grueling on your body it’s important to have too health…I guess Vince as always showing tough love to get some wrestlers in check with their weight…

I think I heard Big Show is now weighting 340 pounds. His heaviest was in wcw at 537 pounds

Gunther a true gigachad. The man represents hard work in its entirety.

When you think you know something about a subject, then this channel comes along.

Yokozuna was very agile in the ring for a guy his size. When he came back as the mystery partner for Owen Hart he was over 600 pounds. It's sad he put on so much weight that Vince let him go.

You know this explains a lot when you look at wrestlers like Kane. We saw kane start gaining a lot of weight and sometimes showed up looking fat, then he'd go away for a while and come back absolutely jacked. Though makes me wonder if Vince ever had this convo with Mick Foley or if Mick was omit from the weight thing due to the fact that Vince knew how much of a draw he was.

When Gunther first appear shred, I was sad, cause his size was what made him dominant. But glad that he's doing very well with his career and health non the least, and I m still rooting for him

Vince McMahon's instruction for Sheamus to lose weight is like Mr Burns telling Don Mattingly to trim his sideburns

I thought Gunther lost weight on his own? After he moved to the main roster he wanted a change.

Whether Gunther is in the shape he is in now or what he used to be a fee years ago he's still a beast in the ring

Gunther was huge back in 2009 in Germany going under “Big Van Walter” looking like a slower version of Big Van Vader …

All of the fat wrestlers could stand to lose a bit of weight. They don't have to go to the lengths of total body transformation, but there is no way that becoming *somewhat* less obese is going to hurt the health or performance of someone like Keith Lee or, say, Piper Niven.

I love some of the bigger wrestlers. Mick Foley looked great, and having a variety of body types is very progressive and has helped WWE reach the levels it has today.

Kevin Owens is Vince's favourite since day 1 though

I say this as a fan of the Undertaker, he's my all time favorite. But it shows how much respect Vince had for him, as he wasn't on this list. Although in fairness he didn't get as big as some of the guys mentioned here...

What bout Otis. He's a big dude

Nia Jax? She had surgery on both of her knees, and came back even larger

@6:22 Vince did not lose the touch regarding that. I much prefer the wrestler looks the part since theyre called athletes. Look athletic instead of some beer gut hanging etc.

This is probably one of the demands from Vince that benefits the wrestlers in and out of the ring.

I am shocked that Matt Hardy is not in the list....during 2016-17 he gained so much weight that was clearly visible as he struggle in the ring during matches.He belly was clearly visible...

Vinces opinions are not controversial. He is the one paying these people and making them millionaires. Either listen to what he tells you to do or leave.

I understand the weight loss for health reasons.

That story about Yokozuma's heart failure. Reminds me of the same thing as well. Thank you 😊 for putting that info.

Wtf, Vince thought Ryback was fat? 😂🤣😂🤷🏻‍♂️

Bray Wyatt is still in same shape 😂

Excellent video. I have to agree with Vince in these regards as well. It's no longer about body image or sending a message. It's about your job and your performance. When the boss of the most elite wrestling company in the world tells you to lose weight and you don't, you reap the consequences. Then you have Gunther, the most dominant Intercontinental Champion perhaps in history. It pays dividends.

I wonder why Vince McMahon never told Andre The Giant, King Kong Bundy, Big Boss Man, One Man Gang aka Akeem, Mabel aka Viscera, Jamal aka Umaga, Rhonda Singh, Tugboat aka Typhoon, Earthquake, and William Regal to lose weight 🤔

I love how Jim says they were concerned, and they wanted to protect their talent... But, nothing to say about the rampant steroid use, painkillers being handed out like candy, booze and other drugs. Look at what a wreck Shawn Michaels was, as well as Scott Hall and Diesel. Such a load of crap. They let these dudes go because they didn't like the way they looked as wrestlers.

The ironic thing about Yokozuna was that losing too much weight too fast was the real reason why he died so young. When you lose weight too fast, your body can't adjust to such a radical change.

Rikishi was damn underrated

Keith Lee Vs Gunther/Walter one did what he was asked the other one refused to

Most of the time extra weight is great for a wrestling look,but it is not good for a wrestlers health.

Wish Yokozuna would've reduced his weight . RIP

Incase of Gunther, McMahon didn't lost the plot, instead he helped him, motivate him to loose weight and improve his overall look and work. Gunther is far more agile now than he was in NXT UK. He can carry a 60 plus minute match because he came in good shape. Being fat won't help you and you will be a risk to your fellow wrestlers working with you. Just look at Nia Jax now. Her work is dangerous because of her weight sorry but it's true.

There is a problem with that, as usual McMahon cluelessness. There is a certain type of wrestler the heavy big guy, being overweight is a part of that. Just imagine the seven foot skinny guy. In case of especially Yokozuna it is absolutely true, he just had to for sheer health reasons. Just please don't tell me McMahon is interested in the health of a single wrestler, for a single second, he absolutely doesn't care. So this is objectively right, but in reality just erratic McMahonism

Show’s abs are truly impressive given his size.

So that’s why Bray and Keith got released, I always thought that it’d be budgeted cuts or backstage heat

It sounds to me like Vince didn’t like Fat People

Who’s here after Bray Wyatt passed? 😢

i love how i didn’t gaf aboit gunther but now oh man even after that royal rumble performance full on iron man i see him becoming a future hall of famer

i need to hire gunther’s trainer