Wwe scores important footage for upn wrestling gig

[John Wood]

For those interested: on the UPN network on WWE Smackdown tonight 8:00 EST, there will (MOST LIKELY) be footage of "World's Strongest Man" Mark Henry cleaning and push-pressing what appeared to be a 172 lb. replica of the Thomas Inch 172 lb. dumbbell.  Using the Association of Oldetime Barbell & Strongmen 19th annual reunion/dinner as a backdrop, this outstanding strength feat was followed by a half-hour "impromptu" news conference for WWE camera crews.  Slim "The Hammerman" Farman, who performed the most outstanding strength feats of the evening was not interviewed by the six-man WWE media team.  --Kim Wood/John Wood

[Tom Black]

I'll have to look for that John, it was a great night.  Too bad they didn't interview Slim as well.  I wonder if Mark Henry will be able to clean and press the Inch replica when he is 70?     

Oh, by the way, sorry I didn't mention that you lifted the replica that night in my  Cyberpump "flash report."  There was so much going on I didn't see your lift.  I really think the COC's on the grip table would have done a lot better on the dumbbell without all the the crushing going on that night.  

It was great to meet both you and your father.

[Jett]

They've been cashin in on this whole "worlds strongest man" thing ever since he won the Arnold Classic. So far theyve showed him holding a limo against a wall burning out, bending a steel rod and rolling a frying pan (not nearly as fast or as neat as Dennis Rogers  ), and lifting a car from the side squat style and moving it about a foot or so. (Ford Taurus I believe)  Its kinda cool seeing him do all those feats of strength, but quite frankly, he sucks as a "wrestler," but hey, everybodys gotta make money somehow. Im not gonna miss that tonight, Ive got to see it to believe it, thats a scary lift! I dont think normal WWF fans can fully appreciate this.

[OldGuy]

Appeared to be an Inch replica? It was an Inch replica. Mark Henry who has one of the highest combined power and Olympic lifting totals has demonstrated once again that he is the world's strongestman, and probably the strongest of all time. He could well have the strongest grip too.

[RSW]

Oldguy,

         What makes you say that Mark Henry is the strongest man of all time ?  I only see him beating Paul Anderson (in his prime) in supporting grip strength and maybe in the deadlift (if you disallow straps or hooks) definitely not in squats.  Could Mark Henry overhead press a 300lb dumbell for reps ?  

            Still, Mark Henry is an amazingly strongman.  He  might well have the greatest potential of any lifter in history.

Robert

[OldGuy]

What makes me say that Mark Henry is the strongest man of all time, is that he has the highest combined powerlifting and Olympic lifting total. His recent win over other top strongmen. His lifting of the Inch dumbbell. He has closed a number 3 gripper with either hand and can do the same with the grippers inverted.

http://www.geocities.com/aedziepak/strength/supert.htm

[Guest Harlan Jacobs]

Henry the stongest man of all time ?  He is a great olympic lifter. I do not know about his powerlifting , But I have no doubt he would do well in that also. BUT, the Arnold was a show.Not a strongman contest. If he was qualifyed for the Nationals in St. Loius next month, He would not even place in the top 5. Mark is a big powerful man , no question. But he is by no means,by todays standards, a strongman competetor. I am not bashing him. I am just stating my thoughts. Reguardles of wheather he is or is not the strongest man , He has done an amazing feat that nobody else has done. I did read on another board that Phil Phister has cleaned and pressed the Inch several different times in his training. But untill he does it infront of more people that the few he is training with, Mark Henry will be the only man to do it. I would bet both Mark and Phil could farmers walk with 2 Inch Dumbbells. That I would like to see !

[OldGuy]

That is like saying that strongman competitors are the

strongest men rather than weightlifters. They do awkward specialized events. If the events were the 3 powerlifts and the 2 Olympic lifts plus a test of grip strength such as the Inch or a farmer's walk, I say that Henry would beat any field in the world. If Vince McMahon asks him to compete in more strongman competitions then he will train accordingly.

[Guest Harlan Jacobs]

I understand what you are saying.Todays strongman is all about events. Raw power in still needed but not as much as events and a great grip.But if all the events where done with a bar as you said, that whould take away from the popularity of it. People can't relate to a 1000lb squat or how hard it is just to do a snatch. But they love to watch a guy setting on the ground pulling a train car with a rope. can they understand how hard it is, no. But seeing rocks, trucks, planes  moved amazes people more than plates of steel.

[Guest juggernaut216]

I hate the whole title of "World's Strongest man".There are just too many variabes to determine this.Mark Henry can lift the Inch Dumbbell but Anthony Clark benched 775.Gary Heisey can Deadlift over 900lbs but Brent Mikesell squatted 1074.Leonid Tartenko can clean and Jerk almost 600lbs.but Magnus can carry Africa.Joe Kinney can close #4 and so on...It is stupid to even have the title.I admire all these men for what they do in their respected fields.Just because promoters put on shows that are called World Strongest Man doesn't mean that is the absolute truth.They take advantage of the name just like the WWE is doing with Mark Henry.As for Henry though,I think he is a person that represents this generation and is doing a fine job.He has done superb in the olympic lifts,deadlifted over 900lbs.,and what he is doing with the Inch DB and Apollon wheels is very exciting.If anything he is bringing strength feats back into the mainstream.Before tonight,how many 18 year olds have even heard of the Inch Dumbbell? All the people that watch wrestling now know about Apollon wheels,Inch Db,bending frying pans etc.He may not be the "strongest man" but I am sure Saxon,Cyr,Aston,Inch,Goerner,Anderson and the rest of the gang,are looking down saying....great job!! He may not be the "strongest man"but it sure is exciting watching him attempt and succeed at the grip game.

[1stCoC]

Strength= ability to apply force.I have SEEN em all in the last 38 years of my athletic career and believe me Mr Henry is is on the short top list of the greats. His strength is WELL rounded, has submitted to ongoing, numerous drug tests and the ease in which he does most of the lifts says there is much more there. By the way , on his FIRST try with #3 grippers he shut them right and left handed,also both hands with the gripper inverted. Yes, I would say he was in the top 5 of all time. Remember the term "strongest" and not a "one lift specialist". Many of the modern strongman tests include reps,and cardiovascular based events that do shy away from absolute strength.

[RSW]

Thanks Richard,

                         Glad to hear that Henry is drug free.  Having now seen Henry's lift on TV though, it looks like the final portion was a push press.  How strong is Mark Henry in the strict overhead press ?

Robert

[supersqueeze]

For those of you who did not see the film last night it was astonishing. He threw the dumbell to his shoulder so quickly that the momentum nearly knocked him over backwards. There was also very little bend to his knees. He lifted it to his shoulder rather than lifting it and dropping under it. His hands appear to be HUGE. Someone introduce this guy to a rolling thunder. He looks like he may have a 300 lb RT lift in him if anyone does.

Mike M.

[Guest Christian]

I did read on another board that Phil Phister has cleaned and pressed the Inch several different times in his training. But untill he does it infront of more people that the few he is training with, Mark Henry will be the only man to do it. I would bet both Mark and Phil could farmers walk with 2 Inch Dumbbells. That I would like to see!

Just as a side note, a guy I work with went to high school with Phil Phister.  He told me that Phil was of average size in HS and not really "strongman" build.  Goes to show that you can start later in the game and still be a champ.

[terminator]

The film did nothing to capture the intensity of this event.  This was quite simply one of the most impressive displays of raw power I have ever seen (and heard, something lost on the film clip).  He had the dumbell moving so high and fast in my opinion he could have snatched it.  He then picked it up with the other hand, carried it about 15 feet and set it on the main table.  He could EASILY farmers walk with two of these.  Nice guy too, I spoke with him immediately after and shook his hand....in a word HUGE.

[OldGuy]

Mark Henry looks as though he has very large hands and long

fingers. Ideal for thickbar lifting. So much for the theory that the narrow Inch dumbbell handle was a probem for big hands.

[Sybersnott]

BTW.... yes, big difference.  On my PDA Inch, you are using weight plates and they come straight up from the handle; not giving you much room to play with.  OTOH, the Inch rep, although 172 pounds, the sides of the handle flair away.  I was surprised how easily I could two-hand it.  And 3Crusher did an AWESOME two-handed to shoulder lift!!  It was like he was handling a small child!!  :p

[Tom Black]

We didn't mention that before about Steve lifting the Inch two-handed to his shoulder.  He made it look pretty easy (it's not), and considering he was in street clothes I'd say he'd have a good chance of at least jerking the bell overhead after a two handed lift.  Steve should head over to Dr. Ken's house to give it a try.

[3Crusher]

Thanks for the kind words Snott and Tom, but honestly, I really do not think that I am capable of a one hand jerk press with the Inch at this time.  That thing is heavy!  Maybe something to try for in the future...hmmmm, but first I'll need to get MUCH, MUCH stronger.  I think John Wood could give it a go-he is a big dude, and strong as a bull!  As for heading over to Doctor Ken's house- well I tried that once, and ended up leaving feeling like recycled newspaper after he was through kicking my a$$ around his garage.  After our workout at Iron Island, I stopped by Doctor Ken's with Pat and Heath, but he was not around.  I think we were all kind of relieved, since they know what he did to me the last time I stopped by for a visit.  I am still feeling the after effects from Sunday's workout!!

[1stCoC]

I had a young man come by the office Wed. and on his first try 2 hand cleaned the Inch replica to his shoulder and easily jerk pressed and held it for the count.(even gave it a go lefty) He also got under two 135 lb olympic barbells on a rack,stood up,and then military pressed them VERY easily! Strong kid!

[Sybersnott]

So.... the race is on!!  Who will lift the Inch rep DB at the next AOBS?!?  ???

[mobsterone]

If I come to the next aobs I'll pull it off the floor to make u happy  

[Roark]

Returning now to John's post that started this

thread- what did Slim do that would cause John

and Kim to classify it as the greatest strength feat(s)

of the evening in an evening that included Henry's

clean and push press of the replica?

Tom Black, did you have a feel of Slim's leverage

implements? If so, your views?

Did Slim try to deadlift the Inch replica?

[Tom Black]

Joe,

   I don't know why John used the words "appeared to be a 172 lb. replica of the Thomas Inch 172 dumbbell."  Writing it this way seems to imply that maybe it wasn't.   The dumbbell was owned by Richard Sorin and I'm sure he will verify that this was a 172-pound replica.   I think I could have lifted a 152 pound replica off the floor if that is what it was, but this particular dumbbell I could not lift.  Also,  I've loaded up my Inch replica handle to 172 many times and can lift it with two hands and hold it with one for a few seconds, exactly the way I did with this replica.  I also think if it had been lighter (e.g., 152-pounds) a lot more of the COC's would have lifted it.  In answering your other thread, the handle was round and everybody from the grip table gave it a try.

   Slim was very impressive, and no doubt John and Kim wanted to give him his due.  Slim is over 70 now, maybe 71, and when you factor this in, a case could be made that he "performed the most outstanding strength feats of the evening," as John said.  Heath went up on stage to try to lever off the floor Slim's 12-pound "test" hammer, he described the handle as "a leathery wrap that was spongy, but hard too."

  As I was leaving at 1:20 am or so I saw Slim looking at the Inch replica sitting on a cart.  He didn't appear to be in any position to lift it, and I did not see him make an attempt when we had it down on the floor earlier.

[Bearcat 74]

 Heath went up on stage to try to lever off the floor Slim's 12-pound "test" hammer, he described the handle as "a leathery wrap that was spongy, but hard too."

 

I felt like a panzy arse too!!!!  

Announcer:  We need a volunteer....

Slim:  YOU'RE CLOSE!

Heath:  HAHAH, who's it gonna be??

Slim:  YOU!!

Heath looks around........finally he realizes he's talking to Heath.........crap................

It was down right embarrassing, but it was still cool!