1. William Joseph Cobb, best known by his ring and screen names of Happy Humphrey, Happy Farmer Humphrey, and "Squasher" Humphrey, was an American professional wrestler, known as the heaviest professional wrestler of all time.
15 Facts About Happy Humphrey
1. 2.
Happy Humphrey's most notable match was a sold-out main event against Calhoun at Madison Square Garden, promoted by Vince McMahon Sr.
3.
Happy Humphrey's promoters had a 1951 Pontiac heavily modified to carry the wrestler around: seats were removed and extra shocks were installed to support Happy Humphrey's enormous weight.
4.
In 1960, Happy Humphrey met future multiple NWA World Champion Harley Race, who was only 17 at the time.
5.
Race stated that Happy Humphrey, who taught Race how to take bumps properly, was 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.
6.
Happy Humphrey had difficulty fitting in with regular society due to his great size.
7.
In 1962, Happy Humphrey was forced into early retirement due to a heart condition.
8.
For two years, Happy Humphrey followed a strict doctor-controlled diet regimen.
9.
Happy Humphrey was not allowed to exercise and was confined to the air-conditioned clinic itself.
10.
Happy Humphrey won a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for this weight loss.
11.
The vast majority of the weight lost on the high-protein diet was body fat and Happy Humphrey's hunger was satisfied for longer periods between meals as well.
12.
Happy Humphrey stated that he missed the sport and mixing it up with other wrestlers but was looking forward to a new life as a normal-sized individual.
13.
In 1975, Happy Humphrey appeared in the film Moonrunners as "Tiny the Syndicate Man".
14.
In later years, Happy Humphrey regained much of his weight and died of a heart attack on March 14,1989.
15.
Happy Humphrey was buried at Southlawn Cemetery, Aiken County, South Carolina.