- Mark Henry is a former Olympic weightlifter, powerlifter, strongman, and professional wrestler.
- The big man spent 25 years working with WWE and won the World Heavyweight Championship and WWF European championship.
- Mark Henry is currently signed to AEW, where he is a commentator, coach, and talent scout.
Mark Henry WWE journey began in 1996 when he made his first appearance in the ring at the age of 24.
Mark Henry is one of the biggest and strongest professional wrestlers of all time. He is a former ECW Heavyweight Champion, World Heavyweight Champion and WWF European champion.
Mark Henry WWE journey. Photo/ For The Win – USA Today.
Before becoming a professional wrestler, Mark Henry was a powerlifter, Olympic weightlifter and strongman.
As a powerlifter, Mark Henry was a WDFPF World Champion in 1995 and a two-time U.S. National Champion in 1995 and 1997.
The big man still holds the all-time raw world record for squats, deadlifts and total in the WDFPF.
In weightlifting, Mark Henry is a former U.S. National Weightlifting Champion (1993, 1994 and 1996). He was the first man to win the annual Arnold Strongman Classic in 2002.
WWE Career
Mark Henry WWE journey began after he competed in the 1996 Summer Olympics. WWE, previously known as WWF, offered the big man a 10-year contract.
He made his first appearance on the March 11, 1996, episode of Monday Night Raw. Mark Henry press slammed Jerry Lawler, who ridiculed him during the interview.
He made his debut wrestling match on September 22, 1996, against Jerry Lawler at Your House: Mind Games. Mark Henry defeated Lawler at the event, but the feud between the two stars continued for several weeks.
The former weightlifter defeated Goldust, Crush and Hunter Hearst Helmsley in a tug-of-war contest on the November 17 episode of Superstars.
He took some off due to injuries but returned before the end of the year and became a regular face in Vince McMahon’s promotion.
Mark Henry feuded with several top WWE stars, such as The Rock, The Sultan, Ken Shamrock and Vader, before the turn of the century.
WWE sent Mark Henry to Ohio Valley Wrestling in 2002 so as to improve his wrestling skills. He subsequently joined strongman competitions.
Mark Henry WWE journey resumed in 2002, where he had various feuds until 2007. He feuded with stars such as Chris Jericho, The Undertaker, Booker T, Shawn Michaels and Batista.
Mark Henry during a match with The Undertaker. Photo/ StillRealToUs.com.
Henry won his first title, ECW Championship, in his debut as an ECW superstar in 2008. He lost the title a few months later to Matt Hardy at September’s Unforgiven in the Championship Scramble match.
Between 2009 and 2011, Mark Henry teamed with several wrestlers in pursuit for the tag team championship. However, he didn’t succeed and eventually stopped teaming afterwards.
Mark Henry turned heel and feuded with Big Show, the legendary Kane, Vladimir Kozlov, The Great Khali and Sheamus, defeating all of them.
The big man faced Randy Orton at Night of Champions for the World Heavyweight Championship. He defeated Orton and successfully defended his title against him at Hell in a Cell in a Hell in a Cell match.
Mark Henry’s final feuds happened between 2013 and 2017, where he fought against WWE superstars such as Ryback, The Shield and Jack Swagger.
Mark Henry’s Retirement
More than 20 years after becoming a professional wrestler, mark Henry decided to retire following Wrestlemania 33 in 2017. However, that was not the end of Mark Henry WWE journey.
The big man took the role of a backstage producer and later made his return in a backstage cameo in January 2018.
WWE announced on March 19, 2018, that Big Show would induct Mark Henry into the Hall of Fame.
Mark Henry. Photo/ Wrestling-Edge.
Mark Henry made his final WWE appearance during the Raw Legends Night special on January 4, 2021. He appeared riding on a scooter due to a leg injury.
Mark Henry WWE journey came to an end after the Raw Legends Night special, where Randy Orton verbally confronted him.
Life After Wrestling
After leaving WWE, Mark Henry made his All Elite Wrestling (AEW) debut on May 30, 2021.
He attended the Double or Nothing annual PPV event, where it was announced that he would be part of AEW’s commentary team.
The 51-year-old is currently signed to AEW, where he is a commentator/analyst, coach, and talent scout.
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