Stan Hansen was notorious for his hard-hitting style in the wrestling ring. Due to his less-than-perfect eyesight, Hansen’s strikes often landed stiff, resulting in many infamous in-ring moments. While plenty of wrestlers grew tired of taking "potatoes" (a strike to the head that makes real contact), few dared to stand up to it. However, there was one time when Big Stan got knocked down a few pegs!
"We have contact!" Stan Hansen dishes out stiff punishment on Johnny Gunn (Tom Brandi). His hard-hitting style was legendary. Photo Credit: WWE. Artwork by Pro Wrestling Stories.
Stan Hansen’s Hard-Hitting Reputation in Wrestling
The hard-hitting Stan Hansen was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame for his contributions to professional wrestling. Photo Credit: WWE.
Stan Hansen hit hard, perhaps harder than anyone in pro wrestling history. His hard hits were very real and resulted from having rather poor eyesight.
Hansen’s choice to work stiff stemmed from poor eyesight—resulting in real contact. Photo Credit: Pro Wrestling Illustrated, WWE.
As the legend goes, Hansen worked stiff because if he didn’t, he’d miss badly on a punch or slam, and people would catch on to the act.
Hansen went with the latter when choosing between going soft and betraying the business or going hard but injuring people.
Tom Zenk’s Take on Stan Hansen’s Unyielding Style
Tom Zenk reflected on working with Stan Hansen and the perils of facing his brutal strikes. Photo Credit: WWE.
Tom Zenk, who sadly passed away on December 9th, 2017, at 59, shared this memorable story in a fan Q&A on his website TomZenk.net.
"I learned early on that some guys can really work, if they want to," Zenk begins, "and if they don’t, there’s just no point in swimming upstream!"
Stan Hansen’s dual persona: Some nights he could work, other nights he couldn’t see. Photo Credit: Pro Wrestling Illustrated, WWE.
"Stan Hansen is a case in point. Some nights he could work; other nights he ‘couldn’t see’ (he wore thick glasses), or that was always his excuse if he potatoed you."
Stan Hansen’s notorious temper would surface during long bus rides and tour sessions. Photo Credit: Pro Wrestling Illustrated, WWE.
Zenk went on to say, "I never met a more miserable guy than Stan. We watched movies on the bus, and if Stan didn’t like it, or it was too loud, he always got his way (like a big baby).
“All the guys knew his game,” Tom Zenk continued, “but he was ‘office,’ so you had to play ball with him.”
A Memorable Encounter with Danny Kroffat
Stan Hansen drops an elbow on Ole Anderson. According to some, Stan’s notorious temper would surface during long bus rides and tour sessions. Photo Credit: Pro Wrestling Illustrated, WWE.
"My favorite Hansen story is when he got stiff with my ex-partner Danny Kroffat.”
Stan Hansen versus a young Rick Martel. Photo Credit: Pro Wrestling Illustrated, WWE.Photo Credit: Pro Wrestling Illustrated, WWE.
"Stan was clumsy, and all the guys were sick of getting hit stiff all the time … it makes for a really long tour, and we all had to get along – in the Japanese style.
As The Story Goes
Stan Hansen’s hard-hitting style made long tours challenging for many of his fellow wrestlers. Photo Credit: Pro Wrestling Illustrated, WWE.
So Danny put him in a shoot hold armbar, held him down, and added pressure on it. It was glorious to hear that Southwest Texas Redneck scream, ‘**** …..my arm … it don’t bend that way!’
Even a decorated champion like Stan Hansen met his limits when his infamous stiff strikes backfired. Photo Credit: Pro Wrestling Illustrated, WWE.
"The memory still goes good with a cold [drink] to this day! No matter how tough you think you are, there’s always someone a little bit tougher.
Danny Kroffat: The Unlikely Mediator Who Tamed Stan Hansen
“Danny was that guy. He took the edge off Big Stan, and Stan seemed to work better for the rest of the tour."
Danny Kroffat stood up to Stan Hansen. Photo Credit: WWE.
Danny Kroffat delivered a bit of deserved rough justice to the hard-hitting Stan Hansen in the ring, making for a much more enjoyable tour for everyone else.
Big Stan’s Unyielding Strikes: The Wrestlers Who Felt the Impact in the Ring
Stan Hansen about to lay down a strike on Bob Backlund. Tensions on tour would reach a peak as wrestlers grew weary of Stan Hansen’s relentless hard hits. Photo Credit: Pro Wrestling Illustrated, WWE.
The gruesome moment when Stan Hansen’s punch caused Big Van Vader’s eye to pop out during a match. Photo Credit: WWE.
In 1990 during a Tokyo Dome Super Fight for the IWGP Championship, Big Van Vader fell victim to a few hard left-handed strikes to the face by Hansen, and his eye fell out of the socket!
Even the toughest wrestlers, like Stan Hansen, could be taken down with enough force. Photo Credit: Pro Wrestling Illustrated, WWE.
That night, Stan Hansen got a dose of his own medicine when he was met with stiff resistance from Danny Kroffat in the ring.
The Limits of Toughness: Stan Hansen’s Legacy and the Breaking Point
Stan Hansen, known for his unmatched strength, met his match when he faced stiff resistance. Photo Credit: Pro Wrestling Illustrated, WWE.
Stan Hansen’s career is filled with legendary stories of his brute strength and unforgiving in-ring style. However, the tale of Danny Kroffat giving him a stiff reminder that no one is invincible adds a fascinating layer to his legacy.
Even the toughest can be outdone, and this story reminds us that wrestling isn’t just about who hits the hardest—sometimes it’s about who hits back.
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Matt Pender is an old-school wrestling fan who currently lives in New Zealand. He is also a musical performer with his band OdESSA who can be investigated at the link above.
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