John Brzenk

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John Richard Brzenk (born July 15, 1964) is a former professional armwrestler from the United States, who is universally acknowledged as 'the greatest armwrestler of all time'.[1][2] During his career as a professional armwrestler, Brzenk has won more than 500 championship titles.[3]

Biography & Accomplishments

John Brzenk's father, John Brzenk Sr., was an arm wrestler, and Brzenk says he gained some of his forearm size through genetics.[4] John started his amateur career in the classroom, where he arm wrestled students across tables for five years. When he was in eighth grade, he broke his arm while armwrestling his father's friend, and has stated that this breakage increased his tendon strength significantly.[5] Over the years, Brzenk has often been called "The Giant Crusher", "The Golden Boy", "G.O.A.T." or the "Perfect Storm" for his ability to pin opponents twice his size.[6]

Brzenk started his professional career in 1982, at the age of 18, where he won his first world title on ABC's 1983 Wide World of Sports. From 1982 to 2015, John only lost a single supermatch, and only a handful of people had beaten him in tournaments. Most of these losses occurred later during that time when he was of advanced age. Two of his most prominent losses were to Alexey Voyevoda in 2004 and Devon Larratt in 2008, both of whom are considered legendary arm wrestlers.[7] Aside from arm wrestling, John works as a mechanic at Delta Air Lines.[8] He says the job is non-physical so his arms get plenty of rest. During his career he has competed for upwards of US$80,000.[9][10]

Brzenk won championships in a number of different weight classes, including four world championships in the heavyweight division, and the middleweight world championship.[11] He also had an uncredited cameo in the 1987 Sylvester Stallone film Over the Top, and was the subject of the feature documentary "Pulling John", directed by Vassiliki Khonsari and Sevan Matossian. The documentary chronicles Brzenk's legendary arm wrestling career by following him intimately for 4 years, in which John competes in global tournaments and ponders retiring from the sport he loves.[12][13] After defeating Marcio Barboza in the 2015 WAL Heavyweight Right-Handed Championship, Brzenk would take an extended period of time off from armwrestling due to injuries.[14]

Arm Wrestling Comeback

In 2018, John Brzenk would lose an attempted comeback match against Travis Bagent in Moldova.[15] On July 31, 2021, Brzenk would return to arm wrestling full time by defeating Chance Shaw in a supermatch.[16] On December 11 of the same year, John Brzenk would face right-handed heavyweight title holder Devon Larratt at King Of The Table 2 (KOTT 2). Despite John defeating Larratt in one of his most recent matches before his layoff from armwrestling, a bigger, stronger Larratt would prove to be too much for John as he would go on to lose by a score of 4–0.[17]

On February 10, 2022, Brzenk would make his debut at the international arm wrestling tournament East vs West (East vs West 2 event) by defeating Khadzimurat Zoloev. This win allowed John to once again, at the age of 57, reclaim the world's top ranking in the 225 pound division.[18] On May 21, at East vs West 3, Brzenk would have a match against Zurab Tavberidze. John would go on to win this match by a score of 3–2.[19]

On August 6, 2022, at East vs West 4, John Brzenk was defeated in a right-handed supermatch with Kazakhstan armwrestler Kydyrgali Ongarbaev.[20] On November 19 of the same year, in the next installment of East vs West, Brzenk would defeat Oleg Petrenko in a right-handed supermatch in dominant fashion, 3–0.[21]

On January 21, 2023, John Brzenk would participate in a fifth consecutive installment of East vs West, losing a hard-fought supermatch to Irakli Zirakashvili by a score of 3–2.[22] The next month, on February 25, Brzenk would have his toughest test to date, a match at KOTT 6 against Super Heavyweight Denis Cyplenkov, the former world #1 who had not had a match in 4 years due to health issues. Despite the long layoff, Cyplenkov did not look like he had lost any of his physical or table ability, defeating Brzenk by an almost effortless 6–0 score.[23] On August 12, 2023, Brzenk would lose 0–4 to Todd Hutchings at the AWC Reloaded event.[24]

On September 23, 2023, John Brzenk would go against Alexey Voyevoda at King Of The Table 8. This was a rematch of their historic first match in 2004 which Voyevoda won. Circumstances were different this time as Voyevoda had not competed in years and was not as dominant as he was back then. John would win the match 4–2.[25] John Brzenk announces his retirement after his match against Yoshinobu Kanai.

Physical statistics

  • Height: 6'1"[11]
  • Weight: Varies between 190 and 253 lbs, depending on competition classes.[26][27]
  • Style: Varies
  • Biceps: 18.25in[28]
  • Forearm:

Notable matches

Year Opponent Result Hand Outcome Event
2025 Yoshinobu Kanai Loss Right Hand 0-3 East vs West 17
2024 Leonidas Arkona Won Right Hand 3-0 East vs West 14
2024 Krasimir Kostadinov Loss Right Hand 0-3 East vs West 11
2023 Sasho Andreev Loss Right Hand 0-5 East vs West 10
2023 Alexey Voevoda Won Right Hand 4-2 KOTT 8
2023 Todd Hutchings Loss Right Hand 0-4 AWC Fight Night 2
2023 Denis Cyplenkov Loss Right Hand 0-6 KOTT 6
2023 Irakli Zirakashvili Loss Right Hand 2-3 East vs West 6
2022 Oleg Petrenko Won Right Hand 3-0 East vs West 5
2022 Kydyrgali Ongarbaev Loss Right Hand 1-3 East vs West 4
2022 Corey West Won Right Hand 3-2 Monster Factory 2
2022 Zurab Tavbaridze Won Right Hand 3-2 East vs West 3
2022 Pavlo Derbedyenyev Won Right Hand 3-0 Kentucky Muscle 2022
2022 Engin Terzi Won Right Hand 3-0 Hardanger Open 2022
2022 Khadzimurat Zoloev Won Right Hand 3-0 East vs West 2
2021 Devon Larratt Loss Right Hand 0-4 KOTT 2
2021 Paul Linn Won Right Hand 3-0 Virginia State Championships
2021 Dmitriy Kachan Won Right Hand 3-0 Texas State Championships
2021 Chance Shaw Won Right Hand 3-1 Dave Patton Classic
2015 Marcio Barboza Won Right Hand 2-0 WAL Championship
2015 Devon Larratt Won Right Hand 6-0 WAL Championship
2012 Vasilli Dautashvili Loss Right Hand 2-4 PAL Armfight #41
2012 Terence Opperman Won Right Hand 5-1 PAL Armfight #41
2012 Dmitry Trubin Loss Right Hand 0-6 PAL Armfight #41
2008 Devon Larratt Loss Right Hand 0-6 Arm Wars "Deep Water"
2008 Denis Cyplenkov Won Right Hand 5-1 PAL Armfight #37
2008 Dmitry Kochiev Won Right Hand 4-2 PAL Armfight #34
2007 Taras Ivakin Won Right Hand 4-2 PAL Armfight #30
2007 Ion Oncescu Won Right Hand 4-2 PAL Armfight #29
2006 Andrey Pushkar Won Right Hand 6-0 PAL Armfight #27
2005 Alexey Semerenko Won Right Hand 5-1 PAL Armfight #17
2005 Todd Hutchings Won Right Hand 2-0 Superstar Showdown 2
2005 Taras Ivakin Won Right Hand 4-2 PAL Armfight #15
2004 Devon Larratt Won Right Hand 2-0 SuperStar Showdown
2004 Alexey Voevoda Loss Right Hand 0-1 (Elimination) Zloty Tur Cup
1999 Ron Bath Won Right Hand 1-0 WAF Worlds 1999
1999 Devon Larratt Won Right Hand 1-0 WAF Worlds 1999

Achievements

Key
Symbol Description
L Left hand
R Right hand

Template:Div-col

  • A1 Russian Open
  • 2015 – R-2nd Place
  • 2014 – R-3rd Place[30]
  • AAA Stand-Up National
  • 1984 – R200 lbs
  • 1985 – R185 lbs
  • 1986 – R220 lbs
  • 1990 – R220 lbs
  • Arnold Classic
  • 2006 – R199+
  • 2007 – R199+
  • AWI World
  • 1986 – Pro Super Heavyweight
  • 1987 – Pro Light Heavyweight
  • 1988 – Pro Light Heavyweight
  • 1995 – Pro Light Heavyweight
  • 2001 – Pro Super Heavyweight
  • Carling O’Keefe International
  • 1989 – R 200 lbs, R 231+ lbs
  • Forsa Tropical International
  • 1998 – R198 lbs, R243+ lbs, L198 lbs
  • GNC Pro Performance
  • 2002 – R198 lbs
  • GOLDEN BEAR
  • SUPERMATCH (Absolut Champion)
  • R1994
  • Pro tournament
  • R90+ kg: 1990, 1994, 1998
  • R90 kg: 1990
  • Harley Pull
  • 2000 – R220 lbs + Harley Winner
  • 2001 – R220 lbs
  • 2002 – R198 lbs, L198 lbs
  • 2009 – R225 lbs, L225 lbs + Harley Winner
  • Main Event
  • 1998 – R220 lbs
  • Mike Gould Classic
  • 2006 – R220 lbs, L220 lbs
  • 2010 – R220 lbs
  • Mohegan Sun PAC World
  • 2005 – R198 lbs, L198 lbs
  • 2006 – R242 lbs, R243+ lbs
  • 2007 – R198 lbs, L198 lbs
  • Over the Top
  • 1986 – Winner of Truckers Division in Heavyweight class
  • Reno Reunion
  • 1999 – R200 lbs, R230 lbs, R231+ lbs, L200 lbs
  • 2000 – R198 lbs, R242 lbs, R243+ lbs, L198 lbs, L242 lbs
  • 2001 – R198 lbs, R242 lbs, R243+ lbs, L198 lbs
  • 2002 – R198 lbs, R242 lbs, R243+ lbs, L198 lbs, L242 lbs
  • 2003 – R233+ lbs
  • 2006 – R242 lbs, R243+ lbs
  • 2006 – R242 lbs, R243+ lbs
  • ROTN
  • 2007 – R215 lbs, L215 lbs
  • 2008 – R242 lbs, L242 lbs
  • 2009 – R199+ lbs
  • Sands International Wrist Wrestling/Armwrestling
  • 1988 – R190 lbs
  • 1989 – R190 lbs, R215 lbs
  • Sherkston Beaches International
  • 1987 – R200 lbs, R201+ lbs
  • SuperStar Showdown
  • 2004 – R199+ lbs
  • 2005 – R198 lbs
  • Ultimate Armwrestling (Las Vegas)
  • 2004 – R242 lbs
  • 2005 – R198 lbs, L198 lbs
  • 2006 – R242 lbs, R243+ lbs
  • Ultimate Armwrestling League
  • 2011 – R200 lbs
  • USAA National Pro-Am
  • 1996 – R200 lbs, R201+ lbs
  • 1997 – R198 lbs, R242 lbs, R243+ lbs, L198 lbs
  • 1998 – R242 lbs, R243+ lbs
  • 1999 – R198 lbs, R242 lbs, R243+ lbs, L198 lbs, L242 lbs
  • 2000 – R242 lbs, R243+ lbs, L242 lbs, L243+ lbs
  • 2001 – R242 lbs, R243+ lbs, L242 lbs, L243+ lbs
  • 2002 – R198 lbs, R242 lbs, R243+ lbs, L198 lbs, L242 lbs
  • 2003 – R242 lbs, R243+ lbs
  • 2004 – R242 lbs, R243+ lbs, L242 lbs
  • 2005 – R242 lbs
  • 2006 – R242 lbs, R243+ lbs
  • 2007 – R242 lbs, R243+ lbs
  • 2009 – R242 lbs, R243+ lbs, L242 lbs, L243+ lbs
  • 2010 – R242 lbs, R243+ lbs
  • USAF Unified National
  • 2005 – R220 lbs
  • 1999 – L100 kg, R: Supermatch Winner
  • WAL
  • 2015 – R: Heavyweight Champion
  • World Wristwrestling Championship (Petaluma)
  • Heavyweight Division
  • R: 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1996, 1998, 2001
  • Light Heavyweight Division
  • R: 1998, 2001
  • L: 1998, 2001
  • Middleweight Division
  • R – 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1996, 1998, 2001
  • L – 1996, 1998, 2001
  • Lightweight Division
  • R – 1984
  • WPAA World
  • 1985 – Middleweight
  • Yukon Jack National/World
  • Heavyweight Division
  • R: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993,
  • Middleweight Division
  • R: 1995, 1996.
  • Zloty Tur/Nemiroff World Cup
  • Category – Open
  • R: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
  • Category – 95 kg
  • R: 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
  • L: 2007, 2009

References

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External links

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