Hansen first gained notoriety when he accidentally broke the neck of Bruno Sammartino though it was not in the United States where the crazed Texan reached legendary status. Hansen became on of the first true super heavyweight stars in Japan and became one of the biggest attractions there. Despite his proficiency as a brawler, Hansen was still capable of delivering five star matches with ease. Had Hansen performed the bulk of his career in the United States he might be a shoe in, but it is likely that someone who sought his fortune in Japan would not seek this accolade anyway.