10 Most Iconic Clashes in the Realm of Competitive Bodybuilding

The Mr. Olympia stage is the most prestigious event for any bodybuilding champion. This is the Olympics of bodybuilding and one victory in Mr Olympia can turn any competitor into a permanent icon. While these competitions have given way to inspiring stories of victories and camaraderie, they have also given rise to extremely famous rivalries over the years.

Every rivalry has its own story and people still remember the hype that the media created over the competitors and their stage presence. Let’s look at the 10 most happening clashes in the bodybuilding world.

Sergio Olivia versus Arnold Schwarzenegger

The 1972 Mr Olympia saw the 4th and final clash between Olivia and Schwarzenegger and it was a showdown. Both of the legends had achieved the past five Mr Olympias and most of the audience regarded them as the best bodybuilders of their time.

The contrast of styles between the Cuban bodybuilding champion and the Austrian champion was what the audience was interested in. Olivia had won the title from 1967 to 69 courtesy of his unbelievable physique and he was also nicknamed the myth.

The Austrian Oak and Sergio Olivia fought fiercely against each other in every contest and the Myth also said that Arnold was the only one who had come the closest to him and there was no one else who could compete with him.

Jay Cutler versus Ronnie Coleman

This iconic rivalry is known to be the most famous in the bodybuilding world. Ronnie Coleman also known as the king had dominated the Olympia stage eight times but then came another competitor who had dethroned him. The rivals had eight Olympia battles from 1999 to 2006 and over this span, the pair had finished either on the first or the second position 11 consecutive times.

In 2006 Cutler finally defeated Coleman and took the Olympia crown for himself Olympia winner. Ronnie Coleman still has twice as many sandals as Cutler does but he also has 10 top two Olympia finishes.

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Even after the fierce rivalry between them on stage, they have always been extremely good friends off stage and even after retirement. They even worked out together in the same gym and shared each other’s fitness routines.

Rich Gaspari Versus Lee Labrada

Rich Gaspari and Lee Labrada are said to be the 80s version of Levrone and Wheeler. Both of the men did not have a monstrous height but the battle was fierce to become the world’s second-best bodybuilder after Lee Haney.

Gaspari made it to IFBB one year before Labrada but both were travelling parallelly with each other.

Gaspari won 4 competitions against Labrada and the latter won three. Labrada succeeded his greatest rival as runner-up in Olympia and bested Gaspari in 1990 as well. In 1987 Gaspari had defeated the Cuban bodybuilding champion three times.

Kevin Levrone versus Flex Wheeler

These champions were this time, the best in the bodybuilding world. Just being 38 days apart from each other and born in 1965 the rivalry between the two legends span for 12 years and 15 competitions. The competition started during the 1991 NPC nationals. Levrone took the first prize and Wheeler came second.

One year later Wheeler was also winning the same competition and bested Levon twice including 1993 Olympia. In 1995 Kevin Levron again took the throne from Wheeler and finished ahead two times.

Levrone beat Wheeler in a 5-2 lead but Wheeler again flipped tables and beat him 6 times including two Arnold Classics. However, both were the only champions who could compete against each other and make a name for themselves.

Flex wheeler versus Ronnie Coleman

Both had made their own identity in the bodybuilding world. After Dorian Yates retired, Flex Wheeler was the audience’s favorite to win the 1998 Olympia. That is when the tables turned and the cool man took the Sando Trophy.

The King stayed on top for 8 Mr Olympias but Wheeler was not behind and he was a runner-up to Coleman three times in 1999. Wheeler had already beaten Coleman 11 times but in the end, Coleman Showed his prowess as well.

Frank Zane Versus Franco Columbu

After Arnold Schwarzenegger departed from the competition in 1975, there was a new And famous rivalry between Franco Colombu and Frank Zane. Zane and Colombu had met in the 1969 Mr World competition where the former was chosen over his Italian counterpart.

This had set the motion for a few on-stage rivalries that spanned the Mr. Universe competition Mr World competition and Mr Olympia. They came head to head in 1974 where Colombu won the title under 200 pounds category and in 1975 he won again while Zane finished in 4th position.

1976 was the pinnacle of Zane’s Career. Both the bodybuilding legends were unstoppable and had an Indistinguishable physique and no one else could compete with them.

Phil Heath Versus Kai Greene

One of the most dangerous rivalries was between the predator Kai Green and Phil Heath. The media was extremely involved in this rivalry and the crowd’s favorite rivalry. Greene took the silver medal thrice in Mr Olympia each time losing to Phil Heath.

In the previous episode of The Muscle Maturity Podcast on YouTube, former Mr. Olympia Samir Bannout and John Hansen discussed “Phil Heath Rivals, Dangerous Rebounds, Intensity not Heavy Weight.”

“There was a major rivalry you know, I mean they both have a different kind of physique but they were both impressive and they clashed you almost got in a fight you know but yeah I kind of like these days of bodybuilding,” stated Bannout.

Mike Mentzer Versus Arnold Schwarzenegger

Both were extremely strong and their physique was something to behold. During a press conference, their rivalry became more visible because Mentzer had attempted to physically attack Arnold during that time.

This is because even if Mike Mentzer was an amazing bodybuilder and appreciated by the fans in 1980 he lost to Arnold. The two men had only met once during their competition but their rivalry was extremely famous even if it was short-lived.

Steve Reeves Versus Reg Park

In 1950 Reg Park and Steve Reeves Had a face-off in the Mr Universe contest. Park was only 22 years old at the time and was already a big name in Europe as the best bodybuilding star in the country. Reeves represented America and was starting to rise as a film star as well as a Bodybuilder.

Reeves had won by just one point That would ultimately be his final bodybuilding contest because he had to return to filming Hercules on the silver screen for several years. Park had achieved Mr Universe the following year.

This was the very first proper rivalry that divided the body-building audiences into two distinct groups.

Lee Haney Versus Rich Gaspari 

Lee Haney and Dorian Yates were the main reasons to advance bodybuilding into the mass monster era. Haney had one Mr Olympia 8 times and was one of the best bodybuilding champions of his time.

Rich Gaspari Already knew that he could not match when it came to mass but he set his focus on the conditioning and competed in the Pro World Championship with Striated glutes. While he might have never defeated Lee Haney he also assured a new standard of bodybuilding just like his competitor.

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Which rivalry do you like the best? Tell us in the comments below.