Levrone,Ray, Wheeler, Yates, or Coleman

[Hulkster]

turnip legs

owned by every single competitor on stage at the same time. and making Flea labrada look like Sergio Oliva LOL

[Earl1972]

Has to be Wheeler. Flex at the 93 ASC and 96 NOC were the best you'll ever see

you're quite the flex fan, aren't you willie

E

[Stu]

Not being much of a fan of competitive bodybuilding it's funny to me to see that the two guys with IMO the ugliest physiques in that list are the only two to have won the Olympia...

[Parker]

Parker  i guess you can say i'm partial to kev since i trained with him on occasion at his old gym. I think he's one of the best ever. However, Flex's physique 93/98 Arnold was near perfection. the only thing that hurt imo is his lack of width (back).

The 1993 Arnold Classic version of Flex, kinda is the standard at which literally physique can be judged. Not the freakiest, but damn nearly what the "ideal" physique should look like. You can't really spot on flaw on this, unlike Levrone.

[sgt. d]

Shawn Ray was 2 steps ahead of those bbers.

[Parker]

Shawn Ray was 2 steps ahead of those bbers.

And Flex's waist was about 2 inches smaller than Shawn's

[Stu]

The 1993 Arnold Classic version of Flex, kinda is the standard at which literally physique can be judged. Not the freakiest, but damn nearly what the "ideal" physique should look like. You can't really spot on flaw on this, unlike Levrone.

In those shots you can't spot a flaw but his rear lat spread always sucked!

[bigbobs]

You guys are forgetting this guy - probably the best ab-thigh pose ever, the best most muscular and front double bi's with Ronnie, 285 lbs "while keeping the waist in" (as quoted by Arnold)

[bigbobs]

[Parker]

You guys are forgetting this guy - probably the best ab-thigh pose ever, the best most muscular and front double bi's with Ronnie, 285 lbs "while keeping the waist in" (as quoted by Arnold)

Look at the above pic of Flex, then look at Nasser, Flex had abs, Nasser had bumps...plus Nasser's obliques pop outside of his trunks...He has no V-taper like that. And Arnold himself said Flex was the most genetically gifted bber.. Not Nasser. Nasser should not and will not be discussed any further. All bbers listed make nasser obsolete in discussion.

[bigbobs]

Look at the above pic of Flex, then look at Nasser, Flex had abs, Nasser had bumps...plus Nasser's obliques pop outside of his trunks...He has no V-taper like that. And Arnold himself said Flex was the most genetically gifted bber.. Not Nasser. Nasser should not and will not be discussed any further. All bbers listed make nasser obsolete in discussion.

You're talking as though Nasser had never beaten the names mentioned in the thread title.    Everyone's got their own opinion as to who is best amongst them, but trying to argue that he's not in their league is just silly, because for about 3-4 years (during his prime) he consecutively beat all of those guys except for Yates.

[Parker]

You're talking as though Nasser had never beaten the names mentioned in the thread title.    Everyone's got their own opinion as to who is best amongst them, but trying to argue that he's not in their league is just silly, because for about 3-4 years (during his prime) he consecutively beat all of those guys except for Yates.

Yes only when they were off...Nasser's only big win was the 1000 Arnold, where he beat a very on Levrone, who by the way won the "Most Muscular Award".

Flex beat Nasser at the 1997 Arnold at a bodyweight of 224 and won the Most Muscular Award", that right there is saying something. Point Blank, Nasser at his best could not Flex at his best. Nasser could, and would not ever be able to compare to a 1993 Flex or the 1998 Arnold Classic Flex. There is no opinion on that, it's like saying who is the best driver, Michael Schumacher or Richard Petty, any idiot who knows racing knows it would Schuey. 

[IceCold]

yates dominated like no other competitor before or since.

everyone chased him.

an article from 98 in muscle and fitness (written by tom prince), it talks about levrone's contest prep and throughout his precontest peroid, he was obsessed with yates and was constantly thinking about him.

[Danimal77]

Lee Haney NEEDS to be included in that list, as does Vince Taylor and several other competitors.

I think Nasser and Dillett were in the same league: MAJOR FLAWS (their backs).

[local hero]

nah,, haney, nasser and vince tayler arent in that golden group,,, haney would be lucky to place top 6 in the haydays of the 90's,, i dont think youl ever see a better group, its just a shame that coleman peaked as yates retired..

[bigbobs]

Yes only when they were off...Nasser's only big win was the 1000 Arnold, where he beat a very on Levrone, who by the way won the "Most Muscular Award".

Flex beat Nasser at the 1997 Arnold at a bodyweight of 224 and won the Most Muscular Award", that right there is saying something. Point Blank, Nasser at his best could not Flex at his best. Nasser could, and would not ever be able to compare to a 1993 Flex or the 1998 Arnold Classic Flex. There is no opinion on that, it's like saying who is the best driver, Michael Schumacher or Richard Petty, any idiot who knows racing knows it would Schuey. 

From your second paragraph it appears your only critieria is contest placings, so using that logic how can you argue that Flex was even comaprable to Yates since he never beat him?

And no Nasser did not only beat them when they were off.  He deserved at least second in 95 but was placed third (still ahead of an "on" Shawn Ray) because he was still a newcomer in the top ranks.  Then in 96, 97, and 98 - three years in a row, he beat Levrone at the Olympia - are you saying Levrone was "off" for all three of those years?  From 95 Olympia to the 99 Arnold Classic (Nasser's prime), Ray only beat him once at the 96 Olympia.

[Parker]

From your second paragraph it appears your only critieria is contest placings, so using that logic how can you argue that Flex was even comaprable to Yates since he never beat him?

And no Nasser did not only beat them when they were off.  He deserved at least second in 95 but was placed third (still ahead of an "on" Shawn Ray) because he was still a newcomer in the top ranks.  Then in 96, 97, and 98 - three years in a row, he beat Levrone at the Olympia - are you saying Levrone was "off" for all three of those years?  From 95 Olympia to the 99 Arnold Classic (Nasser's prime), Ray only beat him once at the 96 Olympia.

Yep, many people had Flex winning the 1993 O, and in fact if the criteria wasn't a over the top freak look, Flex would have won. Nasser's Rookie year nor any year can compare to Flex winning his first 4 pro shows and coming second to Yates.

Byt the mid to late 90's Levrone didn't take the O seriously, he switched from taking the O seriously to taking the Arnold seriously, then by 1999, he seemed to switch gears, and took the O seriously and then didn't really work about the Arnold, even Lee Priest was beating him.

Face it Nasser, at his best wouldn't equal to Kev, Flex at their best. He wasn't built for it, plus he like Dillett had a weak back.  You are delusional to think other wise. Look at the pics of Kevin, the guy was the one of the only dudes (Dillett was the other one) who could be a mass monster and asthestically pleasing, Flex couldn't play the mass game.

There are many different aspects, and beating one or so competitors is one of them. Ray looked better from front to back than Nasser did, his only flaw was being 205, he could have easily blown into a freak like Nasser or Yates, it is evident by his quads. Ray could have been 235-240 if he so choose. But he kept it in check and played by his own rules. Keeping a classical physique that will get him respect when he's long gone.

[bigbobs]

Yep, many people had Flex winning the 1993 O, and in fact if the criteria wasn't a over the top freak look, Flex would have won. Nasser's Rookie year nor any year can compare to Flex winning his first 4 pro shows and coming second to Yates.

Byt the mid to late 90's Levrone didn't take the O seriously, he switched from taking the O seriously to taking the Arnold seriously, then by 1999, he seemed to switch gears, and took the O seriously and then didn't really work about the Arnold, even Lee Priest was beating him.

Face it Nasser, at his best wouldn't equal to Kev, Flex at their best. He wasn't built for it, plus he like Dillett had a weak back.  You are delusional to think other wise. Look at the pics of Kevin, the #### was the one of the only dudes (Dillett was the other one) who could be a mass monster and asthestically pleasing, Flex couldn't play the mass game.

There are many different aspects, and beating one or so competitors is one of them. Ray looked better from front to back than Nasser did, his only flaw was being 205, he could have easily blown into a freak like Nasser or Yates, it is evident by his quads. Ray could have been 235-240 if he so choose. But he kept it in check and played by his own rules. Keeping a classical physique that will get him respect when he's long gone.

Everyone's got their own opinion and I'm not going to be like Huilkster or ND and debate in detail as to who is best ouf of the several names mentioned . - what got me replying was your statement that Nasser should not even be discussed with these guys - which is just silly because Nasser beat them many times (except for Yates) while he was in his prime. 

And I dont believe Levrone was "off" at the Olympia in the mid to late nighties but only on in the Arnold Classic    The only names mentioned that the judges preferred over Nasser in top shape was Wheeler and Yates, as Nasser beat both Levrone and Ray while they were in top shape.  Also, if Levrone was peaking for the AC and not the Olympia why did he get 8th at the 97 AC?

[Camel Jockey]

Look at the above pic of Flex, then look at Nasser, Flex had abs, Nasser had bumps...plus Nasser's obliques pop outside of his trunks...He has no V-taper like that. And Arnold himself said Flex was the most genetically gifted bber.. Not Nasser. Nasser should not and will not be discussed any further. All bbers listed make nasser obsolete in discussion.

Flex also won those shows with implants and oil. While Nasser started using oil after 98. Both should be marked down for their use.

To say that Nasser wasn't one of the best in the 90's era is absurd. he helped usher in the era of mass monsters. He changed bodybuilding

You are ignoring Levrone's various weaknesses. Levrone lacked lowerback thickness just like Nasser and also did not consistently have legs comprable to his upperbody

Out of the pool of Yates, Levrone, Nasser, Ray and Coleman, I'd say Sean Ray was the most complete bodybuilder out of the entire group. Yates is simply there because of his stunning performances in 92 and 93, and because he was gifted the rest of the way.

[Deadpool]

yates, flex, love them both.  levrone too.

[Deadpool]

I forgot about TotalLee awesome

thanks for the headsup

[bigbobs]

I think Nasser and Dillett were in the same league: MAJOR FLAWS (their backs).

 

[bigbobs]

Look at the above pic of Flex, then look at Nasser, Flex had abs, Nasser had bumps

Just found this ab comparison so I thought I'd post it

[Danimal77]

We know that was not Dillett at his respective best.

[Parker]

Flex also won those shows with implants and oil. While Nasser started using oil after 98. Both should be marked down for their use.

To say that Nasser wasn't one of the best in the 90's era is absurd. he helped usher in the era of mass monsters. He changed bodybuilding

You are ignoring Levrone's various weaknesses. Levrone lacked lowerback thickness just like Nasser and also did not consistently have legs comprable to his upperbody

Out of the pool of Yates, Levrone, Nasser, Ray and Coleman, I'd say Sean Ray was the most complete bodybuilder out of the entire group. Yates is simply there because of his stunning performances in 92 and 93, and because he was gifted the rest of the way.

Nope, Flex never had implants. There was pic posted before of a complete full backshot of Flex from the 1993 Arnold, no implants. Flex even joked about it in his "hardbody" vid. Shawn came up wit th that the f-with his head. As far as the Syn, he won the  Arnold 1997 without it and it is doubtful  that he used it in 1998. Really in 1999 did he really show that he was using it. Actually it was Kevin, Dorian and Dillett, that did that that really ushered it in Nasser only became relevant as a mass monster by 1996, I even have the Flex magazine with him posing on it.

.

Just found this ab comparison so I thought I'd post it

Damn, Bibbobs at least post a pic when Flex is crunching down, not when he is extended out and in mid pose. Try doing that, it lends credibility to your argument. As I said, look at the relaxed pic (the black and white shot), Nasser as nothing on that.

And Yeah, Dillet was a hell of a lot better than Nasser from the front. Nasser was just a big blob of muscle with no shape. Massive yes, but he didn't have Dillett's taper, and full muscle bellies.