How would the 90s bodybuilders have done in today's era?

[deathmetal1992]

Inb4 the hate but this has to be written, I am a big 90s fans but realistically if you teleported the guys to today's era, they would be eaten alive, save for Ronnie. In this thread I am going to go over the hypothetical placing for several versions of the top bodybuilders and how I think they would have placed (1998- 1999 Ronnie is exempted because I feel he would have placed 1st). I will say that a certain two top 90s bodybuilders would have been very competitive in the 212, but would obviously have gotten brutalized in the open. Let us start with Dorian Yates.

1993 Olympia Dorian-This is definitely an impressive physique, his conditioning holds its own against today's top guys which is a rare feat from the 90s, his stats are comparable, his back would definitely have been the best on stage. So why is he not number 1 you might ask? Probably because his arms would have been the 2nd weakest on the 2016 Olympia stage next to Ben pakulski and his legs among the weakest. The arms can be overlooked to a certain degree but a sweepless quad is a serious downfall at the Olympia. He automatically loses to everyone in the top 6 just because of that imho. The hamstrings were also lagging, and in a lot of shots, the glutes weren't flexed (although that is just a matter of posing). I see 1993 Dorian (his best version) placing a very respectable 7th ahead of Cedric.

1995 Olympia Dorian-Almost better in every way from his 1993 physique (apart from the torn bicep), this version of him is bigger and just as conditioned. If it wasn't for the injury, I would still have him in 7th but as a result of it, he has to be dinged a few placings. 11th ahead of Victor.

1997 Olympia Dorian-A trainwreck of a physique, his back was its best but the legs and arms were literally melted, his midsection was distended and super thick. My guess is he would have placed either just ahead of Ben. 14th place.

Let us move to a man who is known to have the most beautiful physique of all time; the sultan of symmetry

1993 Arnold Classic Flex-Flex looked breathtaking, his structure, his proportions make this imo one of the greatest physiques of all time, and he only weighed 216 lb doing it. This is probably the most conditioned Flex was in his entire career, his hamstrings and glutes actually showed comparable separation against today's pros. But how would he place at the 2016 Olympia? Imo, he would have placed 13th after Nathan, who has a comparable physique. Of course, Nathan is bigger, but Flex's structure is beautiful and would holds its own against guys 15-20 lb bigger.

1998 Ironman Flex- Flex was very conditioned for this show, not quite as conditioned as today's guys but he wouldn't lose too much ground imo. His size was a little more comparable as he was somewhere in the mid 230s at the time. Legs from the side are comparable but not quite so from the rear, he would have looked quite soft. Question is where would he have placed? This is a tough one imo, upper body-wise he is comparable top 3 even from the rear. Lowerbody, he doesn't lose too much ground. I have him placing 5th ahead of William, just purely on flow.

1999 British Grand Prix Flex- Flex at his biggest, said to have competed mid 250s. He really started to become an exxon station by this point, lower body was smooth. This version objectively speaking would do pretty poorly, I have him finishing 15th, ahead of Akim, just purely based on shape, cause the conditioning is comparable.

Moving on to one of the most intelligent men in the sport; Nasser

1996 Olympia Nasser- Arguably his best shape, he was popped for failing a drug test that year. He definitely has the size to hang with the big boys, he even has a respectable lower body by today's standards. His back though will kill his chances of placing well. I see placing 8th, just ahead of Dallas.

1997 Olympia Nasser- Slightly less conditioned than the previous year, similar physique overall thought, 9th.

The man that even competed this year and embarrassed himself by placing deadlast; how would he have done?

1992 Olympia Kevin-Pretty much everything that applied to 1993 Flex applies to 1992 Kevin. 1992 Kevin had insane conditioning, better than most pros today, his legs would definitely not have looked out of place. Even at 225, from the front, he doesn't lose too much ground, from the back however....Imho he would have placed 13th, exactly where 1993 Flex would have placed.

1995 Russian Grand Prix Kevin- Imho this is his best package, he doesn't look much bigger than his 1992 version (probably high 230s) but the mass is all in the right places, his back is pretty solid here, conditioning was amazing. I can see this version of him placing in the top 6, the question is where? I honestly have him 4th, ahead of big Ramy. His physique here is quite comparable to Dexter's and Shawn Rhoden's, if it had been 10 lb heavier with the same shape and conditioning, 2nd.

1999 British Grand Prix Kevin- The show everyone keeps referring to as his best shape, not so, the lighting made it look that way. Kevin was in the mid 250s for this show, he was very full, and it showed, his midsection was nowhere near as tight as it had been for the 1995 showing, upper body mass was incredible but his legs were starting to downsize and his back wasn't as great as it had been as recently as 1998. Where would this Kevin have placed? I see him being 10th, ahead of Justin.

2000- A lot of people including Kevin see this as his best shape ever. What if I told you that this shape wouldn't have made top 10? His legs were continuing to go down, his back was smaller than in previous years however he brought the best conditioning he had in a while, to his credit. I see him placing 12th, ahead of Nathan DeAsha.

212 time featuring Shawn Ray. For obvious reasons, Shawn Ray wouldn't do well in the open, so we'll put him in the 212

1994 Olympia Shawn Ray- Imho, this man would have placed only 2nd to Flex Lewis this time around. Since everybody is a comparable size, we wouldn't have to worry about Shawn being outsized, conditioning is good, shape is unmatched. I still have Lewis just having the edge, just.

1996 Olympia Shawn Ray- This was his best shape, he was the most conditioned and had the ultimate 212 physique. This would have been 1st this year at the 212 imo.

Last but not least, I'll put in Lee Priest

1997 Lee Priest- His best showing from the 90s, I feel Lee would have done well in the 212 as well. His legs weren't as conditioned but the upper body was very impressive. I see a 4th place finish after Jose.

[BartPimpson]

Both eras are are about the same, quality-wise.

Dorian might or might not have beaten Phil, depending on the year. Flex Wheeler and Shawn Ray might or might not have beaten Dexter or Rhoden. Put all the top pros from both eras together and it would come out in a wash.

Where the modern era exceeds, in my opinion, is in the quality of the mid-field. These days the 5th-10th places are normally VERY good, while in the 90s the quality is great for the top 5 and then starts dropping off dramatically. This year, you had someone as good as Josh Lenartowicz in 9th. In 1996, it was Aaron Baker.

[deathmetal1992]

Honorable mentions

1994 ac Paul dillet- his best shape, he was so dehydrated he cramped up. Everything holds its own apart from the back. His posing would also have held him back. From the front and side he was Mr.Olympia, similar to roelly. He looks a lot of ground from the back. I have him finishing anywhere from 9th to 11th just because of the imbalance between the front and back. Put Dorian's back on Paul and he suddenly dethrones Phil.

1999 olympia Chris cormier-his best shape. No real weakness, at 5'11" 260 lb, he definitely had the size to hang with today's monsters. I can see him finishing in 7th or 8ty, the top 6 would be too much for him but I can see him being comparable to ced.

[JigPig]

What a terrible list. The only bodybuilders these days that would really do damage against any of the 90's guys are Phil,Dex,Kai and Shawn. Put a prime levrone, nasser, wheeler etc in the current line up and they would be at the very least top 5 material.

[deathmetal1992]

What a terrible list. The only bodybuilders these days that would really do damage against any of the 90's guys are Phil,Dex,Kai and Shawn. Put a prime levrone, nasser, wheeler etc in the current line up and they would be at the very least top 5 material.

So I guess leg mass and conditioning don't count anymore? It's very clear the 90s guys with few exceptions didn't have legs the size of today's top guys, not to mention the separation, detail in their legs. Upper bodies are comparable, legs really aren't.

Both eras are are about the same, quality-wise.

Dorian might or might not have beaten Phil, depending on the year. Flex Wheeler and Shawn Ray might or might not have beaten Dexter or Rhoden. Put all the top pros from both eras together and it would come out in a wash.

Where the modern era exceeds, in my opinion, is in the quality of the mid-field. These days the 5th-10th places are normally VERY good, while in the 90s the quality is great for the top 5 and then starts dropping off dramatically. This year, you had someone as good as Josh Lenartowicz in 9th. In 1996, it was Aaron Baker.

Dorian's lack of legs would seriously hold him back in today's era. If he had up to par legs, I could see him beating Phil, even with his average arms, since his back is unmatched. Shawn Ray would look like a 212 guy trying to do battle with the big boys, Dexter Jack has a similar frame but carries 20 lb more of lean mass and is at least as conditioned as Shawn, if not moreso. Flex rarely had it together so I don't see how Rhoden couldn't beat him.

[deathmetal1992]

Yeah, these guys would destroy today's guys. Look at those glutes, look at that leg mass, look at that hamstring separation.

[JigPig]

Thanks for proving my point, the current cream of the crop are better bodybuilder's, but to claim that Dorian and others would place 10th? Thats ridiculous. Apart from the top 4 today the rest would get wrecked if they competed in the 90's. Dorian would not only out mass most of the guys today baring Phil, but make them look as soft as a water balloon.

Not to mention that blokes like Ronnie before his prime and the polish Roland, whom had amazing conditioning even by todays standards placed near dead last everytime.

[deathmetal1992]

Thanks for proving my point, the current cream of the crop are better bodybuilder's, but to claim that Dorian and others would place 10th? Thats ridiculous. Apart from the top 4 today the rest would get wrecked if they competed in the 90's.

I said dorian at his best would place 7th. Who do you see him beating in the top 6? After the bicep tear, it's only fair that he would be dinged a few placings. Every top 6 guy at this year's Olympia would beat everybody in the 90s except for prime Ronnie. Could you imagine Roelly going back in time 20 years ago and showing up like that? If you don't think he would place 1st, I don't know what to say to you.

[purdey]

I said dorian at his best would place 7th. Who do you see him beating in the top 6? After the bicep tear, it's only fair that he would be dinged a few placings. Every top 6 guy at this year's Olympia would beat everybody in the 90s except for prime Ronnie. Could you imagine Roelly going back in time 20 years ago and showing up like that? If you don't think he would place 1st, I don't know what to say to you.

Why is a short bicep worse than small calves or underdeveloped lats? Yates would be up there with Phil and Kai, He would destroy Shawn and Dex and everyone else.

[deathmetal1992]

Why is a short bicep worse than small calves or underdeveloped lats? Yates would be up there with Phil and Kai, He would destroy Shawn and Dex and everyone else.

No he wouldn't. Look at Johnnie Jackson, phenomenal upper body, no lower body, where does he place? Exactly.

[OlaftheGreat]

Yeah, these guys would destroy today's guys. Look at those glutes, look at that leg mass, look at that hamstring separation.

without the GH and insulin that unfortunately enlarges their guts, you can't build the level of muscle they display today. 90's were undersized in comparison for sure, upper and lower body imo, but look much better

[jahaa]

I think Flex and Kevin in their prime could fight for the title. And the reason why im quite sure of that is because of Dexter. I don't believe he is better now then he was back then and he still placing top 2-3 at the olympia. And he had no chance against Flex and Kevin in their prime.


And i think Shawn Ray would crush Flex Lewis in the 212's.

[purdey]

No he wouldn't. Look at Johnnie Jackson, phenomenal upper body, no lower body, where does he place? Exactly.

Lol, so Yates legs are on par with JoJ?

[purdey]

His quads aren't the best, but his over-all legs aren't nearly as bad as you're making out. Like I said, he's up there with Kai and Phil, beats everyone else

[BartPimpson]

Yeah, these guys would destroy today's guys. Look at those glutes, look at that leg mass, look at that hamstring separation.

That's a really bad pic. Under different lighting their conditioning wasn't that bad.

[batspoof]

I said dorian at his best would place 7th. Who do you see him beating in the top 6? After the bicep tear, it's only fair that he would be dinged a few placings. Every top 6 guy at this year's Olympia would beat everybody in the 90s except for prime Ronnie. Could you imagine Roelly going back in time 20 years ago and showing up like that? If you don't think he would place 1st, I don't know what to say to you.

In that 2 part video interview with Jay and Flex that flangmasterj posted in the road to the olympia thread (I cbf finding it now), Flex said that Phix today would NOT beat a prime kevin levrone from the 90s.

[Exane]

Probably one of my favorite BB pictures ever, just insane all around. Flex is crazy good right here.


I agree with most of OPs points though, if you plucked them out of the 90's and dropped them into today's comps, they would probably place poorly based mostly on leg size followed by conditioning (I firmly believe the quality of pics and videos from the past give a false positive on levels of conditioning).

To follow that though, if they were born and lived in this day in age, they would all be in the mix because they would be putting in more work on their legs to keep up and have better conditioning. I feel like if you take the top guys of any era and moved them around to any point in age then the above would probably be true. The sport evolves because the athletes evolve, its the nature of competition, the nature of progress.

[deathmetal1992]

Probably one of my favorite BB pictures ever, just insane all around. Flex is crazy good right here.


I agree with most of OPs points though, if you plucked them out of the 90's and dropped them into today's comps, they would probably place poorly based mostly on leg size followed by conditioning (I firmly believe the quality of pics and videos from the past give a false positive on levels of conditioning).

To follow that though, if they were born and lived in this day in age, they would all be in the mix because they would be putting in more work on their legs to keep up and have better conditioning. I feel like if you take the top guys of any era and moved them around to any point in age then the above would probably be true. The sport evolves because the athletes evolve, its the nature of competition, the nature of progress.

Agreed. The talent is very comparable, maybe even moreso in the 90s, however sports advance. Runners get faster, powerlifters get stronger.

[deathmetal1992]

In that 2 part video interview with Jay and Flex that flangmasterj posted in the road to the olympia thread (I cbf finding it now), Flex said that Phix today would NOT beat a prime kevin levrone from the 90s.

Flex is a 90s bodybuilder, it's natural that he would be biased towards his era, however I doubt a 95 Kevin would beat 2011 Phil or even the 2016 version, maybe 2014.

[FAN0FdaSport]

brb predicting old man levrone top 6 but prime yates would be 7th...

97 trainwreck yates still looks like this hitting poses in actual good photos...







brb is only going to be competitive with pakulski

[brendanh32]

brb predicting old man levrone top 6 but prime yates would be 7th...

97 trainwreck yates still looks like this hitting poses in actual good photos...







brb is only going to be competitive with pakulski

wtf kind of background is that. hahahaha

[Exane]

brb predicting old man levrone top 6 but prime yates would be 7th...

97 trainwreck yates still looks like this hitting poses in actual good photos...

[img]http://www.ambal.ru/62775567847.jpg[img]
[img]http://www.ambal.ru/22045745621.jpg[img]
[img]http://www.ambal.ru/42417764521.jpg[img]
[img]http://www.ambal.ru/52158674521.jpg[img]
[img]http://www.ambal.ru/52889674521.jpg[img]

brb is only going to be competitive with pakulski

He looks really competitive here but in the comparisons and a lot of other shots not so much. Lui covered the 97 Olympia and made some pretty good points.

Prime Yates would be super dangerous in today's lineup though, for sure.

[sammywatkins]

Late 80s and into the 90s had mass with class. Todays bodybuilders have no shape.
Flex, priest, ray, milos, dillet, hill etc would make this era look stupid.

[FAN0FdaSport]

He looks really competitive here but in the comparisons and a lot of other shots not so much. Lui covered the 97 Olympia and made some pretty good points.

Prime Yates would be super dangerous in today's lineup though, for sure.

these pics are as good as it gets...

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=157896513

notice the difference in quality in comparison to the muscletime pics? Yates is hitting complete shots of the mandatories and they aren't bad angles either. Muscletime pics are garbage,

Regardless... back poses, side tri, front lat spread, and ab/thigh all are up to Olympia winning standard

[POTA]

The sport evolves because the athletes evolve, its the nature of competition, the nature of progress.

It's not in the nature of competition to progress. Progress occurs with advancements in the tools and knowledge to which athletes have access. So without substantial advancements in drugs and medicine, bodybuilders won't have the tools with which to evolve. And since the 90s, drugs and medicine bodybuilders use have not advanced significantly.

[Exane]

these pics are as good as it gets...

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showth...hp?t=157896513

notice the difference in quality in comparison to the muscletime pics? Yates is hitting complete shots of the mandatories and they aren't bad angles either. Muscletime pics are garbage,

Regardless... back poses, side tri, front lat spread, and ab/thigh all are up to Olympia winning standard

Nice man.

In some of those I can see how he won pretty clearly... but a couple of those are prettying damning as well. Either way good thread.

Edit: ****ing lol @ "Keep eating"

[FAN0FdaSport]

Nice man.

In some of those I can see how he won pretty clearly... but a couple of those are prettying damning as well. Either way good thread.

Edit: ****ing lol @ "Keep eating"

My opinion of 97 O is that the year wasn't a robbery. Yates looked bad in the sense of "no way I wanna look like him" but his physique is still competitive from a bbing stand point. Also Nasser isn't ideal for me either, his back poses that year are really off. Either way I feel yates won the majority of the mandatories.

[BartPimpson]

wtf kind of background is that. hahahaha

Joe Weider I guess.

[samsbolton]

My opinion of 97 O is that the year wasn't a robbery. Yates looked bad in the sense of "no way I wanna look like him" but his physique is still competitive from a bbing stand point. Also Nasser isn't ideal for me either, his back poses that year are really off. Either way I feel yates won the majority of the mandatories.

Always thought the same, wouldn't have argued with Nasser winning but if you can't see how Yates won u have no clue how a contest is scored.

On topic, I always felt that Yates brought his legs up in 96 and especially 97. They were absolutely huge. People don't realise that he never flared his legs from the rear as Phil does.

[ROMMYromboid]

I see 1993 Dorian (his best version) placing a very respectable 7th ahead of Cedric.

STOPPED READING WHEN I SAW THIS.

PLEASE PUT YOUR CRYSTAL METH PIPE DOWN.

Yates has 20lbs of quality mass over Phixy. Phixy wouold look 3 weeks out and very narrow against Prime Dorian who is one of ther GOATS.

Heath would have struggled against Levrone/Wheeler and even Shawn Ray would have beaten him in all years except 2011 and possibly 2016.

Currern world # 1 Kai Greene would have been a greater challenge to Prime Yates.

Team Romgle