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Andre the Giant is without a doubt one of wrestling's most recognizable
figures. He grew to an impressive 7 feet 4 inches tall and grew to be well
over 500 pounds due to a disease known as acromegaly which is a disorder
that causes the body to secrete excessive growth hormones and thus grow
beyond its own capacity. Andre was destined for death but he lives his
entire life with that in mind. He found his niche in wrestling first in
France and then globally to become the most recognizable wrestler in the
world. Andre wanted to share himself with the whole world and refused to
stick to one territory.
 
He wrestled singles matches but was also a tag-team standout teaming with
Dusty Rhodes, Haku and others to win Tag Team Titles across the globe.
Andre the Giant wrestled a great deal in the AWA feuding with Bobby Heenan's
Heenan Family that included AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkle, Ken Patera and
others.
When the WWF expanded globally, Vince McMahon Jr set himself up as Andre
the Giant's manager and Andre went on tour under the WWF banner with familiar
rival Bobby Heenan who now had Big John Studd as Andre's promiment enemy.
In one classic moment, Big John Studd, King Kong Bundy and Bobby Heenan
attacked the Giant and cut his trademark hair and there was talk of Andre
retiring. Andre decided to put up his Career against Big John Studd at
the very first Wrestlemania in a $15,000 Slam Match, which Andre won by
hoisting up Studd and slamming him to the mat. Andre was also known as
the King of the Battle Royal and lived up to that name by winning a Football
and Wrestler combined Battle Royal at Wrestlemania II.
With the WWF planning the largest Wrestlemania of all at the Pontiac Silverdome,
it became necessary for there to be a major attraction in the main event.
To accomplish this, Andre shocked the world by turning heel and taking
on longtime rival Bobby Heenan as his manager. Together, they challenged
Hulk Hogan to a WWF Title Match at Wrestlemania. Andre was battling crippling
back pain and actually wrestled the match partially drunk and while wearing
a back brace to get through it. Andre actually pinned Hogan just a few
moments into the match when he fell on Hogan and couldn't get up in time,
though it was ruled a 2 count and would become a controversial hot-button
issue in the WWF for the next few years.
Andre took some time off but returned better than ever and in improved
health to once again challenge the Hulkster. Andre and Hogan headlined
the first Survivor Series on opposite teams. Andre teamed with Rick Rude,
King Kong Bundy, Butch Reed and the One Man Gang to defeat Hulk Hogan,
Ken Patera, Don Muraco, Paul Orndorff and Bam Bam Bigelow. The two would
continue to build up to their re-match with a contract signing at the very
first Royal Rumble event broadcast on the USA Network. The match finally
took place on Saturday Night's Main Event on February 5th, 1988. Prior
to the match, Andre the Giant promised that he would win the WWF Title
and then sell it to the Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase and that's exactly
what he did when the evil twin brother of Earl Hebner, Dave, switched places
with Earl and counted Hogan's shoulders to the mat even though his shoulder
was up. WWF President Jack Tunney refused to honour the sale of the WWF
Title and held it up at Wrestlemania IV in a single elimination tournament
which was eventually won by Randy "Macho Man" Savage despite interferance
from Andre on DiBiase's behalf in the finals. Hogan and Savage became the
Mega Powers and began feuding against Andre the Giant and Ted DiBiase,
setting up the battle of the MEGA POWERS and the MEGA BUCKS at the very
first Summer Slam in 1988. Hogan and Savage won when Elizabeth pulled off
her dress, revealing red panties, distracting both members of the Mega
Bucks. This would be Andre's last run as a WWF main eventer, though he
was always a main attraction wherever he went.
Andre would move on to feud with Jake "The Snake" Roberts and captained
a team against Roberts at the second Survivor Series in 1988. Andre showed
weakness when Roberts threw Damien, his pet python, on Andre and Andre
fainted. The two would ultimately settle the score in the ring at Wrestlemania
V in a match that Roberts won by disqualification when Andre attacked the
newly fan favourite Big John Studd, who was serving as the guest referee.
Andre moved on to wrestle tag team matches with new Intercontinental Champion
Ravishing Rick Rude and King Haku against the Ultimate Warrior, Jim Duggan,
Jake Roberts and John Studd. Andre wrestled a series of matches against
the Ultimate Warrior in the fall of 1989, leading up to the Survivor Series
where he teamed with his manager Bobby Heenan, Haku and Arn Anderson in
a losing effort against the Ultimate Warrior, Jim Neidhart and the Rockers.
Andre moved in to tag team wrestling almost entirely and on December 13th,
1989, he and Haku defeated Ax and Smash of Demolition to become the new
WWF Tag Team Champions and dubbed themselves the Colossal Connection. The
two would wrestle sparingly against teams like the Rockers and the Hart
Foundation. Andre the Giant was eliminated from the 1990 Royal Rumble by
the combined efforts of Ax and Smash, as well. Demolition regained the
titles at Wrestlemania VI in the Skydome in Toronto, Ontario Canada but
the real story took place after the match as Bobby Heenan berated Andre
and slapped his face. The truth is, Andre was barely mobile and had minimal
involvement in the match. Of course, the fans were right behind Andre when
he grabbed Heenan by the coat and slapped him around before beating up
Haku as well. Andre left the ring alone to a huge ovation and remained
a beloved fan favourite from then on. Andre wrestled with another Giant,
the Giant Baba, in Japan to defeat Demolition later in the year but it
was a non-title match.
Andre wrestled very sparingly as a series of WWF managers including the
Sensational Sherri and Jimmy Hart tried to sign him. Just prior to Summer
Slam 1991, Andre rejected an offer from Jimmy Hart which lead to the Earthquake
taking Andre's knee out with the megaphone. Andre would never wrestle again
in the World Wrestling Federation, though he did stand in the corner of
the Bushwhackers at Summer Slam 1991 in their match against Earthquake
and Typhoon. His last appearance in the United States was in September
of 1992 for World Championship Wrestling on Clash of the Champions 20,
though Andre, of course, did not wrestle. Andre withdrew in his last years
fallen to his illness and back problems. He died in 1993 but his spirit
lives on so strongly. He is still an icon of sports entertainment and will
be remembered as long as wrestling fans continue to tune in. Andre was
the first WWF Hall of Fame inductee in 1993 as well and there is no doubt
that Andre the Giant deserves a prominent spot here at the UWOW Hall of
Fame.
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Andre the Giant is without a doubt one of wrestling's most recognizable
figures. He grew to an impressive 7 feet 4 inches tall and grew to be well
over 500 pounds due to a disease known as acromegaly which is a disorder
that causes the body to secrete excessive growth hormones and thus grow
beyond its own capacity. Andre was destined for death but he lives his
entire life with that in mind. He found his niche in wrestling first in
France and then globally to become the most recognizable wrestler in the
world. Andre wanted to share himself with the whole world and refused to
stick to one territory.
He wrestled singles matches but was also a tag-team standout teaming with
Dusty Rhodes, Haku and others to win Tag Team Titles across the globe.
Andre the Giant wrestled a great deal in the AWA feuding with Bobby Heenan's
Heenan Family that included AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkle, Ken Patera and
others.
When the WWF expanded globally, Vince McMahon Jr set himself up as Andre
the Giant's manager and Andre went on tour under the WWF banner with familiar
rival Bobby Heenan who now had Big John Studd as Andre's promiment enemy.
In one classic moment, Big John Studd, King Kong Bundy and Bobby Heenan
attacked the Giant and cut his trademark hair and there was talk of Andre
retiring. Andre decided to put up his Career against Big John Studd at
the very first Wrestlemania in a $15,000 Slam Match, which Andre won by
hoisting up Studd and slamming him to the mat. Andre was also known as
the King of the Battle Royal and lived up to that name by winning a Football
and Wrestler combined Battle Royal at Wrestlemania II.
With the WWF planning the largest Wrestlemania of all at the Pontiac Silverdome,
it became necessary for there to be a major attraction in the main event.
To accomplish this, Andre shocked the world by turning heel and taking
on longtime rival Bobby Heenan as his manager. Together, they challenged
Hulk Hogan to a WWF Title Match at Wrestlemania. Andre was battling crippling
back pain and actually wrestled the match partially drunk and while wearing
a back brace to get through it. Andre actually pinned Hogan just a few
moments into the match when he fell on Hogan and couldn't get up in time,
though it was ruled a 2 count and would become a controversial hot-button
issue in the WWF for the next few years.
Andre took some time off but returned better than ever and in improved
health to once again challenge the Hulkster. Andre and Hogan headlined
the first Survivor Series on opposite teams. Andre teamed with Rick Rude,
King Kong Bundy, Butch Reed and the One Man Gang to defeat Hulk Hogan,
Ken Patera, Don Muraco, Paul Orndorff and Bam Bam Bigelow. The two would
continue to build up to their re-match with a contract signing at the very
first Royal Rumble event broadcast on the USA Network. The match finally
took place on Saturday Night's Main Event on February 5th, 1988. Prior
to the match, Andre the Giant promised that he would win the WWF Title
and then sell it to the Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase and that's exactly
what he did when the evil twin brother of Earl Hebner, Dave, switched places
with Earl and counted Hogan's shoulders to the mat even though his shoulder
was up. WWF President Jack Tunney refused to honour the sale of the WWF
Title and held it up at Wrestlemania IV in a single elimination tournament
which was eventually won by Randy "Macho Man" Savage despite interferance
from Andre on DiBiase's behalf in the finals. Hogan and Savage became the
Mega Powers and began feuding against Andre the Giant and Ted DiBiase,
setting up the battle of the MEGA POWERS and the MEGA BUCKS at the very
first Summer Slam in 1988. Hogan and Savage won when Elizabeth pulled off
her dress, revealing red panties, distracting both members of the Mega
Bucks. This would be Andre's last run as a WWF main eventer, though he
was always a main attraction wherever he went.
Andre would move on to feud with Jake "The Snake" Roberts and captained
a team against Roberts at the second Survivor Series in 1988. Andre showed
weakness when Roberts threw Damien, his pet python, on Andre and Andre
fainted. The two would ultimately settle the score in the ring at Wrestlemania
V in a match that Roberts won by disqualification when Andre attacked the
newly fan favourite Big John Studd, who was serving as the guest referee.
Andre moved on to wrestle tag team matches with new Intercontinental Champion
Ravishing Rick Rude and King Haku against the Ultimate Warrior, Jim Duggan,
Jake Roberts and John Studd. Andre wrestled a series of matches against
the Ultimate Warrior in the fall of 1989, leading up to the Survivor Series
where he teamed with his manager Bobby Heenan, Haku and Arn Anderson in
a losing effort against the Ultimate Warrior, Jim Neidhart and the Rockers.
Andre moved in to tag team wrestling almost entirely and on December 13th,
1989, he and Haku defeated Ax and Smash of Demolition to become the new
WWF Tag Team Champions and dubbed themselves the Colossal Connection. The
two would wrestle sparingly against teams like the Rockers and the Hart
Foundation. Andre the Giant was eliminated from the 1990 Royal Rumble by
the combined efforts of Ax and Smash, as well. Demolition regained the
titles at Wrestlemania VI in the Skydome in Toronto, Ontario Canada but
the real story took place after the match as Bobby Heenan berated Andre
and slapped his face. The truth is, Andre was barely mobile and had minimal
involvement in the match. Of course, the fans were right behind Andre when
he grabbed Heenan by the coat and slapped him around before beating up
Haku as well. Andre left the ring alone to a huge ovation and remained
a beloved fan favourite from then on. Andre wrestled with another Giant,
the Giant Baba, in Japan to defeat Demolition later in the year but it
was a non-title match.
Andre wrestled very sparingly as a series of WWF managers including the
Sensational Sherri and Jimmy Hart tried to sign him. Just prior to Summer
Slam 1991, Andre rejected an offer from Jimmy Hart which lead to the Earthquake
taking Andre's knee out with the megaphone. Andre would never wrestle again
in the World Wrestling Federation, though he did stand in the corner of
the Bushwhackers at Summer Slam 1991 in their match against Earthquake
and Typhoon. His last appearance in the United States was in September
of 1992 for World Championship Wrestling on Clash of the Champions 20,
though Andre, of course, did not wrestle. Andre withdrew in his last years
fallen to his illness and back problems. He died in 1993 but his spirit
lives on so strongly. He is still an icon of sports entertainment and will
be remembered as long as wrestling fans continue to tune in. Andre was
the first WWF Hall of Fame inductee in 1993 as well and there is no doubt
that Andre the Giant deserves a prominent spot here at the UWOW Hall of
Fame.