Andre the Giant

[Saj]

I'm not into wrestling but noticed that this documentary was available on Sky catch-up.

What an interesting watch about the man who was called the Eighth Wonder of the World.

Anyone watched the documentray, if so, thoughts?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/André_the_Giant

 

[Markhor]

I haven't seen the documentary but I sympathise with what he went through. He simply wanted a normal life and hated the public attention he'd receive wherever he went.

He hated being asked about his size, how big his hands were etc and being viewed as some kind of freak. I cannot imagine how difficult it must have been to have a bath, get into a car, find a bed that fitted and so on for a man that extraordinary size.

However the surgery on his pituitary gland was available then to treat his acromegaly but he refused. Eventually the stress he put on his organs and bones due to his sheer girth meant he was in agony at the end of his life.

There was also a dark side to his personality. He treated fans poorly (though understandable given people constantly gawking at him) and he could be a bully. There was a story of how he was on the bus with wrestler Bad News Allen and kept making racial remarks, using the N word within earshot. Allen was a legit tough guy with a judo background and ordered the bus to stop before demanding Andre apologise. Needless to say that was the end of Andre's racist tirades.

Overall a mixed personality.

 

[Hitman]

I'll always remember Bad News Brown for stopping the WWF bus and challenging Andre for a fight when Andre allegedly threw a racial slur at him

A lot of wrestlers including Bret Hart has mentioned that story.

 

[shaz619]

I've not got around to watching this, didn't realise sky managed to get it. Also need to check out the Flair ESPN special. Both these documentaries have been critically acclaimed.

For all of Andre's success he was hurting so much inside because the man was dying and it bought out the worst in him, beyond that he was a very funny bloke during the happy moments in his life and the banter he had with his colleagues is second to none. Everyone in the industry has a funny Andre story lol

 

[Hitman]

I've not got around to watching this, didn't realise sky managed to get it. Also need to check out the Flair ESPN special. Both these documentaries have been critically acclaimed.

For all of Andre's success he was hurting so much inside because the man was dying and it bought out the worst in him, beyond that he was a very funny bloke during the happy moments in his life and the banter he had with his colleagues is second to none. Everyone in the industry has a funny Andre story lol

Andre is one of those rare guys who is still loved by maximum of his peers despite him being a very moody person.

And he was the first wrestler to be inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame. One of the biggest legends that the wrestling business has and will ever know.

I just love how Andre suddenly became 700 pounds whenever Hogan mentions about body slamming him at WM 3

 

[Saj]

Should have added, the documentary is a HBO production and contains interesting interviews with the likes of Hulk Hogan and others about Andre the Giant.

 

[shaz619]

Andre is one of those rare guys who is still loved by maximum of his peers despite him being a very moody person.

And he was the first wrestler to be inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame. One of the biggest legends that the wrestling business has and will ever know.

I just love how Andre suddenly became 700 pounds whenever Hogan mentions about body slamming him at WM 3

That has generally been the consensus lol majority love him loads and got a kick out the times he did manage to one up them, on the Network there's a series called Story Time with legends from the past narrating their stories while it is conveyed visually through animation, the Andre ones are hilarious

He may not have said this publicly but I think Andre is Vince's all time favourite as well. Lmao Hoak Hogan adds VAT to everything, Andre may have weighed more when Stan Hansen slammed him 81

 

[Hitman]

That has generally been the consensus lol majority love him loads and got a kick out the times he did manage to one up them, on the Network there's a series called Story Time with legends from the past narrating their stories while it is conveyed visually through animation, the Andre ones are hilarious

He may not have said this publicly but I think Andre is Vince's all time favourite as well. Lmao Hoak Hogan adds VAT to everything, Andre may have weighed more when Stan Hansen slammed him 81

I remember the late great Bobby Heenan saying in an interview that back in the 80's, the only two guys who had complete creative control were Hogan and Andre. Hogan because the business completely relied on him, and Andre because he was so well respected.

BTW, Hogan should have been the bass player of Metallica. It's such a shame that things didn't work out, and Metallica suffered such a huge loss.

The most most hilarious bit is that a member of Metallica complete rubbished this story of Hogan

 

[TeymurBlake]

I've been meaning to watch it. I saw the trailer and found it really interesting.

 

[leatherface58]

That has generally been the consensus lol majority love him loads and got a kick out the times he did manage to one up them, on the Network there's a series called Story Time with legends from the past narrating their stories while it is conveyed visually through animation, the Andre ones are hilarious

He may not have said this publicly but I think Andre is Vince's all time favourite as well. Lmao Hoak Hogan adds VAT to everything, Andre may have weighed more when Stan Hansen slammed him 81

Hulk Hogan is legendary when it comes to lying. Andre's weight and the Silverdome attendance are two numbers which always go up. Hulk also claimed to have wrestled 400 days in a year due to multiple trips to Japan!

 

[TM Riddle]

He was in the Princess Bride, wasn't he?
I hated that movie.

 

[shaz619]

I remember the late great Bobby Heenan saying in an interview that back in the 80's, the only two guys who had complete creative control were Hogan and Andre. Hogan because the business completely relied on him, and Andre because he was so well respected.

BTW, Hogan should have been the bass player of Metallica. It's such a shame that things didn't work out, and Metallica suffered such a huge loss.

The most most hilarious bit is that a member of Metallica complete rubbished this story of Hogan

The man is a legend and always will be one of a kid, we give Hoak Hogan credit for taking the industry main stream but forget the impact Andre made which was almost equally big if not better, along with Flair he put the business on the map and helped blondie get over big time.

In her autobiography, The Fabulous Moolah tells another story of how Andre drank 127 beers and passed out in the hotel lobby. Since none of the hotel staffers could carry the Andre, they draped a piano cover over him and let him sleep in the lobby ) Another time he drank 16 bottles of whine 4 hours before wrestling 3 matches including a big battle royal lol

Here's a pic of him with a certain 5 year old at the time you may or may not recognise

 

[shaz619]

Hulk Hogan is legendary when it comes to lying. Andre's weight and the Silverdome attendance are two numbers which always go up. Hulk also claimed to have wrestled 400 days in a year due to multiple trips to Japan!

He could be back soon Velveteen paid tribute to him during his entrance at the recent Takeover, Hogan then offered to manage him before being declined lol

 

[Robert]

Yes, a fascinating tale, and ultimately very sad.

 

[imrankhannsu]

I still remember that the bloody cage match between Andre and Hulk Hogan. Epic!!!

 

[Robert]

There was a nice little comedy drama on about Samuel Beckett driving the 12-year-old Andre to school....

 

[James]

Andre the Giant has often been rumoured to be a big reason behind the success of the WWF - mainly because he put Hogan over at Wrestlemania 3.

The booking team had already planned the slam / leg drop finish and for Hogan to win, but were apparently worried that Andre would pin Hogan on the night and take the glory due to some typically ambivalent Andre backstage behaviour in the lead up to the match.

It is very telling when Hogan botches the move the first time he tries it, Andre falls on him, and it is unclear how long Hogan is pinned for, but Andre gestures 2 fingers (not 3) towards the bell ringing guy to make sure that the match continues.

Of course both men worked together, the planned finish went ahead successfully, and the WWF had one of its most famous title defences ever, at what is still arguably its biggest event ever.

 

[leatherface58]

He could be back soon Velveteen paid tribute to him during his entrance at the recent Takeover, Hogan then offered to manage him before being declined lol

Lol Velveteen called him Terry. Velveteen is a future superstar and a legit one at that.

Andre the Giant has often been rumoured to be a big reason behind the success of the WWF - mainly because he put Hogan over at Wrestlemania 3.

The booking team had already planned the slam / leg drop finish and for Hogan to win, but were apparently worried that Andre would pin Hogan on the night and take the glory due to some typically ambivalent Andre backstage behaviour in the lead up to the match.

It is very telling when Hogan botches the move the first time he tries it, Andre falls on him, and it is unclear how long Hogan is pinned for, but Andre gestures 2 fingers (not 3) towards the bell ringing guy to make sure that the match continues.

Of course both men worked together, the planned finish went ahead successfully, and the WWF had one of its most famous title defences ever, at what is still arguably its biggest event ever.

Andre was acting ambivalent backstage to work Hogan and his posse particularly Brutus Beefcake who owes practically his whole career to Hogan. Beefcake, who is derisively called Hogan's weed carrier by some, had heat backstage and Andre wanted to work him.

Andre was a depressing sight towards the end when he could not even move. WWF had him when his knees and his condition had gotten worse and then they made him work with The Ultimate Warrior who was as reckless as they come. When he was hired in the Princess Bride, his knees were shot to the point he could not even pick Robin Wright up and they needed cables for that.

 

[Robert]

I remember when he played the Sasquatch in The Six Million Dollar Man.

 

[shaz619]

[MENTION=95766]leatherface58[/MENTION] Velveteen is the real deal, the main roster creative would have to be beyond thick to not establish him as an elite main eventer for the company, from a character POV he's a mix of Rick Rude, Goldust, early 90's HBK and Mr.Perfect; in the ring he just keeps getting better and better to. Outside the Gargano v Ciampa rematch ( One of the best matches I've ever seen) enjoyed his tussle with Riochet.