André the Giant
| André René Roussimoff | |
|---|---|
| File:Andre09.jpg | |
| Born | May 19, 1946 Molien, Seine-et-Marne |
| Died | January 27, 1993 Paris |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | André Roussimoff Butcher Roussimoff Monster Roussimoff Monster Eiffel Tower Jean Ferré Géant Ferré André the Giant Giant Machine |
| Billed height | 6 ft 10 in (208 cm) |
| Billed weight | 380 lb (172 kg) to 540 lb (245 kg) |
| Trained by | Frank Valois Édouard Carpentier |
| Debut | 1964 |
| Retired | 1992 |
André the Giant (May 19, 1946 – January 27, 1993) was a professional wrestler and actor, born André René Roussimoff in Molien, France. His great size was a result of acromegaly, or excessive growth hormone, and led to him being dubbed "The Eighth Wonder of the World."
Career
Roussimoff was one of the best known and most respected professional wrestlers in the world. Born to French parents of Bulgarian and Polish descent in a small farm near Ussy-sur-Marne, he left home in his adolescence to become a pro wrestler. He was billed at a height of 7'4" (2.24m) and sometimes 7'5" (2.26m) with a weight which ranged from 380 to 525 pounds. His correct height is contested but the last time he was legitimately measured at the age of 24, he was 6 feet and 9 3/4 inches tall (2.08m) 1. The great exaggeration of his height probably comes from the fact that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was the tallest athlete in the world at the time at 7 feet and 2 inches (2.19m) and promoters wanted to bill Roussimoff as the biggest athlete in the world. Nevertheless, the sight of him alone was enough to draw huge crowds in a day when there were only a handful of people over 6'6" (1.98m). After touring the world with different promotions for many years (mostly in Montreal for Édouard Carpentier), he was signed by the World Wide Wrestling Federation (which would later change its name to the World Wrestling Federation in 1979, and is now known as World Wrestling Entertainment). On March 26, 1973, Roussimoff made his WWF debut, defeating Buddy Wolfe in New York's Madison Square Garden. By the time WWF chairman Vincent K. McMahon began to expand his promotion to the national level in the early 1980s, Roussimoff wrestled exclusively for the WWF.
Roussimoff was a very imposing figure – it is said that he never tested the full extent of his true strength because he was afraid of the damage it might cause. Some of Roussimoff's opponents were legitimately afraid to get in the ring with him for fear of getting accidentally injured, but those who got to know him soon learned that his personality was perhaps one of the gentlest in the world. It is also said that Roussimoff could drink an entire case of beer and not feel so much as a buzz. He was offered a professional American football contract with the Washington Redskins after a tryout in 1974 and seriously considered it before turning it down, reasoning that he could make far more money wrestling (which was probably true, especially at that time).
He was one of the WWF's most beloved "babyfaces" throughout the 1970s and early '80s, and for 14 years never lost by pinfall or submission in a WWF ring, before being pinned by Hulk Hogan on March 29, 1987 at WrestleMania III. Roussimoff had lost clean in matches outside of the parameters of the WWF; a pinfall loss in Mexico to El Canek in 1984, and in Japan, a submission loss to Antonio Inoki in 1986. He also went 60-minute time limit draws with the two other major world champions of the day, Harley Race and Nick Bockwinkel.
Roussimoff had memorable clashes all over the world with a variety of tough, rugged opponents. Among his chief rivals in the ring: The Sheik (who gained a deathmatch win over the Frenchman in 1974 with the help of his fireball), Abdullah the Butcher, Stan Hansen, Ernie Ladd, and a young Hulk Hogan, who first met Roussimoff in 1978 during his rookie years in the deep South. Hogan and André would go on to have one of the great WWF feuds of 1980, peaking in front of 36,295 fans at the Showdown At Shea event, on August 9, 1980 in Flushing, New York's Shea Stadium.
One of André's most bitter feuds pitted him against the Mongolian terror Killer Khan, who was managed by the late Fred Blassie. According to the storyline, Khan had broken André's ankle during a match in Rochester, New York, by leaping off the top rope and crashing down upon it with his kneedrop (actually, André had broken his ankle getting out of bed). After a stay at Beth-Israel Hospital in Boston, Roussimoff returned with payback on his mind. On November 14, 1981 at the Philadelphia Spectrum, Roussimoff exacted revenge by destroying Killer Khan in what was billed as a "Mongolian Stretcher Match", in which the loser must be taken to the dressing room on a stretcher.
Another memorable Roussimoff feud involved a man who considered himself to be "the true giant" of wrestling: the late 6'10", 364-pound Big John Studd. Throughout the early to mid-1980s, Roussimoff and Studd fought all over the world, battling to try and determine who the real giant of wrestling was. In December 1984, Studd took the feud to a new level, when he and partner Ken Patera knocked out Roussimoff during a televised tag team match, and proceeded to cut off Roussimoff's famous long locks. Roussimoff had the last laugh at the first WrestleMania, on March 31, 1985 at Madison Square Garden. Roussimoff conquered Studd in a $15,000 Bodyslam Challenge. After slamming Studd, he attempted to give the $15,000 prize to the fans, before having the bag stolen from him.
The following year, at WrestleMania 2 (April 7, 1986), Roussimoff continued to display his dominance, by winning a 20-man battle royal that featured top NFL stars and wrestlers. Roussimoff eliminated future wrestling legend Bret Hart to win the contest.
Afterwards, Roussimoff continued his feud with Studd and King Kong Bundy. Roussimoff was suspended after a no-show; he returned under a mask as 'The Giant Machine' part of a team with 'Big Machine' (Robert Windham) and 'Super Machine' (Bill Eadie). (The 'Machines' gimmick was copied from New Japan Pro Wrestling character 'Super Strong Machine', played by Japanese wrestler Junji Hirata.) Soon afterwards, Giant Machine disappeared and Roussimoff was reinstated, to the approval of Bobby "The Brain" Heenan.
Roussimoff was turned heel in 1987 so that he could face Hulk Hogan for the WWF Championship in the main event of WrestleMania III. In early 1987, Hogan was presented a trophy for being the WWF World Heavyweight Champion for three years. Roussimoff came out to congratulate him. Shortly afterwards, Roussimoff was presented a slightly smaller trophy for being "undefeated in the WWF for 15 years." In actuality, Roussimoff had suffered a handful of countout and disqualification losses in the WWF, but had never been pinned or forced to submit in a WWF ring. Hogan came out to congratulate Roussimoff, but Roussimoff walked out in the midst of Hogan's speech. Then, on an edition of Piper's Pit, Hogan was confronted by Heenan. Heenan announced that his new protege was Roussimoff. Roussimoff then challenged Hogan to a title match at WrestleMania III, ripping the t-shirt and crucifix off of Hogan.
It was at WrestleMania III that the public first really saw the pain that Roussimoff was going through, by this stage his body was weighed in at about 525 pounds and his bones and joints were finding it hard supporting such a huge weight. Hogan won the match after dropping Roussimoff with a historic bodyslam, followed by Hogan's running legdrop finisher (years later, Hogan stated that Roussimoff was so heavy, he felt more like 700 pounds). Before being signed to the WWF, Roussimoff had wrestled in Japan. It was here that a doctor diagnosed Roussimoff with his condition and told him that those with the same problem were generally lucky to reach forty. Roussimoff never told his family of the diagnosis and his closest friends believe that it was this motivation that led Roussimoff to live life to the fullest until he died.
The Hogan-André face off in WrestleMania III was likely the most highly anticipated professional wrestling matchup in history – the apex of wrestling's most recent golden era. The event, held at the Pontiac Silverdome, broke the indoor attendance record with over 78,000 fans in attendance (which was exaggerated by the WWF to have been 93,173), with millions watching on pay-per-view, and established great permanent value in the WrestleMania franchise. Hogan defeated Roussimoff, in what many consider a passing of the torch from Roussimoff, wrestling's biggest star of the '70s, to Hogan, wrestling's biggest star of the '80s. The feud between Roussimoff and Hogan simmered, even as Roussimoff's health declined.
Roussimoff won the WWF title from Hogan on February 5, 1988 in a match where appointed referee Dave Hebner was "detained backstage" and a replacement, his "evil" twin brother Earl, made a three count on Hogan while his shoulders were off of the mat. Roussimoff then "sold" the title to "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase and the title was vacated.
At WrestleMania IV, Roussimoff and Hulk Hogan went to a double DQ in a WWF title tournament match. Afterwards, Roussimoff and Hogan's feud died down after a brutal steel cage match held at WrestleFest, on July 31, 1988 in Milwaukee.
André won the World Tag Team Championship with his partner Haku from Demolition, on December 13, 1989. Managed by Bobby Heenan, André and Haku were known as The Colossal Connection. They lost their titles at WrestleMania VI back to Demolition, on April 1, 1990. Roussimoff had a falling out with Heenan and soon retired.
André starred in several movies towards the end of his career, most notably as Fezzik in 1987's The Princess Bride. He had a cameo appearance in 1984's Conan the Destroyer as Dagoth, the resurrected horned giant beast, which is killed by Conan, the character portrayed by Arnold Schwarzenegger. In his final film, he appeared in something of a cameo role as a circus giant in the comedy Trading Mom, which was not released until the year after his death.
The disease that granted him his immense size also began to take its toll on his body. By the late 1980s André was in constant, near-crippling pain and his heart struggled to pump blood throughout his massive body. When he was not in front of a camera, he was usually in a wheelchair.
He stopped competing entirely in the very early 1990s due to the increasing pain his illness was causing him, retiring to his winery in France. His heart finally failed him in 1993, and Roussimoff passed away peacefully in his sleep at a hotel in Paris while in town for his father's funeral. He was cremated and his ashes were spread over his ranch in Ellerbe, North Carolina. It is said that when he died, an autopsy was done on him. This autopsy revealed to the doctors that his heart was the size of two fists.
To honor André the Giant, the WWF created the WWF Hall of Fame in 1993 and made him their first inductee.
Personal Life
While always being referred to as a "bachelor for life", Roussimoff did have a daughter Robin Christensen born in 1979 who stands at around 6 feet tall herself, which has been mentioned in some biographies of André. WWE Referee Tim White mentioned in the A&E biography of "Andre the Giant" that she lives somewhere in the Seattle, Washington area. Andre has also, 2 nephews (Boris and Godefroy) in Montreal (Quebec).
Additional facts
Managers
- Bobby Heenan
- Ted DiBiase
- Frank Valois
- Lou Albano
- K.Y. Wakamatsu
Finishing and signature moves
- Elbow drop
- Double underhook suplex
- Tombstone piledriver
- Vertical splash
- Big Boot
- Knife edge chops
- Bearhug
- Headbutt
- Choke
- One arm chickenwing suplex
Filmography
- The Princess Bride - 1987 - Plays Fezzik
- Micki & Maude - 1984
- Conan the Destroyer - 1984
- I Like to Hurt People - 1970s
Championships and accomplishments
- 1-time WWF World Heavyweight Champion
- 1-time WWF World Tag Team Champion (with Haku)
- WWE Hall of Famer (inducted in 1993)
- Other titles
- 1-time IWA Tag Team Champion (with Michael Nader)
- 1-time Australasian Tag Team Champion (with Ron Miller)
- 1-time Tri-State Tag Team Champion (with Dusty Rhodes)
- 1-time NWA Florida Tag Team Champion (with Dusty Rhodes)
- PWI named him # 3 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI Years in 2003.
- PWI Editor's Award (1993)
- PWI Most Popular Wrestler Award (1977)
- PWI Most Popular Wrestler Award (1982)
- PWI Most Hated Wrestler Award (1988)
- PWI Match of the Year Award, versus Killer Khan (1981)
- PWI Match of the Year Award, versus Hulk Hogan (1988)
Video games
- Andore from Capcom's Final Fight series. Andore is a reoccurring enemy in the Final Fight series.
- In the Street Fighter III series, there is a character called Hugo who looks similar to Andore.
- André the Giant appeared as a secret character in the Nintendo 64 game, WWF No Mercy.
- André the Giant is featured in WWE games, such "Smackdown Vs Raw 2006" as a Legend Character.
- Andre the Giant is a featured spraypaint in the "Half-Life" series of PC videogames.
See also
- André the Giant Has a Posse - a well known graffiti campaign using André's likeness
- List of World Tag-Team Champions
References
- Tributes II by Dave Meltzer, 2004, ISBN 1-58261-817-8, p. 68