Hulk Hogan bodyslamming André the Giant was heard around the world. But, how did the biggest match in wrestling history come together?
After Wrestlemania II in 1986 , WWF owner Vince McMahon was on a missionary work to make Wrestlemania III “ Bigger , good , and Badder . ” McMahon had booked the Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan andwantedto make at least 90,000 citizenry . So the only question was , how the Scheol do you replete up a arena with that many fans ?
To McMahon , the answer was mere : take the two biggest headliner in the diligence , and oppose them against each other in the main event .
YouTubeHulk Hogan and André the Giant .
YouTubeHulk Hogan and André the Giant.
inscribe Hulk Hogan andAndré the Giant . At the sentence , the 6’7″ , 300 - pound Hogan was the WWF World Heavyweight Champion , a bonafide star and ambassador , and every child ’s wholesome hero . In the other corner at 7’4″ and 500 Ezra Pound was André , who was bill as “ undefeated . ” He was the biggest draw in wrestling ’s history , conflate his larger than lifetime personality and monstrous size to become “ The Eighth Wonder of the World . ”
The only job was that André the Giant was in excruciating pain in the neck and could barely walk , let alone work a match with Hogan . After gain a conflict royale at Wrestlemania II , André ’s career get to slow down as his health begin to decline from acromegaly . With his grappling career taking the backseat , Andre wast cast inThe Princess Brideand was looking for looking ahead to the passage to acting .
YouTubeVince McMahon and André the Giant .
YouTubeVince McMahon and André the Giant.
However , McMahon was deadset on contribute the big human race back into the flexure and flew out to the set of the film in England toconvinceAndré . accord to McMahon , André needed surgery and initially wanted no part of the operation .
“ to begin with , he was n’t going to have the surgery but I convinced him to have it and be a part of this one last matter . I told him , ‘ You and Hogan will draw the big crowd ever for an event like this . ’ And he concord , ” said McMahon .
With André lastly on board , the question turned to the match apparatus , which would be unmanageable as he was convalesce from his surgery at McMahon ’s menage in Greenwich , Conn. To account for his absence , the plot line was that André had been suspended from in - mob natural process for not carry through sure contractual indebtedness .
Wikimedia CommonsAndré the Giant and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan.
To inspissate the storyline plot , McMahon would also have to get originative to playact up Hogan and André ’s feud , specially since they were protagonist . Back in the day , wrestling typically sport the Graeco-Roman babyface ( good cat ) vs. heel ( spoiled guy wire ) plots . The issue here was that Hogan was already an American hero who preach about take vitamin and saying your prayers . Before his sudden absence seizure , André was also a babyface , a role he cherished .
Wikimedia CommonsAndré the Giant and Bobby “ The Brain ” Heenan .
Thankfully , André hold to turn heel and , in several backstage interview skit , began to play up a jealousy angle with Hogan to countersink up a succeeding catch . To make it even more convincing , André paired up with one of the WWF ’s most detestable man , Bobby “ The Brain ” Heenan . With his new managing director at his side , André eventually gainsay Hogan for the title at the openhanded show , steadfastly cement himself as the WWF ’s biggest baddie .
YouTubeHulk Hogan and Andre the Giant during their Wrestlemania III contract signing.
As the event approach , the finish was correct with Hogan get the win and André study a big bodyslam . However , many were concerned that André would n’t lie in down for Hogan or even allow himself to be pick up for the office . While he was a genuine professional , it was have intercourse that he could be stubborn and if he did n’t want something to go down , it would n’t happen . After all , who was going to bear up to a 500 - pound monster ?
YouTubeHulk Hogan and Andre the Giant during their Wrestlemania III contract signing .
According to McMahon , “ Hogan was scared to end . Hogan had been in the ring with [ André ] before , but not like this . André had this habit with anyone of aftermath as far as sizing was occupy ; he had to show them who was boss . [ Hogan ] was n’t too certain if the result would come out like he thought it would . I knew what André was going to do ; Hogan have sex what André could do . Big difference . ”
YouTubeHulk Hogan Slams André the Giant.
The match went off without a hitch in front of 93,000 screaming fans and Hulkamaniacs . A exertion - soak Hulk Hogan scooped up the behemoth André the Giant with his 24 - column inch Python and slammed him down to the canvass . He followed this up by slay his world notable stage drop on the Frenchman ’s skull and pin him to keep his title .
YouTubeHulk Hogan Slams André the Giant .
It was a moment that sling the WWF and Wrestlemania as a must buy pay - per - view . With a gang - shaking slam , André , who had was wear down a back brace during the lucifer , had lapse the woolly mullein to Hogan , allow him to become the diligence ’s biggest and most profitable icon .
In reality , the move itself was nothing out of the ordinary . It was n’t a crazy “ Superfly Splash ” off the top turnbuckle , and it was n’t the even first metre André had been slam . the pits , Hogan had actually dropped him with it six years prior . But , in the center of André and everyone else , it ’s a second that completely change the business .
“ That was the highest second that André would ever have in the business . He was so gallant of that . Even in his later days , when he could hardly move in the ring , he endure off of that , and he should have , ” said McMahon .
Next , read aboutAndre the Giant ’s unbelievable drinking riding habit . Then discover more incredibleAndre the Giant facts .
