WWE is on its way to the second PLE in the country of France. This has been part of WWE’s initiative to expand into more foreign markets. Their first foray was a rousing success, and they have now made their way back. With WWE producing another PLE in France, it seems the opportune time to look back at the most famous wrestler to come out of France. Of course, we are talking about the Eighth Wonder of the World, Andre the Giant.
The giant from the French Alps was a legend in World Wrestling Entertainment. No one had a larger impact, pun intended, than Andre the Giant. He was the first star that transcended professional wrestling. The iconic moments of his career are as impressive as any that came after him. Here is a list of those moments.
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Andre Captures The WWE Championship
Andre the Giant was never one for championships. It was not a thing that he strove for, as he felt bigger than that. He was the biggest special attraction in the world, and championships were not something that defined him. While it wasn’t something he was striving for, it was something that every fan wanted to see happen, and we got that moment on the Main Event.
As a heel, Andre the Giant took the strap from Hulk Hogan in a controversial manner. Not exactly how fans would have wanted it to happen, but the matter was that Andre the Giant was WWE Champion for the first and only time in his career.
The Unstoppable Force Meets The Immovable Object
WrestleMania 3 was a watershed moment for World Wrestling Entertainment. Being held inside the Pontiac Silverdome meant a massive crowd and an even bigger gate. WWE needed to make sure that they put together the best main event possible to draw the eye of the world. Nothing could have been bigger than putting together the biggest stars on the face of the planet, Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant.
Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan put on a match for the ages. It wasn’t a technical masterpiece by any means, but it made up for it in story and grandeur. It was a battle of titans for wrestling’s richest prize. A match that signaled an unprecedented era for WWE.
WrestleMania’s Body Slam Challenge
WrestleMania was a massive gamble for WWE. It was an event that no one had attempted before, and the company bet its future on its success. They needed to stack the deck to ensure this would happen, and they called upon Andre the Giant to put on a huge attraction match.
Andre had been engaging in a feud of the giants with big man Big John Studd, and WrestleMania was their venue to end it all. The big men put on a battle of monsters as each tried to body slam the other. In the end, Andre the Giant prevailed to a massive ovation, as the Giant cemented his place at WrestleMania.
Andre’s SkyDome-Sized Face Turn
Most WWE fans will only remember the heel run by Andre the Giant. That is when the spotlight was the brightest, but for years before, he was the most over wrestler in the world. Fans came out in droves to see the Eighth Wonder of the World. The cheers were outstanding, and everyone wanted to get that feeling again. They got that feeling in Toronto at WrestleMania 6.
Being on the losing end of the tag title match was no ideal, but what was even worse was the lambasting that Bobby Heenan gave Andre the Giant post-match. After an ill-advised slap, the Giant lost it, grabbing Heenan by the scruff and paint brushing him all over the ring. The crowd erupted, and it signaled the last babyface run for Andre the Giant.
The Macho Man And The Giant Tear The House Down
Andre the Giant was not known for his ability in the ring. Even in his early days, Andre was not known for having great wrestling matches. He was an attraction, and his power moves were enough to get the fans out of their seats. With his size, even the smallest move would have a massive impact on his opponent.
There are a few aberrations from Andre’s career, specifically his fantastic match against Randy Savage at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Sure, it was probably more due to the selling ability of Savage than anything, but Andre the Giant still played his part. It was the perfectly told David and Goliath story, and one of the best title matches of Andre the Giant’s career.
Andre the Giant and Killer Khan Fight To The Stretch
Most of the moments on this list have taken place in a time when World Wrestling Entertainment was at its peak. Andre the Giant was a driving force behind this popularity, but his moments went much further back. The best of which was a brutal Mongolian Stretcher Match against none other than Killer Khan.
Khan was a menace, kayfabe breaking Andre’s ankle. It was a program built on violence and could only end in a brutal stretch match. A match that saw two men demolish each other like the world hadn’t seen. It’s a bit of a chore to find the contest, but it’s one that everyone should take a look at.
First Ever Hall Of Fame Inductee
Say what you will about WWE’s Hall of Fame, it still contains some of the greatest wrestlers ever to lace up a pair of boots. Entering its halls signifies a lifetime of achievement in the world of wrestling, and it’s an honour that can never be taken away.
When the Hall of Fame was first created, there was only one name that deserved to be the first inductee, and that was none other than Andre the Giant. His being inducted first, and the only inductee of 1993, was a huge moment. It showed what he meant to the wrestling world and what his impact was. He was the Eighth Wonder of the World, and he was not a Hall of Famer.
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