Andre the Giant

by Michael Krugman

  Hogan suplexes DiBiase, then goes after Virgil, knocking him off the apron. DiBiase is still down, so Hogan drops an elbow, then another. He pauses to taunt André, suggesting he come into the ring for a taste. Hulk pulls DiBiase up by his hair, winds up, and lands a big haymaker. He goes back onto the ropes, but André trips him up and Hogan is, at last, down.

  DiBiase takes full advantage, immediately dropping elbows into the back of Hogan’s head, then pounds the champ’s face into the mat. He rolls him over toward the ropes and chokes Hogan. The ref breaks it up, and as DiBiase argues, André reaches in and pulls Hogan to him by the hair. He grabs hold with both hands and headbutts the Hulkster. DiBiase returns and puts the boots to Hogan. He sends him across the ring, into the ropes for a clothesline, and then raises his arms in triumph. The MSG crowd is hot as hot can be. DiBiase tags Virgil, holds Hogan’s arms behind him, and the bodyguard goes up top, landing a fist to the champ’s head.

  Virgil hammers away, choking Hulk under the ropes. Again, the ref separates them, and as Virgil distracts the official, André pulls down the bottom rope across Hogan’s throat. “That’s a mean, nasty giant,” says Vince.

  Virgil makes a tag, picks up Hogan, pins his arms back for DiBiase to drop an elbow from the second rope. The Million Dollar Man stomps Hogan’s forehead, then lands a shot on Bigelow, who barely budges. The punishment on Hogan resumes, with a series of chops, finally sending the champ backward over the top. DiBiase comes over after him and pounds Hulk’s head into the apron. He brings Hogan to the steel barricade and drives his forehead into that as well. DiBiase goes back in, leaving André to snatch up the back of the champ’s trunks and throw him back into the ring.

  DiBiase brings Hogan into the corner and tags Virgil, who pounds away on the champ’s back. Virgil spins Hogan around, hits a forearm to the chest, whips him into the ropes for a clothesline. Hogan is on his knees, and the bodyguard chops at his throat. Hogan reaches up and rakes Virgil across the face. Virgil quickly tags back in DiBiase, who puts Hulk back down by dropping fists to the forehead. He covers but only gets two. The Million Dollar Man locks a sleeper on the champ.

  From outside, André demands of the ref, “Ring the bell.” Hogan manages to get to his feet and drives three elbows into DiBiase’s gut to break the hold. Hulk comes off the rope, and a shoulderblock sends DiBiase down. He goes off the rope again, over DiBiase. DiBiase gets up but misses the clothesline. Hogan comes off the ropes again, and a double clothesline puts both men down. DiBiase reaches Virgil, who tags in just as Hogan tags Bam Bam. Bigelow comes in, and they go toe-to-toe, with Bam Bam taking the advantage. He presses Virgil up over his head, slams him down, and falls into a headbutt. Bam Bam drops an elbow and covers, but DiBiase makes the save. Hogan quickly drops a leg on Virgil as the ref sends DiBiase out. Bam Bam comes off the ropes, and Hogan assists him by shoving his big body down onto Virgil. Bigelow covers and gets the three-count at 9:26.

  Everybody is in the ring, including André, as the bell sounds. André grabs the back of Bam Bam’s collar and headbutts him—missing him completely—then goes for another, which connects. Hulk goes for the Giant, but André headbutts him as well. The heels put the boots to Hogan, who rolls out and is followed by DiBiase and Virgil. Bobby Heenan, joining McMahon on commentary, notes that they’re “softening him up for February 5.”

  Back in the ring, Bam Bam comes up behind André and dropkicks him into the ropes. The Giant falls as Hulk starts tossing chairs into the ring. Hogan and Bigelow wave the chairs around as the heels fume outside. André takes off his sports coat, but DiBiase and Virgil prevent him from getting in the ring.

  February 5, 1988: Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, IN

  ANDRÉ THE GIANT VS. HULK HOGAN

  As the live broadcast begins, “Mean” Gene Okerlund interviews André, DiBiase, and Virgil.

  “Well, gentlemen, tonight you have the chance at the World Wrestling Federation’s Heavyweight Championship. Your comments.”

  “Chance? André already is champion,” declares the Million Dollar Man. “He beat Hogan at WrestleMania III until the referee, obviously a Hulkamoron, cheated on the three-count. But this time Virgil will keep an eye on the referee, and Hogan won’t squirm loose. That coward has run from André for a year. Tonight, he meets the Giant, and the rest is history!”

  “All right, Ted DiBiase, obviously you are very confident, and obviously the Giant is ready.”

  “Of course he’s ready! He’s had the finest training at the finest facilities that money could buy. Everyone knows that money makes the man, and it takes big money to match up to a big man like this. That’s why André’s with me, the Million Dollar Man. And that’s why Hulk Hogan is always with those nickel-and-dime Hulkamaniacs. Hulk Hogan is small change compared to André the Giant. Your account is overdrawn, Hogan, and André’s gonna close it!”

  “André the Giant?”

  “Once I gonna get my hands on you, I never stop,” says André. “Never! I’m going to squeeze and twist and squeeze again and squeeze and never stop!”

  “That’s it, André,” DiBiase encourages. “This one’s for the money! Let’s go!”

  “I’m sure it is for the money, Vince,” Okerlund concludes. “After all, André the Giant has millions to become the heavyweight champ.”

  “These two have waited a long, long time to lock up once again in a rematch,” Vince McMahon says as he introduces Okerlund’s interview with Hogan.

  “Well, apparently, Hulk Hogan, André the Giant has millions of reasons to become the World Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Champion.”

  “Well, with all the controversy, Mean Gene, from WrestleMania III, I’ve tried to keep an open mind, man. But I’ve viewed the film a thousand and one times. André the Giant, you only had me down for a two-count. I slammed you and beat you, one-two-three, right in the middle! Maybe the prayers, the vitamins, and the training are small change to you, Multi-Million Dollar Man, but I’ve invested my three assets wisely in a lifelong profit-sharing plan with all my little Hulksters, brother! Virgil, you watch the referee. That’s cool. All my Hulkamaniacs are gonna be watching you, Multi-Million Dollar Man. Then, André the Giant, one-on-one, with the whole world watching, I’m gonna prove to you I can beat you and Hulkamania will live for-ever!”

  • • •

  Finally, it’s time for The Main Event.

  The participants are introduced. Hogan enters the ring and advances on André, swinging the title belt. But referee Dave Hebner holds him off and snatches the championship belt from his grip. He holds the title belt out for all to see as Hogan seethes.

  Jesse Ventura points out that he “feels good” about Hebner serving as referee, as opposed to Joey Marella. Hogan stares at the heels as he tears off his shirt. André doesn’t even glance in his direction. Hogan goes though the Hulkamania moves, but the Giant is unfazed.

  Hogan draws a line on the canvas as the bell sounds, inviting André to cross it. The Giant takes his time entering the ring, then hangs back to confer with DiBiase and Virgil. Hulk comes over and nails André with a right, then hits a noggin knocker on DiBiase and Virgil. He pulls them both over the top and tosses Virgil into the ropes for a big boot, which sends him over and out. He repeats the move on DiBiase, leaving him alone with André.

  The Giant advances, but Hogan hammers away with punches and chops. André reels, but doesn’t go down. Hogan takes his head and pounds it into the buckle. André staggers, but even an elbow off the ropes won’t put him down. A clothesline has little effect, so Hogan stops to knock DiBiase and Virgil off the apron.

  Another couple of shots on André, then Hulk goes and stomps on DiBiase’s hand, sending a fistful of cash flying. André holds on to the rope for support and backs into the corner, where Hogan rakes his face. A clothesline from across the ring keeps André wobbling. Hogan winds up and lands a Sunday punch, but the Giant stays upright. He rakes André’s face again, then goes up top. But André catches the champ by the throat and slam
s him to the canvas. André attempts a falling headbutt, but Hogan rolls out of the way.

  André lies on his back, still loopy, so Hogan goes to cover him. The Giant’s arm shoots up and catches Hulk’s throat. He squeezes until Hebner counts to four, and then releases the champ. On his knees, he catches Hogan again and resumes choking, always sure to release the grip before being disqualified.

  They rise, and André lands a big right, knocking Hogan into the corner. He whips him hard across to the opposite turnbuckle, and Hogan goes down face-first. André stamps on Hogan’s fingers, and then scoops him up for a slam. A boot to the midsection doubles Hulk up, opening his back for another kick. A headbutt and a chop keep Hogan down on the mat, where he wraps his arms around André’s columnar leg. André stomps hard, sending Hogan flying. The Giant puts Hogan into the corner, chop and headbutt. He grabs Hogan’s traps and squeezes, lowering his head for another butt.

  André whips Hogan to the ropes for a big foot to the chest, but loses his balance and goes down as well. Hulk rolls outside for a breather, but Virgil is there and tosses him right back in. Hebner is distracted by Virgil, so André throttles Hogan for as long as he can, wrapping his shoulder strap around the champ’s neck. Hebner breaks it up, but André soon resumes choking Hogan.

  Hogan gets his arms up and breaks the grip and begins hulking up. He gets to his feet and separates André’s arms. A kneelift to the Giant’s belly and a series of chops reverse the momentum. He hammers André into the corner and rakes the Giant’s face. André lurches forward as Hogan goes to the second rope for a clothesline that takes the Giant down, to the crowd’s delight. He goes for the legdrop, but Virgil catches an ankle. Hebner reprimands Virgil while Hogan goes to the other side of the ring and successfully drops the leg on André. He covers for at least five counts, but Virgil and Hebner are continuing their debate.

  Hogan goes to the ref and complains, giving André time to get up. He comes behind Hogan, takes two handfuls of hair, and pounds two headbutts. A double underhook suplex takes Hogan down. André covers. On two, Hogan lifts his right shoulder . . . but Hebner looks only at the left and completes the count. The bell rings at 9:05, and André is the new World Wrestling Federation Champion.

  DiBiase and Virgil run in to celebrate. Hogan is flummoxed as the crowd boos its disapproval. Hebner goes outside to fetch the belt, still dismissing Hogan’s complaints. The championship belt is presented to André, and Hebner raises his arm.

  Okerlund goes for the postmatch interview. “This is no surprise,” says André. “I told you I am going to win the World Heavyweight Championship, and now I surrender the World Heavyweight Championship to Ted DiBiase.”

  He wraps the belt around DiBiase’s waist. “Hold on, André,” says Mean Gene. “What are you saying, you surrender the title to Ted DiBiase?”

  “Yes sir, and this is the new world champion!” André and Virgil hold up DiBiase’s arm. Hogan is POed, but Hebner blocks his path. He lifts up the referee and moves him aside, giving the heels time to clear out.

  DiBiase taunts Hogan with the belt. All of a sudden, a second Hebner arrives in the ring. “How can there be two Dave Hebners?” wonders Jesse. Hogan finally turns around and sees double. He grabs them both by the necks and attempts to uncover the truth. Baffled, he lets go and circles the ring. The two Hebners start arguing until one shoves the other down, and then kicks him out of the ring.

  “There has to be some chicanery going on around here,” says McMahon.

  Hogan seemingly agrees and goes after the remaining Hebner, despite his protests of innocence. He tries to escape through the ropes, but Hulk catches him and pulls him back in. André, DiBiase, and Virgil return to see Hogan press Hebner high above his head. Hulk throws the ref out, dropping Virgil and DiBiase to the floor.

  Later, in the locker room, Hogan is apoplectic.

  “Bedlam and pandemonium,” declares Mean Gene. “Things in somewhat of a chaotic state here. Hulk Hogan, I’m sure there’s going to be a thorough investigation by World Wrestling Federation into what happened here tonight, and I know you could not be any more disappointed.”

  Tears are streaming down the Hulkster’s face. “How much money did they spend on the plastic surgery, man?” he bawls. “I had all bases covered! I had the Hulkamaniacs watching DiBiase; I had Virgil in his place. Never in my wildest dreams, Mean Gene, would I think that I would get ripped off by a penny-pinching, two-timing referee! How much money on the plastic surgery! How much money did he spend to pay the referee off when I turned around, Mean Gene? They were identical! Identicaaaaaaal!”

  Okerlund shows Hogan the replay.

  “Look at the shoulder, brother! The referee is paid off, brother! Look at the hundred-dollar bills falling out of his pocket!

  TED DIBIASE: “It was one of the greatest angles and finishes of all time.”

  BRUCE PRICHARD: “Ted’s purchase of the Heavyweight title from André was a history-making event. We kept it real quiet, and nobody knew about it except the talents involved. The goal of the angle was threefold: (1) it was a way to get a Hulk Hogan and André the Giant rematch; (2) it would move the Million Dollar Man character into the spotlight; and (3) it would plant the seed for the introduction of Ted’s Million Dollar Belt.”

  With a 15.2 rating and a viewing audience of 33 million, André v. Hogan broke every record, standing to this day as the most viewed pro wrestling match in history. At the end of 1988, Pro Wrestling Illustrated awarded André vs. Hogan at The Main Event its top honor: “Match of the Year.”

  Though his title reign lasted mere seconds, André’s victory marked his one and only World Wrestling Federation Championship. DiBiase’s run as the announced “champion” lasted a bit longer—one day, with matches on two cards, a matinee at Boston Garden, and an evening bout at Philadelphia’s Spectrum.

  February 6, 1988: Boston Garden, Boston, MA

  HULK HOGAN & BAM BAM BIGELOW (W/SIR OLIVER HUMPERDINK) VS. TED DIBIASE (W/VIRGIL) & ANDRÉ THE GIANT

  André, Virgil, and DiBiase—wearing the title over his silver suit— enter the ring to intense heat. DiBiase is introduced as “the new World Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Champion.”

  André and DiBiase put the boots to Hogan and Bigelow as they slide under the ropes. André and Hogan go toe-to-toe while DiBiase and Bigelow trade punches. Hogan gets the momentum and grabs André’s hair to drive his face into the turnbuckle, but referee Joey Marella takes hold of the Hulkster’s blond locks and pulls him off. As Hogan turns to argue with the official, DiBiase runs at him. Hogan gets the boot up and takes him down. From behind, André turns Hogan around, but a shot to the head sends him over the top rope to the wooden floor.

  In the opposite corner, Bigelow is going to work on DiBiase. Marella tells Hogan to get out of the ring, and the Hulkster angrily relents, finally tearing off his T-shirt as he goes to his corner. André, on the outside, slowly climbs the wooden steps to his own corner. Meanwhile, Bigelow hits an atomic drop on the new champion, and then pitches him into the ropes for a clothesline.

  The tag is made, and Hogan comes in. DiBiase kneels, imploring his rival to be gentle. The Hulkster is not in a forgiving mood and hammers away at the Million Dollar Man, whipping him into the corner and running in with a clothesline. DiBiase goes down flat, and André climbs in. Hogan is right there, raking the Giant’s eyes, then downs him with a clothesline in the corner.

  The crowd noise is unrelenting. Still stunned, DiBiase stands up and turns into another big right from Hogan, sending him back to the mat. Hogan kneels over him and pummels away at his head. André crawls over to make the save, and Hogan takes him in a headlock and continues his rain of punches. The Giant rolls out to the apron, but Hogan stays on him, hitting his back and shoulders. Standing outside, André reaches up and pulls Hogan’s head down, choking him on the top rope. Marella calls for him to break, so André hits a hard chop on the top of Hogan’s head and lets go.

  “My word,” Lord Alfred Hayes declares on comm
entary, “I’ve never seen Hogan so much on fire as he is this evening.”

  On the other side of the ring, Bigelow is smashing DiBiase into the buckle. Marella heads over to officiate. Hogan, turning away from André, gets caught by the Giant, who pulls him to the apron and starts choking with the bottom rope.

  Bigelow gets sent to the corner by the ref. DiBiase takes the opportunity to put the boots to the flailing Hogan. André lets go and pulls himself up the steps. DiBiase pushes Hogan face-first into the turnbuckle, then steers him to André in the corner, smashing Hulk’s head into the Giant’s. Tag is made, and DiBiase holds Hogan for André’s chops. Bigelow runs in to save his partner, but Marella—his back turned to the double-teaming—sends him back out.

  DiBiase goes to the apron. André takes Hogan’s hair from behind and headbutts him. Hogan goes down. André picks him up and wraps the shoulder strap around his neck, hiding it with his arm. DiBiase tags in and clotheslines Hogan against André from behind. Marella sends André out. DiBiase whips Hogan into a clothesline, and then basks in the heat before dropping a fist into Hulk’s head. After three shots, DiBiase covers, but Hogan gets a shoulder up. DiBiase locks a sleeper on Hogan as the announcers discuss the previous night’s “extremely controversial” events.

  “There’s some question about a lookalike referee,” says commentator Craig DeGeorge.

  “There was a lot of controversy,” notes Lord Alfred. “DiBiase paid for everything. He bought everybody. The only man he couldn’t buy is the one he’s in the ring with right now.”

  “They’re talking plastic surgery perhaps, a look-alike Dave Hebner. Of course, so much happening in terms of that, the controversy, we can’t really elaborate on it further until Jack Tunney makes his statement sometime perhaps this coming week.”

  The crowd goes ape as Hogan finally hulks up, DiBiase shaking his head in disbelief. Elbows break the hold, and a forearm off the ropes drops DiBiase down. Hogan comes over the ropes, skips over DiBiase. Hulk then ducks DiBiase’s clothesline, hits the ropes, and springs back into a double clothesline that takes both wrestlers down.