Andre the Giant

by Michael Krugman

Cut to: Okerlund, a bemused finger on his lips. “My. Sensational Sherri, being told no for the second time in 1991, this time by André the Giant. With Update, I’m Gene Okerlund.”

  April 24, 1991: Docklands Arena, London, UK

  UK RAMPAGE ’91: THE ROCKERS VS. THE ORIENT EXPRESS

  The Rockers, Shawn Michaels & Marty Janetty, bring out André before their match with Mr. Fuji’s insidious Orient Express in order to counter Fuji’s managerial interference. Later, Mean Gene interviews André, who keeps a hand on Okerlund’s shoulder for support.

  “I was just visiting my parents in France,” says André, “so I come over. And I’m glad I come over, since the Rockers, they want me, if they want, and Fuji, if you want too, you get me for the rest of the tour. I will be all over, I’ll be in the ring, and I’ll be watching for you. Believe me, Fuji.”

  “I’m certain the Rockers are very, very appreciative of the fact, André the Giant, that you were here tonight to help them out. And of course, I know it is a homecoming of sorts for you, and this tour of World Wrestling Federation is going to be covering part of Western Europe.”

  “Thank you. I’m very glad to be back here, see all my friends again.”

  When André declined the advances of Jimmy Hart—manager of such champions as Honky Tonk Man, the Hart Foundation, and the Nasty Boys— the “Mouth of the South” was not pleased, to say the least. Hart sicced the four-hundred-pound Earthquake on the Giant in what was meant to be the beginning of a new feud.

  May 6, 1991: Metro Center, Rockford, IL

  “MEAN” GENE OKERLUND INTERVIEWS JIMMY HART (W/EARTHQUAKE)

  “Now then, Jimmy Hart,” says Mean Gene in the ring, “you got me here to witness this big announcement that you’re gonna make. You said it’s of such magnitude that it’s gonna shock the world and World Wrestling Federation. Jimmy Hart, what is that announcement?”

  “Well, first of all, Mean Gene, by now the world knows that the World Wrestling Federation Tag Team Champions is Jimmy Hart’s Nasty Boys. And I wanna make sure that the Nasty Boys will stay the World Wrestling Federation Tag Team Champions forever! If anybody wants another shot at the World Wrestling Federation Tag Team Championship belts that the Nasty Boys hold, they’re gonna have to go through this next team that I have assembled. So joining forces with the Earthquake—”

  “Wait a minute. Who’s gonna join forces with Earthquake?”

  “I’m gonna tell you who’s gonna join forces with the Earthquake. It’s going to be none other than—are you ready, Mean Gene?—none other than André the Giant!”

  “Wait a minute, Jimmy Hart. You have gotta be kidding me. I don’t believe that for a minute. I don’t think you signed a contract with André the Giant. As a matter of fact, I know he is in the arena this week. I am going to ask him to come out. I wanna hear it from the man himself. Please welcome the Eighth Wonder of the World, André the Giant!”

  André comes out and is greeted in the aisle by an ecstatic Hart. He puts his arm around the manager, but in all likelihood, it is to keep his balance as he walks to the ring. In the ring, André stares down and sizes up his putative partner. Earthquake grimaces as they shake hands.

  “I find this all so very hard to believe,” says Okerlund. “Is it true that you signed a contract with the Mouth of the South, Jimmy Hart?”

  “Look at that smile on his face,” says Hart. “Whattaya mean, is it true? Look at that smile, baby!”

  “André, I wanna hear it from you. Have you signed a contract with this man, Jimmy Hart?”

  “The deal is done, Mean Gene! Look at him! Look at the smile! The deal is done, baby!”

  “Just a second, Jimmy Hart. Get the springs outta your shoes! André, you have flat turned down a number of other managers in World Wrestling Federation. First of all, you took Slick, the Doctor of Style, and stuffed him in the truck of his very own limousine. And that was nothing—Mr. Fuji was wining and dining you at one of the great restaurants in the world, and you took Mr. Fuji and you shoved his face in the plate of food. And ya know, Sensational Queen Sherri had you in a hotel, she tried to proposition . . . wait a minute, I beg your pardon. She tried to entice you, and she ended up getting a spanking. And Bobby Heenan, Bobby Heenan wouldn’t get within ten miles of you, André. Keeping that in mind, again I ask you, yes or no? Have you signed a contract with this man? André, yes?”

  “No!”

  “Jimmy Hart, he said no!”

  Hart is obviously upset as André grins. “You don’t humiliate me in front of millions of people! Who do you think you are? You made a deal with me! You made a deal with me, man!”

  “I never sign anything from you,” André explains as Earthquake sets up behind him.

  “Whattaya mean you didn’t sign it? You are a liar, man! You signed up with me!”

  André grabs Hart’s wrist and throws down his megaphone. “Don’t call me a liar, okay? Don’t ever call me a liar!”

  All of a sudden, Earthquake drives his shoulder and the megaphone into André’s left knee, sending him down to the canvas. Earthquake takes the Giant’s ankle, drags him into the center of the ring, and drops an elbow into the injured knee. André grabs Earthquake’s hair as he twists the Giant’s leg. Earthquake gets up and drops another elbow, resuming his hold upon landing. He rises and splashes down onto the knee as André bellows in pain.

  “I’ve never seen the Giant felled like this before,” says Vince McMahon.

  “I think we’re seein’ an end to a great career,” adds guest commentator Randy Savage. “I have to say, it was a great career.”

  Earthquake splashes onto André’s knee again as the officials try to clear the ring. Earthquake splashes down once more, and then leaves with Hart. André uses the ropes to get to his feet, but goes down just as he gets to his full height. He rolls outside and falls against the steel barricade.

  “I don’t think he wants anybody to help him up,” says Vince. “André, unquestionably as proud as he is large.”

  André uses the railing to support himself up the aisle.

  “You’re talking about intestinal fortitude,” says Vince. “You’re talking about guts. Giant-sized guts!”

  May 29, 1991: ASU Activity Center, Tempe, AZ

  THE BARBER SHOP W/ANDRÉ

  Brutus “the Barber” Beefcake—wearing pink and yellow pastel— introduces his guest on The Barber Shop. “This week I’ve got a man, he’s the Eighth Wonder of the World. He’s André the Giant.”

  André limps out, supported by a cane, selling Earthquake’s assault. Brutus helps the Giant up to the Barber Shop stage.

  “Y’know, André, it’s really a wonder to me that you’re standing here right now after what happened to you. We all saw that Jimmy Hart was trying to recruit you, and we all watched as you stood there and you gave the world your answer—No!”

  André, holding Beefcake’s shoulder, nods in agreement.

  “And we also watched as the dastardly deeds were done, as the Earthquake jumped you from behind and proceeded to try to destroy your knee, to take it on upon himself to totally take you out and end your career once and for all, André.”

  “It’s not once and for all,” says the Giant, shaking his huge head.

  “Well, we all know that your knee is gonna require a lot of reconstructive surgery, that you’re facing a lot of rehabilitation, and y’know, I know all about what it takes to go through a lot of rehabilitation. But what all these people, and what I want to know, was what does the future hold for André the Giant?”

  “Well, what it is, the doctor say that you supposed to put a new knees in there,” he says, grinning. “But he said I’m too young for it, ho ho. And I really appreciate that. So now I ask him what he can do, and he told me, he said only I could rebuild your knee and you’ll be better than ever.”

  The crowd roars its approval, and André continues. “I don’t care about Earthquake, I just care about my knee. And believe me, I’m going to let that doctor to rebuild that knee, and t
hen Earthquake, you start something I have to finish. That may be the last thing I have to do, we never know, but Earthquake, you start some trouble that can be, in the end of that, your worst nightmare you ever had. I promise you that!”

  “Y’know, Earthquake, you call yourself ‘the Natural Disaster,’ but when you come face-to-face with an angry André the Giant, it can only spell disaster for you!”

  André drapes his arm over Beefcake’s shoulder, who assists him down the platform stairs.

  After two months off for “rehab” on his knee, André returned for Summer-Slam, where he teamed with the Bushwhackers, Butch & Luke, against Jimmy Hart’s Natural Disasters, Earthquake & Typhoon.

  August 26, 1991: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

  SUMMERSLAM

  “Mean” Gene Okerlund interviews the Bushwhackers and, on crutches, André.

  “André,” begins Okerlund as Butch and Luke do their trademark stomp, “I recall a few months back, during an interview I was conducting with you, Jimmy Hart had led us to believe that he was gonna be your manager. But here’s what took place at the conclusion of that interview.”

  Cut to clip of Earthquake coming up behind André and taking his knee out from under him.

  “Well, André the Giant—”

  “Cousin Luke, are you ready?”

  “Boy, am I ready!”

  “Oh boy, in a few minutes we’re gonna crush that Earthquake and wipe that Typhoon all over the ring!”

  “That’s right, Cousin Butch. We’re gonna lick those Natural Disasters all over the place!”

  “And when we’re finished lickin’ ’em, and when we’re finished eatin’ ’em, oh boy, we’re gonna feed ’em to you, André!”

  The Giant raises his crutch. “And that will be my chance to get even!”

  André accompanies the Bushwhackers to the ring, slowly following them up the aisle using forearm crutches. Despite his pain, he grins broadly as Butch and Luke march toward the ring.

  As the ’Whackers do their bit in the ring, Earthquake and Typhoon go outside to confront André. “Let’s get him outta here right now,” says Earthquake, but the Disasters are surprised from behind by Butch and Luke, who poke them in the eyes and scoot into the ring as the bell sounds. The Disasters follow, but the Bushwhackers go back out to pose with André, who laughingly raises his crutch. They muss with his hair and place one of their hats on his giant head.

  André’s involvement in the match is minimal. He cheers the ’Whackers on, hoisting his crutch up to keep the crowd’s attention. At one point, Earthquake is knocked out of the ring and comes face-to-face with the Giant, who pointedly aims a crutch in his face, sending him scurrying backward. Luke comes out to assist, but Earthquake catches him and hits a backbreaker. André, holding himself up on his crutches, can only watch. Earthquake goes back into the rings, tags in, and finishes Butch off with his Earthquake Splash seated senton for the three-count at 6:27.

  Jimmy Hart and the Disasters celebrate. André prepares for battle by getting his crutch ready to use as a club. The Disasters come out and stalk the Giant, who swings the crutch over his head while using the other to hold himself upright. Before the Disasters can make their move, the Legion of Doom come down the aisle and position themselves in front of André. Unsurprisingly, the Disasters back away and roll into the ring. L.O.D. follows, and of course, Earthquake and Typhoon slip back out. André whacks them with a cane as they scurry to the dressing room.

  Though André officially “retired” after SummerSlam, he continued to work regularly for Giant Baba’s All Japan Pro Wrestling. Mostly tagging with Giant Baba, his actual time wrestling was very short. New Japan’s Seiji Sakaguchi—a former North American Heavyweight Champion—suggested Baba bring André over to work with Baba in a guaranteed crowd-pleasing match on the All Japan tours. André toured with All Japan three times per year, from September 1990 to 1992. Though the shows were already huge draws, Baba paid André an exorbitant $15,000 per week, a huge sum for essentially a mid-card attraction. But by 1992, André’s condition had declined to the point where he was unable to team with Baba in All Japan’s annual Tag Team tournament.

  JOHNNY ACE (JOHN LAURINAITIS): “People loved him like a god over in Japan. Near the end he and Baba were tagging up, and they loved that. It was an attraction. Baba was not in good shape either, but the sight of the two of them in the ring and the history about what they both brought to the business—André from the American side and Baba from the Japanese side—you put those together, and it didn’t matter. The fans had such an appreciation and respect for what they did in the business, it wasn’t about what they actually could do in the ring today.

  “Stan Hansen and I wrestled against André and Baba a few times, which were fun matches to be in. Baba and Stan started, Stan tagged me in, and I went right over and chopped André—bam! He looked at me and laughed, ‘Ho, ho, ho, ho.’ Baba tagged André in, and he just beat the shit out of me.”

  On September 2, 1992, André made his final television appearance at WCW’s Clash of the Champions XX at Atlanta’s Center Stage Theater. The show—which commemorated twenty years of wrestling on Ted Turner’s TBS—opened on the red carpet with hosts Tony Schiavone and Missy Hyatt introducing Gordon Solie and André. André, holding himself up with two canes, was greeted by Schiavone: “André, it’s great to have you with us.”

  “Thank you,” replied the Giant. “I’m very happy to be back here to see all my TBS old wrestling stars.”

  However brief, André’s appearance on the World Wrestling Federation’s most hated rival struck like a dagger into the McMahon family’s heart.

  SHANE McMAHON: “When André showed up on Ted Turner’s broadcast, it was just such a shock. At that time we were pretty much at war, and my dad specifically was extremely hurt. I don’t know why André did it. Maybe he was unhappy being out of the limelight and it was just a nice little thing to be back among the boys. I definitely think he was coaxed into it.

  “I remember my dad called André and said, ‘Boss, I’ve just gotta say that you really hurt my feelings. After everything, to see you with a competitor really hurt.’ I think André apologized. I don’t think he fully realized what he’d done. At that point his health was definitely deteriorating. I think he was upset at the fact that he couldn’t do what he used to do. He was on crutches, and that was another thing that upset my dad—why would he ever show that to anybody?”

  VINCE McMAHON: “In the later days, André drank even more and internalized even more. He wasn’t on the road anymore, so he felt like he had no value. I think that really got to him. André had an ego, and a good one. When it looked like he no longer had any value, I think that weighed on him more than anything else.”

  TIM WHITE: “I was still on the road, so we’d keep in touch every few days or whatever. That last time I saw him, I happened to be out on the road, and the ranch was a little bit out of the way but I still wanted to stop and see him. When I pulled away from the ranch I was crying like a baby ’cause he looked so bad. He could barely hide his pain. He’s stuck on this property with Frenchy, and it’s just not a good situation.”

  His worsening condition didn’t keep André from appearing regularly in Japan, where his iconic status far outweighed his now-limited abilities. He toured through December, culminating in a Six Man Tag at Tokyo’s Budokan Hall with Giant Baba and Rusher Kimura vs. Haruka Eigen, Masa Fuchi, & Motoshi Okuma.

  André returned home for Christmas, with a stop in Mexico for a Six Man Tag match with El Canek & Dos Caras vs. Bam Bam Bigelow, Yokozuna, & Bad News Brown. The match has become something of a legend, though not for its stellar wrestling.

  It seems André was tormented that day by a case of Montezuma’s revenge. But a little stomachache wasn’t enough to keep the Giant out of the ring. About midway through the match, he tossed Brown into the corner, then dropped his always-crowd-pleasing big ass bump.

  VINCE McMAHON: “André is sitting on Bad News’s chest, holdin
g his arms down. Unfortunately, that’s when André’s bowels let go, and here’s Bad News, he can’t move because he’s got this five-hundred-pound guy on him, and here comes this river of ca-ca. He can smell it, it’s coming down all over his chest and wrapping all the way around his neck. He’s lying in this pool of ca-ca, and there was not a damn thing to do about it. And André’s just laughing, ‘Ho ho ho.’”

  The New Year began with sad news for André—his father was unwell and not likely to last much longer. André flew to France immediately, and on January 15, Boris Rousimoff passed away.

  André spent the weeks after his father’s death commuting between a Paris hotel and his native Molien, where he spent his days playing cards with his old friends. On January 27, 1993, André returned to his hotel for the night. When no one answered the phone the next morning, André’s chauffeur had the hotel staff open the door and found the Giant dead. He had died peacefully, in his sleep, at the age of forty-six. No autopsy was performed, but his death was attributed to congestive heart failure from a buildup of fluid in the body, deriving from his untreated acromegaly.

  The death of André the Giant received major news coverage around the world, with Canadian Wire Services reporting that there was huge demand for the story, especially in Europe. The story was page one in Montreal, with CNN and ESPN both devoting portions of their sportscasts for an obituary.

  HOWARD FINKEL: “I’ll never forget, Vince came over to our department and says, ‘I want you guys to know that André passed away.’ My heart just dropped. We knew he was ill. Everybody knew it was inevitable. But there will never be another one like him.”

  TIM WHITE: “I got a call from Frenchy Bernard, in the middle of the night. André’s father had passed away, and he wanted Frenchy to let me know that he had already left for Paris to go and bury his father. I’m thinking how hard it was going to be for him to make the trip, because of the way I saw him physically.