On this date in WWF history: Rest in peace, Andre The Giant

by Jesse Holland on Jan 27, 2012 10:00 AM EST in History

On January 27, 1993, pro wrestling fans around the world said goodbye to André René Roussimoff, who passed away in his sleep due to congestive heart failure after a lifelong struggle with acromegaly.

In short, his body never stopped growing.

"Andre the Giant," who would find his greatest success as part of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), would be one of very few stars from his era to find mainstream crossover appeal, appearing as a guest on The Tonight Show, television shows The Six-Million Dollar Man, B.J. and the Bear, The Greatest American Hero, and of course, the role of "Fezzik" in the1987 cult classic The Princess Bride.

He was also featured as "The Giant Among Us" in the December 21, 1981, issue of Sports Illustrated, which is a fascinating read. See it here.

But I, along with many WWF fans, will best remember him as the foil who gave Hulk Hogan purpose, selling over 90,000 seats as part of one of the best good guy/bad guy programs of all time.

More on Andre the Giant in his Larger than Life documentary, after the jump.

How about it Cagesiders, greatest big man to ever lace up the boots?

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Comments

Fabulous article.

The scene I remember most was the fake heart attack angle with Jake Roberts. It seemed so real to me when I watched it on tv. I do say greatest big man ever.. not just wrestler, but person as well. I never heard anything negative about him in his life. Wonder how the world would be today if Hogan passed in 93 & Andre was still with us.

Suum Cuique

by Rawuncutnxrated on Jan 27, 2012 10:11 AM EST reply actions

Woo

You certainly have some rose colored glasses on rembering Andre..
Sure he was great but he was nearly immobile at the end of his career. Also he called bad news Allen a ninja and backed down to the ensuing challenge from him. He was enigmatic for his time but wrestling wise the next generation of big men were more able. But for sure he’s a goat. Rip.

by thejasten on Jan 27, 2012 11:03 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Tell you what..

Why not read the story right below & then read the SI story. You tell me who would have been better for business.

Suum Cuique

by Rawuncutnxrated on Jan 27, 2012 12:11 PM EST up reply actions

I tried to read the SI article

but I fell asleep near the middle of pg 3. Anyways, are you trying to say that Andre would have benefited the business more than Hogan had he not died in 93? And if Hogan died instead?
That’s a pretty morbid argument. But still dude…Andre was pretty much done by like 86. He was paraded around during the rock and wrestling era, but c’mon dude…Hogan was the man, no contest.

by thejasten on Jan 27, 2012 12:30 PM EST up reply actions

Andre was giving to the business.. even though he holds the longest winning streak he was humble, people loved him… he wasn’t some egomaniac who killed one company & is about to off another. I agree Hogan lead to the biggest boom period.. but is now in a huge lull. Sometimes forgoing the big ups helps avoid the big downs & any company will tell they would rather be stead for 20 years than be up, down, and unpredictable. Andre was a draw the likes of no one else. Yea, later in his career he was on death’s doorstep because of his disease. He had mobility problems, I understand that, but before that, he was a man the likes of no one.

Suum Cuique

by Rawuncutnxrated on Jan 27, 2012 1:15 PM EST up reply actions

The business has changed a lot since Andre’s day. Mostly for the better. Andre played a part in that, but not as much as Hogan. Nobody’s perfect and nobody’s a saint. Andre may or may not have been an egomaniac…much of what we know from that time is kayfabe’d to shit. This was before dirt sheets and internets. Who’s to say he wasn’t an asshole? He was french after all…

by thejasten on Jan 27, 2012 1:25 PM EST up reply actions

I was only 3 when he died so I didn’t get to see him live that much so I’ll go with The UnderTaker

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The Legend

by KJ Brophy on Jan 27, 2012 10:19 AM EST reply actions

Andre is #1 to me...

A man his size being able to wrestler for around 25 years is amazing. He had the charm to draw the crowds, bringing in big business for most of his career.

Plus he was awesome in Princess Bride!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP5-qJSzDUg

"Oldest ride, longest line!" - Ric Flair

by Doors Hate MMA Fighters on Jan 27, 2012 12:35 PM EST reply actions

Great story about Andre the Giant

his love of alcohol is how anethesiologists figure out how much anethesia to give patients. When he was going in for surgery the anethesiologist had no idea how much gas it would take to knock him out, so he asked Andre how much alochol it took to get him drunk. To which Andre replied, it takes about about two bottles of whine or vokda(I can’t remember which one it was off the top of my head) to get me drunk. Based off of that the Anethesiologist was able to figure out how much gas to give him and the scale to figure out how much to give each patient.

Players who should be in the Hall of Fame: Pat TIllman, Dwight White, Donnie Shell, L.C. Greenwood, Ray Guy, Steve Tasker, Jack Butler, Greg Lloyd, Andy Russell, Cris Carter, Kevin Greene, Curtis Martin, Willie Roaf, Andre Reed and Jerry Kramer
"Clemson should've stopped turning the ball over" Dana Holgorsen when asked about running up the score in the Orange Bowl

by WVPiratesfan on Jan 27, 2012 12:43 PM EST reply actions