Bertrand Hébert - The Eighth Wonder of the World: The True Story of André the Giant

Pontiac, Michigan, March 29, 1987.

The story goes like this...

Andr the Giant is challenging Hulk Hogan for the World Wrestling Federation title. Near the corner of Michigan Highway and Opdyke Road, in a town of 70,000, 30 miles northwest of Detroit, 93,173 people are crammed together to witness one of the biggest pro wrestling matches of all time. The Pontiac Silverdome home of the NFLs Detroit Lions and the NBAs Detroit Pistons is the place to be. Much like Andr, the stadium is the largest of its kind and a great stage for a match like this.

Andr versus Hogan is the perfect match on the perfect stage. The challenger, from Grenoble in the French Alps, stands seven foot four, weighing 520 pounds. The champion, from Venice Beach, California, is six foot six and 302 pounds. Both are undefeated, and they face each other for the very first time. Will Hogan be able to slam the Giant, let alone beat him? Will the Giant end Hogans 39-month title reign? This WrestleMania, the showcase of the immortals, the third such event organized by Vincent Kennedy McMahon, is the first to reach a worldwide phenomenon level. WrestleMania IIIs slogan Bigger, Better, Badder suits it to a T.

Ever since arriving in North America, Andr had been the biggest attraction in pro wrestling. Fans have heard that Andr came from France in the early 70s and, after a brief stint in Canada, went on to rule the wrestling world, managed by the top impresario in the sport, Vincent James McMahon. Andr was his vision.

A decade later, McMahons son took over the company, and he chose Hulk Hogan as the future of the business. As the companys history goes, Andr and Hogan were best friends. Andr was even part of the celebration when Hogan defeated The Iron Sheik for the WWF World Heavyweight championship at Madison Square Garden in 1984 he famously poured champagne on Hogans head.

Since becoming champion, Hogan had defended the title against almost every bad guy in the promotion: Rowdy Roddy Piper, Paul Orndorff, Big John Studd, King Kong Bundy, Jesse Ventura... the list goes on and on and on. A couple of times a year, Hulk and Andr teamed up to face adversity that one man alone could not overcome. Andr, it seemed, was too much of a novelty to be considered for a championship match; since he had started working for the elder McMahon, seven different wrestlers had won the crown jewel. Hogan was simply the latest to jump ahead of him.

And that is what March 29, 1987, is all about: Andr being overshadowed by Hogan, not getting the respect he deserves. By the time of the marquee match, fans in the Silverdome have already seen so much: pretty boys Rick Martel and Tom Zenk opened WrestleMania III with real vigor; Brutus Beefcake was evicted from the Dream Team, replaced by Dino Bravo; Ricky Steamboat defeated Randy Savage in a match no one will ever forget; and Jim Duggan and Nikolai Volkoff had their own version of the Cold War. douard Carpentier, Andrs old friend from France, is providing commentary in French for Andrs francophone fans.

The building is rumbling when Mr. Baseball Bob Uecker introduces Entertainment Tonights Mary Hart as the guest timekeeper. With former enemy Bobby The Brain Heenan by his side, Andr comes down the very long walkway from the backstage area to the ring on a motorized cart made to look like a miniature ring. He remains stonily indifferent to the chorus of boos and the debris thrown at him. He enters his battlefield by stepping over the top rope, as he always does. This is the pinnacle of his career.

Backstage, Hogan is nervous. What if Andr goes into business for himself? What if he decides hes winning tonight? If Andr did, there would be nothing the Hulkster could do to defeat him.

Hogans Real American entrance music finally hits. In better shape than Andr, he walks from the curtain to the ring, cheered on by the thousands of Hulkamaniacs in attendance.

The tension is real. The two biggest stars of the last decade are in the ring, and everybody in attendance or watching on closed-circuit TV around the world are on the edge of their seats. After just a few seconds, Hogan tries to slam the Giant, something that no one has ever been able to do. But hes denied by Andr, who covers the champion for a two-and-three-quarter count by referee Joey Marella. After taking the beating of a lifetime, Hogan comes back from the dead, slams Andr, and hits the leg drop for the one, two, three. Not only did Hogan win the match and keep his title, but he also dealt Andr his very first defeat.

Or did he?

The Hogan-Andr match at WrestleMania III