1 00:00:01,480 --> 00:00:05,700 Andre the Giant is the biggest and greatest superstar this business has 2 00:00:05,700 --> 00:00:12,640 known. I had my way. I was going to chop this giant down. 3 00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:18,740 He didn't want anybody around him that he didn't like. 4 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:24,360 Giant just attacked our Wheaties boy. 5 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:25,800 What's going on? 6 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:27,500 What are you doing, Andre? 7 00:00:27,860 --> 00:00:30,060 And welcome to WrestleMania. 8 00:00:31,180 --> 00:00:37,280 The rivalry between Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant is the most important rivalry 9 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:40,320 of all time, bar none. 10 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:50,300 When two 11 00:00:50,300 --> 00:00:55,280 legends collide, their rivalry stays pinned in our minds forever. 12 00:00:57,260 --> 00:01:01,100 This is where we break down the legendary stories behind the greatest 13 00:01:01,100 --> 00:01:02,100 of all time. 14 00:01:03,060 --> 00:01:07,840 I'm Freddie Prinze Jr., and this is WWE Rivals. 15 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:15,540 If any one man can defeat Andre, it's this man, Hulk Hogan. 16 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:23,540 Today's rivalry is the one that started it all. Hulk Hogan and my favorite of 17 00:01:23,540 --> 00:01:25,000 all time, Andre the Giant. 18 00:01:25,420 --> 00:01:29,240 This is the first huge rivalry that WWE had. 19 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:35,740 It is arguably the greatest. The foundation that those two men built is 20 00:01:35,740 --> 00:01:38,480 much the foundation that all wrestlers stand on today. 21 00:01:39,100 --> 00:01:46,020 When I saw Hogan and Andre, you know, as a young man, wanting to get 22 00:01:46,020 --> 00:01:49,080 into the business, that's unattainable because you see two giants. 23 00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:54,040 The most iconic moments in WWE history consist of Andre the Giant. 24 00:01:54,830 --> 00:01:58,910 I mean, you have a bigger than life character, a giant who had never been 25 00:01:58,910 --> 00:02:00,730 defeated in 15 years. 26 00:02:01,030 --> 00:02:02,970 I mean, as a kid, I was scared to death for Hogan. 27 00:02:03,190 --> 00:02:08,410 I thought Andre was going to kill him. You had to have the perfect pull for the 28 00:02:08,410 --> 00:02:09,410 perfect baby face. 29 00:02:09,570 --> 00:02:12,910 I mean, Hogan is once a lifetime, man. We'll never see anything like Hogan 30 00:02:12,910 --> 00:02:17,670 again. And Andre was an incredible guy, a tough guy, a strong guy, and could 31 00:02:17,670 --> 00:02:19,710 drink massive amounts of wine. 32 00:02:22,510 --> 00:02:23,650 Hello, ladies and gentlemen. 33 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:26,180 I don't have to tell you my name. You know who I am. 34 00:02:27,180 --> 00:02:29,860 Andre the Giant. 35 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:32,580 Andre is a superstar. 36 00:02:32,980 --> 00:02:35,900 And there he is, the eighth wonder of the world. 37 00:02:37,340 --> 00:02:42,500 He is the biggest and greatest superstar this business has ever known and ever 38 00:02:42,500 --> 00:02:43,138 will know. 39 00:02:43,140 --> 00:02:45,360 Look at this massive humanity here. 40 00:02:45,900 --> 00:02:50,360 He's the one that laid the groundwork for Hulk Hogan. 41 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:54,800 For Stone Cold Steve Austin, for The Rock, for anybody else that walks 42 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:58,460 these doors of the WWE Universe, it wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for 43 00:02:58,460 --> 00:02:59,339 Andre the Giant. 44 00:02:59,340 --> 00:03:02,760 Andre the Giant, ladies and gentlemen, for the benefit of you who do not know, 45 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:07,180 is the only undefeated superstar in professional wrestling. 46 00:03:08,140 --> 00:03:13,320 What about your winner, Andre the Giant? 47 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:18,360 Just exactly how tall are you, Andre? How much do you weigh? Seven feet four 48 00:03:18,360 --> 00:03:20,760 a half, and I weigh four and a half ninety -seven pounds. 49 00:03:22,100 --> 00:03:25,700 I remember the first time I saw Andre the Giant. 50 00:03:26,060 --> 00:03:28,340 I just remember looking at his leg. 51 00:03:28,560 --> 00:03:31,400 It looked like the hip and ass end of a Clydesdale. 52 00:03:31,920 --> 00:03:33,440 I was like, oh my God. 53 00:03:33,700 --> 00:03:37,680 He was just the largest, biggest human being I'd ever seen. 54 00:03:38,300 --> 00:03:40,660 Fans, take a look at this. Can you believe that? 55 00:03:40,940 --> 00:03:43,600 Perhaps even, let's compare it to the size of my head. 56 00:03:44,460 --> 00:03:49,860 Andre, the... The interviews that I did with Andre were kind of vignettes. They 57 00:03:49,860 --> 00:03:53,720 weren't really actual interviews. We would trade sport coats. 58 00:03:53,980 --> 00:03:56,940 They looked like the drape at a Ramada Inn. 59 00:03:57,200 --> 00:03:59,180 Weather does get chilly periodically. 60 00:04:00,020 --> 00:04:04,920 It looks like a top coat. I can't believe it. This is unreal. 61 00:04:07,020 --> 00:04:12,880 Andre, you're the best. And he had these custom -made shoes, size 22 or 3. A big 62 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:15,830 guy. All my clothes come from Japan, except my boots. 63 00:04:16,709 --> 00:04:20,390 Just like the fact everything is big, it comes from. 64 00:04:21,329 --> 00:04:22,330 Makes sense. 65 00:04:22,450 --> 00:04:23,770 Uh, symmetry. 66 00:04:24,130 --> 00:04:25,230 Oh, no problem. 67 00:04:25,590 --> 00:04:30,090 Now Stunt's gonna try to body slam him. Woo -hoo! No way! 68 00:04:30,510 --> 00:04:32,550 Has anybody ever lifted you and body slammed you? 69 00:04:32,830 --> 00:04:33,830 No. 70 00:04:34,530 --> 00:04:40,090 Not only did people want to see this mammoth of a man, but they wanted to see 71 00:04:40,090 --> 00:04:41,570 what a 7 '4". 72 00:04:42,190 --> 00:04:44,990 500 -pound human being could do in a wrestling ring. 73 00:04:45,270 --> 00:04:48,770 And kaboom! He was a great wrestler. 74 00:04:49,130 --> 00:04:50,350 Look at that strength. 75 00:04:50,710 --> 00:04:52,330 What a phenomenal individual. 76 00:04:53,950 --> 00:04:57,950 Whoever's wrestled you ever has always had trouble getting you down. Is that 77 00:04:57,950 --> 00:04:59,250 secret to beating Andre the Giant? 78 00:04:59,550 --> 00:05:01,230 But first they have to put me down. 79 00:05:02,910 --> 00:05:04,890 There's the friendly smiling giant. 80 00:05:05,390 --> 00:05:07,530 Andre and I, we were friends. 81 00:05:08,090 --> 00:05:09,670 You know, WrestleMania I. 82 00:05:10,540 --> 00:05:14,280 I sat on Andre the Giant's lap and actually fell asleep at the WrestleMania 83 00:05:14,280 --> 00:05:15,280 after party. 84 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:21,220 You felt this unbelievable energy from him. He had such a presence, such a 85 00:05:21,220 --> 00:05:22,280 connection to people. 86 00:05:22,860 --> 00:05:25,600 Big heart, loves people, loves kids. 87 00:05:25,900 --> 00:05:27,360 Everybody loves him back. 88 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:33,680 Andre the Giant is the most recognizable superstar in the sport. And at that 89 00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:38,380 same time, a young Hulk Hogan is just breaking into the wrestling business. 90 00:05:40,810 --> 00:05:45,210 1976. I was playing in a rock and roll band, and I told them, I said, I'm 91 00:05:45,210 --> 00:05:46,370 quitting playing music. 92 00:05:47,070 --> 00:05:50,530 I'm going to be the greatest professional wrestler that ever lived. 93 00:05:50,930 --> 00:05:53,870 There were five of us in the band, and four of them were laying on the floor 94 00:05:53,870 --> 00:05:55,770 laughing. And they thought it was hilarious. 95 00:05:58,370 --> 00:06:01,470 Word got around that I was running in my mouth that I wanted to be a wrestler. 96 00:06:01,910 --> 00:06:05,310 So I was lifting weights and working out, and I thought I was in great shape. 97 00:06:05,980 --> 00:06:09,120 And Mike Graham said, look, if you want to be a wrestler, I'm going to set you 98 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:12,800 up with Hiro Matsuda, and he's going to give you a tryout. And the first thing 99 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:15,660 Matsuda did was he got me in the ring and broke my leg right away. 100 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:21,100 Hiro Matsuda is a Japanese wrestler who came to the United States. 101 00:06:21,380 --> 00:06:26,500 There's the mentor, Hiro Matsuda. There he is. But he was notoriously tough, and 102 00:06:26,500 --> 00:06:32,440 if he got any sense that a student didn't take the business seriously, 103 00:06:32,840 --> 00:06:35,420 he would make an example of that person. 104 00:06:35,820 --> 00:06:38,100 And that's exactly what he did to Hulk Hogan. 105 00:06:39,260 --> 00:06:43,120 Hogan didn't quit that day. It's not like Hogan got his leg broke and went 106 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:45,800 crying. Hogan broke in a tough way. 107 00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:50,060 About three and a half, four months later, I came back and had a different 108 00:06:50,060 --> 00:06:52,520 of attitude that no one was going to hurt me again. 109 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:03,760 And that's the word for this man, incredible. 110 00:07:04,100 --> 00:07:05,560 He is just that. Wow. 111 00:07:05,780 --> 00:07:12,400 When Hulk Hogan first came to WWE, he was bronzed and charismatic. And even 112 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:16,580 he was a villain, people wanted to see him. I mean, I remember him in that 113 00:07:16,580 --> 00:07:20,460 purple cape. He was classy, Freddie Black. He was mouthpiece. 114 00:07:20,700 --> 00:07:22,460 The man is just unbeatable. 115 00:07:23,050 --> 00:07:24,050 Never been defeated. 116 00:07:24,510 --> 00:07:25,550 It's a new decade. 117 00:07:26,390 --> 00:07:30,770 1980, you are looking at the new king of professional wrestling. You felt, wow, 118 00:07:30,850 --> 00:07:32,730 this is a real bad dude. 119 00:07:35,250 --> 00:07:39,510 Mr. Vince McMahon being introduced now, the promoter at Madison Square Garden. 120 00:07:39,890 --> 00:07:43,970 My relationship with Vince Sr. was, it felt like he took a special interest in 121 00:07:43,970 --> 00:07:48,070 me. And I just remember he had the half -reading glasses, and he would always 122 00:07:48,070 --> 00:07:50,570 click the quarters together, and he was kind of looking over the glasses, 123 00:07:50,590 --> 00:07:52,210 looking at me, you know, when he talked to me. 124 00:07:52,750 --> 00:07:56,070 And he was looking for an opponent for Andre the Giant at the time. 125 00:08:25,640 --> 00:08:27,080 I had a manager named Freddie Blassie. 126 00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:28,940 I used to wear a black on band. 127 00:08:29,220 --> 00:08:31,460 And Freddie Blassie gave me a piece of metal. 128 00:08:31,820 --> 00:08:35,480 Hey, look at this. Blassie just slipped something in Hogan's elbow there. He 129 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:38,860 slipped something in? He absolutely did. Coming back to Hogan Hammer. 130 00:08:39,480 --> 00:08:41,960 Whacked him in the head like a clothesline by hitting him in the 131 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:46,840 And there he goes. He just slipped it out. Andre is cut and cut badly. 132 00:08:47,460 --> 00:08:52,180 The last thing you want to do is piss a 7 '5", 500 -pound giant off. 133 00:08:56,590 --> 00:09:01,350 Hogan was the bad guy, the heel, and Andre was our baby face, good guy that 134 00:09:01,350 --> 00:09:06,450 everybody loved because he was larger than life. And they had a match at Shea 135 00:09:06,450 --> 00:09:07,990 Stadium, and it killed. 136 00:09:09,410 --> 00:09:16,170 Before the WrestleMania era, the showdown at Shea was a special series 137 00:09:16,170 --> 00:09:21,830 of matches that occurred at Shea Stadium in Queens, and that was the home of 138 00:09:21,830 --> 00:09:23,250 baseball's New York Mets. 139 00:09:23,630 --> 00:09:25,810 Shea Stadium was the biggest of the big. 140 00:09:26,590 --> 00:09:29,850 Well, at the time of Shea Stadium, I really wasn't Andre's favorite person. 141 00:09:30,610 --> 00:09:36,190 I think a lot of it had to do with me being young, and I don't think I was 142 00:09:36,190 --> 00:09:40,730 arrogant, but I was almost kind of like a smaller dog nipping at his heels, 143 00:09:40,810 --> 00:09:41,810 driving him crazy. 144 00:09:41,930 --> 00:09:44,770 And I didn't mean to be, but I just didn't know any better. 145 00:09:45,830 --> 00:09:50,110 Andre was in really, really, really great shape, and he was very fast. 146 00:09:50,970 --> 00:09:53,850 So if you tried to pull anything and hit him and get away from him, he'd catch 147 00:09:53,850 --> 00:09:56,430 you. So that's just how it was. He was the boss. 148 00:09:56,710 --> 00:10:03,130 There it is, the winner, Andre. 149 00:10:03,670 --> 00:10:07,170 It was the start of a rivalry that would last quite a while. 150 00:10:08,270 --> 00:10:13,770 Discapacity crowd up for one of the great matchups. Andre the Giant against 151 00:10:13,770 --> 00:10:16,050 Hogan. That's a main event in any arena. 152 00:10:20,330 --> 00:10:22,690 I was real full of myself when I was younger. 153 00:10:22,930 --> 00:10:24,350 Is this arrogant? Look at this. 154 00:10:24,970 --> 00:10:29,530 I was afraid of him, but then after we made physical contact, I became 155 00:10:29,530 --> 00:10:32,970 delusional. In my mind, I thought I could beat this guy. 156 00:10:33,230 --> 00:10:37,470 I knew I wasn't as big as him, but I thought I was because I was in really 157 00:10:37,470 --> 00:10:39,470 shape and I was very strong when I was younger. 158 00:10:39,970 --> 00:10:41,910 Well, guess who's boss? 159 00:10:43,030 --> 00:10:45,170 And he just beat the crap out of me. 160 00:10:46,630 --> 00:10:49,010 Hogan's got to be saying, what did I do now? 161 00:10:49,840 --> 00:10:52,220 When Hulk came in, he had a little bit of notoriety. 162 00:10:52,980 --> 00:10:55,040 I don't care if you're the king on the hill. 163 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:59,720 When somebody else comes in that you think might be a threat, there's always 164 00:10:59,720 --> 00:11:03,100 that situation of you going, well, I'm going to see what this kid's really made 165 00:11:03,100 --> 00:11:04,940 of and see if he should really be in this business. 166 00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:15,220 The human peacock, also known as Hulk Hogan. Do you like those colors? 167 00:11:15,440 --> 00:11:17,800 All of the colors. Proud of the peacock. 168 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:23,260 Andre, I think he really took Hulk to school. He plays a little rock and roll 169 00:11:23,260 --> 00:11:27,820 Hulk Hogan's head. Hulk Hogan's head. Andre knew what he was doing, but if 170 00:11:27,820 --> 00:11:30,260 something went wrong, he would let you know. 171 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:33,140 What the hell are you? 172 00:11:35,420 --> 00:11:40,360 Hulk Hogan was very raw as a Thomas. They had a term for it back in the 173 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:42,660 room with the old -timers. The kid's green. 174 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:45,820 As most new arrivals are. 175 00:11:46,300 --> 00:11:49,160 And they can be stiff in the ring. 176 00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:53,880 What that means is that sometimes they hit somebody a little harder than they 177 00:11:53,880 --> 00:11:55,960 should. Around the rope and a mighty hit. 178 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:58,400 Andre says, I'm in trouble. 179 00:11:58,660 --> 00:12:02,880 Throughout the early 80s, Hulk Hogan, Andre the Giant, had match after match 180 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:06,140 over the East Coast, tore it up. But then it became international. 181 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:11,620 When Andre got the opportunity to be in the ring with Hulk Hogan, and this 182 00:12:11,620 --> 00:12:12,660 happened a lot in Japan. 183 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:18,880 Andre was going to season him, shall we say. 184 00:12:21,100 --> 00:12:26,100 Andre beat the daylights out of him. 185 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:30,740 You know, of course, it was just tough love. 186 00:12:32,740 --> 00:12:37,220 Tommy understood he was trying to help me. You know, because he saw something 187 00:12:37,220 --> 00:12:39,660 me that kind of like nobody else saw. 188 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:43,740 I think Andre pretty much kept me pointed in the right direction when I 189 00:12:43,740 --> 00:12:46,360 have. take him off the wrong way a bunch of times. 190 00:12:47,020 --> 00:12:52,120 Andre had a lot of respect for Hogan, of who he was, and that was very important 191 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:54,740 to this because Andre would not have been as generous to behead him. 192 00:12:56,540 --> 00:13:00,340 I mean, I've flown out of JFK with him to Japan, I don't even know how many 193 00:13:00,340 --> 00:13:03,180 times, because we were on a lot of the same tours together. 194 00:13:05,180 --> 00:13:08,680 It was hard to watch because I always knew he was never comfortable. 195 00:13:09,260 --> 00:13:13,200 If you can imagine, there was never a chair, there was never a bed. 196 00:13:14,120 --> 00:13:15,540 Good luck getting a car. 197 00:13:17,140 --> 00:13:23,760 Andre learned early in his life he had acromegaly, which is a disease that 198 00:13:23,760 --> 00:13:25,860 your body grow and continue to grow. 199 00:13:26,660 --> 00:13:29,560 That's why he had the giant features. 200 00:13:31,000 --> 00:13:34,120 Huge limbs, the giant hands. 201 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:41,220 It is a cruel condition because your body can't handle the stress to that 202 00:13:41,950 --> 00:13:43,770 I mean, he broke his ankle getting out of bed. 203 00:13:44,850 --> 00:13:50,730 While Andre's health was starting to deteriorate, Hogan was enjoying the 204 00:13:50,730 --> 00:13:51,750 of Rocky III. 205 00:13:52,150 --> 00:13:56,150 Everybody knows that Hulk Hogan is big and strong, but did you know that he had 206 00:13:56,150 --> 00:13:59,670 a part in the movie Rocky III? The movie Rocky III created an awareness. 207 00:13:59,950 --> 00:14:02,890 You know, it was like a shot of adrenaline to the whole wrestling world. 208 00:14:03,190 --> 00:14:06,130 When you had thunder lips out there in the flesh, baby. 209 00:14:06,530 --> 00:14:10,790 Oh, my God. He looked like he was freaking nine feet tall against 210 00:14:12,270 --> 00:14:15,750 You know what something means, Gene? Everything positive comes from the 211 00:14:15,850 --> 00:14:19,510 And I'm all heart, Daddy, and that's the way I've been thinking. My goals in my 212 00:14:19,510 --> 00:14:20,509 life have changed. 213 00:14:20,510 --> 00:14:24,830 Hogan actually started out as a bad guy, but his conversion to truth, justice, 214 00:14:24,890 --> 00:14:28,070 and the American way has been both effective and lucrative. 215 00:14:28,510 --> 00:14:32,650 If you look at history, most of the bad guys become the best baby faces, you 216 00:14:32,650 --> 00:14:35,670 know, because people love to hate them, then they love to love them. 217 00:14:35,870 --> 00:14:39,570 Your winner on All -Star Wrestling, and look at these muscles. 218 00:14:41,090 --> 00:14:42,650 Andre. Even knew it. 219 00:14:43,730 --> 00:14:49,170 Andre was a good judge of what's going on, what's good, what the people like. 220 00:14:49,670 --> 00:14:53,250 Hogan drew interest. He drew moolah. 221 00:14:53,910 --> 00:14:54,910 Money, honey. 222 00:14:55,490 --> 00:14:58,490 Welcome to Madison Square Garden. 223 00:14:58,730 --> 00:15:03,470 This is for the World Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Championship. 224 00:15:04,210 --> 00:15:06,650 Hulkamania begins at Madison Square Garden. 225 00:15:06,850 --> 00:15:09,950 I used to get, like, emotional whenever they would show that clip. 226 00:15:10,210 --> 00:15:11,210 Hulk Hogan! 227 00:15:16,490 --> 00:15:19,110 It's the ultimate changing of the guard moment. 228 00:15:21,510 --> 00:15:22,250 That 229 00:15:22,250 --> 00:15:33,430 celebration 230 00:15:33,430 --> 00:15:38,450 in the locker room, Andre pouring the champagne on Hogan's head. 231 00:15:44,940 --> 00:15:50,620 It really hit home seeing Andre seemingly so happy for Hulk Hogan's 232 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:58,940 What we fans didn't know at the time was that this moment 233 00:15:58,940 --> 00:16:02,760 was really just the beginning of the next phase of their rivalry. 234 00:16:20,650 --> 00:16:25,870 That moment, for me, it changed the landscape of wrestling, I think, 235 00:16:26,930 --> 00:16:30,370 Remember, at that point in time, this is when the WWE took off. 236 00:16:30,570 --> 00:16:34,210 Wrestling, not the Olympic variety, but professional wrestling. 237 00:16:34,450 --> 00:16:38,610 It's always been popular, but lately it's been emerging from second -rate 238 00:16:38,610 --> 00:16:41,310 to attract a whole new generation of fans. 239 00:16:43,030 --> 00:16:44,610 Beat it, or I'll call the Brute Squad. 240 00:16:44,850 --> 00:16:46,030 I'm on the Brute Squad. 241 00:16:46,290 --> 00:16:47,330 You are the Brute Squad. 242 00:16:47,830 --> 00:16:49,270 Hunter is a media star. 243 00:16:55,620 --> 00:16:58,900 Princess Bride for Andre humanized him. 244 00:16:59,260 --> 00:17:03,960 To that point, I really think, you know, people just saw him as this freak 245 00:17:03,960 --> 00:17:06,180 giant. But you watch that movie. 246 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:11,700 I'm telling you, knowing Andre and then seeing that movie, that was him. That 247 00:17:11,700 --> 00:17:14,119 was really Andre the Giant. 248 00:17:16,700 --> 00:17:18,079 Andre was huge. 249 00:17:19,150 --> 00:17:22,030 And he basically set the stage for me. 250 00:17:28,630 --> 00:17:29,970 Welcome to Hulk Hogan. 251 00:17:32,730 --> 00:17:36,190 You are right here, but you're still bigger than all the kids in the third 252 00:17:36,190 --> 00:17:37,089 grade, right? 253 00:17:37,090 --> 00:17:38,090 Let's get that picture. 254 00:17:38,670 --> 00:17:39,670 Yours. 255 00:17:40,810 --> 00:17:45,450 Hogan is now the American Eagle. He was the biggest draw in wrestling. 256 00:17:45,830 --> 00:17:49,910 Train, say your prayers, eat your vitamins, be true to yourself, true to 257 00:17:49,910 --> 00:17:51,770 country, be a real American. 258 00:17:54,530 --> 00:17:59,850 At that time, when Hulk was on the rise, he was the biggest thing out there. 259 00:18:00,150 --> 00:18:05,370 Hulk Hogan needed an opponent that matched his star power, that matched his 260 00:18:05,370 --> 00:18:07,350 ability to draw people. 261 00:18:07,590 --> 00:18:10,930 There was only one wrestler who could do that. That was Andre the Giant. 262 00:18:14,380 --> 00:18:16,160 Enter Rowdy Roddy Piper. 263 00:18:19,380 --> 00:18:24,300 One of the greatest talkers ever. 264 00:18:26,520 --> 00:18:32,820 He had a great segment called Piper's Pit, which all the old school fans 265 00:18:32,820 --> 00:18:33,820 remember. 266 00:18:52,110 --> 00:18:58,030 But Andre comes in with Bobby Heenan. He is the single greatest heel manager in 267 00:18:58,030 --> 00:18:59,510 the history of the universe. 268 00:19:00,010 --> 00:19:01,990 What's going on here? Hold on, man. 269 00:19:02,710 --> 00:19:04,050 What are you doing with him? 270 00:19:04,690 --> 00:19:11,430 Bobby Heenan is the bad guy manager that all wrestling bad guy 271 00:19:11,430 --> 00:19:17,830 managers aspire to be. He's sick and tired of you and what you stand for. 272 00:19:18,090 --> 00:19:20,990 Did you ever once, once in your life? 273 00:19:21,400 --> 00:19:23,300 Offer him a championship match? 274 00:19:24,420 --> 00:19:26,740 You're the reason I got in professional wrestling. 275 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:29,080 You were like a god to me, a role model. 276 00:19:29,380 --> 00:19:31,240 You can't be here with him, man. 277 00:19:31,480 --> 00:19:34,960 Even though you came out here with him, you don't have to leave with him. 278 00:19:35,180 --> 00:19:37,360 And then Andres had enough. 279 00:19:40,140 --> 00:19:41,940 And that's when everything changed. 280 00:19:42,340 --> 00:19:44,360 Look at me when I'm talking to you. 281 00:19:44,980 --> 00:19:46,460 I'm there for one reason. 282 00:19:47,260 --> 00:19:50,820 to challenge you for a world championship match in the WrestleMania. 283 00:19:52,700 --> 00:19:55,120 Andre, please, no, it's not happening. 284 00:19:55,440 --> 00:19:58,540 We're in the pit, Andre, Hogan, and myself. 285 00:19:59,300 --> 00:20:03,140 I can see what's going on. You can feel it once you get in there. 286 00:20:03,360 --> 00:20:06,400 You can't believe it? Maybe you'll believe this, Hogan. 287 00:20:08,100 --> 00:20:10,460 And then Andre crosses the line. 288 00:20:11,560 --> 00:20:16,340 This was one of the greatest turns and a heartbreaking one at that. 289 00:20:17,020 --> 00:20:23,320 Here's where the magic is. When Andre ripped the cross off, he tore the skin 290 00:20:23,320 --> 00:20:24,380 Hogan was bleeding. 291 00:20:25,800 --> 00:20:29,340 I got one more thing to say. Like, every time you think you got all the answers, 292 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:32,820 I change the questions. And the most important thing to say was, you're 293 00:20:32,820 --> 00:20:33,820 bleeding. 294 00:20:34,280 --> 00:20:37,960 It's not out. Andre, come back, man. You don't have to leave like this. 295 00:20:39,420 --> 00:20:40,420 What is he doing? 296 00:20:40,660 --> 00:20:41,660 You're bleeding. 297 00:20:42,980 --> 00:20:44,980 It's hard to get a promo stronger than that. 298 00:20:46,890 --> 00:20:49,930 A giant just attacked our Wheaties boy. 299 00:20:51,090 --> 00:20:52,130 What's going on? 300 00:20:53,090 --> 00:20:54,850 I don't know, but we better get a ticket. 301 00:20:55,390 --> 00:20:58,430 Tell me yes or no. 302 00:21:22,190 --> 00:21:24,690 for any heavyweight title match in history, as you all know. 303 00:21:25,550 --> 00:21:27,890 You don't forget how somebody makes you feel. 304 00:21:29,610 --> 00:21:34,430 And when you think about Andre the Giant basically turning into the world's 305 00:21:34,430 --> 00:21:37,810 biggest bad guy, I mean, can you imagine watching as a little kid? 306 00:21:38,070 --> 00:21:40,870 You never once gave this man an opportunity. 307 00:21:41,290 --> 00:21:44,550 Now he's got that opportunity. Sign it if you're going to sign it. 308 00:21:46,190 --> 00:21:47,970 Everything he did was spot on. 309 00:21:51,790 --> 00:21:53,830 He made it work, not me. He did. 310 00:21:54,430 --> 00:21:57,470 You think I tell you everything you know in professional wrestling? 311 00:21:58,030 --> 00:21:59,030 Well, I don't. 312 00:21:59,910 --> 00:22:04,110 And believe me, WrestleMania III will be your last lesson. 313 00:22:04,670 --> 00:22:05,950 I didn't give you anything, man. 314 00:22:06,170 --> 00:22:10,830 Now, I was an Andre fan, so my heart didn't break when this happened. 315 00:22:11,210 --> 00:22:12,310 most people did. 316 00:22:12,690 --> 00:22:15,910 As far as I'm concerned, it's not signed in ink. 317 00:22:16,350 --> 00:22:17,770 It's signed in blood. 318 00:22:20,350 --> 00:22:21,350 Oh, wow. 319 00:22:21,790 --> 00:22:25,470 I don't think Andre could have been that superhero back then if it wasn't for 320 00:22:25,470 --> 00:22:27,050 Heenan by his side. 321 00:22:27,250 --> 00:22:32,730 You're in some deep trouble, Mr. Hogan. I can't stand you. Matter of fact, I 322 00:22:32,730 --> 00:22:33,730 hate you. 323 00:22:33,830 --> 00:22:37,530 That was a pretty strong word, but that's how I feel right here. 324 00:22:38,750 --> 00:22:43,670 Myself and Andre the Giant, we know that Hulkamania is dead. 325 00:22:45,260 --> 00:22:49,660 World Wrestling Federation officials have announced that WrestleMania III 326 00:22:49,660 --> 00:22:54,300 be held at the beautiful Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan, just outside of 327 00:22:54,300 --> 00:22:58,920 Detroit. After buying the company from his dad, it was clear early on that 328 00:22:58,920 --> 00:23:01,240 McMahon was a visionary. 329 00:23:01,500 --> 00:23:06,440 The World Wrestling Federation presents the wrestling extravaganza of all -time, 330 00:23:06,520 --> 00:23:11,280 WrestleMania. He had WrestleMania I, which was a huge success. We had 331 00:23:11,280 --> 00:23:13,160 there, Muhammad Ali, all these great stars. 332 00:23:13,470 --> 00:23:17,390 WrestleMania 2, probably not considered as much a success. So you had to hit the 333 00:23:17,390 --> 00:23:19,250 ball out of the park in WrestleMania 3. 334 00:23:20,010 --> 00:23:26,610 You think about what Vince was trying to do then. Put 90 ,000 people into a 335 00:23:26,610 --> 00:23:27,610 stadium? 336 00:23:29,310 --> 00:23:31,930 He had to have something huge to do it. 337 00:23:32,670 --> 00:23:36,370 There hasn't been a match of this magnitude ever. 338 00:23:37,100 --> 00:23:40,520 Not only since I've been around professional wrestling, but ever. Is 339 00:23:40,520 --> 00:23:44,080 already animosity building between the two of you? As far as aggressive 340 00:23:44,180 --> 00:23:47,240 it's just been the way Andre's changed. 341 00:23:48,060 --> 00:23:49,220 I don't change at all. 342 00:23:50,880 --> 00:23:52,180 I think you were scared. 343 00:23:52,560 --> 00:23:53,980 I don't change at all. 344 00:23:57,740 --> 00:24:03,800 At the time of WrestleMania III, Andre was not in good shape physically. His 345 00:24:03,800 --> 00:24:05,540 back was really bad. 346 00:24:07,150 --> 00:24:11,530 It was a heck of an ask to ask Andre to do what he did. 347 00:24:12,230 --> 00:24:14,010 I know he was in a lot of pain. 348 00:24:16,050 --> 00:24:21,450 Now that I've had 10 back surgeries, I know the type of pain he was in. 349 00:24:23,410 --> 00:24:27,170 I had a conversation the night before with Vince. We were worried about it. 350 00:24:28,270 --> 00:24:31,470 Took Vince's legal patent. I said, this is plan A. 351 00:24:32,710 --> 00:24:35,350 But if you tell him I did this, he's going to kill me. 352 00:24:35,820 --> 00:24:37,600 Because he always leads the match. 353 00:24:38,140 --> 00:24:40,000 He doesn't need to really take a bump. 354 00:24:41,240 --> 00:24:45,040 But if he does go down, he needs to be near the ropes, you know, so he can 355 00:24:45,040 --> 00:24:46,120 that he's hurt. 356 00:24:46,460 --> 00:24:49,680 I wrote the legal pad, gave it to Vince. He goes, well, I'll talk to Andre about 357 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:50,680 it. 358 00:24:50,720 --> 00:24:54,980 In the business, we knew how temperamental Andre could be. 359 00:24:55,280 --> 00:24:59,320 Because you can't read this guy's mind, and he sure as hell isn't going to tell 360 00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:00,320 you. 361 00:25:03,680 --> 00:25:04,720 Oh, my gosh. 362 00:25:05,160 --> 00:25:07,740 I mean, people were coming in from all over the world for this particular 363 00:25:07,740 --> 00:25:08,740 WrestleMania. 364 00:25:10,600 --> 00:25:17,380 Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the magnificent Silverman. 365 00:25:18,520 --> 00:25:21,700 And welcome to WrestleMania III. 366 00:25:27,620 --> 00:25:30,080 In the dressing room, Andre wanted me to sit next to him. 367 00:25:31,199 --> 00:25:34,820 And, you know, when you sit next to a giant for 10 hours that drinks two fists 368 00:25:34,820 --> 00:25:39,100 of Crown Royal as you're sitting there, and he keeps handing you shots of Crown 369 00:25:39,100 --> 00:25:41,340 Royal, it's real hard to dump him when he's watching you. 370 00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:47,100 Because there's no way I could have drank what he gave me to drink and 371 00:25:47,100 --> 00:25:48,680 that ring. It never happened. 372 00:25:48,980 --> 00:25:51,520 So every time he wasn't looking, man, I'd dump that sucker. 373 00:25:51,900 --> 00:25:53,580 Power against power right now. 374 00:25:54,200 --> 00:25:55,460 These guys are enormous. 375 00:25:56,100 --> 00:25:57,100 Well, 376 00:25:57,200 --> 00:25:58,580 you know, Hulk and I were tight back then. 377 00:25:59,080 --> 00:26:02,700 I said, what are you doing? And he goes, we don't know yet. And I went, what? 378 00:26:02,940 --> 00:26:06,840 Look at here. I got my, I got my WrestleMania shirt right there. Went 379 00:26:06,840 --> 00:26:07,840 got it. Come on, Jess. 380 00:26:09,240 --> 00:26:15,020 So, Andre, what do you want to do out there? Don't worry. 381 00:26:15,920 --> 00:26:20,120 Hey, Andre, what do you think, man? You think I go up or go down? Don't worry. 382 00:26:20,740 --> 00:26:23,600 I said, how's your back? You know, and he says, my back's good. He's had a 383 00:26:23,600 --> 00:26:24,720 couple of fists around rolling. 384 00:26:25,240 --> 00:26:26,780 I said, what do you think about a body slam? 385 00:26:29,659 --> 00:26:31,200 No. Okay, I won't worry. 386 00:26:32,000 --> 00:26:34,200 Just one hour away from his moment of destiny. 387 00:26:34,760 --> 00:26:36,800 Well, you know they said it was my last ride, man. 388 00:26:37,400 --> 00:26:40,620 Yesterday when I finished hanging and banging, when I jumped on the Harley, 389 00:26:40,800 --> 00:26:44,980 as I went through the intersection, as I headed for the mountains, some of the 390 00:26:44,980 --> 00:26:48,200 non -believers in the gym said, see you later, Hulkster, man. 391 00:26:48,560 --> 00:26:49,920 This is your last ride. 392 00:26:50,260 --> 00:26:53,240 I go out again, and wouldn't you believe it, there's Hulk getting another cup of 393 00:26:53,240 --> 00:26:55,660 coffee, and I went, Hulkster, did you find anything? 394 00:26:56,570 --> 00:26:59,110 Nope, it looks like Andre's going to call it in the ring. 395 00:27:01,170 --> 00:27:04,930 So you don't know if you're winning the title. He goes, nope, going to call it 396 00:27:04,930 --> 00:27:06,490 in the ring. I went, oh, my God. 397 00:27:06,870 --> 00:27:10,430 And I'm going to the ring. I'm going to be. It's not going to take me too long 398 00:27:10,430 --> 00:27:15,850 to come back right in front of the camera with the world championship belt. 399 00:27:16,450 --> 00:27:19,930 This is the main event of the evening. 400 00:27:20,250 --> 00:27:24,670 It is for the World Wrestling Federation Heavyweight Championship. 401 00:27:25,960 --> 00:27:30,020 scheduled for one fall with a one -hour time limit. 402 00:27:30,320 --> 00:27:33,980 The night the stars came out, everybody wanted to be a part of it. Everybody 403 00:27:33,980 --> 00:27:40,100 wanted to see the spectacle and to wonder, more than anything, what's going 404 00:27:40,100 --> 00:27:44,760 happen. We could be looking at the next heavyweight champion of the world. And 405 00:27:44,760 --> 00:27:51,620 now his opponent is the World Wrestling Federation heavyweight 406 00:27:51,620 --> 00:27:53,820 champion. It was so big. 407 00:27:54,580 --> 00:27:58,360 You know, I just stayed focused on what was around me, the ringside. I didn't 408 00:27:58,360 --> 00:28:02,040 even want to really take in what was going on. It was so overwhelming. 409 00:28:11,140 --> 00:28:14,080 The first time ever in my career, I went to the ring and didn't know who was 410 00:28:14,080 --> 00:28:15,080 going to win or lose. 411 00:28:15,700 --> 00:28:18,200 Look at the look of disdain on the face of opera. 412 00:28:25,680 --> 00:28:30,080 In the very beginning of the match, it was a perfect shot with Andre kind of 413 00:28:30,080 --> 00:28:33,880 looking down at him and Hogan looking up. The irresistible force beating the 414 00:28:33,880 --> 00:28:34,880 immovable object. 415 00:28:35,120 --> 00:28:38,180 You look at that and go, my God, this is big size. 416 00:28:38,580 --> 00:28:40,540 He's hulking up right now. 417 00:28:42,300 --> 00:28:48,180 I really don't think Hulk Hogan can get enough credit for how much drama he 418 00:28:48,180 --> 00:28:49,660 brought to that whole situation. 419 00:28:50,700 --> 00:28:51,940 Oh, big right hand. 420 00:28:56,380 --> 00:28:59,940 I was worried because I didn't know if I could get him up, to tell you the 421 00:28:59,940 --> 00:29:00,940 truth. 422 00:29:04,280 --> 00:29:04,600 Right 423 00:29:04,600 --> 00:29:12,140 when 424 00:29:12,140 --> 00:29:15,540 the match started, I was going to try to pick him up. When I went to do what I 425 00:29:15,540 --> 00:29:16,900 needed to do, he couldn't help me. 426 00:29:19,020 --> 00:29:21,860 I knew then, this could be a problem. 427 00:29:28,300 --> 00:29:35,000 By 1987, Andre was much heavier than he had been in those earlier years. This 428 00:29:35,000 --> 00:29:40,480 was also complicated by the fact that Andre was wrestling with a back brace. 429 00:29:40,720 --> 00:29:45,140 So not only do you have the weight of that brace, but I'm sure that Hulk Hogan 430 00:29:45,140 --> 00:29:51,280 did not want to throw Andre on the wrong spot and perhaps injure him 431 00:29:51,280 --> 00:29:52,280 permanently. 432 00:29:53,700 --> 00:29:56,620 Hulk absolutely took care of Andre in the ring. 433 00:29:57,710 --> 00:30:02,150 He knew where he was, what physically Andre was enduring. 434 00:30:05,330 --> 00:30:09,210 He needs to be near the ropes, you know, so he can cover what he's hurt. 435 00:30:12,790 --> 00:30:14,730 Don't need to go jumping off the top rope. 436 00:30:15,010 --> 00:30:19,190 It's already there. Let's just tell a great story and do whatever finish. 437 00:30:19,830 --> 00:30:21,510 Andre picked him up with ease. 438 00:30:22,250 --> 00:30:23,250 That's awesome. 439 00:30:24,550 --> 00:30:25,550 But Andre? 440 00:30:26,860 --> 00:30:31,080 Made it as good as it possibly could have ever been. 441 00:30:34,860 --> 00:30:41,660 The guys went out there and they created something special. 442 00:30:41,820 --> 00:30:45,200 They created something that's lifelong lasting. 443 00:31:02,730 --> 00:31:05,170 I remember him coming at me. He was coming at me. He goes, whoa! 444 00:31:05,910 --> 00:31:06,910 What? 445 00:31:07,270 --> 00:31:09,490 I didn't know what to do except step into him. 446 00:31:09,990 --> 00:31:12,970 I put him right here, and I went, oh, my God. 447 00:31:13,970 --> 00:31:14,970 Look at this! 448 00:31:15,410 --> 00:31:16,890 He's like a man of honor! 449 00:31:17,410 --> 00:31:18,830 I don't believe it! 450 00:31:19,670 --> 00:31:24,450 I don't believe it! Over for the cover! 451 00:31:25,150 --> 00:31:26,150 Unbelievable! 452 00:31:29,170 --> 00:31:30,590 I've never heard it so loud. 453 00:31:30,810 --> 00:31:31,990 It was just a roar. 454 00:31:32,570 --> 00:31:35,870 It would be like a freight train coming through your living room. 455 00:31:39,170 --> 00:31:41,930 Wrestling fan or not, everyone knew Andre the Child. 456 00:31:42,390 --> 00:31:47,810 7 '4", 500 pounds, picked up and body slammed in the middle of the ring in 457 00:31:47,810 --> 00:31:49,170 of 93 ,000 people. 458 00:31:49,950 --> 00:31:51,470 That moment could never be replicated. 459 00:31:53,890 --> 00:31:56,370 It was different than anything that's ever happened. 460 00:31:57,770 --> 00:32:00,530 He didn't have to do that. He could have been Andre and... 461 00:32:00,760 --> 00:32:02,960 Retired undefeated, who the hell's going to beat him? 462 00:32:04,740 --> 00:32:08,420 Greatest moment ever in my life, as far as my career, it has to be that 463 00:32:08,420 --> 00:32:10,460 WrestleMania, without a doubt. 464 00:32:12,020 --> 00:32:17,200 It was just the right time, the right people, the right place. It was just 465 00:32:17,200 --> 00:32:18,620 perfect. 466 00:32:23,300 --> 00:32:28,400 So the rivalry isn't over yet. We have a very interesting, controversial match. 467 00:32:28,600 --> 00:32:29,600 Andre the Giant. 468 00:32:30,140 --> 00:32:36,620 He has not been in a wrestling ring since he was robbed because of poor 469 00:32:36,620 --> 00:32:43,240 officiating and because of the likes of one man, Hulk Hogan. Early in the 470 00:32:43,240 --> 00:32:48,960 WrestleMania three match, there's a moment where Hulk Hogan tries to body 471 00:32:48,960 --> 00:32:55,380 Andre the Giant and referee Joey Morella counts one, two, three, and then very 472 00:32:55,380 --> 00:32:56,380 quickly said. 473 00:32:56,480 --> 00:32:58,240 No, his shoulder was up, which it was. 474 00:32:58,520 --> 00:32:59,860 Was that two or was that three? 475 00:33:00,060 --> 00:33:01,060 Two count only. 476 00:33:01,340 --> 00:33:02,960 Ooh, that was close, Corella. 477 00:33:03,200 --> 00:33:08,880 But then that allowed Andre the Giant and Bobby the Brain Heenan to insist we 478 00:33:08,880 --> 00:33:14,080 beat Hulk Hogan, but because of backstage politics, we were screwed out 479 00:33:14,080 --> 00:33:18,740 championship. Hogan is literally helpless. I'll tell you what, Hogan 480 00:33:18,740 --> 00:33:21,420 never, ever step into the ring with this man again. 481 00:33:21,980 --> 00:33:26,000 You had to figure out a way to extend this. They're still drawing massive 482 00:33:26,000 --> 00:33:31,740 numbers. You didn't believe me when I said that I would buy the World 483 00:33:31,740 --> 00:33:33,040 Federation heavyweight title. 484 00:33:33,240 --> 00:33:37,380 I went out and I fought the eighth wonder of the world, Andre the Giant. 485 00:33:37,700 --> 00:33:43,020 Ted DiBiase, the million -dollar man, is the guy that we've all interacted with. 486 00:33:43,120 --> 00:33:48,520 The guy that's made a ton of money, God knows how, and feels like he can rub it 487 00:33:48,520 --> 00:33:51,220 in your face. And if you have a problem with it... 488 00:33:51,440 --> 00:33:52,680 Well, he'll just buy you off. 489 00:33:53,840 --> 00:33:58,360 When I became the million -dollar man, I had to go over the top. 490 00:33:58,860 --> 00:34:02,340 Everybody hates somebody who bullies people with their wealth. 491 00:34:02,720 --> 00:34:09,159 I bought what I want, and I won the World Wrestling Federation heavyweight 492 00:34:09,159 --> 00:34:15,000 title. Working with Andre, that was the first big deal when I was starting out. 493 00:34:15,159 --> 00:34:16,280 He was a great guy. 494 00:34:17,159 --> 00:34:19,100 He was really a great guy. 495 00:34:26,139 --> 00:34:31,159 Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan have a second meeting on the main event. 496 00:34:31,360 --> 00:34:36,980 The WWE Championship is on the line. Hulk Hogan may wear the belt for now, 497 00:34:36,980 --> 00:34:41,080 after the night, that belt will fit as easily around Andre's waist as the 498 00:34:41,080 --> 00:34:43,040 Giant's hands fit around Hogan's neck. 499 00:34:46,000 --> 00:34:50,719 The main event was huge in the fact that professional wrestling had not been on 500 00:34:50,719 --> 00:34:55,460 national television in that scope since the 50s. Welcome to the largest 501 00:34:55,460 --> 00:35:00,740 television audience in World Wrestling Federation history. 502 00:35:01,080 --> 00:35:06,100 33 million people tune in. Even today, if a network gets 10 million people to 503 00:35:06,100 --> 00:35:07,880 watch a show, they're ecstatic. 504 00:35:08,340 --> 00:35:11,680 Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant, they were this phenomenon. 505 00:35:37,590 --> 00:35:42,570 Hogan kicks out at one. He's looking to the crowd. You had to have seen it. The 506 00:35:42,570 --> 00:35:43,990 crowd's sitting there. We saw it. 507 00:35:44,270 --> 00:35:46,290 He can't believe it. He's saying it was only two. 508 00:35:46,610 --> 00:35:48,810 He can't be giving the title to Andre. 509 00:35:49,050 --> 00:35:50,050 You tried to steal. 510 00:35:50,630 --> 00:35:55,490 Yeah, you tried to steal from Hulk Hogan. But I beat Hulk Hogan. 511 00:35:56,300 --> 00:35:58,480 The referee come one, two, three. 512 00:35:58,880 --> 00:36:00,560 That was the referee's decision. 513 00:36:00,900 --> 00:36:06,180 He can't be giving the title to Andre. He can't be. He's going to present it. 514 00:36:06,180 --> 00:36:07,280 presents it to Andre. 515 00:36:07,560 --> 00:36:08,580 Raises his hand. 516 00:36:08,900 --> 00:36:10,700 We have a new world champion. 517 00:36:11,220 --> 00:36:16,080 That was just a ceremonial thing for Andre just to have the championship 518 00:36:16,080 --> 00:36:20,080 his waist just one time. Andre definitely didn't need a championship, 519 00:36:20,080 --> 00:36:23,340 always had the title of champion in his business. 520 00:36:23,740 --> 00:36:24,740 Oh, no. 521 00:36:29,640 --> 00:36:31,200 Even Andre's got a price? 522 00:36:31,660 --> 00:36:33,500 What a no -good stinky giant. 523 00:36:35,040 --> 00:36:36,080 Everybody's got a price. 524 00:36:38,000 --> 00:36:43,280 As a fan watching the main event, it was such a shock seeing Andre hand the 525 00:36:43,280 --> 00:36:46,780 championship to the Million Dollar Man. Andre had just won the championship 526 00:36:46,780 --> 00:36:49,880 moments earlier, and he just gives the belt away. 527 00:36:50,880 --> 00:36:52,600 I give the belt to DiBiase. 528 00:36:52,820 --> 00:36:55,140 That was my job. I was paid for that. 529 00:36:55,640 --> 00:36:57,640 How much did he pay you for that belt? Oh. 530 00:36:58,780 --> 00:37:04,960 In my wildest dreams, me, Gene, would I think that I would get ripped off by a 531 00:37:04,960 --> 00:37:06,520 penny -pinching two -time referee. 532 00:37:06,940 --> 00:37:10,200 Look at the shoulder. That's him. The referee has paid off, brother. 533 00:37:10,440 --> 00:37:13,400 Look at the $100 bill falling out of his pocket. I know you're disappointed. 534 00:37:13,940 --> 00:37:16,800 Hulk Hogan, Vince McMahon, Jesse Ventura, back to you. 535 00:37:25,930 --> 00:37:29,950 We're excited about the steel cage match featuring Hulk Hogan and Andre the 536 00:37:29,950 --> 00:37:33,650 Giant. Shown without a shadow of doubt, the most dangerous match in professional 537 00:37:33,650 --> 00:37:38,350 wrestling today is a cage match. In one corner, you have Andre the Giant, who is 538 00:37:38,350 --> 00:37:42,150 in excess of 500 pounds. In the other corner, you have the greatest wrestler 539 00:37:42,150 --> 00:37:43,190 the world, Hulk Hogan. 540 00:37:45,030 --> 00:37:49,970 There will be a winner in this one when one of the opponents goes over the top 541 00:37:49,970 --> 00:37:50,970 of the steel cage. 542 00:37:59,760 --> 00:38:05,500 They needed an exclamation point for this rivalry between Andre and Hulk. 543 00:38:06,840 --> 00:38:11,940 I think people sensed that this was probably it between these two. 544 00:38:15,020 --> 00:38:20,480 Some very gifted athletes, a lot of times, they may have an unbelievable 545 00:38:20,480 --> 00:38:21,480 they're suffering through. 546 00:38:22,180 --> 00:38:27,040 And somehow they rise to the next level, which separates them from everybody 547 00:38:27,040 --> 00:38:28,040 else. 548 00:38:28,200 --> 00:38:29,540 who can't do what they do. 549 00:38:30,180 --> 00:38:31,840 That was one of those nights for Andre. 550 00:38:34,440 --> 00:38:38,260 Because if you saw him backstage and how he moved, you would have thought, how 551 00:38:38,260 --> 00:38:43,760 in the world is this guy going to get into the ring and participate in a steel 552 00:38:43,760 --> 00:38:44,760 cage match? 553 00:38:44,980 --> 00:38:47,260 And yet, he did it. 554 00:38:47,820 --> 00:38:51,400 Once he got in there, you could just see he changed. 555 00:38:54,020 --> 00:38:56,500 There was an exclamation to that rivalry. 556 00:38:57,120 --> 00:38:58,120 That was it. 557 00:38:59,120 --> 00:39:04,020 They came out with a big heart, and he could have said no. 558 00:39:04,300 --> 00:39:05,880 He didn't need to do this. 559 00:39:07,800 --> 00:39:11,400 But Andre showed up and did his job. 560 00:39:15,140 --> 00:39:18,880 They said early on in his life that maybe there was a treatment that could 561 00:39:18,880 --> 00:39:19,859 him stop growing. 562 00:39:19,860 --> 00:39:24,760 I think in some ways Andre knew that's what made him who he was. 563 00:39:25,160 --> 00:39:29,580 Most extraordinary athlete of this or any other generation, ladies and 564 00:39:29,580 --> 00:39:35,600 gentlemen. And then he also felt that it was God's plan, and he never pursued 565 00:39:35,600 --> 00:39:37,120 anything that might change that. 566 00:39:39,020 --> 00:39:45,700 God, he loved this business and gave everything 567 00:39:45,700 --> 00:39:46,700 to it. 568 00:39:50,120 --> 00:39:55,730 One of the saddest parts about that whole thing is that in the end, With 569 00:39:55,730 --> 00:40:01,110 just being this hunched over, obviously in pain person. 570 00:40:02,270 --> 00:40:05,510 Andre had nothing else. That was his life. 571 00:40:06,310 --> 00:40:09,990 What does the future hold for Andre the Giant? 572 00:40:10,710 --> 00:40:15,530 Well, what it is, the doctors say it will be better than ever. 573 00:40:21,710 --> 00:40:22,870 We never know. 574 00:40:23,480 --> 00:40:27,400 And I think about that. I get emotional, too. I think about seeing him those 575 00:40:27,400 --> 00:40:28,400 days. 576 00:40:28,840 --> 00:40:31,580 And it's like, I felt like, don't go out, Andre. Don't go out there. 577 00:40:34,540 --> 00:40:36,280 He just didn't know what to do with himself. 578 00:40:40,300 --> 00:40:43,800 He goes, I'm still living, but I don't feel like living anymore, so. 579 00:40:47,360 --> 00:40:49,140 He passed shortly after that. 580 00:41:08,810 --> 00:41:10,290 One man was magic. 581 00:41:10,530 --> 00:41:15,370 He was an actual giant. We didn't need CGI. He literally existed. 582 00:41:15,650 --> 00:41:21,290 And the other was our hero that we believed in. He told us to say our 583 00:41:21,310 --> 00:41:24,350 so we did. Eat our vitamins. So I ate Flintstones vitamins. 584 00:41:24,650 --> 00:41:26,770 That's the power that these men had. 585 00:41:26,990 --> 00:41:32,210 It really set the tone for WWE from that moment on about good versus bad and why 586 00:41:32,210 --> 00:41:34,830 that's so important in storytelling, especially within our company. 587 00:41:35,890 --> 00:41:37,650 For the superstar today. 588 00:41:38,270 --> 00:41:43,210 If they're thinking about being big time superstars, they better be thinking 589 00:41:43,210 --> 00:41:49,010 about Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan. And how do I attain that? And there 590 00:41:49,250 --> 00:41:51,030 that's a tough deal to cry. 591 00:41:54,010 --> 00:41:59,170 There's never going to be two characters that were built that way for so long. 592 00:41:59,630 --> 00:42:05,790 Andre has proven himself worldwide. If Hulk Hogan can't defeat Andre the Giant. 593 00:42:06,170 --> 00:42:10,510 He will become the biggest man literally as well as figuratively in pro 594 00:42:10,510 --> 00:42:11,510 wrestling today. 595 00:42:13,410 --> 00:42:20,090 The credibility Andre had, the credibility he's bestowed upon me in 596 00:42:20,090 --> 00:42:22,390 beautiful storyline that was real. 597 00:42:23,170 --> 00:42:27,210 We're seeing what this guy is really made of. What he is. 598 00:42:27,430 --> 00:42:30,970 The greatest professional athlete in the world today. Look at this. 599 00:42:35,180 --> 00:42:38,300 I could feel it when he warmed up to me. 600 00:42:38,920 --> 00:42:41,580 I could feel it when he started liking me. 601 00:42:43,340 --> 00:42:45,940 I could feel it when he had respect for me. 602 00:42:48,380 --> 00:42:50,640 And he didn't do that with anybody. 603 00:42:56,500 --> 00:43:01,600 It was a different time, that's for sure.