1 00:00:02,178 --> 00:00:04,247 - André "The Giant" is the biggest and greatest superstar 2 00:00:04,381 --> 00:00:06,950 this business has ever known. 3 00:00:07,784 --> 00:00:10,320 - Not a man alive can beat me in the squared circle. 4 00:00:10,453 --> 00:00:11,888 - If I had my way, I was gonna chop 5 00:00:12,022 --> 00:00:13,256 this giant down. 6 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:19,296 - He didn't want anybody around him that he didn't like. 7 00:00:19,429 --> 00:00:21,865 - You're the reason I got into professional wrestling. 8 00:00:21,998 --> 00:00:25,335 - "The Giant" just attacked our Wheaties Boy. 9 00:00:25,468 --> 00:00:26,836 What's going on? 10 00:00:26,970 --> 00:00:28,505 - What are you doing, André? 11 00:00:28,638 --> 00:00:31,741 - And welcome to WrestleMania III. 12 00:00:31,875 --> 00:00:35,645 - The rivalry between Hulk Hogan and André "The Giant" 13 00:00:35,779 --> 00:00:40,850 is the most important rivalry of all time, bar none. 14 00:00:40,984 --> 00:00:43,453 - Look at this. 15 00:00:43,587 --> 00:00:44,187 - He slammed him. 16 00:00:44,321 --> 00:00:45,422 [clapperboard sound] 17 00:00:45,555 --> 00:00:48,992 - This rivalry has just escalated into a war. 18 00:00:50,327 --> 00:00:53,930 - When two legends collide, their rivalry stays pinned 19 00:00:54,064 --> 00:00:56,232 in our minds forever. 20 00:00:57,834 --> 00:01:00,070 This is where we break down the legendary stories behind the 21 00:01:00,203 --> 00:01:02,872 greatest rivalries of all time. 22 00:01:03,773 --> 00:01:08,645 I'm Freddie Prinze Jr., and this is WWE Rivals. 23 00:01:11,881 --> 00:01:15,952 - If any one man who can defeat André it's this man, Hulk Hogan. 24 00:01:17,287 --> 00:01:21,157 - Today's rivalry is the one that started it all. 25 00:01:21,291 --> 00:01:25,695 Hulk Hogan and my favorite of all time André "The Giant". 26 00:01:25,829 --> 00:01:30,266 This is the first huge rivalry that WWE had. 27 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:33,169 It is arguably the greatest. 28 00:01:33,303 --> 00:01:36,239 The foundation that those two men built is very much the 29 00:01:36,373 --> 00:01:39,809 foundation that all wrestlers stand on today. 30 00:01:39,943 --> 00:01:43,513 - When I saw Hogan and André-- [sighs] 31 00:01:43,647 --> 00:01:45,815 You know, as a young man, you know, 32 00:01:45,949 --> 00:01:47,183 wanting to get into the business 33 00:01:47,317 --> 00:01:50,120 that's unattainable, because you see two giants. 34 00:01:50,253 --> 00:01:53,023 - The most iconic moments in WWE history consist of 35 00:01:53,156 --> 00:01:55,191 André "The Giant". 36 00:01:55,325 --> 00:01:57,394 - I mean you have a bigger-than-life character, 37 00:01:57,527 --> 00:02:01,398 a giant who had never been defeated in 15 years. 38 00:02:01,531 --> 00:02:03,133 I mean as a kid, I was scared to death for Hogan, 39 00:02:03,266 --> 00:02:05,001 I thought André was gonna kill him. 40 00:02:05,135 --> 00:02:06,803 - Almost tore the ring down. 41 00:02:06,936 --> 00:02:09,806 - We had to have the perfect foe for the perfect babyface. 42 00:02:09,939 --> 00:02:11,875 I mean, Hogan is once in a lifetime man. 43 00:02:12,008 --> 00:02:14,611 We'll never see anything like Hogan again, and André was an 44 00:02:14,744 --> 00:02:18,148 incredible guy, a tough guy, a strong guy, and could drink 45 00:02:18,281 --> 00:02:19,883 massive amounts of wine. 46 00:02:20,016 --> 00:02:21,918 [laughter] 47 00:02:27,991 --> 00:02:30,727 - André "The Giant". 48 00:02:30,860 --> 00:02:31,861 - Wow. 49 00:02:31,995 --> 00:02:33,430 - André as a superstar. 50 00:02:33,563 --> 00:02:34,564 - And there he is. 51 00:02:34,697 --> 00:02:36,599 The Eighth Wonder of the World. 52 00:02:36,733 --> 00:02:38,068 - Oh, my goodness. 53 00:02:38,201 --> 00:02:41,504 - He was the biggest and greatest superstar this business 54 00:02:41,638 --> 00:02:43,506 has ever known and ever will know. 55 00:02:43,640 --> 00:02:45,608 - Look at this mass of humanity here. 56 00:02:45,742 --> 00:02:47,043 [bell rings] 57 00:02:47,177 --> 00:02:51,347 - He's the one that laid the groundwork for Hulk Hogan, 58 00:02:51,481 --> 00:02:54,017 for Stone Cold Steve Austin, for The Rock, for anybody else 59 00:02:54,150 --> 00:02:57,287 that walks through these doors of the WWE Universe. 60 00:02:57,420 --> 00:02:59,489 It wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for André "The Giant". 61 00:02:59,622 --> 00:03:02,058 - André "The Giant", ladies and gentlemen, for the benefit of 62 00:03:02,192 --> 00:03:05,462 you who do not know, he's the only undefeated 63 00:03:05,595 --> 00:03:08,665 superstar in professional wrestling. 64 00:03:08,798 --> 00:03:10,266 - Lights out. 65 00:03:10,767 --> 00:03:14,938 - Your winner, André "The Giant". 66 00:03:15,071 --> 00:03:16,439 - Just exactly how tall are you? 67 00:03:16,573 --> 00:03:17,507 André, how much do you weigh? 68 00:03:22,645 --> 00:03:26,616 - I remember the first time I saw André "The Giant". 69 00:03:26,749 --> 00:03:29,052 I just remember looking at his leg, 70 00:03:29,185 --> 00:03:30,687 it looked like the hip and ass 71 00:03:30,820 --> 00:03:32,489 end of a Clydesdale. 72 00:03:32,622 --> 00:03:34,390 I was like, "Oh my god." 73 00:03:34,524 --> 00:03:38,628 He was just the largest biggest human being I'd ever seen. 74 00:03:38,761 --> 00:03:39,829 - Fans take a look at this. 75 00:03:39,963 --> 00:03:41,264 Can you believe that? 76 00:03:41,397 --> 00:03:44,834 Perhaps even let's compare it to the size of my head. 77 00:03:44,968 --> 00:03:46,936 André the-- [chuckles] 78 00:03:47,070 --> 00:03:48,972 - The interviews that I did with André were kind of 79 00:03:49,105 --> 00:03:52,108 vignettes, they weren't really actual interviews. 80 00:03:52,242 --> 00:03:55,311 We would trade sports coats, they looked like 81 00:03:55,445 --> 00:03:57,714 the drapes at a Ramada Inn. 82 00:03:57,847 --> 00:04:00,517 The weather does get chilly periodically. 83 00:04:00,650 --> 00:04:04,187 My word, it looks like a topcoat, I can't believe it. 84 00:04:04,320 --> 00:04:04,921 - [chuckles] 85 00:04:05,054 --> 00:04:05,922 - This is unreal. 86 00:04:06,055 --> 00:04:07,524 - [chuckles] 87 00:04:07,657 --> 00:04:08,858 - André you're the best. 88 00:04:08,992 --> 00:04:12,829 - And he had these custom-made shoes, size 22 or 3. 89 00:04:12,962 --> 00:04:13,863 A big guy. 90 00:04:21,538 --> 00:04:23,673 [table slamming sound] 91 00:04:23,807 --> 00:04:24,407 - Uh, some of them 92 00:04:24,541 --> 00:04:25,108 - I'm sorry. 93 00:04:25,241 --> 00:04:26,976 - Oh, no problem. 94 00:04:27,076 --> 00:04:28,645 - Now, Studd gonna try to body-slam him. 95 00:04:28,778 --> 00:04:30,914 Uh-oh, no way. 96 00:04:31,047 --> 00:04:33,183 - Has anybody ever lifted you and body-slammed you? 97 00:04:33,316 --> 00:04:35,051 - No. 98 00:04:35,185 --> 00:04:39,489 - Not only did people want to see this mammoth of a man, 99 00:04:39,622 --> 00:04:42,392 but they wanted to see what a 7'4"- 100 00:04:42,525 --> 00:04:45,795 -500 pound human being could do in a wrestling ring. 101 00:04:45,929 --> 00:04:46,996 - And kaboom. 102 00:04:47,130 --> 00:04:49,365 - He was a great wrestler. 103 00:04:49,499 --> 00:04:51,167 - Look at that strength. 104 00:04:51,301 --> 00:04:53,603 What a phenomenal individual. 105 00:04:53,736 --> 00:04:54,804 - Look out. 106 00:04:54,938 --> 00:04:56,105 - Whoever has wrestled you ever has always had 107 00:04:56,239 --> 00:04:57,674 trouble getting you down. 108 00:04:57,807 --> 00:04:59,475 Is that the secret to beating André "The Giant"? 109 00:05:01,878 --> 00:05:03,313 [chuckles] 110 00:05:03,446 --> 00:05:05,648 - There's the friendly smiling giant. 111 00:05:05,782 --> 00:05:08,618 - André and I we were friends. 112 00:05:08,751 --> 00:05:12,522 You know, in WrestleMania I, sat on André "The Giant"'s lap 113 00:05:12,655 --> 00:05:16,092 and actually fell asleep at the WrestleMania after-party. 114 00:05:16,226 --> 00:05:19,896 You felt this unbelievable energy from him. 115 00:05:20,029 --> 00:05:23,433 He had such a presence, such a connection to people. 116 00:05:23,566 --> 00:05:26,603 - Big heart loves people, loves kids. 117 00:05:26,736 --> 00:05:28,371 Everybody loves him back. 118 00:05:28,504 --> 00:05:33,042 - André "The Giant" is the most recognizable superstar in the 119 00:05:33,176 --> 00:05:37,213 sport, and at that same time, a young Hulk Hogan is just 120 00:05:37,347 --> 00:05:39,382 breaking into the wrestling business. 121 00:05:40,149 --> 00:05:44,954 - 1976 I was playing in a rock and roll band, and I told them, 122 00:05:45,088 --> 00:05:47,390 I said, "I'm quitting playing music, 123 00:05:47,523 --> 00:05:49,459 I'm gonna be the greatest 124 00:05:49,592 --> 00:05:51,427 professional wrestler that ever lives." 125 00:05:51,561 --> 00:05:53,263 There were five of us in the band, and four of them 126 00:05:53,396 --> 00:05:54,897 were laying on the floor laughing 127 00:05:55,031 --> 00:05:58,167 and they thought it was hilarious. 128 00:05:58,768 --> 00:06:00,737 - Word got around that I was running my mouth 129 00:06:00,870 --> 00:06:02,372 that I wanted to be a wrestler. 130 00:06:02,505 --> 00:06:04,307 So I was lifting weights and working out. 131 00:06:04,440 --> 00:06:07,477 I thought I was in great shape, and Mike Graham said, 132 00:06:07,610 --> 00:06:09,212 "Look if you want to be a wrestler I will set you up with 133 00:06:09,345 --> 00:06:10,747 was set you up with Hiro Matsuda, 134 00:06:10,880 --> 00:06:12,282 and he's gonna give you a tryout." 135 00:06:12,415 --> 00:06:14,584 And the first thing Matsuda did was he got me in the ring and 136 00:06:14,717 --> 00:06:17,387 broke my leg right away. 137 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:19,956 - Hiro Matsuda is a Japanese wrestler who came 138 00:06:20,089 --> 00:06:21,758 to the United States. 139 00:06:21,891 --> 00:06:23,526 - There's the mentor Hiro Matsuda. 140 00:06:23,660 --> 00:06:25,194 There he is. 141 00:06:25,328 --> 00:06:29,365 - But he was notoriously tough, and if he got any sense that a 142 00:06:29,499 --> 00:06:34,304 student didn't take the business seriously he would make 143 00:06:34,437 --> 00:06:37,173 an example of that person, and that's exactly 144 00:06:37,307 --> 00:06:39,409 what he did to Hulk Hogan. 145 00:06:39,909 --> 00:06:41,277 - Hogan didn't quit that day. 146 00:06:41,411 --> 00:06:44,447 It's not like Hogan got his leg broken and went home crying. 147 00:06:44,580 --> 00:06:47,083 Hogan broke it in a tough way. 148 00:06:47,216 --> 00:06:49,152 - About three and a half, four months later I came back 149 00:06:49,285 --> 00:06:51,654 and had a different type of attitude that no one was 150 00:06:51,788 --> 00:06:53,156 gonna hurt me again. 151 00:06:53,289 --> 00:06:57,827 - Making his first appearance in this arena here is 152 00:06:57,961 --> 00:07:02,365 The Incredible Hulk Hogan. 153 00:07:02,498 --> 00:07:03,800 - That's the word for this man. 154 00:07:03,933 --> 00:07:05,234 Incredible. He's just that. 155 00:07:05,368 --> 00:07:06,736 - Wow. 156 00:07:06,869 --> 00:07:10,707 - When Hulk Hogan first came to WWE he was bronzed and 157 00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:13,142 charismatic, and even when he was a villain people 158 00:07:13,276 --> 00:07:14,977 wanted to see him. 159 00:07:15,111 --> 00:07:18,781 I mean, I remember him in that purple cape, he's with classy 160 00:07:18,915 --> 00:07:21,084 Freddie Blassie was his mouthpiece. 161 00:07:21,217 --> 00:07:23,152 - The man is just unbeatable. 162 00:07:23,286 --> 00:07:24,821 Never been defeated. 163 00:07:24,954 --> 00:07:26,456 - It's a new decade. 164 00:07:26,589 --> 00:07:30,360 1980, you are looking at the new king of professional wrestling. 165 00:07:30,526 --> 00:07:33,629 - You felt, "Wow, this is a real bad dude." 166 00:07:35,765 --> 00:07:38,001 - Mr. Vince McMahon, being introduced now, 167 00:07:38,134 --> 00:07:40,336 the promoter at Madison Square Garden. 168 00:07:40,470 --> 00:07:43,439 - My relationship with Vince Sr. was it felt like 169 00:07:43,573 --> 00:07:45,375 he took a special interest in me and I just remember he had 170 00:07:45,508 --> 00:07:47,677 the half-reading glasses and he like 171 00:07:47,810 --> 00:07:49,645 he always clicked quarters together and just kind 172 00:07:49,779 --> 00:07:51,114 of looking over the glasses 173 00:07:51,247 --> 00:07:53,950 looking at me, you know, when he talked to me, and he was looking 174 00:07:54,083 --> 00:07:57,153 for an opponent for André "The Giant" at the time. 175 00:07:58,121 --> 00:08:00,623 - Introducing in the corner to my right 176 00:08:00,757 --> 00:08:04,260 The Incredible Hulk Hogan. 177 00:08:04,394 --> 00:08:06,329 [audience booing] 178 00:08:06,462 --> 00:08:11,234 - And here in the corner to my left André "The Giant". 179 00:08:11,367 --> 00:08:13,269 [audience cheering] 180 00:08:13,403 --> 00:08:14,370 - It's gonna be a great one. 181 00:08:14,504 --> 00:08:15,138 [bell rings] 182 00:08:15,271 --> 00:08:16,439 - Here we go. 183 00:08:16,572 --> 00:08:19,175 - If any one man who can defeat André is this man. 184 00:08:19,308 --> 00:08:20,443 - André making- 185 00:08:20,576 --> 00:08:23,679 - No, but he's indeed an extremely strong man. 186 00:08:23,813 --> 00:08:25,581 Almost tore the ring down. 187 00:08:25,715 --> 00:08:27,850 - I had a manager named Freddie Blassie. 188 00:08:27,984 --> 00:08:30,686 I used to wear a black armband, and Freddie Blassie 189 00:08:30,820 --> 00:08:32,055 gave me a piece of metal. 190 00:08:32,188 --> 00:08:32,955 - Hey, look at this. 191 00:08:33,089 --> 00:08:34,223 Blassie just slipped something- 192 00:08:34,357 --> 00:08:35,858 -in Hogan's elbow there. he got it there. 193 00:08:35,992 --> 00:08:36,859 - He slipped something in. 194 00:08:36,993 --> 00:08:37,827 - He absolutely did. 195 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:39,796 - Coming with a Hogan hammer. 196 00:08:39,929 --> 00:08:41,264 - Like whacked him in the head like a clothesline. 197 00:08:41,397 --> 00:08:42,832 But I hit him in the forehead. 198 00:08:42,965 --> 00:08:43,633 - And there he goes. 199 00:08:43,766 --> 00:08:44,667 He just slipped it out. 200 00:08:44,801 --> 00:08:47,904 - André is cut and cut badly. 201 00:08:48,037 --> 00:08:51,007 - The last thing you wanna do is piss a 7'5", 202 00:08:51,140 --> 00:08:52,275 500 pound giant off. 203 00:08:57,146 --> 00:08:59,782 - Hogan was the bad guy, the heel, and André was our 204 00:08:59,916 --> 00:09:02,552 babyface good guy that everybody loved because 205 00:09:02,685 --> 00:09:04,887 he was larger than life. 206 00:09:05,021 --> 00:09:09,192 And they had a match at Shea Stadium, and it killed. 207 00:09:11,160 --> 00:09:14,897 - Before the WrestleMania era, the Showdown at Shea was 208 00:09:15,031 --> 00:09:19,669 a special series of matches that occurred at Shea Stadium 209 00:09:19,802 --> 00:09:24,474 in Queens, and that was the home of baseball's New York Mets. 210 00:09:24,607 --> 00:09:26,676 - Shea Stadium was the biggest of the big. 211 00:09:26,809 --> 00:09:28,344 Well, at the time, Shea Stadium, 212 00:09:28,478 --> 00:09:31,247 I really wasn't André's favorite person. 213 00:09:31,380 --> 00:09:34,984 I think a lot of it had to do with me being young, 214 00:09:35,117 --> 00:09:37,019 and I-I don't think I was arrogant, 215 00:09:37,153 --> 00:09:40,056 but I was almost kinda like a-a smaller dog 216 00:09:40,189 --> 00:09:42,291 nipping at his heels, driving him crazy. 217 00:09:42,425 --> 00:09:46,462 And I didn't mean to be, but I just didn't know any better. 218 00:09:46,596 --> 00:09:49,532 André was in really, really, really great shape 219 00:09:49,665 --> 00:09:51,501 and he was very fast. 220 00:09:51,634 --> 00:09:53,336 So if you try to pull anything and hit him, you get away 221 00:09:53,469 --> 00:09:54,537 from him, he'd catch you. 222 00:09:54,670 --> 00:09:56,139 So, that's just how it was. 223 00:09:56,272 --> 00:09:57,406 He was the boss. 224 00:09:57,540 --> 00:09:59,308 - The giant picks him up. 225 00:10:01,077 --> 00:10:04,213 There it is. The winner, André. 226 00:10:04,347 --> 00:10:05,882 - It was this start of a a rivalry that would 227 00:10:06,015 --> 00:10:08,050 last quite a while. 228 00:10:08,184 --> 00:10:11,787 - This capacity crowd up for one of the great matchups. 229 00:10:11,921 --> 00:10:14,991 - André "The Giant" against Hulk Hogan 230 00:10:15,124 --> 00:10:16,392 That's a main event in any arena. 231 00:10:16,526 --> 00:10:18,161 - Look out, here it comes. 232 00:10:18,294 --> 00:10:20,930 - My goodness. 233 00:10:21,063 --> 00:10:23,266 - I was real full of myself when I was younger. 234 00:10:23,399 --> 00:10:24,133 - Is this arrogance? 235 00:10:24,267 --> 00:10:25,668 Look at this. 236 00:10:25,801 --> 00:10:29,138 - I was afraid of him, but then after we made physical contact, 237 00:10:29,272 --> 00:10:31,607 I became delusional. 238 00:10:31,741 --> 00:10:33,643 In my mind, I thought I could beat this guy. 239 00:10:33,776 --> 00:10:36,279 I knew I wasn't as big as him, but I thought I was because 240 00:10:36,412 --> 00:10:38,915 I was in really good shape and I was very strong 241 00:10:39,048 --> 00:10:40,383 when I was younger. 242 00:10:40,516 --> 00:10:43,486 - Well, guess who's boss? [chuckles] 243 00:10:43,619 --> 00:10:46,956 - And he just beat the crap out of me. 244 00:10:47,089 --> 00:10:50,326 - Hogan's gotta be saying, "What did I do now?" 245 00:10:50,459 --> 00:10:53,896 - When Hulk came in, he had a little bit of notoriety 246 00:10:54,030 --> 00:10:55,331 I don't care if you're the king on the hill. 247 00:10:55,798 --> 00:10:59,402 When somebody else comes in that you think might be a threat, 248 00:10:59,535 --> 00:11:01,604 there's always that situation of you going, 249 00:11:01,737 --> 00:11:03,439 "Well, I'mma see what this kid's really made of, 250 00:11:03,573 --> 00:11:06,309 and see if he should really be in this business." 251 00:11:13,149 --> 00:11:14,550 - The human peacock also known as Hulk Hogan. 252 00:11:14,684 --> 00:11:15,952 Do you like those colors? 253 00:11:16,085 --> 00:11:17,186 They're all of the colors. 254 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:18,487 Proud as a peacock. 255 00:11:19,121 --> 00:11:21,457 - André, I think he really took Hulk to school. 256 00:11:21,591 --> 00:11:24,493 - He plays a little rock n' roll on Hulk Hogan's he-- 257 00:11:24,627 --> 00:11:25,995 Hulk-Hulk Hogan's head. 258 00:11:26,128 --> 00:11:29,432 - André knew what he was doing, but if something went wrong, 259 00:11:29,565 --> 00:11:34,036 he will let you know and whack the hell out of you. 260 00:11:36,272 --> 00:11:37,974 - Hulk Hogan was very raw as a talent. 261 00:11:38,107 --> 00:11:40,610 They had a term for it back in the locker room 262 00:11:40,743 --> 00:11:43,980 with the old timers, the kid's green. 263 00:11:44,113 --> 00:11:46,716 - It's as most new arrivals are, 264 00:11:46,849 --> 00:11:50,086 and they can be stiff in the ring. 265 00:11:50,219 --> 00:11:52,989 What that means is that sometimes they hit somebody 266 00:11:53,122 --> 00:11:54,690 a little harder than they should. 267 00:11:54,824 --> 00:11:56,959 - Around the ropes and a mighty hit. 268 00:11:57,093 --> 00:11:59,128 Oh, André says, "I'm in trouble." 269 00:11:59,261 --> 00:12:01,230 - Throughout the early '80s, Hulk Hogan, André "The Giant" 270 00:12:01,364 --> 00:12:04,333 had match after match all over the East Coast, tore it up. 271 00:12:04,467 --> 00:12:07,603 But then, it became international. 272 00:12:08,504 --> 00:12:10,840 - When André got the opportunity to be in the ring 273 00:12:10,973 --> 00:12:14,477 with Hulk Hogan, and this happened a lot in Japan. 274 00:12:15,578 --> 00:12:20,182 André was going to season him, shall we say. 275 00:12:24,654 --> 00:12:27,423 - André beat the daylights out of him. 276 00:12:29,725 --> 00:12:31,727 You know, of course, it was just tough love. 277 00:12:33,295 --> 00:12:36,332 - Finally, I understood he was trying to help me, you know, 278 00:12:36,465 --> 00:12:40,603 because he saw something in me that kinda like nobody else saw. 279 00:12:40,736 --> 00:12:42,805 I think André pretty much kept me pointed in the right 280 00:12:42,938 --> 00:12:45,307 direction when I could've taken off the wrong way 281 00:12:45,441 --> 00:12:47,643 a bunch of times. 282 00:12:47,777 --> 00:12:51,247 - André had a lot of respect for Hogan of who he was, 283 00:12:51,380 --> 00:12:53,382 and that was very important to this because André 284 00:12:53,516 --> 00:12:55,685 would not have been as generous if he hadn't. 285 00:12:57,219 --> 00:12:59,388 - I mean, I flown out of JFK with him to Japan. 286 00:12:59,522 --> 00:13:02,658 I don't even know how many times because we were on a lot of the 287 00:13:02,792 --> 00:13:04,393 same tours together. 288 00:13:05,961 --> 00:13:07,997 It was hard to watch because I always knew 289 00:13:08,130 --> 00:13:09,732 he was never comfortable. 290 00:13:09,865 --> 00:13:12,368 If you can imagine there was never a chair, 291 00:13:12,501 --> 00:13:17,139 there was never a bed, good luck getting in the car. 292 00:13:17,973 --> 00:13:21,444 - André learned early in his life he had acromegaly, 293 00:13:21,577 --> 00:13:25,081 which is a disease that makes your body grow 294 00:13:25,214 --> 00:13:27,450 and continue to grow. 295 00:13:27,583 --> 00:13:31,554 That's why he had the giant features. 296 00:13:31,687 --> 00:13:35,157 Huge limbs, the-the giant hands. 297 00:13:35,291 --> 00:13:39,829 It is a-a cruel condition because your body can't 298 00:13:39,962 --> 00:13:42,465 handle the stress to that size. 299 00:13:42,598 --> 00:13:45,468 I mean, he broke his ankle getting out of bed. 300 00:13:45,601 --> 00:13:48,871 - While André's health was starting to deteriorate, 301 00:13:49,505 --> 00:13:52,641 Hogan was enjoying the success of Rocky III. 302 00:13:52,775 --> 00:13:55,077 - Everybody knows that Hulk Hogan is big and strong, 303 00:13:55,211 --> 00:13:58,114 but did you know that he had a part in the movie Rocky III? 304 00:13:58,247 --> 00:14:00,383 - The movie Rocky III created an awareness, you know. 305 00:14:00,516 --> 00:14:02,017 It was a like a shot of adrenaline 306 00:14:02,151 --> 00:14:03,686 to the whole wrestling world. 307 00:14:03,819 --> 00:14:07,022 - When you had thunderlips out there in the flesh, baby. 308 00:14:07,156 --> 00:14:08,491 Oh, my God. 309 00:14:08,624 --> 00:14:12,561 He look like he's freaking nine feet tall against Stallone. 310 00:14:13,062 --> 00:14:15,531 - You know something Mean Gene, everything positive comes from 311 00:14:15,664 --> 00:14:17,867 the heart, and I'm all heart, daddy, and that's the way 312 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:18,968 I've been thinking. 313 00:14:19,101 --> 00:14:20,936 My goals in my life have changed. 314 00:14:21,070 --> 00:14:23,239 - Hogan actually started out as a bad guy, 315 00:14:23,372 --> 00:14:26,342 but his conversion to truth, justice and the American way 316 00:14:26,475 --> 00:14:28,978 has been both effective and lucrative. 317 00:14:29,111 --> 00:14:31,413 - If you look in history, most of the bad guys become 318 00:14:31,547 --> 00:14:34,583 the best babyfaces, you know, because people love to hate 'em, 319 00:14:34,717 --> 00:14:36,552 then they love to love 'em. 320 00:14:36,685 --> 00:14:38,554 - Your winner in all-star wrestling, 321 00:14:38,687 --> 00:14:41,657 and look at these muscles. 322 00:14:41,791 --> 00:14:44,293 - André even knew it. 323 00:14:44,427 --> 00:14:48,431 André was a good judge of what's going on, what's good, 324 00:14:48,564 --> 00:14:51,333 what the people like, Hogan- 325 00:14:51,467 --> 00:14:56,071 -drew interest, he drew moolah, money honey. 326 00:14:56,205 --> 00:14:59,375 - Welcome to Madison Square Garden. 327 00:14:59,508 --> 00:15:04,447 This is for the World Wrestling -- Heavyweight Championship. 328 00:15:04,580 --> 00:15:07,383 - Hulkamania begins at Madison Square Garden. 329 00:15:07,516 --> 00:15:08,951 I use to get, like, emotional whenever 330 00:15:09,084 --> 00:15:10,386 they would show that clip. 331 00:15:10,519 --> 00:15:13,088 - Hulk Hogan, he drops the big leg on him. 332 00:15:13,222 --> 00:15:14,990 He's down for the cover, hook of the leg. 333 00:15:15,124 --> 00:15:16,859 One, two, he got him. 334 00:15:16,992 --> 00:15:19,528 - It's the ultimate changing of the guard moment. 335 00:15:19,662 --> 00:15:22,298 - We have a new champion. 336 00:15:22,431 --> 00:15:24,700 - Have you ever seen anything as beautiful as this Mean Gene? 337 00:15:24,834 --> 00:15:26,469 This belt is part of yours too. 338 00:15:26,602 --> 00:15:27,970 It's everybody out there- 339 00:15:28,103 --> 00:15:33,142 - Oh, oh, oh, oh. 340 00:15:33,275 --> 00:15:35,811 - That celebration in the locker room, 341 00:15:35,945 --> 00:15:39,281 André pouring the champagne on Hogan's head. 342 00:15:39,415 --> 00:15:42,651 - André "The Giant" congratulating 343 00:15:42,785 --> 00:15:45,421 the new Heavyweight Champion of the world. 344 00:15:45,554 --> 00:15:49,625 - It really hit home seeing André seemingly so happy 345 00:15:49,758 --> 00:15:50,893 for Hulk Hogan's achievement. 346 00:15:55,397 --> 00:15:59,468 - What we fans didn't know at the time was that this moment 347 00:15:59,602 --> 00:16:02,738 was really just the beginning of the next phase of their rivalry. 348 00:16:16,652 --> 00:16:17,419 - It's everybody out there's-- 349 00:16:17,553 --> 00:16:20,956 - Oh, oh, oh, oh. 350 00:16:21,090 --> 00:16:24,193 - That moment for me, it changed the landscape 351 00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:27,429 of wrestling, I think, forever. 352 00:16:27,563 --> 00:16:28,531 - Remember, at that point in time, 353 00:16:28,664 --> 00:16:30,699 this is when the WWE took off. 354 00:16:30,833 --> 00:16:33,235 - Wrestling not the Olympic variety, 355 00:16:33,369 --> 00:16:35,070 but professional wrestling. 356 00:16:35,204 --> 00:16:37,406 It's always been popular, but lately, it's been emerging 357 00:16:37,539 --> 00:16:40,342 from second-rate arenas to attract a whole new 358 00:16:40,476 --> 00:16:42,011 generation of fans. 359 00:16:42,111 --> 00:16:43,445 [knocking] 360 00:16:43,579 --> 00:16:45,214 - Beat it or I'll call the brute squad. 361 00:16:45,347 --> 00:16:46,615 - I'm on the brute squad. 362 00:16:46,749 --> 00:16:48,217 - You are the brute squad. 363 00:16:48,350 --> 00:16:49,618 - André was a media star. 364 00:16:52,087 --> 00:16:52,988 - Start it up. 365 00:16:54,089 --> 00:16:56,091 - 106B, Take 3 366 00:16:56,225 --> 00:16:59,094 - Princess Bride for André humanized him. 367 00:16:59,962 --> 00:17:01,664 To that point, I really think, you know, 368 00:17:01,797 --> 00:17:05,200 people just saw him as this freak giant. 369 00:17:05,334 --> 00:17:08,337 But you watch that movie, I'm telling you, knowing André, 370 00:17:08,470 --> 00:17:11,640 and then seeing that movie, that was him. 371 00:17:11,774 --> 00:17:15,044 That was really André "The Giant". 372 00:17:17,313 --> 00:17:22,351 - André was huge, and he basically set the stage for me. 373 00:17:23,619 --> 00:17:29,158 ♪ 374 00:17:29,291 --> 00:17:32,394 - Welcome, Hulk Hogan. 375 00:17:33,629 --> 00:17:35,230 - You are right-right here, but you're still bigger than 376 00:17:35,364 --> 00:17:37,232 all the kids in the third grade, right? 377 00:17:37,366 --> 00:17:38,767 - Where'd you get that picture? 378 00:17:38,901 --> 00:17:40,803 - That's yours, it's not mine. 379 00:17:41,570 --> 00:17:44,139 - Hogan is now the American eagle. 380 00:17:44,273 --> 00:17:46,208 - He was the biggest draw in wrestling. 381 00:17:46,342 --> 00:17:48,444 - Train, say your prayers, eat your vitamins, 382 00:17:48,577 --> 00:17:50,479 be true to yourself, true to your country, 383 00:17:50,613 --> 00:17:53,015 be a real American, woo. 384 00:17:55,818 --> 00:17:58,187 - At that time when Hulk was on the rise, 385 00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:00,656 he was the biggest thing out there. 386 00:18:00,789 --> 00:18:04,526 Hulk Hogan needed an opponent that matched his star power, 387 00:18:04,660 --> 00:18:08,197 that matched his ability to draw people. 388 00:18:08,330 --> 00:18:10,132 There was only one wrestler who could do that, 389 00:18:10,265 --> 00:18:13,669 that was André "The Giant". 390 00:18:15,104 --> 00:18:17,539 - Enter "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. 391 00:18:17,673 --> 00:18:22,411 - 1987 and I'm still alive. 392 00:18:22,544 --> 00:18:24,780 - One of the greatest talkers ever. 393 00:18:24,913 --> 00:18:27,249 - And possibly the most important Pit 394 00:18:27,383 --> 00:18:29,184 I have ever done in my life. 395 00:18:29,318 --> 00:18:31,453 - He had a great segment called Piper's Pit, 396 00:18:31,587 --> 00:18:33,856 which all the old-school fans remember. 397 00:18:33,989 --> 00:18:37,760 - Ladies and gentlemen, would you please welcome the 398 00:18:37,926 --> 00:18:43,165 heavyweight champion of the world, Hulk Hogan? 399 00:18:43,298 --> 00:18:48,170 - The 8th Wonder of the World, 7' 4, 500 pounds, 400 00:18:48,303 --> 00:18:52,741 André, whoa, 'The Giant". 401 00:18:52,875 --> 00:18:54,777 - But André comes in with Bobby Heenan. 402 00:18:54,910 --> 00:18:58,947 He is the single greatest heel manager in the history 403 00:18:59,081 --> 00:19:00,182 of the universe. 404 00:19:00,315 --> 00:19:02,284 - Wait, what's going on here? 405 00:19:02,418 --> 00:19:03,352 Hold on, man. 406 00:19:03,485 --> 00:19:05,187 What are you doing with him? 407 00:19:05,320 --> 00:19:11,727 - Bobby Heenan is the bad guy manager that all wrestling bad 408 00:19:11,860 --> 00:19:14,363 guy managers aspired to be. 409 00:19:14,496 --> 00:19:18,634 - He's sick and tired of you and what you stand for. 410 00:19:18,767 --> 00:19:22,204 Did you ever once, once in your life offer him 411 00:19:22,337 --> 00:19:24,707 a championship match? 412 00:19:25,240 --> 00:19:27,176 - You're the reason I got in professional wrestling. 413 00:19:27,309 --> 00:19:29,945 You're like a god for me, a role model. 414 00:19:30,079 --> 00:19:31,947 You can't be here with him, man. 415 00:19:32,081 --> 00:19:33,749 Even though you came out here with him you don't have 416 00:19:33,882 --> 00:19:35,484 to leave with him. 417 00:19:35,617 --> 00:19:40,756 - And then André has had enough 418 00:19:40,889 --> 00:19:41,957 and that's when everything changed. 419 00:19:53,535 --> 00:19:54,770 - André, please no. 420 00:19:54,903 --> 00:19:56,171 It's not happening. 421 00:19:56,305 --> 00:19:59,108 - We're in the Pit, André, Hogan and myself, 422 00:20:00,109 --> 00:20:01,810 I can see what's going on. 423 00:20:01,944 --> 00:20:03,745 You can feel it once you get in here. 424 00:20:03,879 --> 00:20:05,080 - You can't believe it? 425 00:20:05,214 --> 00:20:08,117 Maybe you'll believe this, Hogan. 426 00:20:09,618 --> 00:20:12,121 - And then André crosses the line. 427 00:20:12,254 --> 00:20:15,224 This was one of the greatest turns and a heartbreaking 428 00:20:15,357 --> 00:20:17,359 one at that. 429 00:20:17,493 --> 00:20:18,961 - Here's where the match gets. 430 00:20:19,094 --> 00:20:22,598 When André ripped the cross off he had torn the skin 431 00:20:22,731 --> 00:20:26,435 and Hogan was bleeding. 432 00:20:26,568 --> 00:20:29,638 I got one more thing to say like every time you think you get all 433 00:20:29,771 --> 00:20:31,440 the answers I change the questions and the most important 434 00:20:31,573 --> 00:20:34,743 thing to say was you're bleeding. 435 00:20:34,877 --> 00:20:37,045 - It's not-- André, come back, man. 436 00:20:37,179 --> 00:20:39,848 You don't have to leave like this. 437 00:20:39,982 --> 00:20:41,116 What is he doing? 438 00:20:41,250 --> 00:20:43,552 - You're bleeding. 439 00:20:43,685 --> 00:20:47,189 It's hard to get a promo stronger than that. 440 00:20:47,322 --> 00:20:50,826 "The Giant" just attacked our Wheaties boy 441 00:20:51,894 --> 00:20:53,862 What's going on? 442 00:20:53,996 --> 00:20:55,831 I don't know but we better get the ticket. 443 00:20:55,964 --> 00:21:02,671 - Tell me yes or no are you or are you not gonna fight him at 444 00:21:02,805 --> 00:21:07,342 WrestleMania III for the World's Heavyweight Championship? 445 00:21:07,476 --> 00:21:08,544 Yes or no? 446 00:21:08,677 --> 00:21:11,313 - Yes. 447 00:21:11,446 --> 00:21:14,783 [crowd cheering] 448 00:21:18,787 --> 00:21:20,322 - Gentlemen, Gentlemen, please? 449 00:21:20,455 --> 00:21:22,624 We are here for the most auspicious signing for any 450 00:21:22,758 --> 00:21:26,128 heavyweight title match in history as you all know. 451 00:21:26,261 --> 00:21:30,265 - You don't forget how somebody makes you feel and when you 452 00:21:30,399 --> 00:21:33,602 think about André "The Giant" basically turning into the 453 00:21:33,735 --> 00:21:37,139 world's biggest bad guy, I mean can you imagine 454 00:21:37,272 --> 00:21:38,373 watching as a little kid? 455 00:21:38,507 --> 00:21:41,677 - You never once gave this man an opportunity. 456 00:21:41,810 --> 00:21:43,779 Now he's got that opportunity. 457 00:21:43,912 --> 00:21:46,548 - Sign it if you're gonna sign it. 458 00:21:46,849 --> 00:21:50,252 Everything he did was spot on. 459 00:21:52,321 --> 00:21:53,188 He made it work. 460 00:21:53,322 --> 00:21:54,256 Not me, he did. 461 00:22:05,267 --> 00:22:06,568 - I'd gave you anything, man. 462 00:22:06,702 --> 00:22:08,003 - Now I was an André fan. 463 00:22:08,136 --> 00:22:10,739 So my heart didn't break when this happened, 464 00:22:10,873 --> 00:22:13,108 however most peoples did. 465 00:22:13,242 --> 00:22:16,712 - As far as I'm concerned it's not signed in ink. 466 00:22:16,845 --> 00:22:18,146 It's signed in blood. 467 00:22:22,251 --> 00:22:24,419 - I don't think André could have been that super heel back 468 00:22:24,553 --> 00:22:27,656 then if it wasn't for Heenan by his side. 469 00:22:27,789 --> 00:22:30,058 - You're in some deep trouble, Mr. Hogan. 470 00:22:30,192 --> 00:22:31,893 I can't stand you. 471 00:22:32,027 --> 00:22:34,563 Matter of fact I hate you. 472 00:22:34,696 --> 00:22:36,565 Those are pretty strong words but that's 473 00:22:36,698 --> 00:22:38,800 how I feel right here. 474 00:22:38,934 --> 00:22:44,239 Myself and André "The Giant" we know that Hulkamania is dead. 475 00:22:45,841 --> 00:22:48,176 - World Wrestling -- Officials have announced that 476 00:22:48,310 --> 00:22:51,346 WrestleMania III will be held at the beautiful Silverdome 477 00:22:51,480 --> 00:22:55,517 in Pontiac, Michigan just outside of Detroit. 478 00:22:55,651 --> 00:22:57,119 - After buying the company from his dad, 479 00:22:57,252 --> 00:23:01,723 it was clear early on that Vince McMahon was a visionary. 480 00:23:01,857 --> 00:23:03,859 - The World Wrestling -- presents 481 00:23:03,992 --> 00:23:08,130 the wrestling extravaganza of all time, WrestleMania. 482 00:23:08,263 --> 00:23:10,799 - You had WrestleMania I, which is a huge success. 483 00:23:10,933 --> 00:23:12,434 We had Liberace there, Muhammad Ali, 484 00:23:12,567 --> 00:23:13,935 all these great stars. 485 00:23:14,069 --> 00:23:16,004 WrestleMania II probably not considered as much as success. 486 00:23:16,605 --> 00:23:20,842 So you had to hit the ball out of the park in WrestleMania III. 487 00:23:20,976 --> 00:23:24,680 - You think about what Vince was trying to do then. 488 00:23:24,813 --> 00:23:29,051 Put 90,000 people into a stadium. 489 00:23:29,351 --> 00:23:33,188 He had to have something huge to do it. 490 00:23:33,322 --> 00:23:37,492 - There hasn't been a match of this magnitude ever, 491 00:23:37,626 --> 00:23:40,562 not only since I've been around professional wrestling but ever. 492 00:23:40,696 --> 00:23:42,965 - Is there already animosity building between the two of you? 493 00:23:43,098 --> 00:23:46,468 - As far as aggressive feeling it-it's just been, uh, 494 00:23:46,601 --> 00:23:47,636 the way André has changed. 495 00:23:58,613 --> 00:24:00,882 - At the time of WrestleMania III André 496 00:24:01,016 --> 00:24:03,985 was not in good shape physically. 497 00:24:04,119 --> 00:24:06,054 His back was really bad. 498 00:24:07,789 --> 00:24:13,161 - It was a heck of an ask to ask André to do what he did. 499 00:24:13,295 --> 00:24:14,763 I know he was in a lot of pain. 500 00:24:16,665 --> 00:24:20,669 Now that I've had 10 back surgeries I know the type 501 00:24:20,802 --> 00:24:23,305 of pain he was in. 502 00:24:24,039 --> 00:24:26,274 I had a conversation the night before with Vince, 503 00:24:26,408 --> 00:24:28,744 we were worried about it. 504 00:24:28,877 --> 00:24:33,281 Took Vince's legal pad and I said this is plan A, 505 00:24:33,415 --> 00:24:36,051 but if you tell him I did this he's gonna kill me because 506 00:24:36,184 --> 00:24:38,553 he always leads the match. 507 00:24:38,687 --> 00:24:42,891 He doesn't need to really take a bump but if he does go down, 508 00:24:43,025 --> 00:24:47,295 he needs to be near the ropes so we can cover that he's hurt. 509 00:24:47,429 --> 00:24:48,864 I wrote the legal pad, gave it to Vince he's, 510 00:24:48,997 --> 00:24:51,066 "Well, I'll talk to André about it." 511 00:24:51,199 --> 00:24:55,704 - In the business we knew how temperamental André could be 512 00:24:55,837 --> 00:24:58,340 as you can't read this guy's mind and he sure 513 00:24:58,473 --> 00:25:00,976 as hell isn't gonna tell you. 514 00:25:04,212 --> 00:25:05,380 - Oh my gosh. 515 00:25:05,514 --> 00:25:07,282 I mean people were coming from all over the world 516 00:25:07,416 --> 00:25:08,817 for this particular WrestleMania. 517 00:25:11,353 --> 00:25:19,361 - Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the magnificent Silverdome. 518 00:25:19,494 --> 00:25:23,031 and welcome to WrestleMania III. 519 00:25:28,236 --> 00:25:31,473 - In the dressing room, André wanted me to sit next to him 520 00:25:31,606 --> 00:25:34,309 and, you know, when you're sitting next to a Giant 521 00:25:34,443 --> 00:25:36,077 for 10 hours that drinks two fifths of Crown Royal. 522 00:25:36,211 --> 00:25:38,980 As you're sitting there and he keeps handing you shots of Crown 523 00:25:39,114 --> 00:25:43,318 Royal, it's really hard to dump 'em when he's watching you 524 00:25:43,452 --> 00:25:46,354 because there's no way I could have drank what he gave me 525 00:25:46,488 --> 00:25:48,123 to drink and walk to that ring. 526 00:25:48,256 --> 00:25:49,591 It would have never happened. 527 00:25:49,724 --> 00:25:52,227 So every time he wasn't looking at me I dumped that sucker. 528 00:25:52,360 --> 00:25:54,563 - Power against power right now. 529 00:25:54,696 --> 00:25:57,099 These guys are enormous, whoa. 530 00:25:57,232 --> 00:25:58,733 - Well, you know, Hogan and I were tight back then. 531 00:25:59,601 --> 00:26:00,602 I said, "What are you doing?" 532 00:26:00,735 --> 00:26:02,471 And he goes, "We don't know yet." 533 00:26:02,604 --> 00:26:03,438 And I went, "What?" 534 00:26:03,572 --> 00:26:04,773 - Look at here. 535 00:26:04,906 --> 00:26:06,208 I got my- I got my WrestleMania shirt right there, 536 00:26:06,341 --> 00:26:07,843 went down and got it. 537 00:26:07,976 --> 00:26:09,344 - Come on, Jess. 538 00:26:09,478 --> 00:26:10,879 - Macho Man bombs away. 539 00:26:11,012 --> 00:26:11,713 - He got it. 540 00:26:11,847 --> 00:26:13,215 - He nails him with it. 541 00:26:13,348 --> 00:26:14,449 - I said, "André, what do you wanna do out there?" 542 00:26:14,583 --> 00:26:16,184 "Don't worry." 543 00:26:16,318 --> 00:26:17,252 "Hey, André, what do you think man? 544 00:26:17,385 --> 00:26:19,688 You think, uh, I go up or go down?" 545 00:26:19,821 --> 00:26:21,223 "Don't worry." 546 00:26:21,356 --> 00:26:22,491 I said, "How's your back, you know?" 547 00:26:22,624 --> 00:26:23,892 He says, "My back is good." 548 00:26:24,025 --> 00:26:25,660 He has had a couple of fifths of Crown Royal in him. 549 00:26:25,794 --> 00:26:27,729 I said, "What do you think about a body slam?" 550 00:26:27,863 --> 00:26:30,866 He goes, "No." 551 00:26:30,999 --> 00:26:32,567 Okay, I won't worry. 552 00:26:32,701 --> 00:26:35,070 - Just one hour away from his moment of destiny. 553 00:26:35,203 --> 00:26:37,639 - Well, you know they said it was my last ride, man. 554 00:26:37,772 --> 00:26:39,374 Yesterday when I finished hanging and banging, 555 00:26:39,508 --> 00:26:42,010 when I jumped on the Harley, man, as I went through the 556 00:26:42,110 --> 00:26:45,080 intersection, as I headed for the mountains some of the 557 00:26:45,213 --> 00:26:48,817 nonbelievers in the gym said, "See you later Hulksterman. 558 00:26:48,950 --> 00:26:50,519 This is your last ride." 559 00:26:50,652 --> 00:26:52,053 - I go out again and wouldn't you believe it 560 00:26:52,187 --> 00:26:54,256 there's Hulk getting another a cup of coffee and I went, 561 00:26:54,389 --> 00:26:56,691 "Hulkster, did you find out anything?" 562 00:26:56,825 --> 00:27:00,395 "Nope it looks like, uh, André is gonna call it in the ring." 563 00:27:01,630 --> 00:27:03,265 So, you don't know if you're winning the title. 564 00:27:03,398 --> 00:27:04,533 He goes, "Nope. 565 00:27:04,666 --> 00:27:05,834 Gonna call it in the ring." 566 00:27:05,967 --> 00:27:06,868 I went, "Oh my God." 567 00:27:18,179 --> 00:27:20,682 - This is the main event of the evening. 568 00:27:20,815 --> 00:27:24,719 It is for the World Wrestling -- Heavyweight Championship 569 00:27:24,853 --> 00:27:30,959 scheduled for one fall with a one-hour time limit. 570 00:27:31,092 --> 00:27:32,627 - The night the stars came out. 571 00:27:32,761 --> 00:27:34,062 Everybody want to be a part of that. 572 00:27:34,195 --> 00:27:38,099 Everybody want to see the spectacle and to wonder more 573 00:27:38,233 --> 00:27:41,670 than anything what's gonna happen. 574 00:27:41,803 --> 00:27:43,838 - You could be looking at the next Heavyweight Champion 575 00:27:43,972 --> 00:27:45,173 of the world. 576 00:27:45,307 --> 00:27:51,213 - And now his opponent, he is the World Wrestling -- 577 00:27:51,346 --> 00:27:53,181 Heavyweight Champion. 578 00:27:53,315 --> 00:27:56,318 - It was so big, you know, I just stayed focused on what 579 00:27:56,451 --> 00:27:58,053 was around me, the ringside. 580 00:27:58,186 --> 00:28:01,022 I didn't even wanna really take in what was going on. 581 00:28:01,156 --> 00:28:03,258 It was so overwhelming. 582 00:28:11,633 --> 00:28:14,035 The first time ever in my career I went to the ring I didn't know 583 00:28:14,169 --> 00:28:15,203 who's gonna win or lose. 584 00:28:15,337 --> 00:28:16,605 [bell ringing] 585 00:28:16,738 --> 00:28:18,907 - Look at the look of disdain on the face of André. 586 00:28:26,181 --> 00:28:29,050 - In the very beginning of the match it was a perfect shot with 587 00:28:29,184 --> 00:28:32,187 André kinda looking down at him and Hogan looking up. 588 00:28:32,320 --> 00:28:35,323 - The irresistible force meeting the immovable object. 589 00:28:35,457 --> 00:28:38,760 - You look at that and go my God, this is big fight feeling. 590 00:28:38,893 --> 00:28:41,296 - He's up, he's Hulking up right now. 591 00:28:42,998 --> 00:28:46,067 - I really don't think Hulk Hogan get enough credit 592 00:28:46,201 --> 00:28:50,338 for how much drama he brought to that whole situation. 593 00:28:50,472 --> 00:28:51,640 - Yes. 594 00:28:51,773 --> 00:28:53,241 - Oh, big right hand blocked by the champion, 595 00:28:54,843 --> 00:28:55,977 and the Hulkster unloading. 596 00:28:56,077 --> 00:28:57,312 Going for a slam. 597 00:28:57,445 --> 00:28:59,014 - I was worried because I didn't know if I could get 598 00:28:59,147 --> 00:29:00,415 him up to tell you the truth. 599 00:29:00,548 --> 00:29:01,583 - Oh, he almost got him up. 600 00:29:01,716 --> 00:29:02,450 - Oh. 601 00:29:02,584 --> 00:29:03,485 - Oh, he collapsed. 602 00:29:03,618 --> 00:29:05,053 One, two. 603 00:29:05,186 --> 00:29:06,621 - Was that two or was that three? 604 00:29:06,755 --> 00:29:08,089 - Two count only. 605 00:29:08,223 --> 00:29:10,392 - Hogan went for a body slam early in the bout and he may 606 00:29:10,525 --> 00:29:11,926 have injured his back. 607 00:29:12,060 --> 00:29:13,128 - Right when the match started, 608 00:29:13,261 --> 00:29:14,529 I was going to try to pick him up. 609 00:29:14,663 --> 00:29:16,231 When I went to do what I needed to do, 610 00:29:16,364 --> 00:29:19,000 he couldn't help me. 611 00:29:19,601 --> 00:29:23,071 I knew then, this-this could be a problem. 612 00:29:23,204 --> 00:29:26,174 - And hurt that lower back area, for sure with that extreme 613 00:29:26,307 --> 00:29:28,710 weight of André "The Giant". 614 00:29:28,843 --> 00:29:33,448 - By 1987, André was much heavier than he had been in 615 00:29:33,581 --> 00:29:37,852 those earlier years, and this was also complicated by the fact 616 00:29:37,986 --> 00:29:41,156 that André was wrestling with a back brace. 617 00:29:41,289 --> 00:29:43,992 So not only do you have the weight of that brace, 618 00:29:44,125 --> 00:29:48,263 but I'm sure that Hulk Hogan did not want to throw André 619 00:29:48,396 --> 00:29:54,569 on the wrong spot and perhaps injure him permanently. 620 00:29:54,703 --> 00:29:58,139 - Hulk absolutely took care of André in the ring. 621 00:29:58,273 --> 00:30:03,078 He knew where he was, what physically André was enduring. 622 00:30:06,047 --> 00:30:07,682 - He needs to be near the ropes, you know, 623 00:30:07,816 --> 00:30:09,784 so he can cover that he's hurt. 624 00:30:11,753 --> 00:30:13,254 - You alright? 625 00:30:13,388 --> 00:30:15,357 - Don't need to go jumping off the top rope. 626 00:30:15,490 --> 00:30:16,825 It's already there. 627 00:30:16,958 --> 00:30:19,961 Let's just tell a great story and do whatever finish. 628 00:30:20,095 --> 00:30:23,531 - André picked him up with ease and plants him. 629 00:30:23,665 --> 00:30:25,266 [yelling] 630 00:30:25,400 --> 00:30:31,473 - But André made it as good as it possibly could've ever been. 631 00:30:33,441 --> 00:30:35,710 - André with a shoulder block. 632 00:30:35,844 --> 00:30:37,812 Oh, what a chop by André. 633 00:30:37,946 --> 00:30:42,016 - Those guys went out there and they created something special. 634 00:30:42,150 --> 00:30:45,820 They created something that's lifelong lasting. 635 00:30:45,954 --> 00:30:49,491 - And it's the Hulk with a right hand and another one. 636 00:30:49,624 --> 00:30:51,326 Off the ropes. 637 00:30:51,459 --> 00:30:52,660 - Oh, he dropped him. 638 00:30:52,794 --> 00:30:55,930 - He dropped the big guy. 639 00:30:56,064 --> 00:30:57,932 He's hulking up, Jess. 640 00:30:58,066 --> 00:31:00,468 - I don't know if he's got enough left in him. 641 00:31:00,602 --> 00:31:03,204 - That adrenaline could do wonders. 642 00:31:03,338 --> 00:31:04,305 - I remember him coming at me. 643 00:31:04,439 --> 00:31:06,307 He comes at me "Slam." 644 00:31:06,441 --> 00:31:07,776 What? 645 00:31:07,909 --> 00:31:10,578 And I didn't know what to do except step into him. 646 00:31:10,712 --> 00:31:14,315 Put him right here and I went, "Oh, my God." 647 00:31:14,449 --> 00:31:15,750 - Look at this. 648 00:31:15,884 --> 00:31:17,786 - He slammed him. 649 00:31:17,919 --> 00:31:20,121 - I don't believe it. 650 00:31:20,255 --> 00:31:21,456 I don't believe it. 651 00:31:21,589 --> 00:31:25,126 - Hulk dropping the big leg over for the cover. 652 00:31:25,293 --> 00:31:27,962 - It's over. 653 00:31:28,096 --> 00:31:29,597 - Unbelievable. 654 00:31:29,731 --> 00:31:31,232 - I've never heard it so loud. 655 00:31:31,366 --> 00:31:32,801 It was just a roar. 656 00:31:32,934 --> 00:31:37,839 It would be like a freight train coming through your living room. 657 00:31:39,874 --> 00:31:42,811 - Wrestling fan or not, everyone knew André "The Giant". 658 00:31:42,944 --> 00:31:46,314 7'5, 500 pounds picked up and body slammed in the middle 659 00:31:46,447 --> 00:31:50,518 of the ring in front of 93,000 people. 660 00:31:50,652 --> 00:31:52,954 That moment could never be replicated. 661 00:31:54,656 --> 00:31:58,359 - It was different than anything that's ever happened. 662 00:31:58,493 --> 00:31:59,594 He didn't have to do that. 663 00:31:59,727 --> 00:32:02,297 He could've been André and retired undefeated. 664 00:32:02,430 --> 00:32:05,300 Who the hell's going to beat him. 665 00:32:05,433 --> 00:32:07,902 Greatest moment ever in my life as far as my career, 666 00:32:08,036 --> 00:32:11,940 it has to be that WrestleMania without a doubt. 667 00:32:12,807 --> 00:32:16,845 It was just the right time, the right people, the right place. 668 00:32:16,978 --> 00:32:19,881 It was just perfect. 669 00:32:24,085 --> 00:32:25,520 - So the rivalry isn't over yet. 670 00:32:25,653 --> 00:32:28,756 We have a very interesting controversial match. 671 00:32:28,890 --> 00:32:33,928 - André "The Giant", he has not been in a wrestling ring since 672 00:32:34,062 --> 00:32:39,501 he was robbed because of poor officiating and because of the 673 00:32:39,634 --> 00:32:42,604 likes of one man, Hulk Hogan. 674 00:32:42,737 --> 00:32:47,008 - Early in the WrestleMania III match, there's a moment where 675 00:32:47,141 --> 00:32:52,513 Hulk Hogan tries to body slam André "The Giant", and referee 676 00:32:52,647 --> 00:32:55,650 Joey Marella counts one, two, three, and then very quickly 677 00:32:55,783 --> 00:32:57,952 says, "No, his shoulder was up." 678 00:32:58,086 --> 00:32:59,020 Which it was. 679 00:32:59,153 --> 00:33:00,288 - Was that two or was that three? 680 00:33:00,421 --> 00:33:01,823 - Two count only. 681 00:33:01,956 --> 00:33:03,791 - Ooh, that was close, Gorilla. 682 00:33:03,925 --> 00:33:07,095 - But then that allowed André "The Giant" and 683 00:33:07,228 --> 00:33:10,164 Bobby "The Brain" Heenan to insist, "We beat Hulk Hogan, 684 00:33:10,298 --> 00:33:13,768 but because of backstage politics, we were screwed 685 00:33:13,902 --> 00:33:15,470 out of the championship." 686 00:33:15,603 --> 00:33:17,505 - Hogan is literally helpless. 687 00:33:17,639 --> 00:33:20,675 I'll tell you what, Hogan better never ever step into the ring 688 00:33:20,808 --> 00:33:22,310 with this man again. 689 00:33:22,443 --> 00:33:24,946 - We had to figure out a way to extend this. 690 00:33:25,079 --> 00:33:27,482 They're still drawing massive numbers. 691 00:33:27,615 --> 00:33:31,185 - You didn't believe me when I said that I would buy 692 00:33:31,319 --> 00:33:33,521 the World Wrestling -- Heavyweight title. 693 00:33:33,655 --> 00:33:36,791 I went out and I bought the eighth wonder of the world, 694 00:33:36,925 --> 00:33:38,192 André "The Giant". 695 00:33:38,326 --> 00:33:40,328 - Ted DiBiase, "The Million Dollar Man" 696 00:33:40,461 --> 00:33:43,398 is the guy that we've all interacted with. 697 00:33:43,531 --> 00:33:47,368 The guy that's made a ton of money, God knows how, 698 00:33:47,502 --> 00:33:49,704 and feels like he can rub it in your face. 699 00:33:49,837 --> 00:33:51,839 And if you have a problem with it, well, 700 00:33:51,973 --> 00:33:54,342 he'll just buy you off. 701 00:33:54,475 --> 00:33:57,612 - When I became "The Million Dollar Man", 702 00:33:57,745 --> 00:33:59,113 I had to go over the top. 703 00:33:59,247 --> 00:34:01,749 Everybody hates somebody who bullies people 704 00:34:01,883 --> 00:34:03,618 with their wealth. 705 00:34:03,751 --> 00:34:08,423 - I buy what I want, and I want the World Wrestling 706 00:34:08,556 --> 00:34:10,191 -- Heavyweight title. 707 00:34:10,325 --> 00:34:14,128 - Working with André, that was the-the first big deal 708 00:34:14,262 --> 00:34:15,697 when I was starting out. 709 00:34:15,830 --> 00:34:17,765 He was a great guy. 710 00:34:17,899 --> 00:34:19,400 He was really a great guy. 711 00:34:27,375 --> 00:34:30,378 - André "The Giant" and Hulk Hogan have a second meeting 712 00:34:30,511 --> 00:34:31,879 on the Main Event. 713 00:34:32,013 --> 00:34:35,083 The WWE Championship is on the line. 714 00:34:35,216 --> 00:34:38,119 - Hulk Hogan may wear the belt for now, but after tonight, 715 00:34:38,252 --> 00:34:40,989 that belt will fit as easily around André's waist 716 00:34:41,122 --> 00:34:43,291 as the giant's hands fit around Hogan's neck. 717 00:34:43,424 --> 00:34:46,461 [laughs] 718 00:34:46,594 --> 00:34:49,697 - The Main Event was huge in the fact that professional 719 00:34:49,831 --> 00:34:52,033 wrestling had not been on national television, 720 00:34:52,166 --> 00:34:54,102 and that scope since the '50s. 721 00:34:54,235 --> 00:34:56,704 - Welcome everyone to the Main Event. 722 00:34:56,838 --> 00:34:59,674 Welcome to the largest television audience in World 723 00:34:59,807 --> 00:35:01,275 Wrestling -- history. 724 00:35:01,409 --> 00:35:03,611 - 33 million people tune-in. 725 00:35:03,745 --> 00:35:06,881 Even today, if a network gets 10 million people to watch a show, 726 00:35:07,015 --> 00:35:08,850 they're ecstatic. 727 00:35:08,983 --> 00:35:12,553 Hulk Hogan and André "The Giant" they were this phenomenon. 728 00:35:12,687 --> 00:35:14,088 - The Hulkster draws the line. 729 00:35:14,222 --> 00:35:17,692 He wants André "The Giant". 730 00:35:17,825 --> 00:35:19,827 Here comes André. 731 00:35:19,961 --> 00:35:21,295 Oh, yeah. 732 00:35:21,429 --> 00:35:23,898 - Listen to these fans. 733 00:35:24,032 --> 00:35:27,035 André spins the Hulkster around. 734 00:35:27,168 --> 00:35:28,770 Suplex right on top of him. 735 00:35:28,903 --> 00:35:29,937 - He's on him. 736 00:35:30,071 --> 00:35:31,906 - One, we got two, that's it. 737 00:35:32,040 --> 00:35:33,174 We got a winner. 738 00:35:33,307 --> 00:35:34,742 He got him. 739 00:35:34,876 --> 00:35:36,444 The referee counted three. 740 00:35:36,577 --> 00:35:38,046 We've got a new World Champion. 741 00:35:38,179 --> 00:35:40,114 - Hogan kicks out at one. 742 00:35:40,248 --> 00:35:42,683 He's looking to the crowd, "You had to have seen it." 743 00:35:42,817 --> 00:35:44,419 The crowd's sitting there, "We saw it." 744 00:35:44,552 --> 00:35:45,520 - He can't believe it. 745 00:35:45,653 --> 00:35:47,055 He's saying it was only two. 746 00:35:47,188 --> 00:35:49,323 He's-- He can't be giving the title to André. 747 00:35:49,457 --> 00:35:50,591 - You tried to steal. 748 00:35:52,093 --> 00:35:53,895 - Yeah, you tried to steal from Hulk Hogan. 749 00:36:01,502 --> 00:36:03,705 - He's-- He can't be giving the title to André. 750 00:36:03,838 --> 00:36:04,705 He can't be. 751 00:36:04,839 --> 00:36:06,274 He's going to present it. 752 00:36:06,407 --> 00:36:09,444 He presents it to André, raises his hand. 753 00:36:09,577 --> 00:36:11,546 - We have new World Champion. 754 00:36:11,679 --> 00:36:14,248 - Uh, that was just a ceremonial thing, uh, 755 00:36:14,382 --> 00:36:16,184 for André just to have the championship around 756 00:36:16,317 --> 00:36:18,119 his waist just one time. 757 00:36:18,252 --> 00:36:20,188 André definitely didn't need a-a championship, 758 00:36:20,321 --> 00:36:22,390 but he always had the title of champion- 759 00:36:22,523 --> 00:36:23,291 - Right. 760 00:36:23,424 --> 00:36:24,325 -in this business. 761 00:36:30,198 --> 00:36:32,266 - Even André's got a price? 762 00:36:32,400 --> 00:36:33,968 What a no good stinky giant. 763 00:36:35,369 --> 00:36:36,571 - Everybody's got a price. 764 00:36:36,704 --> 00:36:39,240 [laughs] 765 00:36:39,373 --> 00:36:41,743 - As a fan watching the Main Event, it was such a shock 766 00:36:41,876 --> 00:36:44,212 seeing André hand the championship to 767 00:36:44,345 --> 00:36:45,613 "The Million Dollar Man". 768 00:36:45,747 --> 00:36:48,649 André had just won the championship moments earlier, 769 00:36:48,783 --> 00:36:50,384 and he just gives the belt away. 770 00:36:56,290 --> 00:36:57,625 - How much did he pay you for that belt? 771 00:36:57,759 --> 00:36:59,761 [laughter] 772 00:36:59,894 --> 00:37:03,731 - Never in my wildest dreams "Mean" Gene would I think 773 00:37:03,865 --> 00:37:06,134 that I would get ripped off by a penny-pinching, 774 00:37:06,267 --> 00:37:07,235 two-timing referee. 775 00:37:07,368 --> 00:37:08,569 Look at the shoulder. 776 00:37:08,703 --> 00:37:10,571 The referee is paid off, brother. 777 00:37:10,705 --> 00:37:13,241 Look at the hundred dollar bills falling out of his pocket. 778 00:37:13,374 --> 00:37:14,709 - I know you're disappointed, Hulk Hogan. 779 00:37:14,842 --> 00:37:17,111 Vince McMahon, Jesse Ventura, back to you. 780 00:37:17,245 --> 00:37:18,212 - Hulkamaniac. 781 00:37:25,319 --> 00:37:27,121 - And Alfred, I know you are excited about the steel cage 782 00:37:27,255 --> 00:37:30,658 match featuring Hulk Hogan and André "The Giant". 783 00:37:30,791 --> 00:37:33,494 - Sure, without a shadow of a doubt the most dangerous match 784 00:37:33,628 --> 00:37:36,230 in professional wrestling today is a cage match. 785 00:37:36,364 --> 00:37:38,065 In one corner, you have André "The Giant" 786 00:37:38,199 --> 00:37:40,268 who's in excess of 500 pounds. 787 00:37:40,401 --> 00:37:41,969 In the other corner, you have the greatest wrestler 788 00:37:42,103 --> 00:37:45,873 in the world, Hulk Hogan. 789 00:37:46,007 --> 00:37:47,742 - There will be a winner in this one when one 790 00:37:47,875 --> 00:37:51,512 of the opponents goes over the top of the steel cage. 791 00:37:51,646 --> 00:38:00,188 [crowd chants "Hogan"] 792 00:38:00,321 --> 00:38:04,091 - They needed an exclamation point for this rivalry 793 00:38:04,225 --> 00:38:07,094 between André and Hulk. 794 00:38:07,995 --> 00:38:10,198 I think people sensed that this was probably 795 00:38:10,331 --> 00:38:14,035 it between these two. 796 00:38:16,003 --> 00:38:19,574 Some very gifted athletes, a lot of times they may have 797 00:38:19,707 --> 00:38:22,944 a-a unbelievable injury they're suffering through. 798 00:38:23,044 --> 00:38:25,646 And somehow they rise to the next level, 799 00:38:25,780 --> 00:38:28,649 which separates them from everybody else 800 00:38:28,783 --> 00:38:30,685 who can't do what they do. 801 00:38:30,818 --> 00:38:33,721 That was one of those nights for André. 802 00:38:34,989 --> 00:38:37,458 Because if you saw him backstage and how he moved, 803 00:38:37,592 --> 00:38:39,861 you would've thought, "How in the world is this guy 804 00:38:39,994 --> 00:38:43,231 going to get into the ring and participate 805 00:38:43,364 --> 00:38:45,433 in a steel cage match?" 806 00:38:45,566 --> 00:38:48,169 And yet, he did it. 807 00:38:48,302 --> 00:38:51,138 Once he got in there, you could just see it. 808 00:38:51,272 --> 00:38:53,207 He changed. 809 00:38:54,742 --> 00:38:57,411 - There was an exclamation. to that rivalry. 810 00:38:57,545 --> 00:38:59,814 That was it. 811 00:38:59,947 --> 00:39:02,483 - He came out with a big heart. 812 00:39:02,617 --> 00:39:08,289 And he could have said no, he didn't need to do this 813 00:39:08,422 --> 00:39:13,761 but André showed up and-and did his job. 814 00:39:15,930 --> 00:39:18,766 - They said early on in his life that maybe there was 815 00:39:18,899 --> 00:39:20,368 a treatment that can make him stop growing. 816 00:39:20,501 --> 00:39:25,439 I think in some ways André knew that's what made him who he was. 817 00:39:25,573 --> 00:39:28,943 - Most extraordinary athlete of this or any other generation 818 00:39:29,076 --> 00:39:31,012 ladies and gentlemen. 819 00:39:31,145 --> 00:39:33,981 - And then he also felt that it was God's plan. 820 00:39:34,115 --> 00:39:37,451 And he never pursued anything that might change that. 821 00:39:39,553 --> 00:39:46,794 God, he loved this business and gave everything to it. 822 00:39:51,032 --> 00:39:54,602 What is the saddest parts about that whole thing is that 823 00:39:54,735 --> 00:39:59,373 in the end with André just being this hunched over, 824 00:39:59,507 --> 00:40:03,878 obviously in pain person, André had nothing else. 825 00:40:04,011 --> 00:40:06,914 That was his-his life. 826 00:40:07,048 --> 00:40:11,319 - What does the future hold for André "The Giant"? 827 00:40:11,452 --> 00:40:18,759 - Well what it is, the doctor said you'll be better than ever. 828 00:40:22,596 --> 00:40:23,898 We never know. 829 00:40:24,031 --> 00:40:25,900 - And I think about that, I get emotional too. 830 00:40:26,033 --> 00:40:29,236 Like I-I just think about seeing him those days. 831 00:40:29,370 --> 00:40:30,971 And just like I felt like, "Don't go out, André. 832 00:40:31,105 --> 00:40:32,807 Don't go out there." 833 00:40:35,209 --> 00:40:37,812 - He just didn't know what to do with himself. 834 00:40:40,881 --> 00:40:47,621 He goes, "I'm still living but I don't feel like living anymore." 835 00:40:47,755 --> 00:40:49,690 So he passed shortly after that. 836 00:41:09,543 --> 00:41:12,780 - One man was magic. he was an actual giant. 837 00:41:12,913 --> 00:41:14,382 We didn't need CGI. 838 00:41:14,515 --> 00:41:16,017 He literally existed. 839 00:41:16,150 --> 00:41:19,987 And the other was our hero that we believed in. 840 00:41:20,121 --> 00:41:22,890 He told us to say our prayers so we did, eat our vitamins 841 00:41:23,023 --> 00:41:25,126 so I ate Flinstone's vitamins. 842 00:41:25,259 --> 00:41:27,428 That's the power that these men had. 843 00:41:27,561 --> 00:41:29,630 - It really set the tone for WWE from that moment on-- 844 00:41:29,764 --> 00:41:30,898 Yeah. 845 00:41:31,031 --> 00:41:31,932 - -about good versus bad. 846 00:41:32,066 --> 00:41:33,234 - Yeah. 847 00:41:33,367 --> 00:41:34,201 - And-and why that's so important in storytelling, 848 00:41:34,335 --> 00:41:36,704 especially within our company. 849 00:41:36,837 --> 00:41:40,541 - For the superstar today, if they're thinking about being 850 00:41:40,674 --> 00:41:43,511 big-time superstars, they better be thinking about 851 00:41:43,644 --> 00:41:48,382 André "The Giant" and Hulk Hogan and how do I attain that? 852 00:41:48,516 --> 00:41:49,750 - Yeah. 853 00:41:49,884 --> 00:41:52,720 - And there again, that's a tough hill to climb. 854 00:41:54,755 --> 00:41:57,291 - There's never going to be two characters that were built 855 00:41:57,425 --> 00:42:00,094 that way for so long. 856 00:42:00,227 --> 00:42:02,596 - André has proven himself worldwide. 857 00:42:02,730 --> 00:42:06,367 If Hulk Hogan can defeat André "The Giant", 858 00:42:06,500 --> 00:42:09,703 he will become the biggest man literally as well as 859 00:42:09,837 --> 00:42:12,506 figuratively in pro-wrestling today. 860 00:42:14,208 --> 00:42:18,012 - The credibility André had, the credibility he bestowed upon 861 00:42:18,145 --> 00:42:24,018 me in such a beautiful storyline that was real. 862 00:42:24,151 --> 00:42:26,854 - We're seeing what this guy is really made of. 863 00:42:26,987 --> 00:42:29,557 That he is the greatest professional athlete 864 00:42:29,690 --> 00:42:30,558 in the world today. 865 00:42:30,691 --> 00:42:31,792 Look at this. 866 00:42:31,926 --> 00:42:33,861 - He slammed him. 867 00:42:33,994 --> 00:42:35,529 - Unbelievable. 868 00:42:35,663 --> 00:42:39,433 - I could feel it when he warmed up to me. 869 00:42:39,567 --> 00:42:44,004 I could feel it when he started liking me. 870 00:42:44,138 --> 00:42:46,373 I could feel it when he had respect for me. 871 00:42:48,943 --> 00:42:52,446 He didn't do that with anybody. 872 00:42:56,750 --> 00:42:59,753 [grunt] 873 00:42:59,887 --> 00:43:01,288 That was a different -different time. 874 00:43:01,422 --> 00:43:02,990 That's for sure.