Andre the Giant
|
 Andre the Giant Andre the Giant(May 19, 1946 January 27, 1993) was a professional wrestler and actor, born Andre Rene Roussimoff in Molien, France. His great size was a result of acromegaly, or excessive growth hormone, and led to him being dubbed "The Eighth Wonder of the World."Andre Roussimoff was a very imposing figure it is said that he never tested the full extent of his true strength because he was afraid of the damage it might cause. Some of Roussimoff's opponents were legitimately afraid to get in the ring with him for fear of getting accidentally injured, but those who got to know him soon learned that his personality was perhaps one of the gentlest in the world. It is also said that Roussimoff could drink an entire case of beer and not feel so much as a buzz. He was offered a professional American football contract with the Washington Redskins after a tryout in 1974 and seriously considered it before turning it down, reasoning that he could make far more money wrestling (which was probably true, especially at that time). He was one of the WWF's most beloved "babyfaces" throughout the 1970s and early '80s, and for 14 years never lost by pinfall or submission in a WWF ring, before being pinned by Hulk Hogan on March 29, 1987 at WrestleMania III. Roussimoff had lost clean in matches outside of the parameters of the WWF; a pinfall loss in Mexico to El Canek in 1984, and in Japan, a submission loss to Antonio Inoki in 1986. He also went 60-minute time limit draws with the two other major world champions of the day, Harley Race and Nick Bockwinkel. He stopped competing entirely in the very early 1990s due to the increasing pain his illness was causing him, retiring to his winery in France. His heart finally failed him in 1993, and Roussimoff passed away peacefully in his sleep at a hotel in Paris while in town for his father's funeral. He was cremated and his ashes were spread over his ranch in Ellerbe, North Carolina. It is said that when he died, an autopsy was done on him. This autopsy revealed to the doctors that his heart was the size of two fists. To honor Andre the Giant, the WWF created the WWF Hall of Fame in 1993 and made him their first inductee. Andre The Giant Pictures    Andre the Giant
|
|||||
View My Stats