Andre the Giant vs Big Show – Who Wins?
By Rodney Davis
Defying all logic, in this dream match of André the Giant vs. Big Show, who wins?
The world of professional wrestling has historically been centered around technical wrestlers or high flyers to a degree. However, very few have been of great size or girth. André the Giant was one of the first truly gifted giants to grace the world of professional wrestling and the Big Show came along several years later.
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In the ultimate matchup of matchups, André vs Big Show – who wins?
Standing at 7’4″, 520 lbs, out of Grenoble of the French Alps – André the Giant! André was a behemoth of a man. In fact, at the age of 12 André stood 6’3″ and weighed roughly 240 lbs.
What is even more alarming is that size was normal in Andre’s family, as his grandfather stood 7’8′.
He suffered from acromegaly, which is caused by growth hormone which ultimately led to health problems and his untimely death.
At the beginning of his career, André was an athletic giant, who at one point, performed dropkicks and maneuvers those half his size would do routinely.
However, when he signed with Vince McMahon Sr., he was discouraged from performing such manuevers. Despite having to tone down his offensive attack, André was a box office draw who was booked all over the world.
In his heyday, André was the highest paid wrestler in the world raking in a reported $400,000 a year.
André feuded with such greats as Antonio Inoki, Harley Race, and Nick Bockwinkel. But his greatest feud came against the immortal Hulk Hogan with the two having one of the greatest matches in history at WrestleMania 3.
It was around that time though that Andre’s health took a turn for the worse, sapping his ability to move around and be effective. His in-ring career culminated with All Japan Pro wrestling in 1992.
Standing at 7-feet tall and at his peak weighing between 440 lbs to upwards of over 500 lbs – the Big Show! Like André, Big Show suffered from acromegaly but surgery corrected his condition.
Big Show was 6’2″ and about 220 lbs at childhood, similar to the growth spurt of André in his youth.
A legitimate argument could be made that the Big Show is the greatest giant in professional wrestling history. Just looking at his accolades, you would be hard pressed to make an argument against that notion.
How many wrestlers have won a World Heavyweight Championship in their professional wrestling debut? Not many. Big Show is a former 7-time world champion, Intercontinental Champion, U.S. Champion, Tag Team Champion and most recently the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal winner, obviously named in honor of André the Giant.
Big Show was perhaps the better athlete of the two, having been a standout basketball player in high school and played in college as well.
In a match, André, who was the larger of the two, by the way would possibly impose his will on Big Show. However, the Big Show was arguably stronger and quicker and could more than hold his own. In fact if I had to choose, I believe Big Show would win.
The reason I feel that way is because André, in the latter stages of his career, was not very mobile, didn’t have many moves in his arsenal and was not very versatile. Even though he was the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” in the end, he would ultimately taste defeat by one, maybe two knockout punches.
What are your thoughts on this match? Leave your comments below.
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