Natalya Neidhart: Andre The Giant had same hopes, dreams as rest of us
Posted: May 6th 2018 By: Natalya Neidhart
Andre The Giant was not only a huge personality, he was larger than life. He was born Andre Rene Roussimoff and became known as the “8th Wonder of the World” in WWE where he spent much of his career and turned into a global pop culture icon.
Andre was the man everyone lovingly referred to as “Boss” and its been said that if Andre respected someone, he would affectionately call them “Boss” in return.
Given all that I’ve heard about Andre The Giant, I felt compelled to write about him because, while his life was incredibly fascinating, he was also relatable. While he may have been a headliner at every event, towered over everyone, and dominated inside the ring, he also had the same hopes, dreams and fears as the rest of us.
Andre, like myself and so many others, experienced bullying in his life. When he would walk through airports, people would stop and stare and make comments about his appearance. It hurt him very much, but Andre rose above it and he taught others to do that too.
My uncle, Bret “The Hitman” Hart spoke to Steve Austin on his podcast about what a true professional Andre was. In the ring, Bret said that sometimes Andre didn’t get enough credit for being so agile and coordinated for his size. Bret recalled a match in Italy where Andre had secretly requested to wrestle him. Bret recalled thinking to himself, “How am I gonna pull this off? I’m wrestling Andre tonight!?” But Andre was as cool as a cucumber and ultimately, they had an incredible match that Bret would never forget.
The Hitman and my dad, Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart, were both lucky enough to have the chance to create a very special WrestleMania moment with Andre the Giant at WrestleMania 2 in 1986. The Hart Foundation were the last two men standing in the ring against Andre in a Battle Royal. Andre pressed slammed The Hitman onto my dad to win the match. My dad said that it was one of the most special moments of his career because Andre was someone my dad looked up to so much, literally and figuratively.
Andre also had worked for my grandfather Stu Hart as a special guest during Calgary’s world famous “Stampede Week.” Stu was in awe of Andre and so was my grandmother, Helen Hart.
Before WrestleMania 6, Andre’s last WrestleMania, he knew that his body wouldn’t be able to handle competing in the ring much longer. The Superstars that surrounded him in WWE knew that once Andre was gone from the locker room, it would be the end of an era. In true Hitman fashion, Bret decided to do something special. As a cartoonist, Bret drew a cartoon of Andre, as his way of thanking him for everything. Andre was so touched; he had a sensitive side to him, just like every one of us.
The world still talks about Andre like he is here today. Andre is universally remembered as one of the kindest, most generous and gentle Superstars in WWE history.
Here’s to you, “Boss.”
Supplemental Information
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Spotlight in History
- 1979 Mike Sharpe, Jr. def. Mike George for the MSW Mississippi Title
- 1982 David Von Erich def. Bill Irwin for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. Michael Hayes & Steve Cox for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
- 2014 Simply Irresistible (Matthew Palmer & James Johnson) def. The Dark Circle (Mace Malone & Apoc) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
- 2015 Loaded Guns (Jon Cross & Brandon Walker) def. The Rising (Riker & Abel) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
- 2015 Brian Breaker def. Clint Cassidy for the UWE United States Title
- 2015 Zakk Sinizter def. Anarchy [2nd] for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 2015 Jon Cross became the WFC Heavyweight Champion
- 2019 MVP became the WCR Imperial Champion
- 2020 Pastor Brent became the WAH Heavyweight Champion
- 2021 Maui Mike def. Thrash for the ASP Mid-American Title
- 2021 Brixton Barricade def. Brandon Barricade for the ASP All Time Title
- 2021 Malik Mayfield def. Jerome Daniel Griffey for the ASP Livestream Title
- 2021 Double D def. Jerome Daniel Griffey for the ASP 5-Star Title
Week of Sun 09-13 to Sat: 09-19
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- 09-13 1974 Jose Lothario def. El Gran Markus for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 09-13 1987 Eric Embry became the WCCW World Light Heavyweight Champion
- 09-13 2008 Dustin Heritage def. Kenny Campbell for the IZW Impact Division Title
- 09-13 2008 Impact, Inc. (Johnny Z & Bernie D) def. Nathan Sensation & Striker for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 09-13 2008 Shawn Sanders def. Kevin Morgan for the OECW Heavyweight Title
- 09-13 2008 Martin Justice became the OECW Southwestern Champion
- 09-13 2009 3rd Rail def. Maniac Mike for the SWCW Hardcore Title
- 09-13 2009 Maniac Mike became the SWCW Hardcore Champion
- 09-13 2014 J. R. Orullian & Running Wolf became the NAW Tag Team Champions
- 09-13 2014 The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Billy Ray [1st]) def. J. R. Orullian & Running Wolf for the NAW Tag Team Titles
- 09-13 2014 The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Running Wolf) became the NAW Tag Team Champions
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- 09-13 2025 Michael H became the NAW Openweight Champion
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- 09-13 2026 Max Leon def. Lunchador for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
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- 09-15 1969 The Medics (Medic #1 & Medic #2) def. Alberto Torres & Ramon Torres for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 09-15 1980 Junkyard Dog & Terry Orndorff def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 09-15 1986 Black Bart def. Chris Adams for the WCCW World Title
- 09-15 2007 Sudden Impact (Sudden Impact 1 & Sudden Impact 2) def. Texas, Inc. (Bernard Funk & Tim Rockwell) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
- 09-15 2007 Anthony Jackson def. AWOL for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
- 09-15 2007 Shane Morbid def. Justin Lee for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 09-15 2012 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
- 09-15 2018 Chavo Guerrero, Jr. def. MVP for the WCR Heavyweight Title
- 09-15 2019 Chaz Sharpe def. James Southard for the ASP Inter-County Title
- 09-15 2023 Jastin Taylor def. Sam Stackhouse for the BCW Heavyweight Title
- 09-16 1975 John Tolos def. Al Madril for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 09-16 1988 Michael Hayes & Steve Cox def. The Samoan SWAT Team (Fatu & Samu) for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
- 09-16 2005 Lily McKenzie def. Chiquita Suzuki for the SRPW Womens Title
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- 09-16 2006 Ryan Davidson became the IZW Impact Division Champion
- 09-16 2017 Paige Turner def. Erica for the IZW Womens Title
- 09-16 2017 Skyler Fayden def. Riker for the UWE Heavyweight Title
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- 09-16 2022 Shane Taylor def. Johnny Bedlam for the TexPro Heavyweight Title
- 09-16 2023 Red James def. Ozzy Hendrix for the EPW Internet Television Title
- 09-17 1979 The Spoiler & Mark Lewin def. Kerry Von Erich & Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
- 09-17 2004 Bobby Dalton def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW Hardcore Title
- 09-17 2008 Michael Faith became the TCB Heavyweight Champion
- 09-17 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the TCB Dual Kombat Champion
- 09-17 2008 Michael Faith became the TCBW Heavyweight Champion
- 09-17 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the TCBW Dual Kombat Champion
- 09-17 2010 Dane Griffin def. Cody Jones for the NWA-OK Texoma Title
- 09-17 2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Montego Seeka) became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
- 09-17 2010 Michael Faith def. Dane Griffin for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
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- 09-17 2026 T. J. Spade became the ASP WTF Champion
- 09-18 1967 Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma def. Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 09-18 2005 Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch def. The Hurricane & Rosey for the WWE RAW World Tag Team Titles
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- 09-19 1979 Mike Sharpe, Jr. def. Mike George for the MSW Mississippi Title
- 09-19 1982 David Von Erich def. Bill Irwin for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 09-19 1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. Michael Hayes & Steve Cox for the WCCW World Tag Team Titles
- 09-19 2014 Simply Irresistible (Matthew Palmer & James Johnson) def. The Dark Circle (Mace Malone & Apoc) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
- 09-19 2015 Loaded Guns (Jon Cross & Brandon Walker) def. The Rising (Riker & Abel) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
- 09-19 2015 Brian Breaker def. Clint Cassidy for the UWE United States Title
- 09-19 2015 Zakk Sinizter def. Anarchy [2nd] for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 09-19 2015 Jon Cross became the WFC Heavyweight Champion
- 09-19 2019 MVP became the WCR Imperial Champion
- 09-19 2020 Pastor Brent became the WAH Heavyweight Champion
- 09-19 2021 Maui Mike def. Thrash for the ASP Mid-American Title
- 09-19 2021 Brixton Barricade def. Brandon Barricade for the ASP All Time Title
- 09-19 2021 Malik Mayfield def. Jerome Daniel Griffey for the ASP Livestream Title
- 09-19 2021 Double D def. Jerome Daniel Griffey for the ASP 5-Star Title
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Current Champions
Texoma Pro Wrestling
Heavyweight Champion
Exodus Prime
- Tag Team Champions: RevolutionX
- Red River Champion: Phil Shark
- Dynasty Champion: Rook Tyler