André the Giant Rankings And Opinions

Ranking André the Giant is a little like ranking mountains. Sure, you can argue about which peak is “best,” but at some point
you’re mostly trying to describe how it feels to look up and realize: Oh. That’s not a hill. That’s a whole situation.
André (born André René Roussimoff) wasn’t just a pro wrestler with a memorable gimmickhe was an attraction, a myth factory,
and a pop-culture shortcut for the phrase “larger than life.”

This article is a fan-friendly, SEO-ready guide to the most common André rankingshis biggest moments, most meaningful rivals,
most rewatchable matches, and the opinions people keep debating like it’s a family recipe (“No, you must start with WrestleMania III!”).
We’ll also separate the fun legends from the sturdier facts, because André’s legacy is a cocktail of both.

How to Rank a Legend Without Starting a Group Chat War

Before we start stacking moments like pancakes, it helps to agree on the “why.” Different fans rank André differently because
they’re measuring different things. Here are the most useful ranking criteria (pick three, like you’re building a fantasy team):

1) Historical impact

Did this moment change wrestling history, WWE history, or the way fans talk about the business? “Impact” moments often become
shorthand: you say the year, and everyone knows the scene.

2) Storytelling and character

André’s best work wasn’t always about athletic fireworks. It was about scale, pacing, and presence. He could make a single stare
feel like a plot twist.

3) Rewatch value

Some moments are famous; others are fun to actually rewatch. The difference matters. History is important, but so is: “Will I enjoy
this on a random Tuesday?”

4) Cross-over fame

André is one of the rare wrestlers whose name travels outside wrestling circles. If your aunt who never watched wrestling still knows
“the giant from The Princess Bride,” that’s cross-over power.

5) Myth factor

André’s legend lives in storiessome true, some “true in spirit,” some “please don’t repeat that at a science fair.” Myth factor is part
of the fun, but it also needs guardrails.

Ranking André’s Most Iconic Wrestling Moments

This list focuses on moments fans cite most often when they’re making “Top André” rankings. It’s not a “best technical wrestling” list.
It’s a “this is why André is André” list.

1. WrestleMania III: Hogan vs. André (1987)

   The bodyslam is the headline, but the real achievement is the spectacle: the crowd, the stakes, the aura of the “Eighth Wonder.”
   Even people who don’t love the match respect the moment because it became a cultural postcard for 1980s wrestling.

2. The “15-year undefeated streak” narrative

   Whether you treat it as strict record-keeping or classic wrestling mythology, the undefeated framing made André feel like a boss fight
   before video games taught us what boss fights were.

3. WrestleMania I: The Big John Studd Body Slam Challenge

   A simple stipulation (“slam him and win”) turned into a perfect André showcase. It’s one of the clearest examples of how promoters used
   his size as a story engine: the move itself was the drama.

4. WrestleMania 2: Winning the WWE/NFL Battle Royal

   This is peak “André as attraction.” The mix of celebrities, athletes, and wrestlers is very of-the-era, but André winning makes the whole
   concept feel inevitablelike gravity showing up on the card.

5. Showdown at Shea (1980): Early Hogan vs. André

   Long before WrestleMania III turned into the official legend, there were earlier clashes that show how the rivalry was built over time.
   If you want to see the ingredients before the famous recipe, this is essential.

6. “The Giant turns villain” era

   For years André was framed as beloved, almost untouchably heroic. The heel runpaired with a manager and aimed at Hoganrepositioned him
   as a final boss rather than a friendly attraction.

7. Late-career appearances that show the human cost

   These aren’t “highlight reel” moments. They’re important because they shape modern opinion: many fans re-rank André when they realize how much
   pain and limitation existed behind the character.

8. Being treated as the measuring stick for “giant” wrestlers

   André isn’t just remembered; he’s used as a unit of comparison. If someone is tall, strong, or special-attraction famous, the question becomes:
   “Is this the next André?” (Usually the answer is “No, but nice try.”)

Ranking the Rivals Who Best Defined André

André worked across eras and territories, but certain opponents are consistently ranked highest because they created clear, memorable stories
that fit André’s strengths.

1. Hulk Hogan

   The rivalry is the cornerstone of mainstream André mythology. It’s the easiest shorthand for his peak fame, and it’s still the first reference
   point for casual fans.

2. Big John Studd

   Studd is the “slam the big man” opponentsomeone whose size made the stipulation feel meaningful, and whose role made André’s strength and popularity
   pop on a national stage.

3. “The territory circuit” opponents (the attraction tour)

   André’s reputation was built by moving him around so crowds wouldn’t get used to seeing a human spectacle every week. The rival list here is long,
   but the category matters: it’s how he became a traveling main event.

4. “The business itself” (booking, expectations, and his body)

   This is the rival fans talk about more now than they did in the 1980s: the physical toll, the schedule, and the pressure to keep being the giant
   even when the body is begging for a different job description.

Ranking the André Matches to Watch First

If you’re building your own rankings (or just trying to understand why André is still discussed decades later), here’s a practical watch order.
Think of it as a “starter pack” rather than a definitive list.

1. WrestleMania III (for cultural impact)

   Watch it once for the moment and the crowd energy. Then rewatch key stretches and notice the pacinghow the match is structured to make every
   small shift feel huge.

2. WrestleMania I vs. Big John Studd (for André as spectacle)

   This shows André’s superpower: turning a single payoff (the slam) into a main-event-level release.

3. Showdown at Shea (for “before the legend hardened”)

   Earlier André can feel more mobile and less burdened by the later-career physical grind. It’s a useful contrast if you’re forming opinions about
   his overall in-ring ability.

4. WrestleMania 2 Battle Royal (for the era’s vibe)

   It’s messy in the way battle royals often are, but it captures André’s “gravity”: when he’s in the ring, he becomes the center of the room.

Ranking the Myths: From “Basically True” to “Okay, Come On”

André’s story comes with legendary side quests: impossible bar tabs, superhuman strength, and “I swear this happened” anecdotes.
Some myths are supported by credible retellings; others are better treated as folklore that tells you what people felt about André.

1. Myth: “No one ever bodyslammed André before WrestleMania III.”

   This is the classic example of wrestling narrative vs. literal history. Even WWE has discussed how the “never been slammed” claim is more legend than ledger.
   The point wasn’t the first slam ever; it was the slam that became an icon.

2. Myth: “André drank an impossible number of beers in one sitting.”

   The exact numbers vary wildly, and that’s your clue to treat the math gently. What’s consistent is the underlying theme: people remembered André’s appetite
   because it matched his size, and because it became part of the touring-road-life mythology.

3. Myth: “André could flip a car like it was a shopping cart.”

   You’ll hear versions of this story in different places with different settings. Some accounts frame it as possible, others as unlikely. Either way, it’s a useful myth:
   it shows how people processed his strengthby telling stories that sounded like comic-book panels.

4. Myth: “André’s life was all fun and fame.”

   Modern opinion has corrected this one hard. Health issues, chronic pain, and the realities of living with a growth-hormone disorder reshape how many fans rank his career:
   the legend is still huge, but the human story is sharper.

Ranking André’s Pop-Culture Legacy

If you only know André from one thing, it’s usually either WrestleMania III or The Princess Bride. But his legacy has multiple lanes.

1. Fezzik in The Princess Bride (1987)

   This role is the “gentle giant” distilled into a character. It’s also a rare case where André’s size is part of the charm without being the whole joke.
   Fans still quote Fezzik lines and talk about André’s warmth on set.

2. The HBO documentary era of reappraisal

   Documentaries don’t just recapthey reframe. The best André retrospectives moved the conversation from “how huge was he?” to “what did it cost to be that huge,
   and what did it do to his relationships and daily life?”

3. The annual “André the Giant” name as an honorific

   WWE’s ongoing tributes, including the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, function like a yearly reminder: even in a modern roster full of giants and stars,
   André remains the reference point.

4. Internet culture: memes, stories, and “Eighth Wonder” shorthand

   André’s image and nickname became portable. People who can’t name five wrestlers can still describe “that massive guy from old wrestling” with surprising accuracy.
   That’s cultural stickiness.

What Today’s Rankings Often Miss

Most rankings focus on the famous beats, but the “opinions” part of André’s legacy has evolved. Fans now talk about context: medical reality, the wear-and-tear of travel,
and what a growth-hormone disorder can do over time.

Acromegaly and the real-world toll

Acromegaly is a condition typically caused by the body producing too much growth hormone (often due to a pituitary tumor), leading to enlarged hands and feet, changes in facial features,
and other complications. The medical side matters because it reframes the “giant” not as a gimmick, but as a lifelong circumstance that can come with serious health risks.

The difference between “legend” and “life”

Rankings can celebrate the spectacle while still acknowledging the hard parts: chronic pain, mobility issues, and the pressure to keep performing. The best modern takes don’t shrink André’s legend;
they make it more humanand, honestly, more impressive.

Conclusion

André the Giant rankings will never fully agree, because André wasn’t one thing. He was a once-in-a-generation attraction, a key figure in wrestling’s mainstream explosion, a beloved movie character,
and a person living with a body that brought both fame and heavy consequences. Even the way he diedfound in a Paris hotel room in 1993 at age 46has become part of the solemn framing around his story:
the legend was enormous, and the time was shorter than it should have been.

If you want a “final answer” ranking, here’s the simplest takeaway: WrestleMania III is the peak moment, Fezzik is the peak crossover role, and the myths are part of the brandbut not the full truth.
The rest depends on what you value most: impact, storytelling, rewatchability, or the human story behind the giant.

Experiences: How Fans Build Their Own André the Giant Rankings (and Actually Enjoy Doing It)

The best André rankings aren’t made in a spreadsheet; they’re made in the middle of experiencesrewatches, conversations, and the slow realization that “giant” is both a spectacle and a biography.
If you want to create your own ranking (and not feel like you’re just copying the internet), start with a simple ritual: a three-night André marathon. Night one is the history nightwatch WrestleMania III
and pay attention to the crowd, the camera, the pacing, and the way the match is structured to make every movement matter. Pause after the slam and notice how the reaction feels like a collective exhale.
That’s why the moment ranks so high, even for fans who prefer flashier in-ring styles.

Night two is the “before it was carved into legend” night. Pick an earlier Hogan vs. André encounter and compare it to WrestleMania III. Fans often describe this as the experience that changes their opinion:
André can look more agile, less like a monument and more like a performer who understands timing. You start to see that his reputation wasn’t only “big guy shows up.” It was “big guy understands how to hold a room.”
When people say André was a special attraction, this is what they mean: he didn’t need to do everything; he needed to make you feel something.

Night three is the crossover night: The Princess Bride. Watching André as Fezzik often rearranges rankings all by itself. Fans go in expecting “the giant,” and leave remembering “the gentle giant.”
It’s a different kind of charismasoft, funny, and surprisingly tender. Modern fan opinions often rank Fezzik higher than you’d expect because it proves André’s appeal wasn’t limited to wrestling audiences.
The most common reaction is basically: “He could’ve been intimidating, but he chose warmth.” That choice becomes a ranking criterion.

Another experience that shapes rankings is simply talking to fans from different eras. Older fans often rank the touring-era André higher because they remember what it felt like when a “special attraction” came to town
and it was the biggest thing on the card. Younger fans might rank him through the lens of media availabilitywhat’s easiest to stream, clip, and share. Neither is wrong; they’re ranking different experiences.
If you can, ask someone what their first André memory was. The answers are rarely technical; they’re emotional. “He felt unreal.” “He looked like a comic book.” “The whole room reacted when he moved.”
That’s valuable data, even if it won’t fit neatly into a top-10 list.

Finally, there’s the “myth management” experience: learning which stories are documented, which are disputed, and which are folklore that survived because it captured a truth about how André was perceived.
Fans who do this tend to create the most satisfying rankings, because they keep the fun without turning every exaggeration into a fact. You can love the larger-than-life stories and still respect the real-world context
including the medical reality of acromegaly and the toll it can take over time. In practice, that’s how most people end up ranking André highest of all: not because every story is literally true, but because the impact was.