A Titan at the Crossroads
It was billed as “the irresistible force meeting the immovable object.” But for André the Giant, the journey to WrestleMania III was less about spectacle and more about survival. Behind the roar of the Pontiac Silverdome crowd and the bright lights of the WWF’s biggest event, André faced a private war – against his body, against time, and ultimately, against his closest friend.
The year before WrestleMania III was a trial of pain, pride, and betrayal. As the world prepared for the most iconic clash in wrestling history, André wrestled with something deeper than Hulk Hogan: the realization that his body was failing him, and that this match might be his final chance to remind the world that he was still the Eighth Wonder.
Pontiac Silverdome filled to capacity, 1987
A Giant’s Decline and a Silver Screen Break
By 1986, André’s physical decline was undeniable. Years of acromegaly – a disorder that caused his body to grow beyond its natural limits – had left his joints ravaged, his spine curved, and his mobility compromised. His once effortless gait had slowed to a deliberate trudge. Every step, every bump in the ring, carried with it pain that no one could see.
That year, André quietly disappeared from WWF television, his absence explained by an on-screen suspension. In reality, he was recovering from back surgery and taking a rare detour into Hollywood to film *The Princess Bride*. For once, the giant who had entertained millions as an indestructible force was reduced to crutches, braces, and rehabilitation sessions. Vince McMahon, recognizing both André’s importance to wrestling and his personal despair, paid for the operation and even housed him during recovery.
As one insider recalled:
“He loved wrestling and performing perhaps more than anyone. The thought that wrestling might be taken away from him caused him to become depressed. But when Vince told him of the main-event idea… André was energized.”
The promise of WrestleMania III reignited something in him. Though his body was breaking, his pride demanded one more spotlight.
Behind-the-scenes shot of André filming “The Princess Bride”
The Masked Machine: A Disguise and a Mystery
André’s absence from the WWF was too glaring to ignore, so McMahon devised a storyline that let him appear without officially being “back.” Thus, the mysterious “Machines” faction was born in 1986, a group of masked wrestlers that included the unmistakably large Giant Machine.
Fans immediately recognized the seven-foot, 500-pound frame and lumbering style. Crowds knew it was André, even if the commentators played coy. On television, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan raged at the absurdity, demanding Jack Tunney ban André for life if he truly was the man behind the mask.
“That’s André the Giant! Don’t insult my intelligence,” Heenan barked.
The storyline allowed André to test his healing body without the pressure of carrying full matches. In Toronto, the crowd erupted when Giant Machine cleared the ring of Studd, Bundy – and even took a shot at Heenan himself. It was playful and tongue-in-cheek, but beneath the mask, André knew it was just a bridge to something larger.
“If anyone proves that’s André, he’s suspended for life,” Tunney decreed.
It was all smoke and mirrors. The world’s biggest man was waiting in the shadows for his next act – one that would shake the foundation of wrestling.
Andre the Giant as Giant Machine
Reinstatement and the Breaking of a Friendship
By late November 1986, the Machines storyline abruptly ended, and André was reinstated. But he didn’t come back as the beloved gentle giant. He came back aligned with Bobby Heenan, wrestling’s most despised manager.
The moment the turn happened is etched in wrestling history. On *Piper’s Pit*, Hulk Hogan pleaded with André, his friend and ally, to stand with him. Instead, André stood silently as Heenan spoke for him. Then, in a shocking display, André ripped Hogan’s shirt and crucifix from his chest.
“I’m here for one reason – to challenge you for the World Championship match at WrestleMania.” – André the Giant
Hogan’s disbelief was genuine.
“Andre, what are you doing, man? You can’t leave like this!” – Hulk Hogan
Heenan twisted the knife further, sneering into the camera:
“You can’t believe it? Maybe you’ll believe this, Hogan.” – Bobby Heenan
The betrayal was more than a storyline. For Hogan, André had been a mentor and a traveling companion. For André, it was about pride. His body was broken, but his spirit demanded respect – and the championship belt around Hogan’s waist symbolized the recognition he craved.
Andre confronts Hogan on Piper’s Pitt
Back from the Brink: Rehabilitation and Resolve
Behind the bluster and betrayal, André was still healing. By WrestleMania III, he was billed at 520 pounds – a number that was both awe-inspiring and terrifying. Every extra pound put unbearable stress on his back and knees. He wore a hidden back brace under his black singlet. Even standing for long stretches was an ordeal.
Still, he was determined. Vince McMahon gave him the main event spot as both a lifeline and a farewell gift. Hogan later revealed that André didn’t confirm until the last moment that he would let Hulk slam him – the match’s iconic ending. In fact, Hogan had handwritten his ideas for the match and slipped them under André’s hotel room door the night before. André gave no response until they stepped into the Silverdome.
“Nobody knew if André was going to let me slam him until it happened,” Hogan admitted years later.
For André, the secrecy was intentional. He wanted to control the narrative, to keep the aura alive. In truth, he needed Hogan to lift him, because he could no longer safely take a bump on his own. The match was scripted, but for André it was as real as any battle he’d ever faced.
Final Hours: Faces in the Silverdome
The Silverdome roared with 93,173 fans, the largest indoor crowd in sports entertainment history. For Hogan, it was the night he became immortal. For André, it was the night he proved he was still a giant, even in defeat.
Backstage, André was quiet. He knew he would lose. He knew the slam and pinfall would make Hogan the undisputed face of wrestling. But what the fans never saw was the courage it took just to walk to the ring. As he climbed into the motorized ring cart, André braced himself on the railing, taking one last deep breath.
“They said it was my last ride,” Hogan later reflected.
For André, it truly was. Win or lose, the pain had already taken his future. But for one last night, under the blinding lights of the WWF’s grandest stage, André the Giant was exactly what the world believed him to be – larger than life.
Andre the Giant and Bobby Heenan, WrestleMania III