Customer Reviews

WWE - Andre the Giant

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Andre the Giant was a man larger than life, so large his nickname was "The Eighth Wonder of the World." Lord Alfred Hayes hosts the matches that built the legend of this Hall of Famer.

Match listing includes:

vs. Moondog Rex (01/08/81)

18-Man Battle Royal including Sgt. Slaughter, Big John Studd, Jimmy Snuka, Pat Patterson, "Hollywood" Hogan, Paul Orndorff, The Iron Sheik & Tito Santana.

vs. Black Gordman & Great Goliath (12/01/76)

vs. Jack Evans, Johnny Rodz, & Joe Butcher Nova

vs. Gorilla Monsoon with the Grand Wizard

Andre the Giant & Jimmy Snuka vs. the Wild Samoans (18/02/83)

vs. the Masked Superstar (20/02/84)

Andre the Giant & S.D. Jones vs. Big John Studd & Ken Patera with Bobby Heenan (15/12/84)
This is the legendary haircut match

vs. Ken Patera (21/01/85)
Revenge of the Giant

vs. Big John Studd (31/03/85) WrestleMania
Commentary by Michael Cole & Tazz.

I really wish WWE had done a better tribute to one of the all-time great wrestlers. As others have stated, this is simply a direct port of an old Coliseum Home Video, with the addition of the bodyslam challenge with new commentary. A short biography (or A&E's "Larger Than Life") would've been nice. At the VERY least, WWE should have added in some later matches, like the 20 man battle royal from WM2, Andre's only legit title win (with Haku over Demolition), or maybe even the twin-Hebner match with Hogan leading to WM4. What about some short comments from current superstars and staff (like the McMahons) about Andre? Is there any footage of his announcement/induction into the Hall of Fame? If you can learn to tune out Lord Alfred Hayes, then the video is good for what it is. I just wish WWE had put a little more effort into a DVD about one of their biggest (literally and figuratively) stars ever.

Like many who watched the WWF in the pre-Stone Cold era, we knew that wrestlers did not come any bigger than Andre, both figuratively and literally. That is why I was hoping that this release would be in the same vein as the previous WWE superstar DVD sets. I assumed that it would have a documentary about his life (preferably the Andre- Larger Than Life A&E documentary that WWE authorized and sold on VHS), followed by supplements that included many of his most famous matches. Instead, this release is nothing more than a 90 minute DVD transfer of an old VHS video that has wrestling promoter Lord Alfred Hayes talking over several of Andre's matches. He never has anything more to say than, "Look how massive Andre is!" There are absolutely no insights into Andre, his upbringing, or any of the rumors that have long shrouded his mystique. In my opinion, WWE missed a supreme opportunity to give the older and younger wrestling fans a fresh look at this legendary Hall of Famer that was long overdue.

I had the opportunity to see Andre live for the very first time back in the mid 1970's, long before his career in the WWF. I met him live at a show prior to his wrestling that evening. I remember him showing us kids his ring which would easily fit on three of our fingers with room to spare. Andre was a true legend and really the first true international star in Wrestling who toured the entire would and drew huge crowds. This tape is a re-release of the old Colisseum videos from back in the 1980's and includes a mixed bag of Andre's matches.

We see Andre in squash matches against people like Moondog Rex, Black Gordman & Great Goliath, and a 3 on 1 match against Johnny Rodz, Jack Evans and Butcher Nova. That throwaway stuff aside, we also see Andre winning an 18 man battle royal with Andre finishing off Adrian Adonis and Dick Murdoch for the win.

Then Andre Teams with Jimmy Snuka vs. the Wild Samoans.

Then there is the infamous hair-cutting match as Andre teamed with S.D. "Special Delivery" Jones against Big John Studd and Ken Patera. As Jones was beaten up and lying outside the ring, the two villians teamed up on Andre and cut off his long hair. If you look close...you will see Hillbilly Jim in the audience who would later save Hulk Hogan from a similar fate just a few weeks later.

Andre Vs. ken Patera - This was the revenge match as Andre got even for the Hair cut by destroying Patera.

Finally there is the famous body slam match from Wrestlemania 1 with Andre challenging Big John Studd. Included are various segments with Andre appearing on the old Tuesday Night Titans talk show. God that show was freaking hilarious. It's really fascinating to see how far the WWF has come in 20 years in terms of their production values. The productions are so much clearer and professionally done.

The only downside to the DVD is putting up with the host Lord Alfred Hayes. If you think Michael Cole is annoying, just wait until you see Hayes. Uggh..

I saw many of these matches happen at the time and I'm glad the WWE is putting these old tapes out on DVD.

...a bit dated is this DVD (Lord Alfred Hayes is narrating!), judging from who is on it, and the WWF logo. Funny, too that when Hayes says "WWF," the "F" is cut out. Guess the World Wildlife Fund is dead serious about keeping that name theirs.

Anyway, Hayes, though generally a buffoon throughout his wrestling, managing and commentating career did have a long friendship with Andre, and he provides a number of interesting insights about the man. The matches we see here pretty much cover 1981 to '85, and there hasn't been a follow-up, as there should be on Andre's amazing career.

Some squash matches such as against Moondog Rex, and the three on one match against Johnny Rodz and two no-names were entertaining, and reminded me of the old Gran Prix matches where Andre would take on more than one opponent. Pretty much the same outcome. There is one match from '76 from I think Los Angeles, where Andre stomps Black Gordman and the Great Goliath. The bad guys hammed it up well.

Another funny one is a boxing match with Gorilla Monsoon in Puerto Rico. The box is in error; Monsoon's manager for the event was Hugo Sabinovich, not the Grand Wizard, but he doesn't figure in the decision.

What's missing is: matches with Killer Khan (when Khan allegedly broke Andre's leg and the rematch in which Khan nearly gets "killed"), early Gran Prix matches from the 70's when Andre was in his physical prime, and matches from his many tours of Japan. According to the Canadian Slam! Sports site, Andre had a long series of matches against one of Japan's legends, Shozo Kobayashi. I'd love to see some of those, and matches against the likes of Antonio Inoki and Seiji Sakaguchi.

In any case, this is a WWF show, with a number of memorable bouts, but it did leave me wanting a bit more. This is good for wrestling fans gaining some background info, but there must be more out there.

As an overview of the GIANT,it is still interesting to see him in those different matches,even if many are not so memorable.However, this is not the definitive dvd on ANDRÉ.Among the famous bouts that are missing are the two fights with DON LÉO JONATHAN back in 1972 when ANDRÉ was still called JEAN FERRÉ;a legendary one in JAPAN against STAN HANSEN includes one of the rare complete body slam of the man(this was something to see).A complete biography would also have been nice.We only have LORD ALFRED HAYES recalling that he first met the GIANT at age 17.I think that ANDRÉ THE GIANT deserves a little more than this dvd.For now,we'll settle for this one,but please for the fans,search the archives of the wrestling library.Highlights are the royal rumble won by ANDRÉ and the tagteam bout with JIMMY SNUKA against THE WILD SAMOUANS.JIMMY actually execute a spectacular jump over the GIANT's shoulders that makes a great finish.

Andre the Giant was a man that I never saw wrestle until I wathced this dvd. He goe through opponents such as Moondog Rex and has a 18 man battle royal with people like Hulk Hogan and Sgt. Slaughter. he has 2 on 1 handicap matches and 3 on 1 handicap and still comes out on top. he has tag team matches with Jimmy 'Supafly' Snuka and SD (special delivery) Jones.
he has battles against Ken Patera and Big John Studd. There is also the $15,000 body slam challenge between him and Big John Studd. This dvd is awesome and hope you find it awesome too. I also hope you find this review helpful.

Andre was a huge insipration to a lot of wrestlers coming into the business when he was alive. Even Hogan said in his book that he wish he was like Andre at some point and he loved the man like a brother{no pun intended}. When Hogan was looking at the Big Show the first time and brought him into the WCW he immediatly thought of how much Paul Wright resembles Andre. I really do wish they would have put some of Andre and Hogan matches before Wrestlemania on here I seem to remember a particular match that was mention that Vince's dad set up. It would have been nice to hear some opinions from Hogan about Andre since the both of them spent so much time together on the road.

Great DVD focused on Andre who was my favorite wrestler. He was one of a kind. Shows old matches with Big John Studd, Super Fly Snuka and Gorilla Monsoon.

Very enjoyable. Good value.

The only matches that fans will about this dvd are the Haircut tag team match and the $15,000 bodyslam match. The rest are forgettable. I give this dvd a 5 out of 10.