He's clearly overrated.
All the man did was be one of the biggest wrestling draws in history, loved by fans all over the world, from USA to Europe to Japan. He only worked as a major draw as a lovable face and as a monster heel. He displayed psychology and storytelling in his matches and could work a crowd like no other, but he couldn't do a shooting star press, so he clearly sucked. He made a battle royal a must see event, and on the rare occasion he did lose clean in America, the only thing it did was give birth to Hulkamania, the biggest thing to hit pro-wrestling.
Andre has to be the most overrated ever. I mean, the guy wasn't even a technical wrestler! That says everything I think.
Sly, this may be one of your best posts to date. I love the sarcastic reverse psychology, makes your point well.
So here we go with my take. Ever since Sly's and my original debate on Andre, I have proactively done some research into the man, and as a result changed my tune a bit. I wouldn't have gone so far as to call him under-rated, because I find it hard to say that the first inductee into the WWF/E Hall of Fame wasn't given enough credit.
But after my research, I vote under-rated. Not egregiously under-rated, but enough to where I think it bears some discussion.
Part of the reason he was and still to this day is so popular is because of his ability to embrace different opportunities and challenges. For example, a lot of people (hitherto myself included) did not know he defeated Chuck Wepner in a boxer vs wrestler match in 1976. For thos who do not know, Wepner was the boxer who took Muhammed Ali to 15 rounds and whom the story of "Rocky" is loosely based off of.
His first win against Hulk Hogan was in 1980 at glorious Shea Stadium. This was important, because it was the first ever "supercard" created by the WWF's new owner, some guy named Vince McMahon. Funny enough, this was the first time Hogan bodyslammed Andre, but Vince and the WWE refused to acknowledge the event to promote Wrestlemania 3. The match was regarded as "terrible" but man was it important. As a side note, Hogan entered the match a heel with Freddie Blassie as his manager. After the match, Andre flew down to Tampa to defeat The Super Destroyer. Names were stupid back then.
Since so many people see the Andre the Giant of the Wrestlemania 3-6 era, it's easy to see a slow, befuddled mass taking life out of the crowd. In the 1970's, the man could hold a camel clutch like few others.
I totally understand the people who chide Andre for his mechanics. Slyfox likes to call guys like Jeff Hardy et als "Spot Monkeys." Well, Andre was a "rest-hold monkey." His use of the same set of slow holds such as the bear hug wouldn't fly by today's standards.
And yes, Andre selflessly put Hulkamania over. Without the slam of Andre at Wrestlemania 3, who knows if Hogan would have his "larger than life" superhero persona. I just look at Andre the way I look at Sugar Ray Leonard. Should have retired a few years earlier than he did. The Tag Team titles with Haku tainted Andre's legacy a bit, and Andre should be remembered for one of the biggest and longest running feuds of all time - half a decade on and off with Hulk Hogan.
