“Controversy creates cash.” – Eric Bischoff.
That quote was nevermore apt than nearly twenty years before Eric Bischoff’s book, Controversy Creates Cash, was released in 2006.
It also fits today’s This Day in Wrestling History segment from February 5, 1988 as Andre the Giant’s one and only world championship came about because of a bigger controversy than possibly even the Montreal Screwjob.
One for the ages
Andre the Giant didn’t hold many titles in the WWE for the simple reason who would beat him? During an era where the characters were big men portraying cartoonish caricatures, there was still a semblance of reality to the matches. The impossible just wasn’t done regularly.
Of the countless Andre stories out there, the one that sticks out the most was how he understood sports entertainment better than Vince McMahon (paraphrasing Hulk Hogan). He understood what it meant if he became the champion, and how it would hurt the business if he had to appear regularly. Andre was an attraction, and without anyone able to beat him, the championship and promotion would go stale.
Still, as a storyline, nothing was better than David facing Goliath when Hulk Hogan and Andre met in WrestleMania 3. While Andre was limited due to his back (it’s been reported he shouldn’t have been wrestling), they still put on a memorable match that had Hogan overcoming the largest obstacle in his career.
But it didn’t end there.
With Ted Dibiase in the picture bringing Andre into his web, the two became the top heels in the WWE. No one was hated more, and it only made their feud with Hogan all the more intense.
Along came Earl Hebner
On The Main Event, the much maligned spinoff of Saturday Night’s Main Event, Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant were meeting for a WrestleMania rematch. The difference now was Andre was healthy, and he’d been enlisted by Ted Dibiase to bring the WWF Heavyweight Championship to him.
During the match, Hogan had to not only contend with Andre, but DiBiase and Virgil outside the ring.
After Virgil distracted Earl Hebner when Hoagn went for the pin, Andre hit Hogan with a suplex.
Hebner counted three despite Hogan clearly getting his shoulder up.
Having declared the winner, Andre then handed the championship to Ted Dibiase, but not before taking a moment to enjoy the moment.
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Andre’s emotions are apparent in his eyes, and despite his short reign, it kinda makes me wonder how great a champion he would’ve been had he carried the belt years earlier. For the briefest of moments, we’re given a glimpse into the pain Andre lived with due to his size and the sacrifices he had to make because of it.
This is where the controversy gets interesting. The official for the match was supposed to be Earl Hebner’s twin brother, Dave, and seeing them standing face to face while arguing about the match’s result left everyone speechless.
While this doublecross was part of the storyline, it’s a cool fact that Hebner was involved given his actions in the Montreal Screwjob nearly a decade later.
Jack Tunney steps in
There was no way such a travesty would stand — Andre handing the belt to DiBiase, not the match’s result — as was illustrated when the WWE’s storyline president, Jack Tunney, declared the title vacant. He cited the end of the match and that a champion can’t just hand a title over to whomever they choose (see what I mean about the handing over seeming to be the biggest issue? Weird, huh?)
This led to the tournament setup for WrestleMania 4 that featured Ted Dibiase, Andre, and Hulk Hogan, but Andre and Hogan eliminated each other, leaving Dibiase to face Randy Savage for the championship.
After surviving three prior rounds against Butch Reed, Greg Valentine, and the One Man Gang, Savage would face Dibiase for the title.
While everything about Hogan and Andre’s rivalry was meant as buildup for Savage’s win, the fact that Andre the Giant had lifted the World Heavyweight Championship that one time is something that has remained in the memory for many fans.
It’s easy to forget the pivotal role played by the superstars in previous generations, and that’s what makes it so much fun to rediscover them. Thank you for joining me again today, and I’ll see you tomorrow for the next This Day in Wrestling History.
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