You are buying a pre-viewed, ORIGINAL VHS wrestling video, Andre The Giant, Larger Than Life.
This biography of Andre The Giant the official World Wrestling Federation (WWF) video of the A & E television special and is probably one of the best sources of information you'll ever find on one of the greatest men ever in professional wrestling.
The video is a true retrospective of Andre's life, from his birth in Grenoble, in the French Alps, to his death on January 27, 1993 at the age of 46, long after his doctors predicted that he would never see his 40th birthday. Even in death, Andre's size caused him to be remembered, as no crematorium in France would accomadate a person of Andre's immense size.
Larger Than Life is loaded with plenty of biographical information ranging from Andre's birth date & place to names of family members and close friends back on the farming village in France where Andre grew up in. Although many locals from small towns become celebrities and are hailed as heroes when they come back to town, Andre was the same "gentle giant" at home as he was on camera, often spending his time helping family and friends with chores, or playing card games well into the night with old poker buddies.
Several little-known facts are revealed here for the first time, such as Andre's height being exaggerated on TV, and his already extra-tall frame being accentuated by standing him on a box and shooting him only from the waist up (the WWF was often accused of this during the 70's and 80's, and always denied it, until now).
Andre's back surgery is discussed in detail (the reason why Andre made the switch in his ring attire from trunks to the black bodysuit was to hide the back brace he was forced to wear during this time), with doctors unsure exactly how much anasthesia you give to a giant. Vince McMahon and referee Tim White (his handler in later years) comment extensively on the surgery, expressing the concern that the last thing you want is to have a giant wake up on your operating table with his back ripped open. Although Andre was always known as the "gentle giant", it was also known within wrestling that "you just don't f*** with the giant", as Andre had unimaginable strength (although as Fred Blassie pointed out, despite not knowing the full extent of his own strength, he never hurt anyone in the ring).
Andre's WrestleMania matchup with Hogan is discussed in detail with comments from Vince McMahon and Hogan. It is revealed for the first time that Andre agreed to lose to Hogan months before, but they admit to being concerned about him changing his mind later on (doubtful it would happen, given Andre's physical condition at the time). Hogan discusses the honour he felt when Andre let Hogan slam him, although, some history is rewritten here, as Andre was slammed before, and had also lost matches before, some by pinfall, so the undefeated line is inaccurate. McMahon praises Andre for "passing the torch" to Hogan, playing up how important it is, no doubt as a shot at Bret Hart, although he neglects to remember that neither Hogan nor Shawn Michaels, two of his favourites, ever "passed the torch" themselves, and in a little known fact never revealed anywhere, Undertaker was backstage taping his fists in front of Michaels at WrestleMania XIV in case Michaels changed his mind about losing to Austin. You can see a brief shadow of Undertaker waiting by the curtain in the Austin 3:16 video (also available from us).
The difficulties of Andre's life are also discussed, as everything for Andre had to be custom made, from clothes, to shoes, to cars, as Andre had a physique like none other. Andre traveled from town to town in a specially designed aircraft, as not even an airline's first class section was comfortable enough for Andre, who took up the entire row of seats on an airplane!
Video clips include the old TNT (Tuesday Night Titans) show with McMahon & Lord Alfred Hayes, which saw Andre cover Hayes entire face with one enormous hand, his WrestleMania matchup with Hogan, his WWF title win (and the subsequent "sale" to Ted DiBiase, to include Andre's famous slip of the tongue, where he referred to the WWF Championship as the "WWF Tag Team Title"), stories of his legendary appetite for food and drink, and much, much, more!
There are interviews with several people who were close to Andre, including Andre's brother Jacques, WWF owner Vince McMahon, Andre's early handler, Arnold Skaaland, Hulk Hogan, "Classy" Freddie Blassie, WWF referee Tim White, who was Andre's handler later in Andre's life, and many more.
Video and box are both in excellent condition from private collection.
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Shadow Fire Promotions is the largest distributor of all-original pro wrestling media and memorabilia. Not satisfied to just bring you WWF/WCW/ECW, we also work to bring to you the finest in independent wrestling. Currently affiliated with NWA Wisconsin in Green Bay, WI and wrestlers such as The Soul Shooters, Michael Modest and more, plus custom made wrestling masks, as well. If we don't have it, we can find it through our special search service.
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