UPDATE: 2024/01/21 14:30 EST BY BENJAMIN VIEIRA

There are a handful of names that have managed to transcend the world of professional wrestling into mainstream pop culture. However, without a shadow of a doubt, Andre The Giant did that. The “Eighth Wonder of the World” was the biggest thing in professional wrestling for a time and was one of the biggest attractions in the history of the business. Andre was a former WWE Champion and the first inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame. He is one of the most important stars in the history of the sport and helped to make professional wrestling as big as it was. His impact on the business can never be erased or forgotten.

Andre the Giant is one of the most recognizable professional wrestlers in the sports entertainment industry, and a perfect example of a larger-than-life individual. He is a well-known performer with an overwhelmingly successful career, even if it was cut short. Andre the Giant is best known for his tenure during the Rock n' Wrestling Era of WWE during the 1980s, with being a massive attraction for the company. He was involved in some of the most memorable moments in professional wrestling, leading to his passing in 1993 shaking the core of the wrestling world, considering how much he was beloved by many fans.

Andre The Giant Was A Larger Than Life Attraction

Andre Helped To Propel The WWE To Mainstream Success

• Andre The Giant was known as "The Eighth Wonder of the World."
• His professional wrestling career began in the 1960s.
• He wrestled Hulk Hogan in one of the biggest matches of all time at WrestleMania III.

The massive size of Andre the Giant was always part of the appeal of his character, as it helped him stand out as an attraction since starting his wrestling career in the 1960s. Nicknamed "The Eighth Wonder of the World," Andre the Giant lit the wrestling world on fire, along with the likes of Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage, as he contributed to WWE's mainstream success during the Rock n' Wrestling Era in the 1980s. He was also a former WWE Champion, and was a part of one of the greatest main events of all time at WrestleMania 3, where he challenged Hulk Hogan for the WWE Championship, he established himself as one of the all-time greats in the eyes of many fans and critics alike on this match alone.

With that said, Andre the Giant was not only a larger-than-life figure in the wrestling world but also in his personal life. It's worth mentioning that stories of Andre The Giant are always getting told, as he's a fascinating individual in and out of the ring. Whether it's stories that stem from his heavy drinking before and after his matches or the years he spent in the acting scene, Andre the Giant is known for many things throughout his crazy life. Even outside the wrestling world, a 7"4 and 500-pound giant is one of a kind.

Andre The Giant's Passing Was Tragic

Andre Passed Away On January 28, 1993

• Andre The Giant wrestled his final match in AJPW in December 1992.
• He passed away in France while going to attend his father's funeral.
• His death was due to congestive heart failure at 46 years old.

After spending almost three decades in the wrestling business, Andre The Giant passed away on January 28, 1993, in Paris. His passing was not too long after he wrestled his last match at AJPW in December 1992, where he teamed with Rusher Kimura and Giant Baba against Masanobu Fuchi, Haruka Eigen, and Motoshi Okuma. While visiting Paris to see his mother and attend his father's funeral, Andre the Giant was found dead in a Paris hotel, with him passing away in his sleep. His death became more tragic considering that Andre the Giant was only 46 years old when he passed from congestive heart failure. Andre the Giant was initially supposed to be buried alongside his father but was instead cremated, per his wishes.

Andre the Giant could've had more life adventures considering the number of ventures he was involved in, as passing away at 46 years old is a sad occurrence. Andre the Giant wasn't just a character in the wrestling world but a real-life larger-than-life figure that people look back on fondly.

It's worth noting that Andre the Giant had obstacles growing up. Such difficulties relate to his massive size. When Andre the Giant was born, he had gigantism as he weighed 13 pounds. For those who may be familiar with gigantism, it's a rare growth hormonal disease that stems from a tumor of the pituitary gland.

It Has Been 30 Years Since The Death Of Andre The Giant

While Andre Is Gone, He Will Never Be Forgotten

• Andre The Giant is one of the most celebrated wrestlers of all time.
• He was the first inductee into WWE's Hall of Fame.
• He is a former WWE Champion and WWE Tag Team Champion.

It's been almost thirty years since Andre the Giant passed away, and he's still widely remembered for his accomplishments in professional wrestling, but it is unfortunate that his wrestling tenure ended many years before younger wrestling fans got to experience him. He was unlike others such as Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage, where 90s wrestling fans got to experience them during the Monday Night Wars and realized how big of a deal they were back in the day.

As he's one of the most highly celebrated wrestlers in the industry, his livelihood, from his wrestling career to the tragic death he suffered at a young age, is well documented to this day. For instance, in the HBO documentary that aired in 2018 titled after his name. Andre the Giant may have passed away almost three decades ago, but his legacy will continue forever.

Andre The Giant's Legacy Lives On Till This Day

WWE Celebrates Him With An Annual Battle Royal

• WWE hosts the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal every year.
• Cesaro was the first winner in 2014.
• Bobby Lashley was the most recent winner to the trophy.

Throughout time, the legacy of some wrestlers can get a little lost, with new generations coming in to make a name for themselves and changing the industry. However, with Andre The Giant, he is someone who fans will always be aware of, with him reaching that upper echelon of Mount Rushmore caliber legends. He was part of one of WWE’s greatest-ever spots, in which Hulk Hogan lifted him up for a powerslam at WrestleMania 3, with that moment being revisited and mimicked on countless occasions.

WWE also hosted the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal between WrestleManias 30 and 35, with it then being moved to the SmackDown before WrestleMania instead. The only year it did not take place was 2020. So far, nine people have won it. This just goes to show how much of an impact he had over the business despite his early passing, with him even getting an entire annual match named in his memory, with a trophy sporting his image given to the winner too. Since Claudio Castagnoli (formerly Cesaro in WWE) was the inaugural winner, a number of other big names have gone on to win it as well, the most recent being Bobby Lashley.