New Zealand wrestling fans did indeed see some huge men during the history of the sport here. In the 1930's Rolland Kirchmeyer was by far the biggest man we saw at a height of six feet, eight and a half inches, and it wasn't until 1959 when the giant Texan Sky Hi Lee appeared in Auckland, that we saw another sky-scraper. Sky was around the six foot eight mark, although in latter years when he got ill he actually shrunk a few inches. I knew Sky well and used to visit him regularly in Britain.
However, it wasn't until 1972 that all previous records were broken when Andre The Giant set foot in New Zealand. In those early days he was known as Jean Ferre or Jean the Giant. I first came across this giant of a man doing the rounds of the English wrestling halls in 1969. He was a big man, but rather skinny, and he could move around the ring. I immediately wrote and told Steve Rickard, the New Zealand wrestler and promoter, about this giant from Grenoble in France, and sent his picture also.
At that time Steve was co-promoting with giant Hungarian wrestler King Kong. Steve wrote back from Singapore and said; “Get this mans address and ask him if he will come to New Zealand and Singapore”. Anyway I was unable to contact the French giant as he was only on a two-week visit, and besides, his English at the time was very limited. I did speak with him at London's Shoreditch Town Hall in the heart of London's East End, the night he wrestled Jim Hussey – father of “Rollerball” Rocco. Jim Hussey was only short, but had an impressive body built up from being a swimming champion in his youth. The giant looked all of his seven foot four inches billing, standing alongside Hussey.
We in New Zealand were very lucky to see the giant before he hit New York and was snapped up by the W.W.F. In fact I wrote the first story on the giant for a Canadian magazine “Wrestling Monthly”. The following is from the August issue of 1972.titled MONSIEUR EIFFEL TOWER. “The following report from Dave Cameron is our first, but certainly not our last, feature story on the biggest star in professional wrestling today”.
In the Bible it was the tiny David who slew the mighty Goliath. But out in New Zealand recently it has been a different story. The mighty Frenchman Jean Ferre has been downing three and sometimes four diminutive “Davids” all in one night.
Flown in from Montreal Canada, the Giant has shattered all box-office records in this country. The sight of thousands of people unable to gain admittance to our large stadiums is something that won't be forgotten for a long time to come.
The famous French wrestler, otherwise known as “Monsieur Eiffel Tower”, struck some trouble here with referees owing to the fact that he speaks only French. However, he soon got into fine style and won most matches with his favourite manoeuvre, the “Eiffel drop.”
The size and strength of this man has to be seen to be believed “Hercules” Bruno Bekkar probably summed it all up when he said, “thank goodness he leaves the country soon. If he stays much longer there will be no professional wrestlers left.”
In his first contest in this country at Auckland's huge Y.M.C.A., patrons turned out in full force, and an hour before the match was due to start the “full-house” sign was out. This incredibly large and incredibly strong young man, who weighed in at nearly 490 pounds, partnered “Kiwi” Johnny Frazer against the three-man team of Frank Lipanovich, Onno Boelee, and Bronco Barnes.
The smiling, massive Frenchman dwarfed his 238 pounds opponents and they had no answer to his size or power. He hoisted two men with apparent ease on many occasions, and broke wristlocks by the simple expedient of lifting his two opponents high in the air and flinging them across the ring. “Hercules” Bekkar and his tag-partner were simply stunned when I met them in the dressing room.. “It was like running into a brick wall”, said Bekkar. “He never even flinched and when he picked me up above his head I felt like a baby.”
Bruno Bekkar scaled eighteen stone, but the Giant at one stage lifted him clean off the ground, carried him across the ring on arms extended straight over his head, and sat him on top of a ring post. Then, much to the delight of the crowd, the Giant simply patted Bekkar on the face as one would a naughty boy, and walked away.
During his New Zealand stay the Giant faced top opposition from Brutal Bob Miller, Ricky Wallace, Teddy Williams, Mo Sakata, Bruno Bekkar, Bronco Barnes, Steve Rickard, The Assassin, Farmer Andrews, Frank Lipanovich and Onno Boelee.
The giant Frenchman struck some trouble with referees in New Zealand. During one match in Auckland referee Ernie Pinches and the huge giant shouted at each other in different languages – neither understanding what the other was saying. He remonstrated with the referee over some decisions that pleased neither him nor the capacity crowd. Finally he skittled all his opponents, and the referee, and promptly got himself disqualified.
Twenty-five year old Jean, who is the current Heavyweight Champion of France, had a wonderful time in New Zealand and plans to return again next year. The “Kiwis” loved him and soon made him feel at home. He boarded a plane for his second tour of Japan, looking somewhat sad at leaving our country. His opponents breathed sighs of relief as the Giant bade New Zealand farewell.
It was not until 1980 that we were to see Andre again. This time, he was only here for one week, as by then he was a tremendous attraction around the world, and was commanding huge money. On this visit, he faced up to the English giant, Goliath, also known in his own country as “Giant Haystacks.” {He also did a short American tour as “The Loch Ness Monster.” Rings around the country had to be strengthened to accommodate the two big men. Sell-out crowds were commonplace when the 31 stone Goliath faced up to the 35 stone Andre.
The late John Mancer had the following to say in his sport's column.
The Magnificent Zulu arrives here next week, but at 6ft. 6in. and weighing 22 stone he'll be the smallest of three big men wrestling promoter Steve Rickard will have here this year. Rickard said he will he bringing Mighty Goliath at 35stone and 7ft. tall, from England in mid-April.
“Opponents for that much muscle are not easy to come by, but I'll have Andre The Giant here at the same time, or just afterwards,”
Andre, who weighs in around the 35 to 36 stone mark, will have a height advantage over the mighty Goliath, who stands at over 7ft. With so much flesh in action, Rickard is hard at work strengthening his rings around the country.
The New Zealand Herald were there to see the Giant's clash at their Auckland appearance. They saw the match this way. Eyeball to eyeball at more than seven feet up, The Mighty Goliath, 35 stone, from England, and Andre The Giant, from France, at 36 stone, and 7ft. 4ins.size each other up before last night's tag-bout at the Y.M.C.A. stadium in Auckland.
The referee, Mr. Jack Kendall (5ft. 9ins.) fights a losing battle as he attempts to separate them and get the bout underway. Andre last fought in New Zealand eight years ago and local officials expressed amazement at how much bigger he is now compared with his earlier visit.
Andre and The Magnificent Zulu last night beat Goliath and Ripper Collins in a tag match.
Steve Rickard and the late John Mancer often told me many "Andre" stories. The following is about when Steve Rickard asked John Mancer to look after the Giant for an afternoon in Palmerston North.
Steve Rickard's first meeting with Andre came in Canada when Steve was wrestling out of Montreal. The promoter's teamed them up in a tag contest, and they soon became good friends. Steve was relieved to find he was a teammate of Andre's, and not an opponent. Through their friendship Steve was able to bring Andre to New Zealand for a short campaign.
John Mancer was part of that campaign, being ring announcer for the bout in Palmerston North. Kiwis on the whole are knowledgeable about the fight game, and they are hard to deceive. They couldn't believe a man of Andre's proportions was any good as a wrestler. However the word soon got out, and packed houses were the result. 'The introduction of Andre was unforgettable. Steve Rickard phoned Palmerston North to say he was bringing Andre through from Wellington and wanted him looked after for the afternoon.
When Steve arrived he beeped his horn and John Mancer went out to meet the giant visitor. There was Steve's station wagon but it seemed, no Andre. However, Steve went round to the back, the tailboard was lowered, and there was Andre stretched out on a double mattress. As the big fellow unfolded from the wagon local's stopped and goggled. On being introduced John Mancers shirt cuff disappeared in the handshake.
It soon became obvious why Andre preferred to travel lying down. In John's PAX Vauxhall Andre's knees came up under his chin, while his frame extended so far that the hapless driver leaned to one side like a yachtie dealing with a gale-force wind. The Vauxhall bore a permanent lean-to from that experience, Andre having broken the springs just by sitting on them.
With the Giant there was a language problem. He spoke French, German, Italian, and Japanese, but his English was not fluent. Still, he could usually make himself understood. Everywhere he went that day in Palmerston North people stood and gaped. One old chap fell over a pram, and Andre was asked to leave two department stores because all trade stopped.
Being a rather hot day Andre agreed to a beer. As the glasses were on display he was asked to nominate his size. He picked out a twenty-ouncer. John Mancer opted for the same size, but struggled with one, while Andre polished off five. I can verify this as I had the privilege of having some beers with Andre and Steve Rickard one night after the matches. I recall Andre going up to the counter at The EI Matador restaurant and coming back with an armful of cans. And they were the large size 460mls.steel cans of Leopard beer. Andre plonked them down on the table and proceeded to finish a can off in about three gulps. I was definitely on my first can, while Andre had polished off five.
Andre then indicated he was hungry so it was off the Chinese Restaurant. He may not have matched the legendary King Kong at eating, but he certainly presented fantastic business for the restaurant that day. He started off with a plateful of scallops, tossing them back like a handful of peanuts. Two bowls of soup were followed by his first order of pork chow mein. Chinese food fills most people quickly, but Andre ordered seconds of chow mein, and then ripped into a large rump steak with French fries, onions, eggs and tomatoes. Peaches and ice cream came next, the lot washed down with two bottles of Coca Cola and two cups of coffee.
Back on the street everyone gawked at Andre, so he was steered into another hotel, one that attracted a pretty tough clientele. Some freezing workers challenged the newcomers to a game of pool. Andre indicated he simply wanted to watch. At one stage of the game John Mancer potted a ball, leaving the white cue ball up the table. Unable to reach it he looked around for the jigger. Andre indicated that Mancer should resume his stance. He then picked him up by the shirt collar and pants, holding him suspended over the table while he sank another ball. The opponent began to protest, claiming a foul, but after taking a close look at Andre, changed his mind.
On to the bout at the local stadium and just prior to the fighting Andre delivered to ring announcer Mancer a massive wad of notes in a brown paper bag, demanding he look after them.
A nervous Mancer asked Andre if he felt he could be trusted. "You run away, I catch you," came the ominous reply. (I also remember Andre in Auckland with a bag of notes, and he asked me what time the bank would be open the next day, as he had to get the money transferred to France.} Once Andre hit the United States and made New York, his future was never in doubt. He was soon booked by Vince McMahon senior, who was head of the World-Wide Wrestling Federation. (W.W.W.F as it was known in those days.) He had some huge matches teaming with super-star Hulk Hogan, and later when they fell out they fought each other in singles matches. The following is from a New York programme of 1980 headed;
BATTLE OF THE SUPER HEAVYWEIGHTS-ANDRE THE GIANT Vs. HULK HOGAN.
Tonight they have put special reinforcements under the ring to withstand the action when Andre The Giant and Hulk Hogan clash head to head. This indeed is a battle of two of the most awesome competitors in the entire world of professional wrestling. It is billed as a battle of the super heavyweights. Hogan, the very muscular blonde from California weighs in at over 300 pounds and stands 6feet 9 inches tall. His opponent, who has been dubbed “The eighth wonder of the world,” stands 7 feet 4 ins, and weighs in at almost 500 pounds.
Hogan's manager Freddie Blassie pointed out that the Hulk had never suffered a loss in New York City, but can he overcome the big Frenchman. McMahon Senior wasn't fooling around when he said he could make Andre number one. As a matter of fact, during his time, the Giant became not only a household name when it came to wrestling, but also in the entire sports world. At the time, Andre was as popular in the sports world as Muhammad Ali.
Speaking of Ali, Andre took part in a boxer vs. wrestlers event in 1976, which was held in Shea Stadium in New York. The two legends didn't face each other that night in the ring. Ali went up against Japanese legend Antonio Inoki, and the giant faced boxer Chuck Wepner. The Ali-Inoki bout wasn't too memorable, but the Andre-Wepner match lived up to its billing, as the Giant took hold of his opponent in the third round after Wepner had just landed the best punch of the contest and hurled him over the top rope, quickly ending the bout and any question as to who was the better man that night.
Over his career, Andre proved that he wasn't a sideshow freak. His skills in the ring were as good as, if not better than, most of his opponent's. Although he towered over his opponents, Andre was also a student of the mat game, and was always willing to learn new moves to add to his repertoire.
Sadly Andre passed away in France at the young age of 46, in 1993. He was in France to attend his Father's funeral. The wrestling world may never see another Andre Rene Roussimoff who simply liked to be known as “The Giant.”
