Hulk Hogan Once Made a Bold Admission About His Life, 27 Years After Clashing With Andre the Giant at WrestleMania 3: “One More Final Test for Me”

The Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan remained privy to one of the loudest pops in wrestling history, as Hulk Hogan did the unthinkable in 1987. At WrestleMania 3, The Hulkster was pitted against Andre the Giant. The 7 feet 4 inches, 500-lbs monster was billed as the Eighth Wonder of the World, and for good reasons. He lived up to his massive frame and possessed brute strength. Yet, Hogan was able to slam his 500 lbs opponent, making the crowd go wild. Despite winning the match, the 69-year-old made a stunning revelation years later.

Hulk Hogan was scared to death while facing Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III

In 2014, the 12-time World Champion claimed that going into the match, he had no idea about the result. It was an exception, as wrestlers are informed in advance about the eventual outcome. Speaking to Power 106 FM radio host Big Boy, Hogan said he kept on asking his opponent how they were going to play it out. Much to his dismay, Andre kept repeating the same phrase “Don’t worry”. 

After hearing the last of Andre’s ‘don’t worry’, Hogan set out for his match. “So, I go out in the ring and now I’m worried,” he told the host. The 69-year-old said that prior to the match, his opponent had a huge back surgery and even though the WWE billed him at 500 lbs, he weighed one hundred pounds extra.

Talking about the iconic slam, he said it was Andre’s wish and Hogan just followed the orders. “Right towards the end of the match he goes ‘Slam’, I go ‘What?’, he goes ‘SLAAAAM’, I’m like ‘Okay’ and (gestures a slam) barely got him and then I turn him and when I slammed him, he had me drop the leg on him and he let me win.”

The Hulkster said he had no idea that his fellow WWE Hall of Famer was trying to pass the torch to him at that point.

When the host pointed out that Hogan was as energetic as the crowd during the match, he made an honest confession as said, “I was jitterbugged and I was scared to death and I really didn’t know.” Hogan added, “He had talked to Vince earlier and I think it was just one more final test for me with him.”

The iconic moment, however, came at a great cost for Hogan.

Hulk Hogan sustained multiple injuries while body slamming the 500 lbs giant

Admittedly, The Hulkster has had two knee replacements, two hip replacements, and nine back surgeries. Some of those may have been a result of him slamming Andre the Giant.

Read More: “I Had a Conversation” – Hulk Hogan Feared Getting Killed by Andre the Giant if the Reason the Latter’s WrestleMania Injuries Came to Light

In a chat with HDNet a few years ago, the 69-year-old said, “I didn’t get him way up here, but when I got him to here, I didn’t think I’d turn him, I just said to hell with it and when I turn him it’s, you know, tore my back and tore my bicep and tore delt in three places but I turned him over.”

While Hogan himself possessed a frame that would give the best of bodybuilders a run for their money, picking up a 500 lbs person (600 lbs according to him) was no child’s play. It further helped cement Hogan’s legacy, add a chapter to their iconic rivalry and give WrestleMania a boost.

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