10 Fascinating Facts About WWE WrestleMania III
2. Paul Orndorff Was Prepared To Step In For Andre The Giant Against Hulk Hogan
It took a ton of convincing for McMahon to get Andre the Giant to agree to the main event match at WrestleMania 3. Andre was 40 years old and in constant pain, his back and joints bearing weight that may as well have been as heavy as the world. Andre agreed to the plan ultimately, and underwent radical back surgery to try and get him to the massive payday McMahon had promised.
In the event that Andre was unable to perform that night, or if Andre ultimately backed out, WWE had commissioned long-time Hogan villain Paul Orndorff to wait in the wings as a possible stand-in. It wouldn't have been the same as what we got, but Orndorff would've have been as suitable a last resort as WWE could've possibly come up with.