10 Fascinating WWE SummerSlam 1989 Facts
4. Andre The Giant Was Arrested One Week Before SummerSlam
Exactly seven nights prior to the pay-per-view, Andre the Giant was taking part in a house show match with The Ultimate Warrior in Cedar Rapids, IA. After its conclusion, Andre rolled to the ringside area, where an unexpected confrontation occurred.
As the story goes, Ben Hildebrand was a local TV cameraman, filming crowd shots for an upcoming news feature related to WWE. He was not authorized to film any of the match, and Andre allegedly caught him doing just that. The incensed Giant approached him at ringside, and is alleged to have snared him in a headlock, which resulted in damage to Hildebrand's equipment.
Andre was taken into custody on assault charges, posed for a somewhat-famous mug shot, and would be released after posting $1200 bond. He never served any actual jail time, and was back on the road for that weekend's touring loop.