10 Massively Dubious Wrestling Records

8. Andre The Giant's Undefeated Streak

John Cena Ric Flair 16x
WWE.com

According to WWE lore, André The Giant went undefeated for 15 years before challenging Hulk Hogan for his WWF title at the literally mythical WrestleMania III pay-per-view. The company even presented him with a trophy for the accomplishment, so it must have been true. That "accomplishment" was pure hokum. André had lost - and lost definitively - all over the world before he stepped foot in Detroit.

But that world was significantly bigger then than it is now. There were no YouTube pirates or database bookkeepers ready to upload evidence to the contrary. The WWF fabricated the accomplishment because they could get away with it. It was bullsh*t you couldn't smell - all the way to the taps, brother. They can't anymore. And yet, they still try.

The WWF also claimed that André The Giant had never been lifted off his feet and slammed to the mat prior to 1987. That was the other plot device for the most famous main event in the history of professional wrestling - but it was just that. Stan Hansen had body-slammed Andre six years before Hogan did. The far smaller Antonio Inoki did, too. Hell, Hulk Hogan himself slammed Andre about 204 times before that 'Mania III match.

WWE's ability to obfuscate the truth is a bigger achievement than any fake one they can devise.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!