10 Most Anticipated Wrestling Rematches Ever
5. Hulk Hogan Vs. Andre The Giant (WWE Main Event, Feb. 1988)
More than any other sport, professional wrestling is defined by individual moments, and none are bigger than that which transpired during Hulk Hogan vs. Andre The Giant at WrestleMania III. Though not exactly a technical classic, the match saw Hogan do what many thought impossible: pick Andre up and slam him to the mat.
Though a monstrous human being himself, Hogan was dwarfed by the 7’4”, 500lbs Andre, and this accomplishment was the ultimate David vs. Goliath spectacle brought to life. The good guy succeeded in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds, and it remains among wrestling’s most important historical moments.
The rivalry didn’t end there, though. Hogan and Andre’s rivalry continued over the coming months, by the time of their next televised match, the Hulkster had been WWE Champion for four whole years. They met on a February 1988 episode of Main Event, and the buzz was so strong that it drew an astonishing 33 million viewers to make it the most-watched American wrestling match in history.
The rematch ended in convoluted fashion with a scam involving Ted DiBiase, referee Earl Hebner, and his twin brother Dave, but nothing can detract from the match’s mystique. Giants in every sense of the word, Hogan and Andre were the era’s biggest stars, and the anticipation surrounding their Main Event rematch seems unfathomable in the modern era.