10 Things You Might Have Forgotten About WrestleMania I
3. Bobby Heenan Escaped With About $14,750 Of The Body Slam Challenge Prize
The rivalry between Big John Studd and Andre the Giant had been raging in the WWE for several years by the time WrestleMania I rolled around. The role of the company’s ‘true giant’ was a lucrative one for both competitors - both Studd and Andre were special attractions for the WWE during the '80s, a period renowned for its philosophy of ‘bigger always being better’.
The marketing campaign (bolstered by the superb microphone work by the incomparable Bobby Heenan) surrounded the concept that no one of mere mortal proportions had been able to slam Studd to claim the whopping cash prize, and it was going to take someone of greater size to finally do the job. Despite this occurring in the WWF and on the territorial scene before the big event, Andre accepted the challenge at WrestleMania I, and ended with Andre slamming Studd to claim the prize.
What you may not remember from the challenge is that even in the context of the storyline, Andre didn’t really see much of the $15,000 prize that had been touted for months on WWE broadcasts. In the wake of the slam, Andre unzips the duffel bag carrying the money and starts throwing it to the crowd. Before long, Heenan snatches the bag and sprints to the back as if his life depended on it, with approximately 98% of the bag’s contents still intact. In terms of a cathartic pay off to months and months of Studd and Heenan bandying around the small fortune in front of irate fans, Andre’s just rewards for completing the challenge seem to be limited to pure pride in his accomplishments and not remunerated by more than a few dollar notes.
Oh well, I’m sure someone had a beer or 20 waiting for Andre in the back for celebration anyway.