12 Things We Learned From The Eighth Wonder Of The World: The True Story Of André The Giant

The story of so many legends often has the most humble of beginnings, and for André Roussimoff those humble beginnings involved training in the dark and seedy red light district of Paris.

Over the years, we've heard how André was living in Paris and working in a warehouse when local promoter Obert Lageat spotted the young icon-in-waiting and encouraged him to consider a career in professional wrestling. That's not technically true, as The Eighth Wonder of the World explains how André had purposely moved to Paris with the sole intention of becoming a wrestler - he was merely working various jobs in the meantime to pay his bills and keep a roof over his head.

Most interesting about the training of André, is that Lageat's training facility was located in a neighbourhood called Pigalle. That area was - and to a lesser extent, still is - Paris' red light district. Back then, Pigalle was full of adult shows, prostitutes, and a multitude of bars and clubs. And to this day, Pigalle is where the world renowned Moulin Rouge can be found.

Going into even further detail on this time in André's life, this new book actually reveals that André became friendly with some of the local Pigalle prostitutes and became their paid bodyguard. Because let's face it, if any horned-up visitors were ever to get out of hand, the looming-large presence of André the Giant is certainly one to take the wind out of their sails.

This was back in the mid-1960s, ahead of André - as Jean Ferré - making his official in-ring debut in January 1966.