Judging by pure numbers, this entry may be the most overall shocking WWE moment. A record 33 million fans tuned in to watch Andre the Giant battle Hulk Hogan in a WrestleMania 3 rematch on Saturday Nights Main Event on February 5, 1988. This was before the days of monthly pay-per-views and big matches given away on weekly television, so just seeing the two superstars in the same ring on free TV was surreal enough. While fans are now familiar with referee Earl Hebner (most infamously due to his involvement in the Montreal Screwjob), we hadnt seen him on TV until that event. It was his twin brother Dave who was one of the WWFs most noticeable referees, and he was assigned to ref the Hogan/Andre match. For the majority of the match, it sure seemed that way. The end of the contest saw Dave make a quick three count, and ignore Hogans shoulders being raised off the mat. He declared Andre the winner. Just like that, a four year title reign appeared to be over! Suddenly, the real Dave Hebner came down to the ring. No one could figure out what was going on. Here were two men dressed in the same outfit, with identical facial features, yet only one of them being the true official. They started fighting, and Hogan eventually threw Earl over the top rope. He later claimed that The Million Dollar Man must have paid for some guy to have plastic surgery to look exactly like Dave. While thats a pretty far-fetched claim (wouldnt Hogan just assume twins were more obvious?), seeing Hogan lose the title because of a pair of twins was one of the most creative and memorable moments in the company's history.
As Rust Cohle from True Detective said "Life's barely long enough to get good at one thing. So be careful what you're good at."
Sadly, I can't solve a murder like Rust...or change a tire, or even tie a tie. But I do know all the lyrics to Hulk Hogan's "Real American" theme song and can easily name every Natural Born Thriller from the dying days of WCW. I was once ranked 21st in the United States in Tetris...on the Playstation 3 version...for about a week.
Follow along @AndrewSoucek and check out my podcast at wrestlingwithfriends.com
