At WrestleMania I, Studd was thrust into the main event picture opposite Andre the Giant in a Bodyslam challenge, with the added stipulation that, if Andre lost, hed have to retire from wrestling. Despite Studds attempts, Andre won the challenge. Studd would keep wrestling for WWE until the late 80s, which culminated in his biggest achievement, winning the 1989 Royal Rumble match. He was still featured in high-profile matches and feuds, most notably with Hulk Hogan at one point and Bobby Heenan and his charges at others. Between October 1993 and March 1995, Studd battled cancer several times, which led to his death on March 20th, 1995. He was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004, with his son, a participant in the fourth season of WWE Tough Enough, accepting on his behalf.
Alexander Podgorski is a writer for WhatCulture that has been a fan of professional wrestling since he was 8 years old. He loves all kinds of wrestling, from WWE and sports entertainment, to puroresu in Japan.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Queen's University in Political Studies and French, and a Master's Degree in Public Administration. He speaks English, French, Polish, a bit of German, and knows some odd words and phrases in half a dozen other languages.
