How WWE Legend André The Giant Really Got His Name
André The Giant is a name known to wrestling fans the world over and now the true origins of that iconic name have been revealed.
André The Giant is a legend in WWE with the WWE Hall of Fame created in 1993 to honour him following his death at the age of 46. The French behemoth is best remembered for his feud with Hulk Hogan which culminated in the famed WrestleMania 3 main event that saw Hogan defeat the giant star.
However, André The Giant had a long and illustrious wrestling career before he was catapulted to superstardom in WWE. The star made his name as Jean Ferré and Monster Rousimoff before happening on his most famous moniker and it wasn’t WWE that came up with that name.
Who Created André The Giant Name?
Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Canadian wrestling historian Pat Laprade explained how the giant Frenchman ended up being known globally as André The Giant:
The very first time he was named André The Giant was because of a conversation between Paul [Vachon] and Dick The Bruiser. Dick The Bruiser was booking in Chicago at the time and he wanted André and he asked Paul ‘how do you call him in Montreal?’ and Paul goes ‘we call him Jean Ferré’ and in English, it sounds like Giant Ferry and he was like we cannot call him that, Giant Ferry, that doesn’t work.
He said ‘What’s his real name?’ [Vachon] said ‘Andre’ so [Dick The Bruiser] said ‘Why don’t we call him André The Giant?’ and Vachon said ok. So that was the very first time he was called André The Giant before he worked for Vince [McMahon] Senior. Vince Sr. just took the name to another level and made it more popular but the very first [he used it] was in Chicago.
Laprade was appearing on the show to discuss the career of Paul “Butcher” Vachon who has passed away at the age of 86. Vachon wrestled and promoted Grand Prix Wrestling in Montreal, Quebec, Canada where he teamed with his brother Maurice “Mad Dog” Vachon. Paul Vachon was also the father of the late WWE Hall of Famer Luna Vachon.
The Undertaker revealed he was in mind for a huge match with André The Giant but sadly, it was a dream bout that never came to be.
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