[1982-07-06-NJPW] Andre the Giant vs Hulk Hogan

[paul sosnowski]

Andre comes storming down the aisle, screaming and shoving and terrorizing the fans. He is accompanied by Arnold Skaaland. Andre attacks and chokes out the ring announcer. Behind the referee's back, Hogan and Andre start with a collar and elbow tie-up before the bell even rings. Andre clubbers Hogan and headbutts him, we are underway. Andre whips Hogan to the opposite corner, but is met with a boot to the face. Hogan hammers Andre, but is caught in a bearhug. Hogan breaks it with some elbows to the chest. Andre chops Hogan and sends him flying down to the mat. Hogan starts beating Andre down with a double fist. Andre stops him with a kneelift and undoes the turnbuckle. Hogan reverses Andre and pounds his head into the metal buckle twice. Andre is down. Hogan punching and kicking him. Andre headbutts Hogan twice and goes for the big boot, but Hogan escapes to the outside. Andre quickly follows him and throws him into the ring. Andre catches Hogan in a torturous twisting armlock and works over his arm for several minutes. Finally Hogan breaks it with a hair pull and catches the Big Man in a front facelock guillotine. Andre is down to his knees and Hogan takes him to the mat. Andre gets back to his feet, still in the headlock and both men tumble over the top rope to the floor. Hogan grabs Andre by the head and the tights and pulls him over. Andre hits a headbutt, Hogan is swinging wildly, another headbutt by Andre and Hogan is staggering. Hogan tries to stop Andre from getting back in the ring and holds his leg, but Andre breaks free as the referee finishes his count. Andre wins at 8:18

 

Hogan immediately goes after Arnold Skaaland and attacks him for no reason. Arnold did nothing the entire match. Hogan swings a chair down on Arnold, which infuriates the Giant. Andre comes after Hogan, another big headbutt, brings the chair down on Hogan and chops him over the guardrail into the crowd. Hogan comes back, Andre headbutts him again and bodyslams him on the floor. Andre then throws him into the post and leaves the ringside area. 2 1/2 ***. Definitely nothing special here