Wrestlers Who Were Able To Body Slam Andre The Giant

Despite being tailor-made for a territory promotion like Memphis or Mid South Wrestling, Stan Hansen made his name and money wrestling primarily in the top Japanese promotions, NJPW and All Japan Pro Wrestling. Hansen’s southern disposition and stiff in-ring style made him a fast star in Japan, and Andre the Giant would prove to be a frequent opponent of his. Hansen wrestled for nearly 30 years following a college football career at West Texas State. Although he spent the majority of his career overseas, he did pick up the AWA World Heavyweight Championship on one occasion, though he would eventually vacate the title following disagreements with management. He retired from the ring in 2001, and penned his memoir, “The Last Outlaw,” 10 years later.

Hansen’s matches with Andre are not for the faint of heart, with physicality reigning supreme in each of their encounters. After all, for as tall as Andre stood, Hansen was no slouch himself at 6-foot-4, 321 pounds. Hansen’s eventual slam of Andre occurred in the midst of a match on the NJPW Bloody Fight Series on September 23, 1981, in Tokyo, Japan. This slam of Andre served as one of a small handful of high spots in a match where the combatants largely utilized strikes with their hands and heads, as well as a few rest holds. After all, Hansen’s slamming of Andre was not the first time the Japanese audience had seen Andre lifted in the air and grounded to his back, nor would it be the last.