Just How Big Were Andre The Giant's Hands? (2024)

Andre the Giant is considered among the all-time greats in professional wrestling. A name that's generally associated with the Rock 'n' Wrestling generation, Andre the Giant became one of the best representations of WWE's larger-than-life presentation, helping the company succeed in the sports entertainment genre for many years. Andre the Giant's massive physique helped him become a major attraction long before the 1980s wrestling boom period, as he stood over seven feet tall and weighed 520 pounds. He was one of the heaviest men in professional wrestling, and his massive hand size showcased just how larger-than-life he really was.

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Andre The Giant Was An Attraction Even Before Joining WWE

A cast of larger-than-life figures helped launch WWE into mainstream success during the 1980s. As professional wrestling became a huge part of Western pop culture during that decade, superstars like Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant became household names in the business. Because these men were cartoon-like figures, which explains the "Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling" cartoon that aired that same decade, professional wrestling, for the longest time, became known for enlisting larger-than-life looking wrestlers as its main attraction.

Andre the Giant is someone who fit that criteria, standing out among a generation of wrestlers who were already physically imposing in their own right. Someone like Andre the Giant took the "larger-than-life" aspect of professional wrestling to another level.

Being a former WWE Champion, it's no surprise that Andre the Giant succeeded at the level he did. Starting his wrestling career in the 1960s, Andre the Giant quickly became an attraction in wrestling long before joining WWE in 1984. Upon his arrival in WWE, Andre the Giant had many classic moments throughout his tenure with the company. For instance, who could forget the classic main event bout of WrestleMania 3 which saw Andre the Giant challenging Hulk Hogan for the WWE Championship, where Hulk Hogan slammed him in front of the entire world at the Silverdome?

Considering Andre the Giant's physique, someone like Hulk Hogan lifting him for a bodyslam was an effective way to get over as a credible champion to be taken seriously. Something as simple as that moment represented Andre the Giant's importance to the business, especially with heavyweight performers being beneficial of putting over other superstars when they decided to pull off impressive feats of strength.

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The Massive Hands Of Andre The Giant

Wrestling fans and even non-wrestling fans already know Andre the Giant's reputation for his massive size. However, some may be surprised by other facts regarding his size. For instance, though some may not be familiar with it, Andre's also known for having massive hands.

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Larger-Than-Life Facts About Andre the Giant - Factinate

With the relevance of the internet, modern fans have come across fascinating pictures of Andre the Giant's hands, like his whole hand covering a person's entire face or the visual of his massive hand holding a single beer can. Andre the Giant's hands measured sixteen inches, which many were astounded by upon finding out, especially in comparison to other big men like Brock Lesnar. For instance, a photo of Brock Lesnar comparing his hand to Andre the Giant's hand print circulated on the web, as many couldn't believe that Brock Lesnar's hand was nowhere near the size of Andre the Giant's.

One must also remember that Andre the Giant grew up with gigantism, a condition that causes excessive body growth. Because of Andre the Giant's success, despite the health conditions he suffered over the years, his overwhelming stardom is inspirational to many that might be dealing with the same conditions. To this day, Andre the Giant is unanimously beloved in the wrestling world, even as the industry has long evolved from the larger-than-life characters of the 1980s. That adoration even crosses over to Hollywood, where Andre the Giant became even more popular with his role in the massively popular film The Princess Bride. Decades after his death, he has not been forgotten by anyone who knew him or witnessed his awe-inspiring presence.