Jim Cornette's Watch-Along: Andre The Giant vs. Stan Hansen - August 23, 1981

[@davey3884]

I bet whoever posted this on DM is wondering why it's all of a sudden getting so many views lol

[@scottwarren3821]

,€$

[@CrackedClock]

FINALLY you guys reference dailymotion, I won't pay Vince for his network. Please continue in the future to use dailymotion as a reference for these watchalongs.

[@ufoash440]

Such a shame that the Network owns the rights to all the good territory tapes now, and will probably hoard them forever. Fuck paying Netflix-level payments to watch the disjointed selection Vince has hustled together Monopolies suck

[@TheDawson200]

This was awesome! I had no idea Andre used to wrestle like this!

[@Houndini]

QUESTION?? How can Corny be so good on Wresting history. But he can't order his own "Double Cheese" yes Double Cheese burger from fast food joint without getting in trouble getting law call on him?. Amazing !!!!

[@jamirimaj6880]

Never thought I'll associate Corny with Dailymotion, but here we are in the special year of 2020 so

[@kamfisher1714]

What a time it is

[@davey3884]

DailyMotion has a lot of good wrestling stuff you can't find on YT

[@jamirimaj6880]

@@davey3884 but sadly they have long-ass ads, like fuck 30 seconds in between????!? awww

[@benthomason1926]

This match used to be on KZbin. I've seen it several times; it was uploaded in two parts. I wonder why it was removed.

[@Rayla840]

One thing that sucks though is Dailymotion doesn't have a Roku channel 😔

[@InsignificantNick]

Andre was dead and gone before I was born and I really only knew him as the broken down giant with the black singlet with the one strap over the shoulder. Seeing his old matches now, could he ever move. What a monster.

[@mattharper1242]

Check out his very first stuff from Japan from IWE. He's so agile and his matches are much more competitive than after he was established

[@kmaru80]

I grew up with the WWF giant too. While it's clear he couldn't do much at that point, that image of him in the black singlet with Bobby is still one of the first things that comes to mind when. I think of wrestling.

[@laksivrak2203]

He was amazing! I remember the day he died we all cried!

[@larryjones4096]

Saw him here in Houston for the first time against Harley Race for the World Title,blew me away not just for his size but for how well he could move toe to toe with someone like Harley.

[@rickystevison]

Only one Giant

[@Hulkamania4eva]

If you listen to Meltzer, these crowd reactions like this in Japan didn’t start until Omega lol

[@jasperdriver8546]

Hansen hit Andre so stiff with the lariat one time that Andre fell through the ropes but Hansen flew the ropes to the floor. That put Hansen over like a god in Japan

[@lonnynix9362]

Hansen hit everyone stiff, because he couldn't see a foot past his face. Hell, he plucked out Vaders eye because he couldn't see. Crazy fucker just swung for the fences to see what landed.

[@daeholm]

I'm going to have nightmares of those Andre headbutts tonight. Jesus.

[@SuperTicklemonsters]

His big poofy hair really accentuates the headbutts too! Doesn't look quite as intense when he cut it short

[@LlyodLlwelleyn]

He wrestled that match after a broken ankle? Damn man, Andre was legit.

[@coachkleats234]

Usually there’s a lot of stalling before Andres Japan matches, not this one, they just start recklessly hammering each other immediately!

[@donovanbradford8231]

That just sounds like a Stan Hansen match. Which I don't know if Andre was 400 plus by 81 but if he was Hansen might have run it by the big man.

[@calinmarian98]

Stan Hansen is a great wrestler,but underrated in the US.Bigger in Japan.

[@sjdrifter72]

Hansen was always restrained when he wrestled in the US, but was let loose in Japan and could wrestle stiff all the time he wanted. That's what made him one of the best ever. JBL is nothing compared to Hansen.

[@rocksteady2263]

The other thing is Hansen was making far more money in Japan than he ever could have made in the US, that's why he hardly ever left there.

[@calinmarian98]

@@rocksteady2263 Because Giant Baba gave him a lot of money,to be exclusive with ajpw,instead of being given money from Inoki alsoml.

[@rocksteady2263]

@@calinmarian98 Hey, however he got it he got a lot of it.

[@williamhowe1]

Now I want him to watch a Kobashi vs Misawa match.

[@mr1derful74]

I watched along while you guys were calling the match. Never seen this one before. I am just amazed watching both these big guys going at it for so long. I can't ever recall seeing a match with Andre being as mobile as he was in this match. He was running all over, flying through the ropes like guys half his size do. Incredible agility. He showed he can actually wrestle and not just do a bunch of big power moves like so many times in the WWF.

[@arthro9259]

Right, That's because by the time, Andre hit the WWF in the 80's, his health issues started to catch up with him. So, those who were already fans of his {like myself} were just glad to C him. Sadly, there are a lot of fans who don't know this side of Andre.

[@SuperTicklemonsters]

Corney briefly mentioned it but by the time vince took over the world with the wwf in the mid 80s andre was already broken down with serious back problems. 81 is about the very end of his agile period. I was only a kid when he passed away but i had seen some of his older matches and I always loved him. I may be the only american kid who had an andre the giant birthday cake lol

[@arthro9259]

@@SuperTicklemonsters How cool is that

[@dachronicalalittlebitofeve6630]

Luckily for Big Show he had the operation to stop the “giant” gene from eventually killing him very young also. Sadly Andre wouldn’t have the operation and probably found out a little to late but still the tests they did probably made it possible for many others to be cured too.

[@mightyknight]

I'm so suprised to see Andre wrestle this way.

[@PennyLaneYouTube]

my dad watched Andre in the early 70s & he was was giving guys piledrivers like crazy

[@mattmuller3756]

Andre in Japan was awesome. Hansen fought him as if they were in a fight and Andre puts him over as a guy that may be the one whom comes out on top. Great to see Andre moving and at this point do not think you may want to get crazy with him as they mention near the end. Great work by both men in this match and good watch-aong thanks.

[@jpmcpheemcphee2695]

When I was looking for this, I found a match where Andre and Stan teamed up. On the way to the ring, a fan grabbed at Andre, and Andre just HAMMERS him.

[@itaintoveryeti9444]

I've never seen andre as good as he is in this match. holy crap

[@Thecallmemisterajp]

Geek out moment...how has no one ever stolen that elbow drop into top wristlock spot? That was brilliant.

[@GGsGrave]

For real I thought the same thing. Super creative, can't believe I'm saying that about Andre.

[@dachronicalalittlebitofeve6630]

You have to watch this match, it’s awesome, Andre taking an arm drag ffs!! What a brilliant battle, made it look so good, even today it makes modern wrestling into a joke!

[@insupportofjunhado]

Tap Out was only seen in indie feds until the UWF took off in Japan, and still didn't make its way to the US until ECW...but it was well known enough for a British movie in the 1970s, whose name escapes me, to have a parody of professional wrestling where the loser tapped out to a cross arm breaker.

[@pronkb000]

There's a Lou Thesz-Vic Christy match from the '50s where Christy quite clearly taps out at the finish, though it's not called as such.

[@ironuzi7112]

2:53 Brody and Hansen weren't even the young generation, they're around the same age as the funks were.

[@brianconnelly1238]

Prime Andre, that was the best Andre, prime Andre was awesome

[@MyBraveChange]

Andre's matches pre WWF are excellent learning material, wonderful history and so enjoyable. The man really could work. He could work through/with anything early on. Definitely climbing my list of favorites. Undertaker (usually my cemented in place number 1 favorite for my whole life) has been going down the list recently, sorry man but I'm discovering classic gems...

[@ayrts01]

no thats not how we do dates in the uk lol we do date month year

[@staticcharm3808]

Similar to Hogan. He worked a totally different style in Japan. For anyone that thought Hogan couldn't be a technical wrestler watch any of his Japan stuff online. Bret Hart obviously never saw it or refuses to acknowledge it

[@Baastilein31]

He showed basic wrestling skills. I wouldn't go so far to call him a "technical wrestler". Enjoyed his matches in Japan tho.

[@pronkb000]

@@Baastilein31 Yeah, Hogan's strength in Japan was just being willing to "do more." His "technical skills" amount to him reciting a few rote spots, fumbling around on the mat, and then getting up and resetting again. He didn't really know how to "work holds," or at least he didn't demonstrate it. His work in Japan is really good overall though (I'd like to see Cornette do a watchalong of something like Hogan vs. Hansen or even Hogan vs. Abby).

[@SeamHead33]

Title mistakenly says August instead of September

[@Kevin-cy4qn]

I never knew that Stan was actually yelling "Youth" that was a cool tid bit to learn!

[@LlyodLlwelleyn]

LARIATOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH

[@TippiGordon]

MAN ALIVE. Just when I think I'm done with wrestling, I see something like that and it reminds me how good it used to be. And Jim's commentary just kicks it up to a whole different level.

[@ufoash440]

@Millennial Smark You didn't even explain what you were plugging lol

[@coreysmorgan8488]

@Millennial Smark give us an example

[@tonyslicer7399]

I wonder Cornette and Brian saw my commitment on where you can see this match ...I'm gonna pretend that they did so Im gonna act like Barry Horowitz and pat myself on the back ;) lol

[@coltoncampbell3919]

Jesus corny it’s 2 am go to sleep 😂

[@MrBlackFabio]

I just finished watching this match. I loved it. Great work from André and Stan. On a side note, I recommend looking at André vs. Harley Race in a 2 out of 3 falls match for the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship from Houston TX from 1979. I think it’s on NWA’s KZbin channel.

[@JonBap42680]

I can concur about Stan Hansen's wrist deformity. He wasn't even able to shake my hand when I met him in NY City in 2019.

[@JeromeDoyle]

fantastic match. loved every moment.

[@EddieFelson777]

One of the greatest matches ever bar none.

[@dpbferguson]

I mainly knew him from WWF. This is amazing.

[@adambryant9963]

Andre, big john studd, king Kong bundie, mable, yokozuna, big show, great Kali, Braun stroman, undertaker, Kane, Diesel, Lars Sullivan, Brock lessnar, pycho sid, keith Lee, Goldberg, Vader, yaba kato, earthquake and Marko Stunt. All in their prime 20 man battle royal winner takes it all

[@BenDowdy]

Giant Baba, One Man Gang, Uncle Elmer, Abdullah the Butcher....

[@BenDowdy]

Oh, and Bruiser Brody....

[@adambryant9963]

@@BenDowdy its all irrelevant though as they'll probably all bump around for Marco Stunt

[@adambryant9963]

@@BenDowdy don't laugh but I saw my first bruiser Brody match about 2 years ago

[@BenDowdy]

@@adambryant9963 :))

[@stephenrogers4537]

This was a classic match I've seen it before but never with an in-depth explanation of it the way Jim has given I re-watch the match after I saw things I didn't see the first five or six times I saw it it was great😍😍

[@djsoundwave470]

I remember watching this match in 1994. My friend had this on VHS . I was in total shock seeing Andre being so light on his feet .

[@tonymatrisin4328]

Philly wants nothing to do with Jelly, rather Jack Bauer!

[@jamesburns248]

Really enjoyed listening to this, I sought out the match on Dailymotion because of it!!!

[@markbeckner2564]

This was great!

[@ashleyquintanar727]

This was just awesome to listen too

[@GMHSVE]

That was awesome.

[@jimmyjarrett-ws2iz]

Totally the opposite of how we write the date in England 😂 couldn't be more wrong if you tried.

[@Bandana_Boi]

The match was September 23rd, 1981, not August.

[@clintstewart5545]

Stan Hansen Legend , André was so impressive another Legend .

[@tacozilla3296]

I can listen to andre stories all day

[@jeffreyriley8742]

Watching Andre Greco-Roman wrestle is great. Would have loved to have seen that in the WWF.

[@shankshanky1761]

23-09-81 is how we say it in England.

[@jeffsie88]

I lost interest in wrestling years ago but this match, especially Stan Hansen, rekindled it a bit, then I watch a WWE shit show and wish I could have watched wrestling like this all the time.

[@PennyLaneYouTube]

you can! On the WWE Network!

[@316SR]

Just finished Andre’s book 👍

[@ballinboi214]

Tha MOTHERSHIP!!!

[@zombiefulci3301]

There was barely a difference in size between Andre and Hansen

[@callous01]

This was great to see, thanks guys

[@_.Username.Not.Found._1]

Man do I miss wrestling

[@gfunicelli1509]

12 years before I was born

[@RiverFunsies]

Stan Hansen "Blind Potato Master"

[@xthe_nojx5820]

Can you imagine Hogan squaring off against _this_ Andre?

[@insupportofjunhado]

He did.

[@mayraflores3137]

They already did

[@KayFabe87]

He did. August 9, 1980 - Shea Stadium. This is in addition to matches the two had in Japan around 81-82. Most appear to be available on KZbin or Daily Motion.

[@techwizardmike]

Love this! Thanks, guys!

[@joemurdy]

Hey Jim, thanks for doing this one. That was a real treat, the thing I hate with the matches in Japan is obviously no English commentary and same with Puerto Rico. I really do need the commentary as I'm totally blind. Not into wrestling now quite as much as I once was but loved you and the Midnight years ago.

[@Brando-Lee3725]

Fucking brilliant!!!! Ive watchedthis match , but holy shit !!!!! I didn't pay enough attention!! Tough as nails bro . Im 42 and have watched tons of NJPW , AJPW. NOAH etc. But damn i forgot how gloriously badass this was . Thank you

[@jeffreyriley8742]

That clothesline Andre did to the ref was fucking nuts! That had to have broken something on the guy's face.

[@genzphilosophy5706]

So does Jim Cornette’s patreon have more watchalongs than are on KZbin?

[@johnjedennett2206]

Brilliant love an Andre when he could move thats why he is one of the goat's RIP Boss

[@MattThomas-dq6fj]

We don't do dates like that here in England, we would do it like this 23/09/81... Anyway looking forward to another watch along!

[@mistermay7986]

I like the Hogan /Andre match in Japan better. Hogan and Andre were slamming each other all over the ring

[@shaunieinthewrasslin2877]

The moment when Andre goes head over tea kettle doing a running spear into the turnbuckle is jarring and incredibly impressive

[@terrellpotter2645]

Thank you for the education. Amazing doesn't say enough.

[@MikeyScott90210]

So great! This was my second watch along for this match. What a night! RIP to Andre

[@jessebowman161]

i just watched this match for the first time. It was so good that I didn't think I was watching a wrestling match. I thought I was watching two big, pissed off dudes who were trying to kill each other. It was fantastic. I have never seen andre so pissed off or hansen act so crazed. awesome, just awesome

[@guardianofchaosBD]

Corny!!!!! I’m here

[@GGsGrave]

Never seen a giant step over the top and get to the floor so fast as Andre in the end. Damn.

[@tomb_vision]

Wow. I liked this match a lot more than I thought. This seemed more like a real fight.

[@ilovecops5499]

I am big an schtronges!

[@Thesixthcoming2]

Travis's andre is horrifying... inhuman

[@PennyLaneYouTube]

just wait until Andre comes for your soul

[@WolfieRich1]

First time I've done a watchalong, the camera work in that match was insanely good.

[@joelmalone7922]

It's too bad that Vader wasn't a wrestler at this time as Andre was still more than capable as well as able to have a great match. I think Andre would've truly met his match with Vader. There is also a fine match from 1986 on KZbin that has Andre wrestling Otto Wanz in Germany. It is really a great match with both men really putting on a great show for the crowd. Otto matches up with Andre wonderfully. I've never seen Andre be bodyslammed and then hit with a senton by a man as big and strong like Otto right after.

[@Darth_kai-joo]

AYY

[@davidvanbogelen]

Hello friends and you are our friends.

[@hotel283]

Thank you again Jim and Brian for doing a match available outside of the WWE network. I absolutely will not support that company ever.

[@sjdrifter72]

They're like Disney, more concerned with making huge profits instead of giving people high quality entertainment.

[@Halbared]

The civilised way to write dates! :D

[@gbtrat]

It's hard imagining Stan "The Lariat" Hanson as a babyface

[@Qurosia]

This was phenomenal to experience alongside you guys, thank you so much for doing it!

[@TheEnzyme94]

Thank you Jim and Brian. I watched this while I had my dinner. Really enjoyed this!

[@Different16]

We do not put the year first in the UK we put the day.

[@paulineratcliffe8453]

That's the reverse of how we do the date in Britain.

[@johneaston918]

Heel Andre vs Face Hogan in 82 was pretty good too

[@scottmitchell3591]

Stan was a Man! If anyone could more than hold his own with the 8th wonder of the world was Stan the man Hansen! I seen Andre in person as a teen , and just a description to someone on how HUGE Andre was something you just couldn't due. You just had to see him yourself. Unbelievable! YOOOUUUTH!!

[@mushroomsamba82]

This was a great match, definitely not used to seeing Andre move like this.

[@emilyanderson9559]

The daily motion app is easily one of the shittiest apps I've ever had navigate don't ever do this again keep it to the WWE network or KZbin

[@PennyLaneYouTube]

LOL!

[@MisterBeauJanGels]

Here's some details left out. Andre and Hansen had matches against each other periodically during that time, but the buildup to this particular match began in May 1980. Imagine seeing that in the U.S., where everything was about next week's or next month's show. The closest I can think of would be Jerry Jarrett's three-year build towards a Flair vs. Lawler match, which in the end never happened. This was held outdoors in a tennis stadium in Tokyo. According to Wrestlingdata dot com, it's the most recent wrestling show held there. They give attendance as 13,500. Other sites have given attendance in the 3-4,000 range. I always assumed that to be an oversight or typo, as you can plainly see the crowd was larger. Corny mentions Hisashi Shinma coming into the ring but doesn't mention Kotetsu Yamamoto coming into the ring. Yamamoto was NJPW's enforcer at the time, so obviously there was some heavy-duty shit going on. At least the crowd wasn't loudly chanting "Pinfall, pinfall, pinfall" like they would two years later when they restarted a Tiger Mask vs. Dynamite Kid match.