The One Reason Andre The Giant Couldn't Stand Randy Savage
Even if you weren't a wrestling fan during his heyday, chances are you knew who Andre the Giant was. Billed at 7-feet-4-inches and over 500 pounds, the Frenchman was the true definition of the term "special attraction" in the world of pro wrestling. And while his only WWE Championship reign lasted just one day due to storyline shenanigans, Andre didn't need any titles to prove he was a big deal. His size and strength alone took care of that, and for a man of such tremendous size, he was a solid in-ring worker for most of his career in North America. And let's not forget one of the reasons why even non-fans knew him — well before The Rock and other WWE Superstars crossed over to Hollywood, he had an unforgettable role as the gentle giant Fezzik in the 1987 film "The Princess Bride."
Although Andre was, by most accounts, a nice guy behind the scenes who made sure to make his opponents look good in the ring, that didn't mean he liked each and every wrestler he worked with. Speaking to ThePostGame, Andre's onetime kayfabe son Paul Wight (formerly Big Show in WWE) told a funny story of how Andre got frustrated with The Ultimate Warrior and his apparent inability to work a decent match. But the "Eighth Wonder of the World" also had a real-life feud with yet another big name from the 1980s wrestling scene — "Macho Man" Randy Savage. And it had nothing to do with work rate — or lack thereof.
Andre couldn't stand Savage's use of baby oil ... among other things?
As the owner, chairman, and all-around big boss of the WWE, Vince McMahon has almost always favored Adonis-like physical specimens, regardless of whether or not they knew how to wrestle a five-star match. "Macho Man" Randy Savage was one of the few who combined a great look with legitimate in-ring talent, and when it came to his look, he did what so many other grapplers did to make his physique appear even more impressive. No, he didn't spend extra hours at the gym — he simply applied baby oil on his body. So much of it, apparently, that Andre the Giant took issue with this pre-match ritual.
"Andre hated baby oil," recalled Savage's younger brother, Lanny Poffo, in an interview with the Tampa Bay Times (via Sportscasting). "But Randy wouldn't stop wearing it. He stubbornly said Andre's gimmick is being a giant and mine is baby oil. He never backed down from Andre and they never got along because of it."
On the other hand, Andre's daughter, Robin Christensen Roussimoff, had a totally different story to tell about her dad's beef with the Macho Man. At a 2015 New York City Comic-Con panel (via Uproxx), she recalled that Andre "had no tolerance" for steroids, and since Savage allegedly used them, that might have been another reason why they didn't like each other.
Sadly, Andre and Savage are no longer with us, so neither can corroborate the stories shared by their loved ones regarding their feud. But no one can argue against their legacy as two of the greatest wrestlers of their era, as evidenced by the fact they are both enshrined in the WWE Hall of Fame.