WRESTLING NEWS
The Myth Behind Andre The Giant's Anesthesia Story
By NICK MILLER
One persistent urban legend surrounding the WWE Hall of Famer Andre the Giant is that the anesthesiologist for Andre's 1987 back surgery was unsure of how much anesthetic to give the big man. The anesthesiologist reportedly based the amount he administered on how much alcohol Andre drank on a regular basis, but with Andre, it's difficult to separate reality from myth.
Desperate to bring Andre back to the WWF for a match between Andre and Hulk Hogan for Wrestlemania III, owner Vince McMahon agreed to pay for Andre's back surgery. Andre agreed to the condition, but while operating, several experts were required to figure out how much anesthesia the Giant would need to be knocked out.
None of these experts had dealt with a man of his size, and no conclusion was drawn until one doctor came up with the idea of figuring out the dosage by how much Andre drank each day. Andre replied, "It usually takes two liters of vodka just to make me feel warm inside," and after learning the colossal amount of alcohol he drank, they made an educated guess.