André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal explained

André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal
Established:2014
Style:Battle royal

The André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal is a namesake battle royal held as part of WrestleMania Weekend by the American professional wrestling promotion WWE. The winner of the match receives the André the Giant Memorial Trophy. The inaugural battle royal was held at WrestleMania XXX in 2014 and was won by Cesaro. The most recent winner of the 2024 match was Bronson Reed ahead of WrestleMania XL.

The match is named in honor of André the Giant, the first WWE Hall of Fame inductee who at over seven feet tall and weighing over 500 pounds was known as "The King of the Battle Royal" due to winning a large majority of such matches he participated in. A short-lived female counterpart called the WrestleMania Women's Battle Royal was held in 2018 and 2019.

Originally established as an annual battle royal held at either WrestleMania itself or its Kickoff pre-show, the match did not occur at WrestleMania 36 in 2020 due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. It returned in 2021, airing on a special "WrestleMania Edition" of SmackDown the night before WrestleMania 37. The SmackDown prior to WrestleMania has since been established as the start of WrestleMania Weekend with the battle royal becoming a fixture of the special episode.

History

André the Giant

André the Giant was a French professional wrestler. He was best known for his time in the American professional wrestling promotion WWE. He signed with the company in 1973 when it was still known by its original name of World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF), which was renamed to World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1979, and he continued performing for the promotion until 1991 (the WWF was renamed to WWE in 2002). Following his death in 1993, André was the inaugural inductee into the promotion's Hall of Fame as the sole inductee for the Class of 1993. At over seven feet tall and weighing 500 pounds, André was known as "The King of the Battle Royal" due to winning a large majority of such matches he participated in.[1] [2] [3]

Memorial Battle Royal

On the March 10, 2014, episode of Raw, WrestleMania XXX host Hulk Hogan announced the establishment of the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. The match was established in honor of André's legacy. It took place at WrestleMania XXX on April 6, with the winner receiving the André the Giant Memorial Trophy, made in the likeness of André.[4] Cesaro won the inaugural match after eliminating Big Show using a body slam, mimicking the famous moment of when Hogan performed a body slam on André at WrestleMania III.[5] [6]

At WrestleMania 31 on March 29, 2015, the second annual André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal took place as part of the event's Kickoff pre-show, thus establishing the match as a yearly tradition. Big Show—a wrestler who had been often compared to André due to his similar size and stature and who was originally billed as André's (storyline) son when he debuted in World Championship Wrestling in 1995—won the match by last eliminating Damien Mizdow.[7]

While primarily contested by professional wrestlers, celebrities from other fields began to make appearances in the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal beginning with the third annual match at WrestleMania 32 in 2016. This match, which occurred on the main card, featured former National Basketball Association player Shaquille O'Neal entering as a surprise participant, confronting Big Show. The match itself was won by Baron Corbin, who last eliminated Kane to win.[8]

The following year's match occurred on April 2, 2017, on the WrestleMania 33 Kickoff pre-show. Although not a participant in the match itself, the match did feature a surprise appearance by National Football League player Rob Gronkowski, who assisted his real life friend Mojo Rawley, enabling Rawley to last eliminate Jinder Mahal to win the match.[9]

The fifth annual André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal took place as part of WrestleMania 34's Kickoff pre-show on April 8, 2018. Unlike the past couple of years, this match did not feature any celebrity appearances, but the match was won by Matt Hardy, who last eliminated Baron Corbin to win.[10] Also at WrestleMania 34, a women's version of the match was established, called the WrestleMania Women's Battle Royal.[11]

The sixth annual André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal was held as part of WrestleMania 35's Kickoff pre-show on April 7, 2019. This year's battle royal was unique in that there was a storyline going into the match with the two celebrity guest participants. Prior to the event, comedians Colin Jost and Michael Che of Saturday Night Live began appearing on Raw as part of a storyline with Braun Strowman, which ultimately led to them being scheduled as participants in the match. Strowman ultimately won the match by last eliminating Jost.[12] [13]

The match did not occur at WrestleMania 36 in 2020 due to concerns stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic brought many changes to WWE's programming during that time, and the battle royal was not scheduled so as to limit the number of wrestlers in the ring at the same time. WrestleMania 36 itself, which was WWE's first pay-per-view and livestreaming event affected by the pandemic, was relocated and held behind closed doors at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.[14]

On April 1, 2021, WWE announced the return of the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Unlike previous editions of the match, the seventh battle royal was not held at WrestleMania itself. Instead, it aired as part of the April 9 episode of SmackDown, the night before WrestleMania 37, with the episode promoted as WrestleMania SmackDown.[15] [16] The show was pre-taped on April 2,[17] [18] and Jey Uso won the match by last eliminating Shinsuke Nakamura.[19]

The eighth André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal took place on April 1, 2022, during the special WrestleMania SmackDown, which aired live the night before WrestleMania 38.[20] Madcap Moss won the match by last eliminating Finn Bálor.[21]

The ninth André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal took place on March 31, 2023, during the special WrestleMania SmackDown, which aired live the night before WrestleMania 39.[22] Bobby Lashley won the match by last eliminating Bronson Reed.[23]

The 10th edition of the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal took place during WrestleMania SmackDown on April 5, 2024, at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the night prior to WrestleMania XL.[24] The prior year's runner up, Bronson Reed, won the 2024 match by last eliminating Ivar.[25]

Reception

Writing for PWInsider in 2017, Dave Scherer saw no reason for viewers to care about the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, given how winners have been booked and further said: "It's great that talent will get on the show for WrestleMania, but that match hasn't meant anything thus far."[26]

Winners

The battle royal has been held every year since 2014, except in 2020 for WrestleMania 36 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

No.WinnerRunner UpWrestleMania WeekendLocationDate
1CesaroBig ShowXXXNew Orleans, LouisianaApril 6, 2014
2Big ShowDamien Mizdow31Santa Clara, CaliforniaMarch 29, 2015
3Baron CorbinKane32Arlington, TexasApril 3, 2016
4Jinder Mahal33Orlando, FloridaApril 2, 2017
5Matt HardyBaron Corbin34New Orleans, LouisianaApril 8, 2018
6Braun StrowmanColin Jost35East Rutherford, New JerseyApril 7, 2019
7Jey UsoShinsuke Nakamura37St. Petersburg, FloridaApril 2, 2021
8Madcap MossFinn Bálor38Dallas, TexasApril 1, 2022
9Bobby LashleyBronson Reed39Los Angeles, CaliforniaMarch 31, 2023
10Bronson ReedIvarXLPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaApril 5, 2024

Participants

ParticipantsXXX3132333435373839XLTotal
Adam Rose2
Aiden English2
Akira Tozawa3
Alberto Del Rio1
Alex Riley1
Andrade1
Angel Garza/Angel3
Angelo Dawkins1
Apollo Crews5
Ashante "Thee" Adonis2
Baron Corbin/King Corbin4
Big E2
Big Show4
Bo Dallas5
Bobby Lashley1
Bobby Roode/Robert Roode2
Brad Maddox1
Braun Strowman3
Brodus Clay1
Bronson Reed2
Brutus Creed1
Butch1
Cameron Grimes1
Cedric Alexander4
Cesaro2
Chad Gable3
Cody Rhodes1
Colin Jost1
Commander Azeez1
Cruz Del Toro2
Curt Hawkins2
Curtis Axel5
Damian Priest1
Damien Sandow/Damien Mizdow3
Darren Young3
Dash Wilder1
David Otunga1
Dexter Lumis1
Diamond Dallas Page1
Dolph Ziggler5
Drew Gulak2
Drew McIntyre1
EC31
Elias2
Elton Prince1
Epico Colón/Fernando2
Erick Rowan1
Erik2
Fandango5
Finn Bálor1
Goldust5
Gran Metalik2
The Great Khali1
Heath Slater6
Hideo Itami1
Humberto Carrillo/Humberto/Berto3
Ivar3
Jack Swagger2
Jason Jordan1
Jaxson Ryker1
JD McDonagh1
Jeff Hardy1
Jey Uso2
Jimmy Uso2
Jinder Mahal5
Joaquin Wilde2
Johnny Gargano1
Julius Creed1
Justin Gabriel1
Kalisto3
Kane3
Karl Anderson4
Karrion Kross1
Killian Dain1
Kit Wilson1
Kofi Kingston2
Konnor5
LA Knight1
Lince Dorado2
Luke Gallows4
Luke Harper2
Mace/ma.çé2
Madcap Moss2
Mansoor/mån.sôör2
Mark Henry4
Matt Hardy2
Michael Che1
Mike Kanellis1
The Miz2
Mojo Rawley2
Murphy1
Mustafa Ali/Ali3
No Way Jose1
Omos1
Otis3
Primo Colón/Diego3
R-Truth5
Reggie1
Rey Mysterio1
Rhyno3
Rick Boogs1
Ricochet2
Ridge Holland1
Ryback1
Sami Zayn1
Sanga1
Santino Marella1
Santos Escobar1
Scott Dawson1
Shanky1
Shaquille O'Neal1
Sheamus1
Shelton Benjamin5
Shinsuke Nakamura1
Simon Gotch1
Sin Cara4
Slapjack1
T-Bar2
Tatanka1
Tian Bing1
Titus O'Neil5
Tommaso Ciampa1
Top Dolla1
Tucker2
Tye Dillinger1
Tyler Breeze4
Tyson Kidd2
Veer1
Viktor5
Xavier Woods3
Yoshi Tatsu1
Zack Ryder3

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Andre the Giant: Bio. WWE. 2 April 2011.
  2. Web site: The Official Site of André the Giant: Biography. 18 May 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20100515195202/http://www.andrethegiant.com/about/bio.html. 15 May 2010. dead.
  3. Web site: André the Giant Profile. 22 September 2008. Online World of Wrestling. https://web.archive.org/web/20080921232831/http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/a/andre-the-giant.html. 21 September 2008. live.
  4. Web site: Raw results: Bryan occupies Raw and Triple H says 'YES!' ... with a twist. WWE.com. WWE. Stamford, Connecticut. March 10, 2014. March 10, 2014.
  5. Web site: And the Winner of the Andre the Giant Battle Royal Is.... Nick. Paglino. April 6, 2014. Wrestlezone.
  6. Web site: Caldwell. James. WrestleMania 30 PPV results: (Hour 2): Complete "virtual-time" coverage of Cena vs. Bray, big moment for Cesaro in the Andre Battle Royal, Shield vs. Outlaws. Pro Wrestling Torch. April 8, 2014.
  7. Web site: WrestleMania 31 results: Big Show wins Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Kevin. McCauley. March 29, 2015. Vox Media. SBNation.com.
  8. Web site: Passero. Mitch. Baron Corbin won the 3rd annual Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. WWE. April 3, 2016.
  9. Web site: Powell. Jason. Powell's WrestleMania 33 Kickoff Show live review: Neville vs. Austin Aries for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship, Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Pro Wrestling Dot Net. 2 April 2017 . April 2, 2017.
  10. Web site: Powell. Jason. Powell's WrestleMania 34 Kickoff Show live review: WrestleMania Women's Battle Royal, Cedric Alexander vs. Mustafa Ali for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship, Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. Pro Wrestling Dot Net. 8 April 2018 . April 8, 2018. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20180409013225/https://prowrestling.net/site/2018/04/08/powells-wrestlemania-34-kickoff-show-live-review-wrestlemania-womens-battle-royal-cedric-alexander-vs-mustfa-ali-for-the-wwe-cruiserweight-championship-andre-the-giant-memorial-battle-royal/. April 9, 2018.
  11. Web site: WWE changes name of Fabulous Moolah battle royal. Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Inc.. United States. Currier. Joseph. March 15, 2018. March 15, 2018.
  12. Web site: Killam. Mike. 'Saturday Night Live' Hosts Colin Jost & Michael Che Will Compete At WrestleMania. ProWrestling.com. March 26, 2019.
  13. Web site: Powell. Jason. WrestleMania 35 Kickoff Show results: Powell's live review of the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, WWE Women's Battle Royal, Buddy Murphy vs. Tony Nese for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship. Pro Wrestling Dot Net. 7 April 2019 . April 7, 2019.
  14. Web site: WWE Confirms WrestleMania 36 Will Not Feature Battle Royal Matches. March 26, 2020. Satin, Ryan. Pro Wrestling Sheet. March 28, 2020.
  15. News: 1 April 2021. Wrestlemania Edition of SmackDown To Feature 'Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal'. Heel By Nature. 1 April 2021.
  16. Web site: 1 April 2021. WWE on FOX on Twitter. live. 1 April 2021. Twitter. https://web.archive.org/web/20210401200325/https://twitter.com/WWEonFOX/status/1377713139165376518 . 2021-04-01 .
  17. Web site: Currier . Joseph . 'SPECIAL WRESTLEMANIA EDITION' OF WWE SMACKDOWN SET FOR APRIL 9 . Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online . April 2, 2021 . April 1, 2021.
  18. Web site: Lee . Joseph . WWE Taping Tomorrow Night's Smackdown Later Today . 411mania . April 3, 2021 . April 1, 2021.
  19. Web site: Powell . Jason . 4/9 WWE Friday Night Smackdown results: Powell's review of the WrestleMania 37 go-home show, final comments from Roman Reigns, Edge, and Daniel Bryan, Andre the Giant Battle Royal, Robert Roode and Dolph Ziggler vs. Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio vs. The Street Profits vs. Alpha Academy in a four-way for the Smackdown Tag Titles . Pro Wrestling Dot Net . April 9, 2021 . April 9, 2021.
  20. Web site: Andre The Giant Battle Royal, Intercontinental Championship Match Announced For 4/1 WWE SmackDown. March 25, 2022. Gisberto. Guzzo. Fightful. March 26, 2022.
  21. Web site: Mahjouri. Shakiel. WWE SmackDown results, recap, grades: Drew McIntyre destroys the ring, Madcap Moss wins Battle Royal. CBSSports. April 1, 2022. April 1, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220402032816/https://www.cbssports.com/wwe/news/wwe-smackdown-results-recap-grades-drew-mcintyre-destroys-the-ring-madcap-moss-wins-battle-royal/live/. April 2, 2022. live.
  22. Web site: Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal And More Added To 3/31 WWE SmackDown. March 24, 2023. Lambert. Jeremy. Fightful. March 25, 2023.
  23. Web site: Bobby Lashley wins WWE Andre the Giant Battle Royal. March 31, 2023. Currier. Joseph. Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. April 1, 2023.
  24. Web site: Thomas . Jeremy . Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal & More Set For Next Week's WWE Smackdown . . March 29, 2024 . March 29, 2024.
  25. Web site: Bronson Reed wins 2024 WWE Andre the Giant Battle Royal. April 5, 2024. Currier. Joseph. Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. April 5, 2024.
  26. Web site: Can anything still happen in WWE, Why should we care about the Andre Battle Royal, Is Anthem the new Turner where management is concerned and more. Scherer. Dave. March 14, 2017. PWInsider. March 14, 2017.