Much like Wrestlemania itself, the late Andre the Giant was larger than life.
In 2014, one of his closest friends (and legendary in-ring rival) Hulk Hogan created the “Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal” which will take place at every Wrestlemania event, with the winner receiving the “Andre the Giant Memorial trophy”. So far, Cesaro, Big Show, and Baron Corbin have all won the battle royal, which typically takes place during the pre-show.
In years past, wrestlers from RAW and Smackdown LIVE! would compete in a inter-brand battle royal to see which show would emerge victorious. But the attention towards that battle royal gradually faded away, and with the introduction of the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, fans once again have a battle royal to cheer for during Wrestlemania every year.
The rules of a battle royal are simple: if you are thrown over the top rope, you are eliminated from the match.
Some of the competitors in this year’s battle royal include: Big Show, Braun Strowman, Mark Henry, Sami Zayn, Goldust, R-Truth, The Shining Stars, and so many others. Originally, Big Show was going to face off against Shaq (this will be Show’s final Wrestlemania). But the match got scrapped and instead he is back in the battle royal.
Zayn has had a heated rivalry going on for months with RAW commissioner Stephanie McMahon, and she forced him to compete in a match in order to be in the battle royal, while other wrestlers just inserted themselves into the match. Zayn was able to win, thus being entered into the match.
Don’t be distracted by the fact this is “just a battle royal”. It’s a way to honor someone as legendary as the late, great Andre the Giant. And it will continue to be a Wrestlemania tradition.
