Ellerbe Based Wrestler André The Giant Was So Massive, Police Had No Handcuffs That Fit When They Arrested Him In 1989 For Assaulting A Cameraman

André the Giant was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 1993.

August 22, 2026

This article was last updated by Alisha Shrestha on August 22, 2026

André the Giant was arrested exactly 36 years ago, in August 1989, on assault and criminal mischief after an incident involving a cameraman at a wrestling event, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

However, there was also a bizarre incident that took place in Ellerbe, North Carolina. It was reported that André the Giant’s hand was so massive that there were no custom handcuffs for him.

It is widely believed that he was taken to the Linn County Sheriff’s Department, in leg shackles instead.

André the Giant was arrested for assault on the Cameraman. (Source: )

There are plenty more stories associated with the Literal Giant, who was born on May 19, 1946, in Cannes, France.

Rise From Local Wrestling To WWE

His full name is André René Roussimoff, and he suffered from Acromegaly, which was the main reason for his extraordinary height.

The 7’4″, 520 feet French, started his Wrestling career in his home country as a teenager in 1964. He spent most of his early career in Wrestling in Europe.

Later in 1973, he officially made his U.S. wrestling debut by joining the WWF, which officially changed its name to WWE in 2002. He spent a total of 28 years in the American Wrestling Organization.

In 1976, he began to gain fame and wrestled in Madison Square Garden and other major arenas. After slowly building his reputation, he was a global icon.

He also received a nickname, “Eighth Wonder of the World,” due to his size and presence, during his time at WWE, and was even made to face multiple opponents at once.

His famous feud with is still iconic. Began in 1987, and they later fought on February 5, 1988, in the Main Event, which was a TV broadcast.

Before that, they also battled in front of over 90000 fans in Wrestlemania III on March 9, 1987. Hulk won the game after slamming the Giant.

His iconic WWE career slowly faded as he had just a couple of special event appearances and appeared in just promotional events during the early 90s due to his health struggles.

At just 46 years old, he lost his life due to congestive heart failure. He passed away in his home country’s capital.

In Case You Didn’t Know

• André the Giant has made multiple Film appearances, including The Princess Bride, Conan the Destroyer, and Micki & Maude.
• The Wrestler didn’t marry or have any children.
• He reportedly drank beer a lot, exceeding over 100 Beers in multiple instances, confirmed by Ric Flair, David Letterman, and Mike Graham.

Anish Koirala has loved sports since he was a kid. He grew up playing basketball and soccer, and that passion stayed with him over the years. Today, Anish works as a writer and editor, sharing his knowledge and love for the game through articles and stories. He uses his playing experience to make his writing clear, thoughtful, and fun to read.

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