Jorge Gonzales
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| Jorge Gonzales | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Ring name(s) | Giant Gonzalez El Gigante |
| Height | 229 cm (7 ft 6 in) |
| Billed height | 244 cm (8 ft 0 in) |
| Billed weight | 209 kg (460 lb) |
| Born | January 30, 1966 Formosa, Argentina |
| Debut | 1989 |
| Retired | 1993 |
Jorge González is a retired professional wrestler who competed in the World Wrestling Federation in the early 1990s under his best known name, Giant Gonzalez.
Contents |
[edit] Career
González was originally a basketball player from Argentina. He played in Argentina's first division league for Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata, and also for the Argentina national basketball team. He was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA, but apparently he couldn't handle the pace of the game, and had trouble maintaining a proper weight.
In 1989, Ted Turner offered Gonzales a job as a professional wrestler with WCW. He made his on air debut on May 19, 1990 on the Pay-per-View event, Capital Combat. Competing as El Gigante, a face wearing shorts, Gonzales was billed as being close to eight feet tall (244 cm), he was actually 7 ft 6 in (229 cm) and weighed 460 lb (209 kg). He feuded with Ric Flair over the WCW Title and had a date on TBS with Missy Hyatt. Later, he gained some popularity with a stint in New Japan Pro Wrestling promotion.
In 1993, Gonzales was hired by the WWF, where he competed as Giant Gonzalez. During his tenure he was a heel (no turn was ever made, since the El Gigante and Giant Gonzales were considered very different gimmicks), managed by Harvey Wippleman. His costume consisted of a body suit having hair attached and airbrushed muscles. He was introduced at that year's Royal Rumble, where he quickly overpowered and eliminated The Undertaker from the match.
The Undertaker and the rulebreaking Gonzales feuded throughout 1993, which included a match at WrestleMania IX (where Gonzales was disqualified after using a chloroform-soaked towel to smother the Undertaker). The feud ended with the 1993 SummerSlam, where Undertaker finally pinned Gonzales. After the match, Wippleman berated Gonzales, and was given a chokeslam for his troubles, thus ending their relationship. Gonzales' final match was a battle royal for the vacant Intercontinental Title, which was held on "Monday Night RAW" a month later.
Giant Gonzalez's departure from wrestling was due to his size, and becoming too unwell to wrestle. He retired shortly thereafter.
Gonzales made an appearance in an episode of the mainstream television program, Baywatch, in which he wore his Giant Gonzalez suit. He also appeared in the pilot episode of "Thunder In Paradise", and a couple of episodes of the TV series "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys".
Gonzales returned to Argentina in 1995, amid rumors that his mother was ill.
[edit] Present
Jorge Gonzales is now confined to a wheelchair. He told an Argentinean newspaper that he was doing what he could to survive, but things were rough. Gonzales is hoping to get some sort of aid from the Argentinean government. He currently lives in a care center in Argentina. Gonzales has faced numerous health problems in the past few years. Gonzales now has to wear tight knee braces to stand.
Gonzales currently is not married and doesn't have any children.
Reports state that Jorge is contemplating moving to Yoker to see out the rest of his years.
[edit] Championships and accomplishments
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) ranked him # 498 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.
