Jorge González (wrestler)

Lore & Background

Jorge González began his athletic career in basketball, playing for Hindú Club de Resistencia at age 16, standing 2.19 m (7 ft 2 in). He helped Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata gain promotion to the Argentine first division in 1986 and played for the Argentine national team in the 1985 South American Basketball Championship and the 1988 Tournament of the Americas. He was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in the third round of the 1988 NBA draft, becoming one of the first Argentine players drafted, but could not adapt to the NBA's physical demands due to a serious knee injury.

In 1988, Hawks owner Ted Turner offered González a job in WCW. After training, he debuted as El Gigante at the 1990 pay-per-view Capital Combat. He participated in a Chamber of Horrors match in 1991. He also had a feud with Sid Vicious and One Man Gang to determine the 'giant of WCW.' In 1993, he signed with the WWF as Giant Gonzalez, wearing a full body suit with airbrushed muscles. He debuted at the Royal Rumble, eliminating The Undertaker despite not being an official participant. At WrestleMania IX, he lost to The Undertaker by disqualification after using chloroform. After a loss at SummerSlam, he turned on manager Harvey Wippleman, turning face. His last WWF appearance was on 4 October 1993 in a battle royal.

After leaving the WWF, González wrestled in Japanese promotions NJPW and WAR until his retirement in 1996 due to serious health issues. He also acted in a 1993 episode of Baywatch and the 1994 film Hercules in the Underworld. He died on 22 September 2010 from complications of diabetes type 1 and heart issues at age 44.

Reader's Guide

Jorge González's significance lies in his unique physical stature—he remains the tallest man to have competed in both WCW and the WWF, and the tallest Argentine in history. His basketball career, though cut short by injury, made him a pioneer as one of the first Argentine players drafted into the NBA. In professional wrestling, his size made him a memorable attraction, but his in-ring ability was widely criticized. His feud with The Undertaker in 1993 is often cited as one of the worst feuds of the year by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, and Undertaker himself later said the feud 'took years off (his) career.' Despite his limitations, González's presence in major promotions and his role in the 1993 Royal Rumble—where he eliminated The Undertaker illegally—cemented his place in wrestling history. His legacy is also marked by his health struggles; he suffered from gigantism, diabetes, and kidney failure, and relied on financial help from his former manager and the Argentine Basketball Federation in his final years. His death at 44 underscores the severe health risks associated with gigantism and the physical toll of his career.

Did You Know?

• He was billed as 8 ft 0 in (2.44 m) but his true height was 2.31 m (7 ft 7 in).
• His final wrestling match was on 8 December 1995 in Japan, teaming with Kōji Kitao in a loss.