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- ''This article is about a professional wrestler. For the boxer with the same name see Jorge Luis Gonzales.
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, Turner offered Gonzales a job as a professional wrestler in WCW.He made his on air debut on May 19 1990 on the PPV, Capital Combat. Competing as El Gigante, 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 promotion.
In 1993, Gonzales was hired by the WWF, where he competed as the Giant Gonzalez. During his tenure he was 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, Gonzales was berated by Wippleman and was given 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 at the young age of 27.
One of Gonzales' mainstream appearances was in an episode of Baywatch, where 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 " The Legendary Journeys".
Gonzales returned to Argentina in 1995, amid rumors that his mother was ill.
Present
Jorge Gonzales (Giant Gonzalez, El Gigante), 40, is confined to a wheelchair these days. 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. Gonzales has faced numerous health problems in the past few years.
Championships and accomplishments
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) ranked him # 498 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.
Argentine professional wrestlers | Argentine basketball players | 1966 births | Living people | Professional athletes who wrestled professionally | Olympic athletes who wrestled professionally | Baywatch actors
"Jorge Gonzales"