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The Main Media Inc. 2026

✦ Built By Field Office
    The Main

    Montreal's Cultural Directory

    Help us improve! Share your thoughts on how we can make your experience better.

    Leave feedback

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    partnerships@themain.com

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    The Main Media Inc. 2026

    ✦ Built By Field Office
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      --°C|Saturday, March 7, 2026|
      Subscribe today to get 3 free articles per month.ROYALMOUNT Wants to Be Your Dining Destination for a Whole MonthGet 50% off your first 5 rides with Lyft
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      Magazine
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      • Arts & Culture

        Creativity, heritage, and expression.

      • Beyond Montreal

        Travel, adventure, and global perspectives.

      • Design

        The best of Montreal design.

      • Food & Drink

        La bonne bouffe.

      • History

        Stories, lessons, and context.

      • Newsletter

        Our weekly newsletter.

      • See all original stories
      Explore Montreal
      Popular Guides
      • The Best Restaurants in Montreal
      • Best new Restaurants
      • Best Cafés
      • Unique Boutiques
      • Romantic Restaurants
      • Best Bookstores
      • See all Guides
      Neighbourhood
      • Downtown
      • Le Plateau-Mont-Royal
      • Mile End
      • Mile-Ex
      • Saint-Henri
      • See All
      Business Type
      • Restaurant
      • Café
      • Boutique / Store
      • Bar
      • Bakery
      • See All
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      1. Articles
      2. History Lesson

      Why André the Giant Was One of Montreal's Greatest Entertainers in and Out of the Ring

      The city's role in André the Giant's path from French farm boy to the Eighth Wonder of the World, with a downtown brasserie pitstop.

      By J.P. KarwackiMarch 7, 2025 - Read time: 6 min
      Why André the Giant was one of Montreal's greatest entertainers in and out of the ring

      Before he became a global icon, before WrestleMania III and The Princess Bride, André the Giant was Jean Ferré—a towering enigma dominating Quebec’s wrestling scene. There was a strong Montreal connection in his larger-than life, and the city wasn’t just a stop on his path to stardom; it was a place that helped birth the legend he would be remembered by.

      It was here that promoters first saw his potential, where he headlined sold-out arenas, and where he learned the power of mystique that would define his career. From his debut in the local Grand Prix Wrestling circuit to the moment he caught Vince McMahon Sr.’s attention, Montreal was the proving ground that transformed a French farm boy into The Eighth Wonder of the World.

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      Create a free account to read this story and access 3 articles per month, plus our weekly Bulletin.

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      1. Articles
      2. History Lesson

      Why André the Giant Was One of Montreal's Greatest Entertainers in and Out of the Ring

      The city's role in André the Giant's path from French farm boy to the Eighth Wonder of the World, with a downtown brasserie pitstop.

      By J.P. KarwackiMarch 7, 2025 - Read time: 6 min
      Why André the Giant was one of Montreal's greatest entertainers in and out of the ring

      Before he became a global icon, before WrestleMania III and The Princess Bride, André the Giant was Jean Ferré—a towering enigma dominating Quebec’s wrestling scene. There was a strong Montreal connection in his larger-than life, and the city wasn’t just a stop on his path to stardom; it was a place that helped birth the legend he would be remembered by.

      It was here that promoters first saw his potential, where he headlined sold-out arenas, and where he learned the power of mystique that would define his career. From his debut in the local Grand Prix Wrestling circuit to the moment he caught Vince McMahon Sr.’s attention, Montreal was the proving ground that transformed a French farm boy into The Eighth Wonder of the World.

      Free account required

      For readers who care about Montreal

      Create a free account to read this story and access 3 articles per month, plus our weekly Bulletin.

      Independent. Local. Reader-supported. Join 10,000+ Montrealers today.

      or

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      The House That Haitian Montreal Built
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      In so many ways, Montreal jazz exists because Daisy Peterson Sweeney both masters and generations of kids in Little Burgundy.

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      What Montreal's 1976 Olympics left behind, 50 years later
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      Le Dépanneur

      Shop The Main's Dépanneur. Open 24/7.

      Beau Type Vol. 1

      Beau Type Vol. 1

      $16.00

      Beau Type Vol. 2

      Beau Type Vol. 2

      $16.00

      The Reeds: A Novel [Stamped by Author]

      The Reeds: A Novel [Stamped by Author]

      $24.95

      Shop our Dép!

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