10 Wrestling Matches That Turned Into Real Shoots

2. Andre The Giant Vs. Akira Maeda - New Japan Pro Wrestling (April 29, 1986)

Right next to Brock Lesnar on the list of 'people I wouldn't want to hit me' would be Andre the Giant. Especially a drunker-than-usual Andre, like the one that turned up to face Akira Maeda for New Japan in 1986. 

Drunk Andre didn't play nice, but neither did Maeda, a man with a reputation for being difficult to do business with if things didn't go his way. 

Before the match, neither man would agree to lose but went to the ring with the understanding that the Eighth Wonder of the World would have his hand raised at the end of the night. 

According to legend, NJPW boss Antonio Inoki (who'd had his issues with Maeda in the past) let Andre know that his opponent that night could use a little straightening out. 

Come bell time, the two didn't have a plan or a proper finish in place and it was apparent from the beginning that they weren't on the same page. Hell, they weren't even reading the same book. 

Andre lumbered around and tried to swat his smaller opponent away, while Maeda successfully completed a couple of takedowns and tried to wear the giant down with some very real leg kicks. 

It went on for an eternity, much to the bewilderment of the crowd. Eventually, Andre either got bored or realised he needed another pint or twelve and lay down on the mat before signalling for Akira to cover him. 

Inoki stormed out and tried to get things going the way they should, but his presence infuriated Maeda, who decided to walk out instead. The match was officially declared a 'no contest'. 

Incredibly, the two would work together on opposite sides of a tag match just a month later.