During the most recent episode of “Grilling JR”, Jim Ross paid tribute to Harley Race. In doing so, he recalled the program that Harley had with Andre the Giant during the 1970’s and discussed the nature of their relationship. Here are the highlights:

On Race’s Strength & His Program With Andre:

Yeah, that was in Greensboro. And that’s when Naitch went back in the locker room after it was over, and he said, ‘You tell Andre what you’re gonna do?’ [Race said], ‘I told him, suplex. And watch the body slam.’ So Andre — you know, big eyes, bushy hair. So Harley vertical suplexed Andre.”

Andre [was] way over 400 pounds. He was in leaner years, you know, high three [hundred], low fours. And Harley held him in that post position. And a lot of people don’t realize how strong he was. The guy that you’re suplexing will help you a little bit. But bottom line, man, you got one arm around that big bastard, you gotta figure out how you’re gonna hold him up there a while. So notwithstanding the fact that then he got body slammed.

On The Relationship Between The Two Men:

But Harley didn’t ask for permission from Andre. Harley was the Godfather, Andre was the capo. Andre wasn’t the boss, even though everybody called him the boss. When Andre was around Harley, Harley Race was the boss. That’s the respect he had with the boys to the journey he was on, the pioneering man, the dues he paid.

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Credit: Grilling JR. H/T 411Mania.