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Post by cordless2016 on Jul 9, 2013 10:37:12 GMT -5
So I didn't start watching wrestling until 1994 but I've gone back and have tried to watch as much wrestling history as I can. One guy that always stood out to me was Arn Anderson. To me he was the total package. Not only did he have the look of a guy who could seriously kick butt, but he could put on 5* classics as well. To me his in-ring skills were just as good, if not better than Flair. On the mic he seemed to be the heart and soul of the Horseman. His promos were great and he had the ability to not raise his voice but still be able to put more intensity in them than anyone else. I also loved his tag team work w/ Tully.
So my question is why didn't he get a shot at holing the nWa/WCW Title? He was mostly portrayed as a tag team wrestler during the Horseman's heyday w/ Ole and Tully, which I loved, but when he finally got a shot at singles competition he only got as far as the TV Title. The only reason I can think of is that Flair simply was more loved by the fans and because of his charisma was always gonna be the top dog. Anderson always seemed to be simply Flair's bodyguard. I'm a Flair fan and liked his old work from the 80s but I just never understood why they never had a Flair and Arn feud for the title considering they were both highly respected by the fans and would have been a great feud IMO. So is it as simple as this or were there other factors at play?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 9, 2013 11:02:33 GMT -5
Because to put it bluntly, he just wasn't "interesting" enough. He was a great worker, no question. In fact I think out of the original horsemen, he was by far the best member. He just didn't have any real appeal to the mass audience. He just looked too generic, and lacked the charisma factor.
He also looked like he should be a carpenter.
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Post by Wicked on Jul 9, 2013 11:16:05 GMT -5
I think he got kind of overshadowed by people like Naitch, Steamboat, Dusty, Harley Race, etc.
On another note Anvil Fan I love your Avatar. Californication is my favourite show.
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Raine
Main Eventer
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Post by Raine on Jul 9, 2013 13:16:58 GMT -5
Yes, didnt really have the "IT" factor, was a solid hand in the ring and on the mic, but T.V/Taggers were his level unfortunately
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Post by Bandalero on Jul 9, 2013 14:27:58 GMT -5
Arn was a great worker and apparently a real tough guy too. But when your best friend is Ric Flair, you're pretty much living in his shadow and funny enough I think Arn was okay with that. Because really at the end of the day it was all about money and he was making a ton being the heart and soul of the four horsemen.
I do recall them briefly feuding in the mid 90s but by then everything was going to hell in WCW. Arn is definitely one of those unsung heroes of wrestling that didn't need a World title to make his legacy (look no farther than Ted DiBase too), whether you think he looks like grandpa or not.
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Post by cordless2016 on Jul 9, 2013 16:23:42 GMT -5
I can understand why some people criticized his appearance but I thought he looked like a legit a** kicker and someone who you wouldn't want to mess with. However, I totally see how being Ric Flair's buddy could put one in his shadow. Nothing wrong w/ that and Arn did have a legendary career. It is just surprising to me though that he didn't even get a run w/ the US Title, especially when it still had credibility.
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Post by mikey1974 on Jul 9, 2013 17:45:33 GMT -5
I have a feeling if he had begun his career in the 70's, he would've been a World Champion sometime during the 1970's anywhere up to the mid-80's. when guys who favored toughness and ring skill were getting the Belts, like Harley Race,Bob Backlund,Terry Funk,Dusty Rhodes,Jack Brisco,etc.
mean,for chrissakes,they gave Ronnie Garvin a World title reign!
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Post by Nivro™ on Jul 9, 2013 19:23:53 GMT -5
It all comes down to charisma. In the 80s charisma and heat were all on Flair. Now if Arn was the #2 guy in those departments then he might have a chance, however I would argue that the next heel to have the most charisma & heat was Tully Blanchard as his feuds with Magnum drew right there with Flairs feuds with Dusty. For whatever reason, they couldnt get Arn "over the hump" so to speak as a singles wrestler. Even in '86 when he got the TV title, he had a good run but dropped it to Dusty who in turn dropped it to Tully just a few months later. Tully was the guy holding the #2 and #3 singles titles in the company at almost all times. Either the United States, Television, or National Champion.
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Post by Brad on Jul 9, 2013 19:24:33 GMT -5
Because to put it bluntly, he just wasn't "interesting" enough. He was a great worker, no question. In fact I think out of the original horsemen, he was by far the best member. He just didn't have any real appeal to the mass audience. He just looked too generic, and lacked the charisma factor. He also looked like he should be a carpenter. This. I love Arn, don't get me wrong. But he never was a main event singles star kind of guy and that's okay. Not all the greats have to be that. It doesn't make him any less of a legend. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2013 11:59:53 GMT -5
part of his problem IMO was that he was always a heel(correctly so)and in that JCP heel dept Flair was king.after Flair?Tully was the man they would look to.
during the Horsemens finest period Arn was tag wrestler in one of the best tandems the biz ever produced with Blanchard....and Windham was the US title guy.it was just the role he was best suited for....
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 10, 2013 12:05:39 GMT -5
He was the 'enforcer' for a reason, and in every stable he was in, he fit that role of being TV or Tag Champion.
Whether it be Four Horsemen, Dangerous Alliance or the Stud Stable, Arn was either the Tag Champion or TV Champion because A: he could have great matches with anyone, and B: was made to be the man to attack wrestlers and protect the leader.
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Post by Brad on Jul 11, 2013 15:38:47 GMT -5
He was the 'enforcer' for a reason, and in every stable he was in, he fit that role of being TV or Tag Champion. Whether it be Four Horsemen, Dangerous Alliance or the Stud Stable, Arn was either the Tag Champion or TV Champion because A: he could have great matches with anyone, and B: was made to be the man to attack wrestlers and protect the leader. Well said |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2013 15:40:36 GMT -5
He was the 'enforcer' for a reason, and in every stable he was in, he fit that role of being TV or Tag Champion. Whether it be Four Horsemen, Dangerous Alliance or the Stud Stable, Arn was either the Tag Champion or TV Champion because A: he could have great matches with anyone, and B: was made to be the man to attack wrestlers and protect the leader. great post man,very accurately put. |
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Post by Flair Forever on Jul 13, 2013 18:59:51 GMT -5
Let us remember - he does hold a pinfall victory over Hulk Hogan... not many guys can claim that....
I think they might have done that as a nod to Arn, before he retired.... I would consider it a great accomplishment.
As posted above, though - his character was that of a right-hand mercenary who took orders and carried them out (protect the champ). And he played it very, very well...
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 13, 2013 21:11:23 GMT -5
Let us remember - he does hold a pinfall victory over Hulk Hogan... not many guys can claim that.... I think they might have done that as a nod to Arn, before he retired.... I would consider it a great accomplishment. As posted above, though - his character was that of a right-hand mercenary who took orders and carried them out (protect the champ). And he played it very, very well... Actually Kevin Sullivan said in his WCW Timeline for 1996 that Hogan did the job to Flair and Arn as a showing of good faith that Hogan wasn't there to destroy Flair and his friends. |
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Post by marino13 on Jul 14, 2013 9:57:34 GMT -5
He always seemed content to stay in Flair's shadow. And if he wasn't, he hid it well.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2013 10:02:55 GMT -5
Let us remember - he does hold a pinfall victory over Hulk Hogan... not many guys can claim that.... I think they might have done that as a nod to Arn, before he retired.... I would consider it a great accomplishment. As posted above, though - his character was that of a right-hand mercenary who took orders and carried them out (protect the champ). And he played it very, very well... Actually Kevin Sullivan said in his WCW Timeline for 1996 that Hogan did the job to Flair and Arn as a showing of good faith that Hogan wasn't there to destroy Flair and his friends. Ill have to get that.I consider Timelines from 96,97 & 98 to be musts for my collection from both companies.I think Cornette was meant to be doing 98 for WWF too |
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Post by hulkhogancollector on Jul 14, 2013 19:18:12 GMT -5
Great worker just didnt have the look or charisma to compete in main events
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savage
Main Eventer
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Post by savage on Jul 14, 2013 20:16:17 GMT -5
Because he didnt have the look or charisma. Simple as that.
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