September 2, 2024 • 40 mins
WWE Hall of Famer, original member of The Four Horsemen, and Host of "The Arn Show" on One True Sport, Arn Anderson, joins Adam Barnard for a conversation on Foundation Radio! Adam and Arn discuss his son Brock Anderson's upcoming match with MLW, the legacy of the Four Horsemen, his graphic novel "My Life As An Enforcer", his surprise appearance at WWE SummerSlam 2024, and Magnum T.A.'s ascent. All of this and so much more, today on an incredible episode of Foundation Radio!
Special thanks to 10th Ward Barbershop - Proudly serving the historic 10th Ward in Lawrenceville and surrounding areas, 10th Ward Barbershop is a full service barbershop offering quality haircuts, beard trims, and hot shaves. Schedule your appointment with Finn Balor and Corey Graves' favorite barbershop today!
Host/Executive Producer: Adam Barnard
Additional Production/Narration: Sam Krepps
Engineer: Carl Pannell'
Intro Music: "Ugly" by Dumb Ugly
Outro Music: "Rug Burn" by Dumb Ugly
Musical Accompaniment: Enrichment
Cover Art Photography: Dylan Eddinger
Web: www.foundationradio.net
Instagram/Twitter: @thisisgoober | Twitter: @fndradiopod
Advertising requests can be sent to adam@foundationradio.net.
© 2019-2024, Butts Carlton Media LLC. Butts Carlton, Proprietor.
Special thanks to 10th Ward Barbershop - Proudly serving the historic 10th Ward in Lawrenceville and surrounding areas, 10th Ward Barbershop is a full service barbershop offering quality haircuts, beard trims, and hot shaves. Schedule your appointment with Finn Balor and Corey Graves' favorite barbershop today!
Host/Executive Producer: Adam Barnard
Additional Production/Narration: Sam Krepps
Engineer: Carl Pannell'
Intro Music: "Ugly" by Dumb Ugly
Outro Music: "Rug Burn" by Dumb Ugly
Musical Accompaniment: Enrichment
Cover Art Photography: Dylan Eddinger
Web: www.foundationradio.net
Instagram/Twitter: @thisisgoober | Twitter: @fndradiopod
Advertising requests can be sent to adam@foundationradio.net.
© 2019-2024, Butts Carlton Media LLC. Butts Carlton, Proprietor.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Foundation Radio is brought to you today by the tenth
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beard trims, and hot shaves. Tenth Ward Barbershop proudly serves
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Speaker 2 (00:21):
But you don't have to take my word for it.
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Schedule your appointment today to see Kane, Jordan and the
rest of the team at tenth Ward Barbershop, and we
thank them for sponsoring the program. Peace World and welcome
(01:32):
to a special episode of Foundation Radio. My name is
Adam Bernard. Thank you so much for joining me today.
My guest needs oo introduction, but I'm going to give
you one anyway. He is an original member of the
Four Horsemen. He is a w W Hall of Famer
arn Anderson. How are you, Sarah?
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Thank you for joining me.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Well, thanks for having me, Adam. I appreciate it. I
think this is our first time speaking.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
On their not it is, this is our first time together.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Yeah, so have you pleasures all my one?
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Thank you?
Speaker 2 (01:58):
I appreciate that, Sir. I want to jump into this
real fast.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
I want to talk about your graphic novel that came
out recently, My Life as the Enforcer.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Tell me what was your.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Favorite part about creating that book and seeing the vision
of it come to life?
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Well, I was asked, I did a book years ago,
I guess you could say decades ago, one other book,
and uh after that. Over the years, I heard from
different people, when are you going to do a part two?
You know, you've had a lot more to tell. Your
story has went on and took some turns that people
(02:33):
might be, you know, interested in, and I just never
thought of a book about me, and then then it
went from there to a comic book. And if you
picture comic book hero, this is not what comes to mind.
I don't think this is somebody's grandfather that might have
got lost going to the bathroom at a baseball game
(02:55):
or something. I don't know, but superhero maybe not. But
I met with Dirk and his company and uh, Dirk
Manning and uh, you know, he's the same guy that
did Shabani's graphic novel and uh, so we put it
together and I just wanted to put some things in
(03:17):
there that people might be a little shocked on him. Uh.
There's some parts in there that are you know, pretty
nasty and as far as you know, having kids having
to deal with less than spectacular home LIFs, and I
thought if I could get that in there, which is
part of my life, and everybody might not be sitting
(03:40):
home thinking I'm alone in this situation. You know, I
don't know what to do to get out. So if
that helps somebody, great.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Yeah, it's wonderful.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
It's wonderful to to as someone who comes from that
environment as well. It's wonderful to see that it is
possible to escape and it is possible to live a
life that you really enjoy. And I think that's really
that might like the message I got from the book
in total. Were there any stories that you wish could
have been in the book, or maybe something that was
there that didn't exactly make the cut. Was there anything
that you had to leave on the cutting room flo
(04:09):
You're like, oh, man, in hindsight, I really would have
wished I pushed for that to get back in there.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
I wouldn't be the right guy to judge. I don't
know what I don't I really don't know what people
want to know. And you know, the one thing I
was able to do is is you know, I quit
wrestling in ninety seven when I had my surgery, and
I've been fortunate enough to be still in the business
(04:37):
in some capacity, whether it be an agent or producer
or whatever you want to call them, and doing aw
and doing some independence now with my son Brock. So
I've had a second career and I've been very, very
fortunate with that. Now, my goal with whatever time I
have left on earth, and it can't be much, let
(04:57):
me look a look at the picture here. My God
can't be around too much longer. But whatever time I have.
I want to I want to get Brock acclimated to
the business and get him settled in. And and uh,
he's a good kid. He's he's a smart kid. He
has nothing but respect for the business because I demanded
that out of him. Uh and I think he's going
(05:20):
to be a success. His partner c W is such
a huge help as far as a veteran helping a
kid along. But but anyway, there was a chance that
who knows down the road, if it'll accommodated, maybe there's
a part three.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
I would love to read it and listen, listen, you
still look great by the way, sir, you still look
like you.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Can kick some TV.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
You know.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
I just want to let you know off the top there,
so uh no, I'm I'm you know, like I said,
if the if there is the opportunity for a part three,
I know I would love to hear it.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
I know, just researching this, I mean you you.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Just had such a an illustrious career and it even
like what a very incredible life. And I really had
to sit and think about really crafts solid questions here
on what I wanted to ask. But just an incredible book.
Please go out of your way to check it out.
It's available everywhere now. It's called My Life as as
the Enforcer. Really just an incredible read. You brought up
your son, Brock, and I want to talk to you
(06:13):
about that a little bit as well. You know, you
were part of his ammering debut when you were with AEW.
What did that mean for you, not just as you know,
someone who is really revered in the industry, but also
as a father to be able to see that come
to fruition.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
What that mean for you?
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Well, you know, thanks to Tony Khan for giving him
his start and appreciate it. At the time, I thought
it's too soon. He hasn't had enough experience off television
and you know, the smaller venues and you know, just
wrestling school where he was trained. You know, I felt
like he needed more of that. But Tony was the boss.
(06:51):
He said it, well, let's debut him tonight. And that
that happened just like that. One afternoon. We're getting no
knowledge of it. Cody comes to me, he says, you know,
Tony wants to talk to you. You got a minute, yea
go the he was one to debut Brock tonight. Well,
what do you say no. I mean, are you kidding me?
(07:15):
We already owe him for providing an alternative in the
wrestling industry. What I'm gonna say no to the guy.
I never told Brock I don't want you in the business.
I never told Brock I want you in the business.
He came up to me when he was in high
school and he said, you know, Dad, what would you
think about me wrestling? I said, well, why are you
(07:38):
bringing that up now you're in high school? He said,
I don't know. I've just been watching. So he had
been in his room watching some stuff on his own,
making his own decisions about what he liked and what
he didn't like and what he thought was good and
could he possibly do this and all this? And I said, well,
you know, you got high school to go, and I
(07:59):
want you to get a college education. I want you
to get a degree. And if when you get that
degree so that you have a way to make a living.
You know, it's a computer age, you about have to
have all that computer stuff to even function in this world,
then we'll talk. And he said okay, and we didn't
(08:20):
talk about it anymore. He went to a couple of
shows WrestleMania, A week and some stuff with me, you know,
but he was when he went to college. He was
involved into college stuff more than anything. You know. He
wasn't hound to me about it. I knew. I knew Adam.
If he got in the ring once and he got
that feel that we all do once you get in
(08:42):
there and see it from the inside out, I'd never
get him to go back to college. He'd say, piss
on that I'm doing this. So I wouldn't let him
get around the ring until he graduated. And then he said, okay,
when we're getting started, and we joined Lodi School, which
is about fifteen minutes from here, which is so convenient.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
Now I know that he's going to be when you're
listening to this, it'll actually be tomorrow if he's going
to be making his debut for MLW at Slaughterhouse, and
I wanted to get your thoughts on that and his
debut that's happening.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
I'm excited about it. They have been very gracious with
us so far. I will not be there. It'll be
Brock and c W and probably launching something in the
tag team division, I would hope. And it's the first
(09:38):
big step him going somewhere without me and I've been
pretty much everything that he's been, just to help if
I could, and help the local promoter, if I could,
and lend whatever star power I might have and put
a few butts in seats. Who knows, I don't know
if anybody wants to see my old ass or not.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Hey listen, I can.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
I can all get to that in just a second,
because I was there at SummerSlam. I heard the pop
go ahead, I apologize.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
Oh you busted me? Did you?
Speaker 1 (10:10):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (10:11):
I did?
Speaker 2 (10:11):
Sorry.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
So so I'm looking forward to to see what they do.
And it's going to give them some some more experience
and get Brock out there a lot more, and uh,
get his name out there. You know, Ian and Anderson
is not a bad thing. Uh. And it's he knows
the responsibility that he has going forward to take that
legacy and build on it, not depend on it. So
(10:38):
we're looking forward to that. Uh. I want to plug
Amail Wrestling. They have been it's through the Carolinas mostly
and they have been awesome to us. They have been great.
It's there have been a one consistent show at least
a month that we can plan on and and uh,
they have some great talent. To come in and out there.
You know, Dolph Ziegler was there, but you know Bubba
(11:00):
Dudley was just there just past Sunday in Salisbury, North Carolina.
So you know, these small promotions, man, we need to
support them all we can, because for a lot of guys,
that's the only opportunity they have to get any reps
and get better. You know, there aren't a lot of
territories as they've used to be where you could wrestle,
(11:22):
you know, six days a week, seven days a week.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
Yeah, yeah, and that's I know you you've referred to
that time, especially with Jim Crockett Promotions, as kind of
the golden era of wrestling back you know, in the
mid to or I guess early eighties, mid to late
eighties as well.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
And I wanted to ask you a question about Magnum Tia.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
I know that you know, there's the legendary you know
battles between you know, the Horsemen and Magnum Tia and Ricclair.
It felt like Magnum had like a really fast moving
machine behind him until you know, the unfortunate accident happened.
When you're in that space, when you're there and you're
performing and you're you're in front of the crowd. Can
you feel that momentum as that's happening, or is it
(12:01):
one of those types of situations where you look back
on it and go, oh wow, this was really taking
off a lot faster than we thought.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
You could feel it with him. You know, there's some
guys when you're in the moment, the Rock and Roll Express, Dusty,
you know, you take those guys, you know, the Road
Warriors and whatever, and you could see the reaction was
equally as strong to all of them, but in different ways.
It's like when the Road Warriors came down the aisle.
(12:29):
It was guys twenty years old hitting each other in
the ribs. Watch this these kill these guys rock and
Roll Express. His music would hit the teeny boppers would
go ballistic, those little high pitched voices. Magnum appealed to everybody.
He looked like a movie star. He looked like Magnum,
(12:50):
you know, pr or whatever it would deal was. And
I could see him getting better each time he went
to the ring. And you know, he's dressing Olive Blanchard,
he's dressing Arna Anderson, he's dressing you know, the Russians,
the Mennon Express and all these guys that can make
Magnum better as he makes us better, you know, and
(13:13):
you just knew that something big was on the horizon
for him, that he was going to be you know,
when Dusty was done, he would probably step into that
role as the lead babyface.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
Yeah, now I know, you know, in my research, there
was definitely talk about, you know, Magnum being the next guy.
But was there ever talk about arn Anderson potentially being
that you know, big foil to magne tier in his run.
Was there ever that conversation that took place.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
No, sir, you know, and people ask him, you know,
what were you disappointing that you were never world champion
and you know and featured, you know, as the the guy.
There are some guys that you need in a crew
that can have a great match with anybody, or at
least a passable to good match with guy that need
(14:01):
the help, and then you can have a phenomenal match
with other guys. I wasn't a guy that you looked
at that walked in the room where everybody went, who
the hell is that? Even if I don't know who
you know, if I don't know who that guy is,
I know he's somebody I didn't have that look, that
marketable six foot six, great body, hand, great head of hair.
(14:28):
My worth, I feel like started once the bell rang
and I made a guy work his ass off for
everything that he got in the ring. And I earned
my respect by being that guy. And I didn't even
have to win the match. But if I went out,
you know, you know, that's what I hear a lot,
you know, from different fans that were there in the area.
(14:50):
They said, man, two things. So you picked up a mic,
We listened, and we believed what you said, and then
you went out, And I mean you kicked the ass. Yeah,
I try to. I would try to throw in yeah,
but I never did meet anybody and they would say, oh, bullshit,
you kicked the ship out of everybody. That's what they remember.
It's not important that I wanted, you know, and I
(15:12):
was just testing the waters to see what their opinion
was of that. And having a you know, a career
that was in you know, when you're with Tolly Blanchard
and Rick Flair and Oleie Anderson and JJ Dillon and
when you're standing there in that picture and you're looking
at that and you're I was a rookie. You know,
(15:33):
I ain't been in the business but a couple of
years when I went to Crockett And when you're looking
at that monitor, or you're looking at that TV camera
or just looking at that group, it's pretty humbling experience.
Can you imagine? And these guys were at their peak,
at their best. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
Yeah, that's a hell of an accomplishment.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
I mean, that's that's a murderer's row of professional wrestlers,
you know, I mean, that's that's that is. I mean, honestly,
it could potentially be a lot of people's like official
Mount rushmorees if you will. You know, I'm not a
kind of person that likes to ask folks about their
Mount Rushmoores. But in reality, it's like, this is a
group of guys that set the tone and the tenor
for the remainder of professional wrestling, kind of set us
(16:16):
on the course that we are today. And I think
it's you know, that's got to be an amazing feeling
looking back on that, it's just humbling.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
You know, Well, it's amazing that now, in twenty twenty four,
you do this and they do it back to you,
or they do it to you first and you do
it back to them and they know exactly what you know,
what that means, and the fact that it still means
something this far along, it's it is. It's amazing. It's
(16:44):
a blessing. And I feel it was because we were
wrestling every single day and if we came to your town, man,
we gave you all we had and we busted our ass.
Nobody tanked any matches on the Jim Crockett cards, that's
for sure.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
I remember you talked about coming in and kicking ass
and taking names. I remember my very first like knowledge
of you when I was I've been a wrestling fan
for as long as I can remember. My very first
memory of you was Tully Blanchard in the WWF as
you guys as the tag team champions, as the Brainbusters,
and I remember just being like, holy shit, this arn't Anderson.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
Guy is terrifying, Like.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
Just just like like I was just like, oh my god,
this guy like he looks like somebody that you would
walk by that would kick your ass in public, and
like I just remember having that feeling and just you know,
for forever through the you know, the rest of your career.
I remember being like, that's the kind of guy. That's
the kind of guy you don't want to mess with,
you know. So like if that was the goal man,
mission accomplished, because that was you know, you were just
(17:41):
phenomenal and everything.
Speaker 3 (17:42):
You know, well, thank you. You know. What's so funny
about that is I could put on my street clothes,
put on my glasses which I had to have to
see by the way to drive and everything else. Uh,
and I could walk through the crowd and if if
I was noted, okay, it spread. But but if not,
(18:03):
I could have very well been sixth grade teacher, you know.
And and it's like then I would put on my
gear and go through the curtain, and I was the
other guy. I was, you know, arn Anderson. But most
people would not if I was walking in the crowd
leaving the arena, if I didn't have my bags in
(18:25):
my hand. But if I was in street clothes, I
just fed in. And I think maybe that was that disguise.
It was me switching into the Batman suit when it
was scuffle time, you know.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
Yep, Yeah, Clark legitimately Clark kent with the glasses. Oh
that's not Arn anders and he's wearing glasses. I can't Yeah, yeah,
so no, that's a that's amazing. I want to kind
of double back to something that we mentioned before as
far as you know people still I guess you know
in your words like still caring and knowing who the
four Horsemen are, your return at you know, your appearance
(18:58):
at this year SummerSlam with Roads before the main event.
I know I listened to the show which you know
you are the co host of the Arn Show on
One True Sport with good friend Paul Bromwell. Please make
sure you go out of your way to check it out.
I'm actually a part of that network as well with
the Blue Meani the mind of the Meeting is now
on that that group as well. So we're honored to
be a part of the team with you.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
Come.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
And I know I listened to the episode that you
talked about it and you refer to the experience as heartwarming. Now,
I was in the stands and the first thing I
did was throw up the fours when you came on
the screen and I knew right, I was like I popped,
and then I heard the response from the crowd and
I was like, wow, this is a really big moment,
Like this is a really big impactful moment. I don't
(19:42):
think necessarily not just for Cody Rhodes and his trajectory
as you know, the world, you know, the the undisputed champion,
but also for you in your career to come back
to WWE and still, you know, be this beloved figure.
What was it like to hear that love from the
folks that were there, from the w W universe in general?
Speaker 2 (20:00):
Was that like for you?
Speaker 3 (20:01):
I couldn't hear it really stage, I could not hear it,
but Brock heard it. But now keep in mind, I'm
about death in both years too. But it was I'm
wondering what I was wondering because the way we said
had it set up, it was a surprise because it's
(20:21):
just a guy. I'm making his you know, way to
the ring backstage. It didn't wreak of a setup where
you walked up on a lit set or anything like that.
It literally looked like I was just hanging out and
blindsided him, right, I think I think there's a shot.
What was the fans? Did they know? Initially?
Speaker 1 (20:39):
It was me As they got closer to you, like
I know that when they did the big pan to you, obviously,
you know, because I'm a fan, like I recognize you
right away. I think my exact words were, holy shit,
that's Arn't Anderson. But as they got closer to you,
the crowd just I mean you could hear it. It
just like enveloped the entire space, and I think they realized,
Like it took maybe a second for people to realize that, oh,
(21:02):
that really is art, you know. So it was it
was this really cool moment to kind of watch it
cascade across the crowd and people realized that you were there.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
Damn me and I wish I could have been sitting
in the crowd. I'll take it. You know, it was great.
This is something that you'll appreciate. And because I could see,
you know, how learning jar about the business and how
how much you follow it the important stuff. Yep, inasmuch
as anything Cody and I had when he brought me
(21:33):
to aid W. We had an incredible run there for
a little bit, and we did some stuff that was
out of bounds, you know, me burning his clothes and
a trash can is not normal stuff. Uh, threatening to
shoot him in the head probably was not the best idea,
but with the history I had with Dusty and then
(21:57):
Dustin and then Cody and the position he was in
and when he left, you know, people when it took
a few weeks for people to realize, yeah, he's really gone.
You know, people would say, you know, are you and
Cody ever going to get back together? And then it
went less and less and then it died out. But
(22:18):
I think enough people enjoyed that few months that we
had together and they remembered it. And the one thing
that we talk about when when young guys you know,
asked me for advice and all that, I said, be
a storyteller, tell a story, they immediately clicked back in.
(22:40):
When I walked up on Cody to the story from
a W I feel like and that's the feedback, and
it's like, man, they you're talking. I think one guy,
I forget who it was, one of the fans, you know,
one of the comments. Now, that's long term storytelling. Then somehow,
(23:00):
some way, somebody was brilliant enough to fast forward this
all the way from where it started with a W
five years ago to now. I should say that's long term, absolutely,
But that's what fans like me and you and other
pure wrestling fans like. They like stories, yep, and that's
(23:22):
they you know, I think the idea was they're gonna
they're gonna fire this thing back up, and people enjoy that.
It's you know, the athleticism of all the young guys
and girls I come in. You know, they're just incredible
athletes doing athletic stuff that's beyond my wildest dreams. But
the one thing that is missing on a long term
(23:44):
scale or storytelling just getting a piece of the puzzle
each week and you gotta wait till next week to
get the next piece. Yep. That's that's what I think
sells a lot of tickets. It's a soap.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
Roper and that's that's why I think for me too,
like even just you know, as someone who's been, you know,
a longtime wrestling fan, like I said, I've been. I've
been a fan since probably I was four or five,
for as long as I can remember, right, And for me,
when the story kind of began again in WWE with Cody,
you can trace this story all the way back to
(24:17):
the Territory days with Dusty and you and Rick and
everybody else. I mean, you're talking about a long term
story about Dusty Rhodes and the Rhodes family and the
Four Horsemen, right, Like all of these parts and components
means something to his elevation to you know, Cody's elevation
eventually to the top guy. And I think for me
and as a wrestling fan and somebody who's you know,
(24:38):
I'm a history guy, I'm a writer. I love stories
and analysis and things like that. For me, watching all
of these payoffs and then what you know, seeing you
come in, like I had that same thought, like they're
paying this off. They're literally bringing this right back to
where we were where it started in aw five years ago,
but they're also paying homage to these things that happened
(24:59):
thirty years ago, forty years ago, you know, and the
legacy of Dusty and the legacy of Arn Anderson. And
I just I think for me, that's that's as good
as it gets, right, Like, I don't think there's anything better.
Speaker 3 (25:10):
Yeah, I mean there's a clip floating around somewhere. If
you remember when it was with w W, Cody and
Dustin won the tag belts from the Shield from the Shield.
I was the agent for that match, and when they
were coming up the ramp, it just felt like, because
(25:31):
you know, I promised Dusty that I would take care
of Cody. You know, he just went when he had
Cody first started, he said, double a, you're gonna be
on the You're gonna be on the road with him.
Please look after the kid. He got something, but he
needs to be you know, he needs to be real Kneean.
I say, I got him, dust You did it for me.
I'll do it for Dustin. I'll do it for Cody.
(25:53):
But there's a clip of me coming out of Gorilla
and just hugging him on top of the stage, you know,
which was something that was planned. It was not something
that was hard to get out there, you know, nothing.
That was just something I wanted to do. I might
could have got in trouble for that, but I didn't
really care at the time, so.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
It would have been worth it, I'm sure. Yeah, yeah,
very very real, very real.
Speaker 3 (26:18):
And you're right. There are these pieces you know, throughout
history that forgot how many years from when Cody first
started w W. I mean he goes back that far.
There's these little you know, there's these little pieces laying
around of the roads in the Anderson's and he has
done a great job. He made the right move. You know,
(26:39):
he was asking me during that time. You know, what
did I think when I think da da da da
da da? And I would not commit because the selfishness
in me said stay with A because that's where I'm
being brock are we want you here? But I never
voiced that to him, And after he less left, people
(27:00):
were asking me what did I think about it? And
this is my only answer, And I think it's the
right one. In this business, talent swaps companies all the time,
and when you make a switch from one company to
the other, if it's for the benefit and the good
of your family, and it can't be the wrong decision,
can't be.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
And that's the only answer.
Speaker 1 (27:22):
Really, I mean that's I if it's going to benefit them,
and it's and their family at the end of the day,
like that's that's who you're coming home to, right, that's
who's most important. If it's going to do all those
make those beneficial benefits better for you, and then it's
not a question.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
And i' the right move. Yep.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
And now he's kicking ass, you know, very proud he's doing.
Speaker 2 (27:42):
He's doing an amazing job.
Speaker 1 (27:44):
It's nothing like everything I was in the crowd for
Wrestlmingia forty as well, it was an emotional moment. I
had my son with me as well, so just being
again being able to pass down that those stories talking
about you talking about the Dusty Roads connection, you know,
like it's just all of these wonderful moments and now
it's kind of this this generational thing we have now,
which is which is amazing. I have to ask, you know,
(28:05):
I have to ask, because you were there, is it
possible that we're going to see any more of the
Enforcer with Cody or WWE going forward in the future.
Speaker 3 (28:16):
You never say, never own. You know, they really treated
broken A so well, you know, they they flew us
in you know, they put us up at the West
and they had somebody picking us up for all the
places we needed to go. And it was the treatment
was first class, you know. And the main thing that
I saw that I was so happy with when I
(28:38):
left there, it was, you know, it's stressful doing wrong
and smack down every week. It's you know, there's a
lot of stress with that company Live TV. It's tough,
you know, and there was a lot of pressure and
and when I left, uh, it's probably a good thing.
I was probably on the verge of having a frigging
stroke or a meltdown or something. It's just just so
(28:59):
much pressure. But when I when I got out of
the car that they had car service for me, I
started seeing people who didn't know I was there backstage.
I came in a ramp in the back of the
building and uh there looked at me like, what are
you doing here? And it was but it was a
smile on everyone's face, and everyone was hugging my neck
(29:20):
and and I was hugging their neck back like I
saw Cody first, and I saw the Undertaker, then I
saw Randy Orton. You know, these are all people that
that I was there for their growth and everything, and
it was just it was a different atmosphere. Everybody was smiling,
everybody was happy, and it was it was a different company.
(29:41):
So kudos to whatever changes Hunter and Company that have
made this the atmosphere that it is. Well I do
anything back with them, I don't know. As far as
Brock goes, I think we need to get him some
more experience on smaller venues, untell shows and get him
(30:02):
in a position that he can help any company that
he goes to work for. And I have no doubt
that he will that he can be an asset to
that company, which is the main thing, and he's going
to need a little more experience for anything like that happens.
But I mean, obviously that's just the number one company
(30:22):
you know. Who wouldn't be honored or flattered to be
doing anything a cameo or anything with those guys. So
we'll see.
Speaker 1 (30:31):
I'm excited to see what happens for both you and Brock.
I'm looking forward to his debut at Slaughterhouse with MLW tomorrow.
One question before we get into the one true sports
stuff here, I wanted to ask you. You received the Frank
Gotch Award this year at the George Tragos and Luthez
Professional Hall of Fame. You were the recipient of that
award this year. Tell me what that means to you
(30:51):
and your career to be honored with such a presidious award.
Speaker 3 (30:55):
Well, I mean, I was not a great amateur wrestler,
and it's pretty humbling to be walking those halls with
all those old timers that were I mean when you
got you got some of the guys that are coaching
to this day with the arms all bent, the palms down,
(31:17):
you know what I mean. Just you look at them,
and you know, that's a beast, that's a monster, calliflowered
ears and to somehow be in the same sentence with
some of those guys and being honored in their that's
their world, their venue, you know, and it is such
a humbling thing and it's such a platform. And Jerry Briscoe,
(31:41):
who I was good friends with WW is the one
that put it together. Thank you, Jerry. It was such
an honor. And besides again, first class treatment all the way.
You know. I took Aaron and took brought with me
who obviously put me in and to hear the words
that my son said, that's all I could do to
(32:02):
keep from losing it. You know, you don't you don't
get positions like that very often. And he didn't ask
me what I thought he should say. I just said,
if you'd like to do this, I would be honored.
If you don't. If you don't, if you'd rather just
sit down and join the show, I'm fine with that too.
And he said, no, I'll do it. He said, it's
(32:24):
understated and I'll do it. Well, don't get all bent
out of shape about it.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
Yeah, calm down a little bit.
Speaker 3 (32:32):
It's fine.
Speaker 2 (32:33):
Everything will be good. Yeah, don't get too excited.
Speaker 3 (32:35):
Yeah yeah, I mean that's just who he is though.
And he said, you know that college education, I guess
paid off. He can speak in front of a crowd
a little bit. He just he's not going to get
overboard with putting me in the Hall of Fame.
Speaker 1 (32:50):
But well, listen, he learned that from his dad too.
Standing in front of a crowd talking to thousands of people.
That doesn't that's not a natural thing. You know, that's
not something that's natural.
Speaker 3 (32:58):
Well, and he learned one thing I could tell, I said, son,
when you're doing promos, don't do mine, do yours. And
remember one thing. Here's the key to this. Don't talk
at them. Talk to them and they will listen to you.
Speaker 2 (33:15):
Yep. That's the best.
Speaker 1 (33:16):
That's the best advice I was given in this position
to doing these shows is to talk. You got to
talk to you. You know, that's what we're here. We're
having a conversation. And that's that that that's the best
promo that you can give. Now, the last question I
have for this is I could talk to you all day, sir.
This has been absolute honor and privilege to talk to you.
But I wanted to talk to you about the Arn Show,
the show you do with Paul Bromwell on One True Sport.
(33:38):
Love that show, you know, I catch it as often
as I can. It's wonderful. Tell me about being a
part of the One True Sport team and what you know,
how excited you are to be able to have that
platform to talk, you know, about your career, about your
opinions on things, and about you know, the state of
professional wrestling in general.
Speaker 3 (33:54):
It's new to me and now we've been doing it
a couple of years now, but this version we want
to be a little bit updated. We want our merchandise
to be one little step as far as quality, one
little bit better than what we had before. The guys
(34:18):
that are just like yourself that are part of our network,
you know, we want to give them a platform to
not to have to serve any masters. Just say what
you think. It's your show, do what you want for me.
I got really burned out when I first started with
the podcast because I had no experience or anything, and
(34:40):
we were basically just running my career down. And we
got into that period of nineteen years when I was
with WWN, I was just going back at critique and
matches and stuff, and I went, man, this is getting old.
You know. I don't think people want to hear about
my career as an agent doing Johnsena's matches as much.
(35:02):
Now there's a niche for that, but sure, let's don't
beat Let's don't beat it to death. Let's hear about
the glory years when we were led Zeppelin tour in
the world and my wrestling career, which I hope was
a little more impactful. And but we worked every single day,
every single day, every single day, and I never had
an opportunity because we didn't do meet and greets back then.
(35:25):
If we wouldn't have done it anyway, because we're heels
and that would be contradictory to you know whatever. So
so it was like a catch twenty two. But then
when I got to start doing the podcast and the
profile went up a little bit, I think people didn't
realize there was me and then there's Arn Anderson. But
(35:47):
I'm Arn Anderson is kind of half and half Arn
Anderson and Marty Lundy. He's both guys, and there's some
interest in that. I think because a lot of my life,
a lot of the things that I did were same
stuff people were doing in the real world. So it
(36:09):
gave me an opportunity to do some of these comic cons.
And here's where they've become a blessing is now the
people get to be two feet away. I get to
shake their hand, hug their neck, throw the TV title
up on the shoulder, take a picture with them, spend
a couple three minutes, and make that experience something special.
(36:33):
And just for me, I get a chance to no
matter who it is, just because their first thing they
say is Hey, where's Oldly? And then they go this
fory past and then they would, you know, say thank
you for being part of my childhood. And I get
to turn around and go, lo, listen, guys, I've been
in this business forty two years and without y'all, I
(36:55):
wouldn't have had this. Everything my family has we owe
to you, and I've had an opportunity to say that.
Now I get a chance to say it. So it
serves a lot of masters.
Speaker 2 (37:06):
That's amazing.
Speaker 1 (37:06):
And I, like I said, I had the opportunity to
meet you in person in Cleveland, got a chance to
shake your hand and say hello, and just to be
able to do this and talk to you about your
career and what you have going on.
Speaker 2 (37:16):
It's just it's just amazing.
Speaker 1 (37:17):
So I once you all as you're listening to us,
I encourage you to go check out One True Sport.
You can listen to all the podcasts on the network.
Magnum Tier is a part of it, you know. Mind
of the MENI is there as well. Arn Anderson's show
is there, the Arm Show. Please go and check it out.
Pick up some of the merchandise as well to quality
is fantastic. I actually really dig that shirt you're wearing
right now, sir. It might be my next purchase coming up.
So I'll be happy to, you know, help support the
(37:40):
team there.
Speaker 3 (37:40):
But we appreciate it. It looks good, huh, it does.
Speaker 2 (37:43):
It looks great.
Speaker 1 (37:44):
I love I love the I love the design, you
know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (37:47):
Like the name.
Speaker 1 (37:48):
It's just it's got that old, like, I don't know,
the nineteen eighties feel where it's like that's the badass
looking shirt, right, like that's.
Speaker 3 (37:54):
Something that a guy I would wear, right.
Speaker 2 (37:56):
Something exactly and things that I would wear.
Speaker 3 (37:59):
Yeah, and where we're designing. Some of my fans are
twenty five to sixty five. Give them something as far
as my merch goes something that they wouldn't be ashamed
to wear that they're okay, wear.
Speaker 2 (38:13):
It absolutely right, thank you.
Speaker 1 (38:16):
The of course absolutely rep the enforcer the way that
the enforcer should be repped. And that's I think. That's
what when I look at that shirt, that's what I think.
Arn Anderson, I want to thank you so much for
your time today, sir and being a part of the show,
coming on and having this conversation with me. Like I said,
you go and check out the arn Show one True
sport tv dot com. You can also go to their
YouTube channel right now and subscribe and check out the
(38:37):
episodes and everything they have going on right there. So An,
I want to thank you again so much your time.
I really appreciate you being here, Adam.
Speaker 3 (38:44):
You are real pro. I'm impressed. Thank you very much, Thank.
Speaker 2 (38:48):
You, thank you. That means a lot to me. Thank you, sir.
Speaker 3 (38:51):
Well, let's do it again sometime.
Speaker 1 (38:53):
I would love that absolutely. Foundation Radio is hosted, recorded,
and produced by Adam Barnard. Additional narration and production is
provided by the executive voice Sam kreps. Our mixing and
(39:16):
engineering was done by Carl panell Our. Intro and outdoor
music is performed by Don Hubley. Additional musical accompanyment is
performed and produced by Enrichmond Our. Cover art photography was
done by Dylan Editor. Follow Adam on Instagram and Twitter
or X or whatever that this is goober and follow
the show on Twitter again not calling it X at
(39:39):
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(01:32):
to a special episode of Foundation Radio. My name is
Adam Bernard. Thank you so much for joining me today.
My guest needs oo introduction, but I'm going to give
you one anyway. He is an original member of the
Four Horsemen. He is a w W Hall of Famer
arn Anderson. How are you, Sarah?
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Thank you for joining me.
Speaker 3 (01:46):
Well, thanks for having me, Adam. I appreciate it. I
think this is our first time speaking.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
On their not it is, this is our first time together.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Yeah, so have you pleasures all my one?
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Thank you?
Speaker 2 (01:58):
I appreciate that, Sir. I want to jump into this
real fast.
Speaker 1 (02:00):
I want to talk about your graphic novel that came
out recently, My Life as the Enforcer.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Tell me what was your.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Favorite part about creating that book and seeing the vision
of it come to life?
Speaker 3 (02:12):
Well, I was asked, I did a book years ago,
I guess you could say decades ago, one other book,
and uh after that. Over the years, I heard from
different people, when are you going to do a part two?
You know, you've had a lot more to tell. Your
story has went on and took some turns that people
(02:33):
might be, you know, interested in, and I just never
thought of a book about me, and then then it
went from there to a comic book. And if you
picture comic book hero, this is not what comes to mind.
I don't think this is somebody's grandfather that might have
got lost going to the bathroom at a baseball game
(02:55):
or something. I don't know, but superhero maybe not. But
I met with Dirk and his company and uh, Dirk
Manning and uh, you know, he's the same guy that
did Shabani's graphic novel and uh, so we put it
together and I just wanted to put some things in
(03:17):
there that people might be a little shocked on him. Uh.
There's some parts in there that are you know, pretty
nasty and as far as you know, having kids having
to deal with less than spectacular home LIFs, and I
thought if I could get that in there, which is
part of my life, and everybody might not be sitting
(03:40):
home thinking I'm alone in this situation. You know, I
don't know what to do to get out. So if
that helps somebody, great.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Yeah, it's wonderful.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
It's wonderful to to as someone who comes from that
environment as well. It's wonderful to see that it is
possible to escape and it is possible to live a
life that you really enjoy. And I think that's really
that might like the message I got from the book
in total. Were there any stories that you wish could
have been in the book, or maybe something that was
there that didn't exactly make the cut. Was there anything
that you had to leave on the cutting room flo
(04:09):
You're like, oh, man, in hindsight, I really would have
wished I pushed for that to get back in there.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
I wouldn't be the right guy to judge. I don't
know what I don't I really don't know what people
want to know. And you know, the one thing I
was able to do is is you know, I quit
wrestling in ninety seven when I had my surgery, and
I've been fortunate enough to be still in the business
(04:37):
in some capacity, whether it be an agent or producer
or whatever you want to call them, and doing aw
and doing some independence now with my son Brock. So
I've had a second career and I've been very, very
fortunate with that. Now, my goal with whatever time I
have left on earth, and it can't be much, let
(04:57):
me look a look at the picture here. My God
can't be around too much longer. But whatever time I have.
I want to I want to get Brock acclimated to
the business and get him settled in. And and uh,
he's a good kid. He's he's a smart kid. He
has nothing but respect for the business because I demanded
that out of him. Uh and I think he's going
(05:20):
to be a success. His partner c W is such
a huge help as far as a veteran helping a
kid along. But but anyway, there was a chance that
who knows down the road, if it'll accommodated, maybe there's
a part three.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
I would love to read it and listen, listen, you
still look great by the way, sir, you still look
like you.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Can kick some TV.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
You know.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
I just want to let you know off the top there,
so uh no, I'm I'm you know, like I said,
if the if there is the opportunity for a part three,
I know I would love to hear it.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
I know, just researching this, I mean you you.
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Just had such a an illustrious career and it even
like what a very incredible life. And I really had
to sit and think about really crafts solid questions here
on what I wanted to ask. But just an incredible book.
Please go out of your way to check it out.
It's available everywhere now. It's called My Life as as
the Enforcer. Really just an incredible read. You brought up
your son, Brock, and I want to talk to you
(06:13):
about that a little bit as well. You know, you
were part of his ammering debut when you were with AEW.
What did that mean for you, not just as you know,
someone who is really revered in the industry, but also
as a father to be able to see that come
to fruition.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
What that mean for you?
Speaker 3 (06:29):
Well, you know, thanks to Tony Khan for giving him
his start and appreciate it. At the time, I thought
it's too soon. He hasn't had enough experience off television
and you know, the smaller venues and you know, just
wrestling school where he was trained. You know, I felt
like he needed more of that. But Tony was the boss.
(06:51):
He said it, well, let's debut him tonight. And that
that happened just like that. One afternoon. We're getting no
knowledge of it. Cody comes to me, he says, you know,
Tony wants to talk to you. You got a minute, yea
go the he was one to debut Brock tonight. Well,
what do you say no. I mean, are you kidding me?
(07:15):
We already owe him for providing an alternative in the
wrestling industry. What I'm gonna say no to the guy.
I never told Brock I don't want you in the business.
I never told Brock I want you in the business.
He came up to me when he was in high
school and he said, you know, Dad, what would you
think about me wrestling? I said, well, why are you
(07:38):
bringing that up now you're in high school? He said,
I don't know. I've just been watching. So he had
been in his room watching some stuff on his own,
making his own decisions about what he liked and what
he didn't like and what he thought was good and
could he possibly do this and all this? And I said, well,
you know, you got high school to go, and I
(07:59):
want you to get a college education. I want you
to get a degree. And if when you get that
degree so that you have a way to make a living.
You know, it's a computer age, you about have to
have all that computer stuff to even function in this world,
then we'll talk. And he said okay, and we didn't
(08:20):
talk about it anymore. He went to a couple of
shows WrestleMania, A week and some stuff with me, you know,
but he was when he went to college. He was
involved into college stuff more than anything. You know. He
wasn't hound to me about it. I knew. I knew Adam.
If he got in the ring once and he got
that feel that we all do once you get in
(08:42):
there and see it from the inside out, I'd never
get him to go back to college. He'd say, piss
on that I'm doing this. So I wouldn't let him
get around the ring until he graduated. And then he said, okay,
when we're getting started, and we joined Lodi School, which
is about fifteen minutes from here, which is so convenient.
Speaker 1 (09:03):
Now I know that he's going to be when you're
listening to this, it'll actually be tomorrow if he's going
to be making his debut for MLW at Slaughterhouse, and
I wanted to get your thoughts on that and his
debut that's happening.
Speaker 3 (09:17):
I'm excited about it. They have been very gracious with
us so far. I will not be there. It'll be
Brock and c W and probably launching something in the
tag team division, I would hope. And it's the first
(09:38):
big step him going somewhere without me and I've been
pretty much everything that he's been, just to help if
I could, and help the local promoter, if I could,
and lend whatever star power I might have and put
a few butts in seats. Who knows, I don't know
if anybody wants to see my old ass or not.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Hey listen, I can.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
I can all get to that in just a second,
because I was there at SummerSlam. I heard the pop
go ahead, I apologize.
Speaker 3 (10:06):
Oh you busted me? Did you?
Speaker 1 (10:10):
Oh?
Speaker 3 (10:11):
I did?
Speaker 2 (10:11):
Sorry.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
So so I'm looking forward to to see what they do.
And it's going to give them some some more experience
and get Brock out there a lot more, and uh,
get his name out there. You know, Ian and Anderson
is not a bad thing. Uh. And it's he knows
the responsibility that he has going forward to take that
legacy and build on it, not depend on it. So
(10:38):
we're looking forward to that. Uh. I want to plug
Amail Wrestling. They have been it's through the Carolinas mostly
and they have been awesome to us. They have been great.
It's there have been a one consistent show at least
a month that we can plan on and and uh,
they have some great talent. To come in and out there.
You know, Dolph Ziegler was there, but you know Bubba
(11:00):
Dudley was just there just past Sunday in Salisbury, North Carolina.
So you know, these small promotions, man, we need to
support them all we can, because for a lot of guys,
that's the only opportunity they have to get any reps
and get better. You know, there aren't a lot of
territories as they've used to be where you could wrestle,
(11:22):
you know, six days a week, seven days a week.
Speaker 1 (11:25):
Yeah, yeah, and that's I know you you've referred to
that time, especially with Jim Crockett Promotions, as kind of
the golden era of wrestling back you know, in the
mid to or I guess early eighties, mid to late
eighties as well.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
And I wanted to ask you a question about Magnum Tia.
Speaker 1 (11:38):
I know that you know, there's the legendary you know
battles between you know, the Horsemen and Magnum Tia and Ricclair.
It felt like Magnum had like a really fast moving
machine behind him until you know, the unfortunate accident happened.
When you're in that space, when you're there and you're
performing and you're you're in front of the crowd. Can
you feel that momentum as that's happening, or is it
(12:01):
one of those types of situations where you look back
on it and go, oh wow, this was really taking
off a lot faster than we thought.
Speaker 3 (12:08):
You could feel it with him. You know, there's some
guys when you're in the moment, the Rock and Roll Express, Dusty,
you know, you take those guys, you know, the Road
Warriors and whatever, and you could see the reaction was
equally as strong to all of them, but in different ways.
It's like when the Road Warriors came down the aisle.
(12:29):
It was guys twenty years old hitting each other in
the ribs. Watch this these kill these guys rock and
Roll Express. His music would hit the teeny boppers would
go ballistic, those little high pitched voices. Magnum appealed to everybody.
He looked like a movie star. He looked like Magnum,
(12:50):
you know, pr or whatever it would deal was. And
I could see him getting better each time he went
to the ring. And you know, he's dressing Olive Blanchard,
he's dressing Arna Anderson, he's dressing you know, the Russians,
the Mennon Express and all these guys that can make
Magnum better as he makes us better, you know, and
(13:13):
you just knew that something big was on the horizon
for him, that he was going to be you know,
when Dusty was done, he would probably step into that
role as the lead babyface.
Speaker 1 (13:24):
Yeah, now I know, you know, in my research, there
was definitely talk about, you know, Magnum being the next guy.
But was there ever talk about arn Anderson potentially being
that you know, big foil to magne tier in his run.
Was there ever that conversation that took place.
Speaker 3 (13:39):
No, sir, you know, and people ask him, you know,
what were you disappointing that you were never world champion
and you know and featured, you know, as the the guy.
There are some guys that you need in a crew
that can have a great match with anybody, or at
least a passable to good match with guy that need
(14:01):
the help, and then you can have a phenomenal match
with other guys. I wasn't a guy that you looked
at that walked in the room where everybody went, who
the hell is that? Even if I don't know who
you know, if I don't know who that guy is,
I know he's somebody I didn't have that look, that
marketable six foot six, great body, hand, great head of hair.
(14:28):
My worth, I feel like started once the bell rang
and I made a guy work his ass off for
everything that he got in the ring. And I earned
my respect by being that guy. And I didn't even
have to win the match. But if I went out,
you know, you know, that's what I hear a lot,
you know, from different fans that were there in the area.
(14:50):
They said, man, two things. So you picked up a mic,
We listened, and we believed what you said, and then
you went out, And I mean you kicked the ass. Yeah,
I try to. I would try to throw in yeah,
but I never did meet anybody and they would say, oh, bullshit,
you kicked the ship out of everybody. That's what they remember.
It's not important that I wanted, you know, and I
(15:12):
was just testing the waters to see what their opinion
was of that. And having a you know, a career
that was in you know, when you're with Tolly Blanchard
and Rick Flair and Oleie Anderson and JJ Dillon and
when you're standing there in that picture and you're looking
at that and you're I was a rookie. You know,
(15:33):
I ain't been in the business but a couple of
years when I went to Crockett And when you're looking
at that monitor, or you're looking at that TV camera
or just looking at that group, it's pretty humbling experience.
Can you imagine? And these guys were at their peak,
at their best. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
Yeah, that's a hell of an accomplishment.
Speaker 1 (15:54):
I mean, that's that's a murderer's row of professional wrestlers,
you know, I mean, that's that's that is. I mean, honestly,
it could potentially be a lot of people's like official
Mount rushmorees if you will. You know, I'm not a
kind of person that likes to ask folks about their
Mount Rushmoores. But in reality, it's like, this is a
group of guys that set the tone and the tenor
for the remainder of professional wrestling, kind of set us
(16:16):
on the course that we are today. And I think
it's you know, that's got to be an amazing feeling
looking back on that, it's just humbling.
Speaker 3 (16:21):
You know, Well, it's amazing that now, in twenty twenty four,
you do this and they do it back to you,
or they do it to you first and you do
it back to them and they know exactly what you know,
what that means, and the fact that it still means
something this far along, it's it is. It's amazing. It's
(16:44):
a blessing. And I feel it was because we were
wrestling every single day and if we came to your town, man,
we gave you all we had and we busted our ass.
Nobody tanked any matches on the Jim Crockett cards, that's
for sure.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
I remember you talked about coming in and kicking ass
and taking names. I remember my very first like knowledge
of you when I was I've been a wrestling fan
for as long as I can remember. My very first
memory of you was Tully Blanchard in the WWF as
you guys as the tag team champions, as the Brainbusters,
and I remember just being like, holy shit, this arn't Anderson.
Speaker 2 (17:19):
Guy is terrifying, Like.
Speaker 1 (17:20):
Just just like like I was just like, oh my god,
this guy like he looks like somebody that you would
walk by that would kick your ass in public, and
like I just remember having that feeling and just you know,
for forever through the you know, the rest of your career.
I remember being like, that's the kind of guy. That's
the kind of guy you don't want to mess with,
you know. So like if that was the goal man,
mission accomplished, because that was you know, you were just
(17:41):
phenomenal and everything.
Speaker 3 (17:42):
You know, well, thank you. You know. What's so funny
about that is I could put on my street clothes,
put on my glasses which I had to have to
see by the way to drive and everything else. Uh,
and I could walk through the crowd and if if
I was noted, okay, it spread. But but if not,
(18:03):
I could have very well been sixth grade teacher, you know.
And and it's like then I would put on my
gear and go through the curtain, and I was the
other guy. I was, you know, arn Anderson. But most
people would not if I was walking in the crowd
leaving the arena, if I didn't have my bags in
(18:25):
my hand. But if I was in street clothes, I
just fed in. And I think maybe that was that disguise.
It was me switching into the Batman suit when it
was scuffle time, you know.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
Yep, Yeah, Clark legitimately Clark kent with the glasses. Oh
that's not Arn anders and he's wearing glasses. I can't Yeah, yeah,
so no, that's a that's amazing. I want to kind
of double back to something that we mentioned before as
far as you know people still I guess you know
in your words like still caring and knowing who the
four Horsemen are, your return at you know, your appearance
(18:58):
at this year SummerSlam with Roads before the main event.
I know I listened to the show which you know
you are the co host of the Arn Show on
One True Sport with good friend Paul Bromwell. Please make
sure you go out of your way to check it out.
I'm actually a part of that network as well with
the Blue Meani the mind of the Meeting is now
on that that group as well. So we're honored to
be a part of the team with you.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
Come.
Speaker 2 (19:19):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
And I know I listened to the episode that you
talked about it and you refer to the experience as heartwarming. Now,
I was in the stands and the first thing I
did was throw up the fours when you came on
the screen and I knew right, I was like I popped,
and then I heard the response from the crowd and
I was like, wow, this is a really big moment,
Like this is a really big impactful moment. I don't
(19:42):
think necessarily not just for Cody Rhodes and his trajectory
as you know, the world, you know, the the undisputed champion,
but also for you in your career to come back
to WWE and still, you know, be this beloved figure.
What was it like to hear that love from the
folks that were there, from the w W universe in general?
Speaker 2 (20:00):
Was that like for you?
Speaker 3 (20:01):
I couldn't hear it really stage, I could not hear it,
but Brock heard it. But now keep in mind, I'm
about death in both years too. But it was I'm
wondering what I was wondering because the way we said
had it set up, it was a surprise because it's
(20:21):
just a guy. I'm making his you know, way to
the ring backstage. It didn't wreak of a setup where
you walked up on a lit set or anything like that.
It literally looked like I was just hanging out and
blindsided him, right, I think I think there's a shot.
What was the fans? Did they know? Initially?
Speaker 1 (20:39):
It was me As they got closer to you, like
I know that when they did the big pan to you, obviously,
you know, because I'm a fan, like I recognize you
right away. I think my exact words were, holy shit,
that's Arn't Anderson. But as they got closer to you,
the crowd just I mean you could hear it. It
just like enveloped the entire space, and I think they realized,
Like it took maybe a second for people to realize that, oh,
(21:02):
that really is art, you know. So it was it
was this really cool moment to kind of watch it
cascade across the crowd and people realized that you were there.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
Damn me and I wish I could have been sitting
in the crowd. I'll take it. You know, it was great.
This is something that you'll appreciate. And because I could see,
you know, how learning jar about the business and how
how much you follow it the important stuff. Yep, inasmuch
as anything Cody and I had when he brought me
(21:33):
to aid W. We had an incredible run there for
a little bit, and we did some stuff that was
out of bounds, you know, me burning his clothes and
a trash can is not normal stuff. Uh, threatening to
shoot him in the head probably was not the best idea,
but with the history I had with Dusty and then
(21:57):
Dustin and then Cody and the position he was in
and when he left, you know, people when it took
a few weeks for people to realize, yeah, he's really gone.
You know, people would say, you know, are you and
Cody ever going to get back together? And then it
went less and less and then it died out. But
(22:18):
I think enough people enjoyed that few months that we
had together and they remembered it. And the one thing
that we talk about when when young guys you know,
asked me for advice and all that, I said, be
a storyteller, tell a story, they immediately clicked back in.
(22:40):
When I walked up on Cody to the story from
a W I feel like and that's the feedback, and
it's like, man, they you're talking. I think one guy,
I forget who it was, one of the fans, you know,
one of the comments. Now, that's long term storytelling. Then somehow,
(23:00):
some way, somebody was brilliant enough to fast forward this
all the way from where it started with a W
five years ago to now. I should say that's long term, absolutely,
But that's what fans like me and you and other
pure wrestling fans like. They like stories, yep, and that's
(23:22):
they you know, I think the idea was they're gonna
they're gonna fire this thing back up, and people enjoy that.
It's you know, the athleticism of all the young guys
and girls I come in. You know, they're just incredible
athletes doing athletic stuff that's beyond my wildest dreams. But
the one thing that is missing on a long term
(23:44):
scale or storytelling just getting a piece of the puzzle
each week and you gotta wait till next week to
get the next piece. Yep. That's that's what I think
sells a lot of tickets. It's a soap.
Speaker 1 (23:57):
Roper and that's that's why I think for me too,
like even just you know, as someone who's been, you know,
a longtime wrestling fan, like I said, I've been. I've
been a fan since probably I was four or five,
for as long as I can remember, right, And for me,
when the story kind of began again in WWE with Cody,
you can trace this story all the way back to
(24:17):
the Territory days with Dusty and you and Rick and
everybody else. I mean, you're talking about a long term
story about Dusty Rhodes and the Rhodes family and the
Four Horsemen, right, Like all of these parts and components
means something to his elevation to you know, Cody's elevation
eventually to the top guy. And I think for me
and as a wrestling fan and somebody who's you know,
(24:38):
I'm a history guy, I'm a writer. I love stories
and analysis and things like that. For me, watching all
of these payoffs and then what you know, seeing you
come in, like I had that same thought, like they're
paying this off. They're literally bringing this right back to
where we were where it started in aw five years ago,
but they're also paying homage to these things that happened
(24:59):
thirty years ago, forty years ago, you know, and the
legacy of Dusty and the legacy of Arn Anderson. And
I just I think for me, that's that's as good
as it gets, right, Like, I don't think there's anything better.
Speaker 3 (25:10):
Yeah, I mean there's a clip floating around somewhere. If
you remember when it was with w W, Cody and
Dustin won the tag belts from the Shield from the Shield.
I was the agent for that match, and when they
were coming up the ramp, it just felt like, because
(25:31):
you know, I promised Dusty that I would take care
of Cody. You know, he just went when he had
Cody first started, he said, double a, you're gonna be
on the You're gonna be on the road with him.
Please look after the kid. He got something, but he
needs to be you know, he needs to be real Kneean.
I say, I got him, dust You did it for me.
I'll do it for Dustin. I'll do it for Cody.
(25:53):
But there's a clip of me coming out of Gorilla
and just hugging him on top of the stage, you know,
which was something that was planned. It was not something
that was hard to get out there, you know, nothing.
That was just something I wanted to do. I might
could have got in trouble for that, but I didn't
really care at the time, so.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
It would have been worth it, I'm sure. Yeah, yeah,
very very real, very real.
Speaker 3 (26:18):
And you're right. There are these pieces you know, throughout
history that forgot how many years from when Cody first
started w W. I mean he goes back that far.
There's these little you know, there's these little pieces laying
around of the roads in the Anderson's and he has
done a great job. He made the right move. You know,
(26:39):
he was asking me during that time. You know, what
did I think when I think da da da da
da da? And I would not commit because the selfishness
in me said stay with A because that's where I'm
being brock are we want you here? But I never
voiced that to him, And after he less left, people
(27:00):
were asking me what did I think about it? And
this is my only answer, And I think it's the
right one. In this business, talent swaps companies all the time,
and when you make a switch from one company to
the other, if it's for the benefit and the good
of your family, and it can't be the wrong decision,
can't be.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
And that's the only answer.
Speaker 1 (27:22):
Really, I mean that's I if it's going to benefit them,
and it's and their family at the end of the day,
like that's that's who you're coming home to, right, that's
who's most important. If it's going to do all those
make those beneficial benefits better for you, and then it's
not a question.
Speaker 2 (27:35):
And i' the right move. Yep.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
And now he's kicking ass, you know, very proud he's doing.
Speaker 2 (27:42):
He's doing an amazing job.
Speaker 1 (27:44):
It's nothing like everything I was in the crowd for
Wrestlmingia forty as well, it was an emotional moment. I
had my son with me as well, so just being
again being able to pass down that those stories talking
about you talking about the Dusty Roads connection, you know,
like it's just all of these wonderful moments and now
it's kind of this this generational thing we have now,
which is which is amazing. I have to ask, you know,
(28:05):
I have to ask, because you were there, is it
possible that we're going to see any more of the
Enforcer with Cody or WWE going forward in the future.
Speaker 3 (28:16):
You never say, never own. You know, they really treated
broken A so well, you know, they they flew us
in you know, they put us up at the West
and they had somebody picking us up for all the
places we needed to go. And it was the treatment
was first class, you know. And the main thing that
I saw that I was so happy with when I
(28:38):
left there, it was, you know, it's stressful doing wrong
and smack down every week. It's you know, there's a
lot of stress with that company Live TV. It's tough,
you know, and there was a lot of pressure and
and when I left, uh, it's probably a good thing.
I was probably on the verge of having a frigging
stroke or a meltdown or something. It's just just so
(28:59):
much pressure. But when I when I got out of
the car that they had car service for me, I
started seeing people who didn't know I was there backstage.
I came in a ramp in the back of the
building and uh there looked at me like, what are
you doing here? And it was but it was a
smile on everyone's face, and everyone was hugging my neck
(29:20):
and and I was hugging their neck back like I
saw Cody first, and I saw the Undertaker, then I
saw Randy Orton. You know, these are all people that
that I was there for their growth and everything, and
it was just it was a different atmosphere. Everybody was smiling,
everybody was happy, and it was it was a different company.
(29:41):
So kudos to whatever changes Hunter and Company that have
made this the atmosphere that it is. Well I do
anything back with them, I don't know. As far as
Brock goes, I think we need to get him some
more experience on smaller venues, untell shows and get him
(30:02):
in a position that he can help any company that
he goes to work for. And I have no doubt
that he will that he can be an asset to
that company, which is the main thing, and he's going
to need a little more experience for anything like that happens.
But I mean, obviously that's just the number one company
(30:22):
you know. Who wouldn't be honored or flattered to be
doing anything a cameo or anything with those guys. So
we'll see.
Speaker 1 (30:31):
I'm excited to see what happens for both you and Brock.
I'm looking forward to his debut at Slaughterhouse with MLW tomorrow.
One question before we get into the one true sports
stuff here, I wanted to ask you. You received the Frank
Gotch Award this year at the George Tragos and Luthez
Professional Hall of Fame. You were the recipient of that
award this year. Tell me what that means to you
(30:51):
and your career to be honored with such a presidious award.
Speaker 3 (30:55):
Well, I mean, I was not a great amateur wrestler,
and it's pretty humbling to be walking those halls with
all those old timers that were I mean when you
got you got some of the guys that are coaching
to this day with the arms all bent, the palms down,
(31:17):
you know what I mean. Just you look at them,
and you know, that's a beast, that's a monster, calliflowered
ears and to somehow be in the same sentence with
some of those guys and being honored in their that's
their world, their venue, you know, and it is such
a humbling thing and it's such a platform. And Jerry Briscoe,
(31:41):
who I was good friends with WW is the one
that put it together. Thank you, Jerry. It was such
an honor. And besides again, first class treatment all the way.
You know. I took Aaron and took brought with me
who obviously put me in and to hear the words
that my son said, that's all I could do to
(32:02):
keep from losing it. You know, you don't you don't
get positions like that very often. And he didn't ask
me what I thought he should say. I just said,
if you'd like to do this, I would be honored.
If you don't. If you don't, if you'd rather just
sit down and join the show, I'm fine with that too.
And he said, no, I'll do it. He said, it's
(32:24):
understated and I'll do it. Well, don't get all bent
out of shape about it.
Speaker 2 (32:31):
Yeah, calm down a little bit.
Speaker 3 (32:32):
It's fine.
Speaker 2 (32:33):
Everything will be good. Yeah, don't get too excited.
Speaker 3 (32:35):
Yeah yeah, I mean that's just who he is though.
And he said, you know that college education, I guess
paid off. He can speak in front of a crowd
a little bit. He just he's not going to get
overboard with putting me in the Hall of Fame.
Speaker 1 (32:50):
But well, listen, he learned that from his dad too.
Standing in front of a crowd talking to thousands of people.
That doesn't that's not a natural thing. You know, that's
not something that's natural.
Speaker 3 (32:58):
Well, and he learned one thing I could tell, I said, son,
when you're doing promos, don't do mine, do yours. And
remember one thing. Here's the key to this. Don't talk
at them. Talk to them and they will listen to you.
Speaker 2 (33:15):
Yep. That's the best.
Speaker 1 (33:16):
That's the best advice I was given in this position
to doing these shows is to talk. You got to
talk to you. You know, that's what we're here. We're
having a conversation. And that's that that that's the best
promo that you can give. Now, the last question I
have for this is I could talk to you all day, sir.
This has been absolute honor and privilege to talk to you.
But I wanted to talk to you about the Arn Show,
the show you do with Paul Bromwell on One True Sport.
(33:38):
Love that show, you know, I catch it as often
as I can. It's wonderful. Tell me about being a
part of the One True Sport team and what you know,
how excited you are to be able to have that
platform to talk, you know, about your career, about your
opinions on things, and about you know, the state of
professional wrestling in general.
Speaker 3 (33:54):
It's new to me and now we've been doing it
a couple of years now, but this version we want
to be a little bit updated. We want our merchandise
to be one little step as far as quality, one
little bit better than what we had before. The guys
(34:18):
that are just like yourself that are part of our network,
you know, we want to give them a platform to
not to have to serve any masters. Just say what
you think. It's your show, do what you want for me.
I got really burned out when I first started with
the podcast because I had no experience or anything, and
(34:40):
we were basically just running my career down. And we
got into that period of nineteen years when I was
with WWN, I was just going back at critique and
matches and stuff, and I went, man, this is getting old.
You know. I don't think people want to hear about
my career as an agent doing Johnsena's matches as much.
(35:02):
Now there's a niche for that, but sure, let's don't
beat Let's don't beat it to death. Let's hear about
the glory years when we were led Zeppelin tour in
the world and my wrestling career, which I hope was
a little more impactful. And but we worked every single day,
every single day, every single day, and I never had
an opportunity because we didn't do meet and greets back then.
(35:25):
If we wouldn't have done it anyway, because we're heels
and that would be contradictory to you know whatever. So
so it was like a catch twenty two. But then
when I got to start doing the podcast and the
profile went up a little bit, I think people didn't
realize there was me and then there's Arn Anderson. But
(35:47):
I'm Arn Anderson is kind of half and half Arn
Anderson and Marty Lundy. He's both guys, and there's some
interest in that. I think because a lot of my life,
a lot of the things that I did were same
stuff people were doing in the real world. So it
(36:09):
gave me an opportunity to do some of these comic cons.
And here's where they've become a blessing is now the
people get to be two feet away. I get to
shake their hand, hug their neck, throw the TV title
up on the shoulder, take a picture with them, spend
a couple three minutes, and make that experience something special.
(36:33):
And just for me, I get a chance to no
matter who it is, just because their first thing they
say is Hey, where's Oldly? And then they go this
fory past and then they would, you know, say thank
you for being part of my childhood. And I get
to turn around and go, lo, listen, guys, I've been
in this business forty two years and without y'all, I
(36:55):
wouldn't have had this. Everything my family has we owe
to you, and I've had an opportunity to say that.
Now I get a chance to say it. So it
serves a lot of masters.
Speaker 2 (37:06):
That's amazing.
Speaker 1 (37:06):
And I, like I said, I had the opportunity to
meet you in person in Cleveland, got a chance to
shake your hand and say hello, and just to be
able to do this and talk to you about your
career and what you have going on.
Speaker 2 (37:16):
It's just it's just amazing.
Speaker 1 (37:17):
So I once you all as you're listening to us,
I encourage you to go check out One True Sport.
You can listen to all the podcasts on the network.
Magnum Tier is a part of it, you know. Mind
of the MENI is there as well. Arn Anderson's show
is there, the Arm Show. Please go and check it out.
Pick up some of the merchandise as well to quality
is fantastic. I actually really dig that shirt you're wearing
right now, sir. It might be my next purchase coming up.
So I'll be happy to, you know, help support the
(37:40):
team there.
Speaker 3 (37:40):
But we appreciate it. It looks good, huh, it does.
Speaker 2 (37:43):
It looks great.
Speaker 1 (37:44):
I love I love the I love the design, you
know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (37:47):
Like the name.
Speaker 1 (37:48):
It's just it's got that old, like, I don't know,
the nineteen eighties feel where it's like that's the badass
looking shirt, right, like that's.
Speaker 3 (37:54):
Something that a guy I would wear, right.
Speaker 2 (37:56):
Something exactly and things that I would wear.
Speaker 3 (37:59):
Yeah, and where we're designing. Some of my fans are
twenty five to sixty five. Give them something as far
as my merch goes something that they wouldn't be ashamed
to wear that they're okay, wear.
Speaker 2 (38:13):
It absolutely right, thank you.
Speaker 1 (38:16):
The of course absolutely rep the enforcer the way that
the enforcer should be repped. And that's I think. That's
what when I look at that shirt, that's what I think.
Arn Anderson, I want to thank you so much for
your time today, sir and being a part of the show,
coming on and having this conversation with me. Like I said,
you go and check out the arn Show one True
sport tv dot com. You can also go to their
YouTube channel right now and subscribe and check out the
(38:37):
episodes and everything they have going on right there. So An,
I want to thank you again so much your time.
I really appreciate you being here, Adam.
Speaker 3 (38:44):
You are real pro. I'm impressed. Thank you very much, Thank.
Speaker 2 (38:48):
You, thank you. That means a lot to me. Thank you, sir.
Speaker 3 (38:51):
Well, let's do it again sometime.
Speaker 1 (38:53):
I would love that absolutely. Foundation Radio is hosted, recorded,
and produced by Adam Barnard. Additional narration and production is
provided by the executive voice Sam kreps. Our mixing and
(39:16):
engineering was done by Carl panell Our. Intro and outdoor
music is performed by Don Hubley. Additional musical accompanyment is
performed and produced by Enrichmond Our. Cover art photography was
done by Dylan Editor. Follow Adam on Instagram and Twitter
or X or whatever that this is goober and follow
the show on Twitter again not calling it X at
(39:39):
FND Radio cood. Find the entire show archive at Foundation
Radio dot net. This has been a bus Carlton Media
production Butts Carlton pro prietor bro whose Gar
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