Arn Anderson says he is “terrified” about modern wrestling and is worried about “a casualty list”
While speaking to Denise Salcedo, WWE Hall of Famer Arn Anderson gave his thoughts on the modern-day style of wrestling…
“Well, I’m terrified. I respect the girls and the guys of today’s wrestling industry, but scared to death too, because I see things happening in the ring that you can’t protect yourself on.
Anything going backwards — German suplexes — you can’t protect yourself because you can’t see where you’re going. Stuff off the top, going through tables, things that are dangerous. I mean, you look at me, I’m beat up, and I didn’t do any of that stuff.
So I’m just worried that in five years we’re going to have a casualty list about that long. And I hate it for the young guys and girls, because they feel like they need to go to that level to get the audience’s approval.
I’m not saying take everything away from them, take all the excitement away, but take some of the stuff that talent are getting hurt on time after time and just dial it down. That’s all I’m asking.
I’ll never get my wish. I don’t have any control over the business at all, other than just my opinion. But I know this — I hear almost on a weekly basis who’s dropping out due to injury. It was not that way when I was wrestling. Granted, we weren’t doing the stuff they’re doing, and it was by design.”
Anderson mentioned Charlotte Flair as an example…
“Ashley Flair — Charlotte — is famous for going up, dropping her opponent on the floor, going up to the top rope, the turnbuckle, and doing a moonsault off to the floor. You’ve seen it.
Well, if you go back and slow the tape down and play that, there’s no way to catch somebody off the top, because their feet and all their weight is coming straight down on you. There’s no way to do it, and she’s landing on her feet.
What’s the odds of her blowing her knee out or tearing her hamstring? Way high. And you tell me if she doesn’t do that move that I’m going to be disappointed. I don’t think so.”