On a recent edition of his “The ARN Show” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Arn Anderson discussed Marc Mero’s Johnny B Badd gimmick, Hulk Hogan relying on the same people to work with, and more.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On Marc Mero’s Johnny B Badd gimmick: “Well I mean, he looked like Little Richard, with an athletic physique. Tanned — I mean, you know I am about the tan thing. Handsome guy, good body, good athlete. You know, all those things. And I just couldn’t get around — this was just me — the pop [confetti] gun.”
On the pop gun being part of his entrance: “It’s somehow, after looking at this guy, athletically handsome guy, the whole deal. And then you [see him with the gun] ‘Boom.’ I never could see that adding to his gimmick. I felt it took away. But I got a feeling he came up with all that, so it’s his cross to bear. So be it. But the guy definitely looked apart. And then you find out, ‘Okay, he’s a legitimate boxer.’ He was like Golden Gloves champion or something, right? Something like that? So he could knock your head off, too. And you figure, ‘Well s**t, I never saw that comment. So he’s legitimately probably a bada*s if you tried them, I would imagine.”
On Johnny B Badd working with The Honky Tonk Man: “I would just say that that’s probably not the best chemistry and leave it at that. You know, Honky was pure entertainment, a lot of Memphis slant in his work. Johnny B Badd was where they were trying to go with that time. So it’s just different chemistry. Maybe not the best.”
On Hulk Hogan relying on the same people to work with: “Yeah, he made his call on who he wanted to work with. And you know, he knew who was going to take care of him. It’d have been to build to that match with Hogan and Flair a year and a half down the road from when he came in. He could have worked with everybody else sparingly. You wouldn’t have Hulk on every TV show, obviously. But you know, let him beat some other guys. There had to be some other options.”
In a recent episode of his podcast, “The ARN Show,” WWE Hall of Famer Arn Anderson shared his thoughts on various topics, including Marc Mero’s Johnny B Badd gimmick, Hulk Hogan’s reliance on certain individuals to work with, and more. Let’s dive into some of the highlights from the podcast.
Anderson started by discussing Marc Mero’s Johnny B Badd gimmick. He praised Mero’s athletic physique and handsome looks, comparing him to Little Richard. However, Anderson couldn’t understand the inclusion of the pop gun in Mero’s entrance. He felt that it took away from Mero’s overall gimmick rather than adding to it. Despite this, Anderson acknowledged Mero’s boxing background, mentioning that he was a Golden Gloves champion. This added another layer to Mero’s character, showcasing his legitimate fighting skills.
Moving on, Anderson touched upon Johnny B Badd’s work with The Honky Tonk Man. He simply stated that their chemistry might not have been the best. While The Honky Tonk Man brought a lot of entertainment and had a Memphis wrestling style, Johnny B Badd represented the direction the company was heading at the time. The difference in their styles might have affected their chemistry in the ring.
The conversation then shifted to Hulk Hogan and his tendency to rely on the same people to work with. Anderson mentioned that Hogan had the power to choose who he wanted to work with, as he knew they would take care of him. However, Anderson believed that there should have been more options for Hogan to work with, especially considering his highly anticipated match against Ric Flair that was scheduled for a year and a half later. Anderson suggested that Hogan could have worked with other wrestlers sparingly, allowing him to build up to the big match while also giving other talents an opportunity to shine.
In conclusion, Arn Anderson’s podcast episode shed light on various aspects of professional wrestling. From discussing Marc Mero’s Johnny B Badd gimmick to Hulk Hogan’s reliance on specific opponents, Anderson provided insightful commentary on the industry. It’s always interesting to hear from wrestling veterans like Anderson, who can offer unique perspectives and behind-the-scenes insights into the world of sports entertainment.