In a recent episode of Arn Anderson’s podcast, “The ARN Show,” the WWE Hall of Famer offered his thoughts on the 60-man battle royal at WCW World War 3. Details from his discussion on the topic are highlighted below:
Arn Anderson discussed the complexities of a 60-man battle royal from a performer’s perspective. He pointed out the difficulty in managing such a large number of competitors in one ring, stating, “Looking at it from a participant’s standpoint, the nature of battle royales can render them either impressive or disastrous. The amount of action possible in those settings is limited. Think about it – you’ve got 20 individuals on the mat, all engrossed mentally in the match, all in full gear and swing. But they often forget, ‘In this ring, I’m not alone. There are 19 others here. Before I execute a move or even throw a punch, I must be cognizant of their locations.’”
Anderson cautioned about the potential injuries that could stem from this setup, such as landing on someone’s knee or unintentionally hurting another participant during an intense bout. He further questioned spectator’s ability to keep track of such a crowded and high-energy event, asking, “If you’re spectating, how many simultaneous actions can you realistically follow?”
When asked if WCW used the battle royal as a protective measure for Hulk Hogan by stripping the World Title, Anderson responded: “The ultimate goal behind that decision, I must confess, I don’t wholly understand. Sure, it’s thrilling watching so many competitors, it’s quite the spectacle. However, can one truly follow more than a couple of bouts at a time? The audience’s reaction is diluted, particularly when eliminations are happening off camera. This is especially true for those watching at home with limited view. Let’s just say, I didn’t fully endorse it.”
Below is the embedded video from the podcast episode. [embedded content]