On a recent edition of his “The ARN Show” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Arn Anderson expressed his desire to wrestle Cody Rhodes from the modern era of wrestlers.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On who he would want to wrestle from today’s wrestling: “Cody [Rhodes]. Just so I can say, ‘Look here, you punk. I used to abuse your dad now and your brother. And now it’s your turn.’ Of course, it would not go that way, we know that. But it would be nice to set the mood and stage with a story there. That could be my twist on it… That could be my slant. But no, no. I’ve said so many times: anytime somebody, I mean this business, guys are constantly — and you see it now more than ever. Guys are jumping companies. When their contract comes due, they’re moving on. You know, it’s all over the place now, right? Which I think is great. It’s like, take all the wrestlers and putting them in one bowl. Shake it up, throw it around a table and you have your various companies sitting there, which is pretty cool. There’s just — more than anything, there’s just such a history. And I owe his dad a ton. I loved helping Dustin come along when he was in his early stages and, you know, seeing his growth in the business. And you know, the same thing happened with Cody when Cody was with Randy and DiBiase, they were great. They were great together. And I had a lot of their matches. I loved it.”
On his favorite style of ending matches: “I am a big fan of both guys working their match towards their finish. For example, somebody finish is a Figure Four, I love them working the entire match, trying to soften up a leg. The storytelling, you know? If done well and sold properly, it just gets you reeled in. You know, and when you damage an area, you know, for me a spinebuster. If I got a heat on a guy’s back, and stayed with the back and the back was softened up. And by the time you hit the spinebuster, which could come in preferably out of nowhere? The guy was already damaged. I love the storytelling part of finishes.”
On meeting Tony Schiavone and Jim Ross for the first time: “Well, it’s funny with Jim. Jim was working for Bill Watts when I first went there as me. And I was there for five months. And then I left, and I went to Georgia Championship Wrestling, where I spent six or seven months. Then I went to Pensacola, where I was 14 months. Went to Crockett, and I was there for three years. But during that time, Tony Schiavone would have been the first guy that I met as far as the announce team. And I think Jim Ross came along later. Do I have that correct? And just, the professionalism was incredible. And Tony and I hit it off right away. We were just — he was a big wrestling fan like I was. And I think anybody that really excels at this business was a big fan first. And I could tell Tony was a fan. And we’ve been friends ever since. And Jim, I’ve worked for. He was my boss, you know, with WWE. I worked with him as him as just an announcer, obviously with WCW and Crockett. So just respect how good they are and what they do.”
WWE Hall of Famer Arn Anderson recently expressed his desire to wrestle Cody Rhodes from the modern era of wrestlers on his podcast, “The ARN Show.” Anderson, known for his legendary career as a professional wrestler, discussed his admiration for Cody and the potential storyline that could unfold between them.
Anderson’s desire to wrestle Cody stems from the history he shares with Cody’s family. He mentioned how he used to abuse Cody’s father, Dusty Rhodes, and his brother, Dustin Rhodes, during their wrestling careers. Anderson expressed that it would be nice to continue the storyline by facing Cody in the ring. However, he acknowledged that it would not go exactly as planned but emphasized the importance of setting the mood and stage with a compelling story.
The veteran wrestler also discussed the current landscape of professional wrestling, where wrestlers frequently switch companies when their contracts expire. Anderson sees this as a positive development, as it brings together wrestlers from various promotions and creates exciting opportunities for fresh matchups. He appreciates the rich history of the industry and feels indebted to Dusty Rhodes for the impact he had on his career.
When discussing his favorite style of ending matches, Anderson highlighted the importance of storytelling. He enjoys seeing wrestlers work towards their finish throughout the match, focusing on softening up a specific body part or area. Anderson used the example of a spinebuster, a move he is famous for, and explained how damaging an opponent’s back throughout the match makes the spinebuster more impactful and satisfying for the audience.
Reflecting on his early days in the wrestling industry, Anderson shared his first encounters with Tony Schiavone and Jim Ross. He mentioned that Schiavone was the first member of the announce team he met, and they instantly hit it off due to their shared passion for wrestling. Anderson believes that being a fan of the business is a crucial factor in excelling as a professional wrestler. He also expressed his respect for Jim Ross, who was his boss during his time with WWE and someone he has worked with extensively throughout his career.
In conclusion, Arn Anderson’s desire to wrestle Cody Rhodes showcases the deep respect and admiration he has for Cody’s family and their contributions to the wrestling industry. Anderson’s appreciation for storytelling and his fondness for fellow wrestling professionals like Tony Schiavone and Jim Ross further highlight his passion for the business. As fans eagerly await the possibility of a match between Anderson and Cody, it serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of professional wrestling and the connections forged between generations of wrestlers.