As we previously reported here on eWn, Ole Anderson passed away at the age of 81 this past month. Ricky Morton announced the sad news on his Instagram page.
On a recent edition of his “The ARN Show” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Arn Anderson paid tribute to his late tag team partner and kayfabe brother.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On Ole Anderson’s passing: “First of all, condolences to his family. We’re grieving with you. Anytime we lose one of our family — and in this business, it happens more often than not — some people don’t have a vehicle to reach out and say how sorry we are. So I’m glad we have this opportunity to do that. Ole Anderson gave me a rub early in my career, making me and Anderson and his partner, and half of the Minnesota Wrecking Crew, which launched me to the very seat I’m sitting in right now forty years later. Forty-plus years later. And it was a gift that most guys in our business never get, a magic wand waved over their career like I did. Just that association, first with Ole and then with the Horsemen. And we know how that went, that was a pretty successful deal as well.
“Just want to say that he was a mentor to me without even knowing it. You know, he didn’t — after the shows we’d make a trip or go back to the hotel, he didn’t tell me a lot of, “This was good’ or ‘This was bad,’ or whatever the deal was. There wasn’t a lot of that going on. But I was studying everything he did in the ring. He was a mentor to me without even knowing it. And I just, from the psychology of what he did out there, the credibility, the believability that he brought to the business. I just absorbed all that that I possibly could. And some of it is stuck, which I can pass on to Brock. And just want to say that, you know, he was a cantankerous, grumpy some b**ch. He really was. But I’ve learned long ago to treat people the way that you want to be treated, and Ole was good to me. And that’s all I can say. So again, sincerely to his family and to all the people that love him and to all of his fans. He left his mark in the business. Eighty-one in our business is a long life. So if you take something from that, that’s a long life in our business. So God bless Ole, God bless all the people that care about him, and very, very sorry to hear the news.”
On the WCW locker room reaction to Brutus Beefcake joining WCW: “I think [Hogan] was getting his support system in place. Because you gotta remember, he walked into a company of guys that he had not been in the same company with. A lot of guys — I mean, Sting, Luger, the Steiners, those guys. There was a lot of guys — Ron Simmons — that he didn’t, you walk into a foreign locker room. And bringing in his guys in, you know, he had a crew of guys that he trusted that he could surround himself around. And coming off of the immediate impact that he had off that first big show, they were gonna go with whatever he wanted at that time.”
Legendary professional wrestler Ole Anderson passed away at the age of 81 last month, leaving behind a legacy that will forever be remembered in the world of wrestling. His former tag team partner and kayfabe brother, Arn Anderson, recently paid tribute to him on his podcast, “The ARN Show.”
Anderson began by expressing his condolences to Ole’s family and acknowledging the grief that comes with losing a member of the wrestling family. He emphasized that in the wrestling business, such losses are unfortunately all too common, but it’s important to take the opportunity to express sympathy and support. Anderson recognized the impact Ole had on his own career, stating that Ole’s influence launched him into the successful position he holds today.
The association with Ole and their tag team partnership as part of the Minnesota Wrecking Crew was a turning point for Arn Anderson. He described it as a “magic wand” waved over his career, giving him the recognition and success that many wrestlers can only dream of. Anderson expressed his gratitude for the mentorship he received from Ole, even though it was not explicitly communicated. He studied Ole’s every move in the ring, absorbing his psychology, credibility, and believability. This knowledge has stayed with Anderson throughout his career and is something he can pass on to future generations of wrestlers.
Despite Ole’s reputation for being cantankerous and grumpy, Anderson emphasized that he treated him well and taught him the importance of treating others with respect. He acknowledged that Ole left his mark on the wrestling business and expressed his condolences to Ole’s family, fans, and all those who loved him.
In addition to paying tribute to Ole Anderson, Arn Anderson also discussed the WCW locker room’s reaction to Brutus Beefcake joining the company. He explained that Hulk Hogan was building his support system within WCW because he was entering a locker room filled with wrestlers he had never worked with before. Hogan wanted to surround himself with a crew of trusted individuals, and after the immediate impact he made in WCW, the company was willing to go along with his decisions.
The podcast episode also included a video clip from August 1994, showcasing Arn Anderson’s skills in the ring. This served as a reminder of his own contributions to the wrestling world and the legacy he continues to build.
Overall, Arn Anderson’s tribute to Ole Anderson on “The ARN Show” highlighted the impact Ole had on his career and the wrestling industry as a whole. It showcased the respect and admiration Anderson had for his late tag team partner and mentor. The episode also provided insights into the inner workings of the wrestling business, shedding light on the dynamics within locker rooms and the influence of top wrestlers like Hulk Hogan.