On a recent edition of his “The ARN Show” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Arn Anderson discussed the infamous WCW debut of The Shockmaster.
The notable segment saw Fred Ottman botch his promotional debut at WCW Clash of the Champions XXIV by crashing through a wall and having his helmet fall off.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On the segment killing the character: “Yeah, and you can’t threaten somebody after you just fell through a wall, your helmet rolls off. You can’t get up and beat up someone that’s going to instill fear into you. You have that — that horse has left the barn… Well, and here’s the thing, Paul. When we go back and watch this stuff, it’s fine. You know, the thing about it is, you see that the company made a lot of mistakes. There were a lot of production errors by not rehearsing stuff properly in enough times, and made a lot of mistakes that hopefully got a lot better as the company grew.”
On what he would have done in that situation: “I’d have got up and looked back in the hole for the guy that tripped me. ‘All right, where’d he go? You see that guy that tripped me?’ I’d have wiggled my way out of it somehow.”
On how Ottman handled the situation: “Fred’s a great guy too, man. For him to for him to absorb that, can you imagine the ribbing he took? I mean, thank God that he just had a temperament that he could — because he was a big bastard, that he didn’t get mad and kill somebody… it had to be a sore subject for a long time… It was a bad choice from day one. Yeah, God, this… You can’t fix this stuff. It wasn’t rehearsed. We didn’t have anybody there that was looking at the good of the talent or the company and go, ‘Guys, we got to find something else. I’m just telling you, before we ever rehearse this, it ain’t going to fly.’”
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The Infamous Debut of The Shockmaster: A Lesson in Wrestling Mishaps
In the world of professional wrestling, there have been many memorable moments throughout the years. Some moments are remembered for their greatness, while others are remembered for their sheer absurdity. One such moment that falls into the latter category is the infamous debut of The Shockmaster.
The Shockmaster, portrayed by Fred Ottman, made his debut in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) at Clash of the Champions XXIV in 1993. The segment was intended to introduce a new character with a lot of potential, but instead, it became one of the most talked-about botches in wrestling history.
During the segment, The Shockmaster was supposed to make a grand entrance by crashing through a wall. However, things didn’t go as planned. As Ottman crashed through the wall, his helmet fell off, revealing his face to the audience. The moment was met with confusion and laughter from both the audience and the wrestlers in the ring.
Arn Anderson, a WWE Hall of Famer and former WCW wrestler, recently discussed the infamous debut on his podcast, “The ARN Show.” He acknowledged that the segment effectively killed The Shockmaster’s character, as it was difficult to take him seriously after such a blunder.
Anderson also pointed out that there were several production errors and lack of proper rehearsal that led to the mishap. He mentioned that the company made a lot of mistakes and hoped that they learned from them as they grew.
When asked how he would have handled the situation, Anderson humorously stated that he would have looked back in the hole for the person who tripped him and tried to wiggle his way out of it somehow. His response highlights the importance of improvisation and thinking on your feet in the unpredictable world of professional wrestling.
Despite the debacle, Anderson praised Ottman for his professionalism and temperament in dealing with the aftermath. He mentioned that Ottman took a lot of ribbing from his fellow wrestlers but didn’t let it affect him negatively. It’s a testament to Ottman’s character and resilience that he was able to move on from the incident.
The Shockmaster’s debut is a prime example of how one mistake can have long-lasting consequences in the world of professional wrestling. It serves as a reminder that proper preparation, rehearsal, and attention to detail are crucial in ensuring the success of a segment or character.
In conclusion, the infamous debut of The Shockmaster remains a memorable moment in wrestling history for all the wrong reasons. It serves as a cautionary tale for wrestlers and promoters alike, highlighting the importance of careful planning and execution in creating memorable and successful moments in the world of professional wrestling.