On a recent edition of his “The ARN Show” podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Arn Anderson discussed his time working as a WWE producer and why he doesn’t miss the job anymore.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On what he misses the most about being a WWE producer: “I can honestly say beyond reproach I have never woken up — since the WWE days. I’ve never woken up and gone, ‘God, I wish I could be an agent today. I wish to be a producer of that.’ All I have to be responsible for is me… I trust me. I’ll know what the right thing is, and I will be able to communicate to you. Now, whether you go with that or not. That’s entirely up to you. But I’m pretty — you know, the one thing that kept me in that job for 25 years or whatever it was, 24 years, is I have one innate ability to be able to spot talent and know what they should or shouldn’t do, and convey that to him. Which is a pretty good talent to have.”
On his longevity in the role: “[I had] the honesty of looking at somebody and going, ‘Hey, you do this, this, this flawlessly. This, not so much. I’d take that out.’ And having their trust, because I don’t do it in a smart a**ed way. I’m trying to protect them from them. But if you give them that option and they choose not to do it, where it gets frustrating for me is getting the heat and the responsibility for something in a match that I advised them not to do, and they do it anyway. And now I get the heat for it. That’s pretty frustrating. I think if you think to think about that for a minute.”
In a recent episode of his podcast “The ARN Show,” WWE Hall of Famer Arn Anderson opened up about his time working as a WWE producer and why he no longer misses the job. Anderson, known for his expertise in spotting talent and providing guidance, shared his thoughts on the role and the challenges he faced.
One of the key points Anderson made was that he never woke up wishing to be a producer again since leaving WWE. He expressed contentment with being responsible only for himself and having the freedom to trust his own instincts. Anderson emphasized his confidence in knowing what is right and being able to effectively communicate it to others. However, he acknowledged that whether or not his advice is followed ultimately lies in the hands of the talent.
Throughout his 25-year tenure as a producer, Anderson developed a reputation for his honesty and ability to identify talent. He would praise performers for their flawless execution of certain moves while offering constructive criticism on areas that needed improvement. Anderson’s intention was always to protect the wrestlers from themselves and help them deliver the best performances possible.
However, one aspect that frustrated Anderson was when he advised against certain actions in a match, but the talent chose to ignore his advice. In such cases, Anderson found himself shouldering the blame for any negative consequences that arose from those decisions. This situation created frustration for him, as he felt responsible for something he had warned against.
Anderson’s ability to spot talent and guide them in their performances was a significant factor in his longevity as a producer. His keen eye for potential and understanding of what performers should or shouldn’t do allowed him to contribute to the success of many wrestlers over the years.
The podcast episode also included an embedded video featuring Anderson’s “Ask Arn Anything” segment. This segment allows fans to ask questions, providing further insight into Anderson’s experiences and knowledge within the wrestling industry.
Overall, Arn Anderson’s reflections on his time as a WWE producer shed light on the challenges and rewards of the role. His ability to spot talent and offer guidance played a crucial part in his success, but he also faced frustrations when his advice was not heeded. Despite this, Anderson has found contentment in no longer holding the position and now focuses on his own endeavors.