Why You Didn't Turn Your Back on Arn Anderson

Arn offers the left. Wright is about to discover what comes next.³

Against Arn Anderson, getting comfortable could be an expensive mistake.

The Four Horsemen's Enforcer belonged to a group that made championship ambition a collective undertaking. Ric Flair might command the attention, but Anderson and his tag partner Tully Blanchard supplied plenty of the evidence behind the Horsemen's claims. In 1988, they held the NWA World Tag Team Championship while Flair held the world title and Barry Windham held the United States title.¹

Anderson carried that standing without needing every exchange to look spectacular. The danger was how quickly an ordinary one could turn against you.

Consider the spinebuster. A running opponent came within reach, Anderson gathered him at the hips, lifted and turned, then drove him down onto his back. Forward momentum became a hard landing. A wrestler who had looked ready to take charge could suddenly be looking at the ceiling.¹

But the lift was only part of the problem. Anderson could punish the decision that came before it.

At Slamboree in May 1995, young Alex Wright gave the reigning WCW World Television Champion a busy evening. Wright brought speed, kicks and pinning opportunities. He also found himself caught by Anderson's spinebuster. Even that did not settle the contest; Wright kept finding ways back into it.²

The finish came through something smaller. Anderson feinted a left-hand punch. Wright ducked, and the veteran caught him for a DDT, dropping backward and driving his head toward the canvas. Anderson covered him for the victory.²

Wright had reacted to the threat in front of him. Anderson had another waiting underneath it.

That is a useful way to understand the Enforcer. His opponent could be quicker, younger, could have an impressive stretch of offense, could give the crowd reason to believe. None of that removed the need to make the next decision carefully.

For a young wrestler, that is an unforgiving examination. Looking good against Anderson was one thing. Staying alert long enough to beat him was another.

The warning about turning your back on Arn extended beyond where you were facing. Don't assume you have him figured out. He could still have one more answer.

Sources

1. WWE: The Four Horsemen. Anderson's role, 1988 championship context and signature spinebuster.

2. Slamboree 1995 review, Matt Peddycord, Wrestling Recaps. Wright's offense, spinebuster, feinted left and concluding DDT. Later written match account.

3. Arn Anderson DDT to Alex Wright, YouTube. Source video for the article image, around 0:02. Enhanced frame; some visual details reconstructed.

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