[1993-01-02-WCW-Saturday Night] Up Close w/ Arn Anderson

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

Arn does a nice sit-down interview with Jesse Ventura. I miss serious stuff talking about the downside of injuries and how tough competition forced him to improve. It's simple, but it's effective. Not a great, memorable segment or anything, but a nice addition to the set.

 

Arn reveals that Bill Watts has not renewed his contract for 1993, which may have been a shoot for all I know. Arn tells Erik Watts Daddy may be able to protect him in WCW, but he can't protect him in movie theaters, parking lots, or when he's with his girlfriend "at one of these ice cream shops".

 

I love this.

[benj]

The best part about this and other up close segments is that they don't run too long. Today, TNA or WWE would drag these out and kill the segment or lose the focus.

[shoe]

Arn is great at getting things over. He's one hell of a talker. He just has this intensity about him.

[Matt Franklin]

A really great low key interview from Arn, who has such great delivery that he really makes you believe in what he is saying. Loved the 'ice cream shop' line mentioned earlier, as well as how he discussed his injury, as it really came across like he was an athlete rather than just a 'wrestler'. Two big thumbs up.

[El-P]

I really enjoyed those Up Close segment. Like it's been said, not too long, just the right time to make a point come across, and Arn is great at being serious and realistic.

[Kevin Ridge]

Arn is great at getting over the seriousness of his physical injuries. Anderson's contract has not been renewed by Billy Watts. He has earned the right to be there and beat up Erik Watts when he is healthy. I agree.

[PeteF3]

Another realistic sitdown interview from Arn--and God bless them for continuing to attempt to pass this guy off as a born-and-bred Minnesotan. Frank discussion of knee injuries follow, and then Arn drops the bombshell that Bill Watts has not yet renewed his contract for 1993, because it was his kid who took Arn out. I could see this angle making the WWF INTENSELY uncomfortable were it to run on 24/7 or online today. Arn gets back into promo mode and scarily vows that if he doesn't have a wrestling contract, he'll have to take Erik Watts out through other means.

 

This would lead to some dumb shit, as I recall, but this was a very effective way to transition Anderson into the planned Watts/Rude feud.

[flyonthewall2983]

I could see this angle making the WWF INTENSELY uncomfortable were it to run on 24/7 or online today.

Why?

[PeteF3]

Even though they're doing similar, worked stuff with Big Show and the Rhodes family, something about a wrestler talking about having his livelihood cut off because he suffered an injury probably hits a little close to the bone. It's similar to how the WWE may recycle any number of angles from the past, but I don't think we'll ever see a re-do of the Drunk Hawk or Drunk Scott Hall stuff.

[PeteF3]

I suppose it would hit closer to TNA than it would WWE, thinking about it some more.

[WingedEagle]

Anderson talking about a leg inury from Erik Watts' STF. But he doesn't have a contract for 1993 because of Bill Watts. Seems to set up a Watts/Anderson feud, which is not a great use of Arn Anderson. On the other hand, there aren't many people I'd rather watch talk.

[soup23]

I love these. Arn is great at being captivating doing low key interview stuff. We learn he isn't working with a contract which enrages Jesse and Arn also has some choice words for Erik Watts.

[garretta]

I should have guessed that something was up when I saw Jesse sitting in for Tony.

 

This is a novel way to promote the Arn-Erik feud. The problem is, Pops is on his way out, and once he leaves the issue over the contract's dead and buried. I loved hearing Arn call the Cowboy out, but maybe he should have stuck to the simple, time-honored "You hurt my knee, I'll kick your ass". Jesse was gold as well with his outrage, and I'd like to hear a rebuttal from Bill, though if we got one it didn't make the set.

 

I loved the talk from Arn about how he's competed with every other injury under the sun, including a broken neck, but this knee injury is keeping him on the shelf and could cost him his livelihood. Nice to hear some love for JCP, which most longtime fans would still remember, and I also liked Arn talking about how he's earned the right to be a part of WCW forever, which is true even if you take his relatively brief jump to the WWF with Tully into account.

 

Is an Erik Watts feud a bad use of Arn? Maybe, maybe not. It depends on how it plays out. But there had to be a veteran somewhere out there to put Erik over, and Arn's as good a choice as any.