Wrestling legend Arn Anderson has opened up about his dislike for one of WCW’s most ambitious match concepts – the 60-man, 3-ring battle royal that headlined the promotion’s annual World War 3 pay-per-view events during the mid-to-late 1990s.
Speaking candidly on his podcast “ARN,” the WWE Hall of Famer and former Horseman detailed why the ambitious spectacle, which ran from 1995 to 1998 during WCW’s peak period, was problematic from both performer safety and viewer experience perspectives.
I look at it purely from a performer’s standpoint. Battle royals will either be good or rotten, because there’s only so many things you can do in that setting. You get 20 people in the ring, and people get involved in the match mentally, and they get rocking and rolling.
The unique format featured three rings positioned side by side, each starting with 20 wrestlers. The survivors would eventually converge into a single ring for the match’s conclusion, with the winner often receiving a world championship opportunity.
Arn Anderson, who participated in two World War 3 events before retirement, emphasised the significant safety risks inherent in such a crowded environment.
They forget, ‘Hey, there’s 19 other people in this ring. Before I get knocked on my ass, or before I throw a punch, or before I do anything, I better be aware of where those other people are.
Anderson further commented on scenarios that took place in most of the matches.
Because if they’re right behind you and you get knocked on your can, you land on somebody’s knee, somebody gets injured. You got a guy trapped in the corner, guys walking up behind you, you go to throw a punch, you end up elbowing them in the teeth.
Beyond safety concerns, Anderson questioned the concept’s effectiveness from an audience perspective.
There’s so many things that can happen during that much activity in one ring, much less three. And I just looked at it from a common sense standpoint. If you’re a fan, how many things can you watch at one time?
When pressed about whether the event was created to protect Hulk Hogan, Arn Anderson remained diplomatic.
I don’t know what the thought process actually was, to be honest with you. You can look at it as ‘Is it exciting?’ You got all these people, and it’s a spectacle. It absolutely is a spectacle.
He concluded with particular criticism of how the format translated to television viewers.
When you’re home, you can’t necessarily [see everything]; if the camera’s shooting something else, you get eliminated, I think you lose a little bit of reaction there. I wasn’t a huge fan of it. Let me put it to you that way.
Arn Anderson Says Only Triple H Should Run WWE
Also on a recent edition of his podcast, Arn Anderson said he believes that Triple H is the best and only person suited to run WWE’s creative direction, calling him the ideal figure to steer the company forward.
H/t to 411mania.com