Arn Anderson has never been shy about sharing his views on the evolution of professional wrestling, and the veteran recently admitted he has real concerns about where the business is heading.
Speaking with Denise Salcedo, WWE Hall of Famer Arn Anderson compared today’s fast-paced, high-risk in-ring style to the more grounded approach of his era in the 1980s. While he expressed respect for the current generation, he acknowledged that some of what he sees worries him.
“I’m terrified. I respect the girls and the guys of today’s wrestling industry, but scared to death too,” Anderson said. “I see things happening in the ring that you can’t protect yourself on. Anything going backwards, German suplex, you can’t protect yourself because you can’t see where you’re going. Stuff off the top, going through tables, things that are dangerous.”
Arn Anderson Expresses Concerns Over How The Modern Wrestling Style Will Affect Wrestlers When They’re Older
Anderson, who built his reputation as one of the most technically sound performers of his generation, pointed out that even without performing the kind of high-risk manoeuvres common today, his body still paid a price.
“If you look at me, I’m beat up, and I didn’t do any of that stuff,” he added. “I’m just worried that, in five years, we’re gonna have a casualty list about that long. And I hate it for the young guys and girls, because they feel like they need to go to that level to get the audience’s approval.”
Despite his criticism, Anderson made clear he is not dismissing modern talent outright. Instead, he urged performers to consider scaling back the risk, noting he frequently hears about wrestlers sidelined with injuries.
“I know this: I hear almost on a weekly basis who’s dropping out due to injury,” he said. “It was not that way when I was in wrestling.”
While the style of wrestling continues to evolve, Anderson’s comments highlight the ongoing debate between spectacle and longevity in the industry.
