One of the things that are always hard for sports and wrestling fans are saying goodbye to our favorites when they can’t perform anymore, but this day in wrestling history covers one of our favorites that had to walk away due to an injury.
On August 15, 1997, Arn Anderson retired from in ring competition on WCW Nitro from The Coliseum in Columbia South Carolina.
This Day in Wrestling History (8/25) – Arn Anderson Retired Due to Injury
It was one of the best and worst moments in history as Arn stood with the rest of the Four Horsemen to announce his retirement and explain why.
One of the best tough guys
Arn is still known as one of the toughest guys to ever wrestle, and he conveyed every bit of that when he talked to Mean Gene Okerlund on WCW Nitro when he made his announcement.
Special thanks to @awrestlinghistorian for the transcript.
“I thought in my mind, I knew in my mind I could overcome that too through sheer will. And I was doing just like that. I think I’ve come back a long way. But the other day I had something happen in the gym that was like a cold slap in the face of reality.
“A guy about your size, Gene, came up and he slapped me on the back and he said ‘Double A, where ya been? We hadn’t seen you on TV.’ And just that slap sent a jolt through me and I dropped the water I was drinking and just for a second, my system shut down.
“And it became crystal clear as I watched the few little drops of water draining out of that bottle, the symbolism that was involved. It was like someone had turned an hourglass over and the sand was running out on the career of Arn Anderson.
“Now the fact of the matter is not only do I put myself in a suicide situation by trying to wrestle again, I endanger these two men’s careers and I respect them too much for that. And rather than being anything other than The Enforcer in my best friend’s eyes, I’d rather walk away.
“And for all of you people out there that have ever bought a ticket to see Arn Anderson wrestle, whether you love me or you hated me, you knew that when that bell rang, you got all I had that night whether I won, whether I lost, I gave you everything I had. And you knew that. And when you did this to me (the four fingers extended) that was your acknowledgement.
“Well, the fact is I got nothing left to give. And I want you to remember me as I was, not as I am.” – Arn Anderson.
This was as perfect a speech as there could be, and it was a moment we’ll never forget. What made this especially tough was he was retiring because of a neck injury.
Neck injuries were prominent at that time, along with a new way to perform surgery where the doctors would go in from the front instead of the back.
It helped Steve Austin, Chris Benoit, and others, but Arn chose to walk away. Whether or not he could’ve wrestled again wasn’t the point as he seemed to feel he’d truly given everything he could to the sport.
We were grateful for everything he gave us then and we remain thankful to this day for the memories. Thank you, Arn.
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