ARN - Arn in the WWF 88-89 [Show Notes] (Patreon)

Let’s talk about how Arn made the decision to come to the WWF. As the current narrative goes...

Things began to sour behind the scenes for the then-NWA tag champions, as the National Wrestling Alliance launched its first-ever uninterrupted pay-per-view, The Great American Bash. Promoters were attempting to draw a large gate and, according to the DVD Ric Flair and The Four Horsemen, Blanchard had suggested a rematch with the Road Warriors, but instead they were booked against Sting and Koloff, (whom they wrestled to a time limit draw). When the PPV payouts were given out, it was discovered that JJ Dillon, who was your manager, received 3 times the payout of the 2-time World Tag Team Champions.

As the story goes, this was the last straw for Blanchard, who saw this as an insult and immediately prepared to give his notice. Meanwhile, on camera, the champions had begun a feud with NWA United States Tag Team champions The Midnight Express, with the storyline being that Anderson and Blanchard considered the Midnight Express to be ungrateful punks who weren't on their level. The Midnight Express won the titles from the Horsemen on September 10, 1988, as both Blanchard and Anderson gave their notices to Jim Crockett Promotions.

Can you go into detail about where that’s right and where that is wrong?

How did you end up getting in touch with the WWF and getting an offer from them?

You got to come into the company using your own ring names. Was there ever a question of you being asked to take a gimmick name?

At the same time, you were given a new tag-team name - The Brain Busters. Talk about the name Brain Busters for a second. Why was that the choice? Was it based on the move? Was it at all influenced by the Ghostbusters being one of the biggest things around in the late 80s and the word Busters sounding cool? How did you see it?

WWF @ Ft. Wayne, IN - Allen County War Memorial - October 5, 1988

(To air on 10/22/88): Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (w/ Bobby Heenan) defeated Tommy Angel & Bob Emery at 2:31 when Blanchard pinned Emory with the slingshot suplex after Anderson hit the spinebuster; prior to the bout, Heenan introduced Anderson & Blanchard as the newest members of the Heenan Family, billing them as the "Brain Busters" (Anderson & Blanchard's TV debut)

Why was the decision made to pair you with Heenan and were you happy with that?

WWF @ Toledo, OH - Sports Arena - October 6, 1988 (9,500)

Prime Time Wrestling - 10/25/88: Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (w/ Bobby Heenan) defeated Sam Houston & Scott Casey at 6:43 when Blanchard pinned Casey with the slingshot suplex

11/6/88 Superstars Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (w/ Bobby Heenan) defeated David Isley & Rusty Riddle at 2:15 when Blanchard pinned Isley with a slingshot suplex

WWF @ Buffalo, NY - Fall 1988

Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard defeated Jim Powers & Paul Roma. This would be the beginning of many matches between the teams.

How did you like these guys? Did you think while wrestling Roma here that you were wrestling a future Four Horseman?

WWF @ Baltimore, MD - Arena - October 25, 1988

WWF Superstars 11/12/88: Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (w/ Bobby Heenan) defeated Al Kinsey & Mario Mancini at 2:02 when Tully pinned Mancini with the slingshot suplex

WWF @ Salisbury, MD - Wicomico Youth & Civic Center - October 26, 1988

Wrestling Challenge: 11/13/88 - included Gene Okerlund conducting an interview with WWF Tag Team Champions Demolition, Mr. Fuji, Jacques & Raymond Rougeau, Jimmy Hart, Nikolai Volkoff & Boris Zhukov, Slick, Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard, Bobby Heenan, & the Conquistadors regarding their participation at the Survivor Series;

Are things feeling a little bit crowded here? How do you find a way to stand out in the middle of this many other names?

Same venue, Wrestling Challenge episode for 11/27/88 - Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (w/ Bobby Heenan) defeated Scott Hudson & Tommy Causey at 2:48 when Blanchard pinned Causey with a slingshot suplex

WWF @ Greensboro, NC - Coliseum - October 28, 1988 (2,000)

Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard defeated Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty

So anytime you say you didn’t win a match, sir...you defeated Shawn Michaels! :) What was it like working with the Rockers for the first time? Did everyone get along?

WWF @ Columbus, OH - Ohio Center - October 30, 1988

Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard defeated Davey Boy Smith & the Dynamite Kid via disqualification

This had to be another interesting experience. What was it like working with the Bulldogs? They were on their way out of the company around this time. Any tension?

In early November, you both begin working matches and defeating Paul Roma & Jim Powers. This continues throughout the month of November and includes several televised matches as well.

WWF @ Toronto, Ontario - Maple Leaf Gardens - November 6, 1988

Prime Time Wrestling - 1/23/89: Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard defeated Jim Powers & Paul Roma at 12:14 when Blanchard, the illegal man, pinned Powers with a sunset flip off the top and a clothesline from Anderson (Best of the WWF Vol. 18)

Are you starting to feel like you’re being featured pretty well here, getting 12 minutes on Prime Time TV?

WWF @ Ottawa, Ontario - Civic Centre - November 6, 1988

Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson defeated Paul Roma & B. Brian Blair (sub. for Jim Powers)

Hulk Hogan defeated the Big Bossman via count-out

Tully Blanchard & Arn Anderson (sub. for Davey Boy Smith & the Dynamite Kid) fought WWF Tag Team Champions Demolition to a double disqualification

Do you remember why they made you and Tully work two tag matches around Hulk Hogan’s match here? Or is that maybe inaccurate? Did Brian Blair have any issues doing the job?

WWF @ San Francisco, CA - Cow Palace - November 15, 1988 (14,600; 12,200 paid; sell out)

12/10/88 Superstars Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty fought Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (w/ Bobby Heenan) to a no contest when all four men began brawling on the floor prior to the match beginning; eventually, both teams battled their way backstage with numerous referees and officials trying to seperate them

With this airing in December, it would be airing around the same time as house shows featuring The Rockers vs. the Brainbusters. The teams were paired up largely throughout December at various house show events. In most of those matches, the Brainbusters defeated The Rockers.

Were they gracious and willing to put you guys over?

WWF @ Sacramento, CA - Arco Arena - November 16, 1988 (15,900)

Reports are that B. Brian Blair was fired at this taping after refusing to job to Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard in a tag team match;

Wrestling Challenge 12/18/88: Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (w/ Bobby Heenan) defeated Jim Brunzell & Lanny Poffo at 3:42 when Blanchard pinned Brunzell with a slingshot suplex

Do you recall hearing about Blair not wanting to do the job to you in the tag match? Presumably, it would have been the Killer Bees losing to the Brainbusters, right?

The very next event is your first WWF Pay Per View event: The second Survivor Series. The event that was made to sabotage your former employer.

Survivor Series 88 - Richfield, OH - Coliseum - November 24, 1988 (13,500)

The Barbarian & the Warlord, Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart, Davey Boy Smith & the Dynamite Kid, Jim Powers & Paul Roma, and Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Demolition (w/ Mr. Fuji), the Conquistadors, Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (w/ Bobby Heenan), Jacques & Raymond Rougeau (w/ Jimmy Hart), and Nikolai Volkoff & Boris Zhukov in an elimination match at 42:25;

Slick was announced to be in the corner of Volkoff & Zhukov but did not appear; no mention was made as to why by the commentary team; Hart pinned Raymond at 5:37 by blocking a backdrop attempt and using an inside cradle; Zhukov pinned Powers at 15:35 when the momentum of a crossbody off the top put Zhukov on top; Jannetty pinned Zhukov at 17:19 with a sunset flip into the ring after a blow to the midsection by Michaels; Blanchard pinned Hart at 27:08 by lifting his shoulder out of a German suplex into a bridge, with Hart pinning himself; Michaels & Jannetty fought Anderson & Blanchard to a double disqualification at around the 29-minute mark at for brawling in the ring and shoving referees Tim White and Earl Hebner; following the decision, both teams brawled their way down the aisle; Smash pinned Dynamite with a clothesline at 36:18 after Dynamite missed a headbutt off the top; Demolition Smash was counted-out at 39:48 after Fuji pulled the rope down with his cane, causing Smash to fall out to the floor; after the decision, Demolition Ax argued with Fuji, with the two shoving each other until Fuji attacked Ax with the cane; Smash the grabbed Fuji, allowing Ax to slam him on the floor; moments later, after Demolition left ringside, the Warlord & the Barbarian tended to Fuji and helped him to their corner; the Barbarian pinned a Conquistador with a running headbutt off the ropes after Fuji tripped the Conquistador from the floor; after the bout, the Warlord & the Barbarian hoisted Fuji on their shoulders and celebrated until Demolition returned to the ring and cleared the other three from ringside (Dynamite's last appearance; Smith's last appearance for 2 years)

So is the idea here to keep building to a confrontation audiences can see by buying a ticket to a house show?

Did you have any mixed feelings about your first Survivor Series, considering why the event had been made?

So there’s an interesting event that happened and we had a lot of questions about your match there.

WWF @ Daytona Beach, FL - Ocean Center - December 6, 1988 (10,000+; sell out)

WWF Superstars Taping (French Version)

Tom Magee defeated Arn Anderson via count-out at 5:44 following a superkick which knocked Anderson out of the ring to the floor

Do you have any memories of this match? Any reason why you didn’t work more singles matches?

WWF @ East Rutherford, NJ - Meadowlands - December 18, 1988

Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard defeated Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart

But for the rest of the year, most of your matches were going over the Rockers.

Aside from Brian Blair, do you recall any stars having an issue doing the job for you and Tully here?

You came to visit our great state in early January!

WWF @ Huntsville, AL - Von Braun Civic Center - January 3, 1989

WWF Superstars taping for 1/28/89

Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (w/ Bobby Heenan) defeated Tim Horner & Jose Luis Rivera at 2:29 when Anderson pinned Rivera following a spike piledriver behind the referee's back

WWF @ Birmingham, AL - Jefferson Civic Center - January 4, 1989

Wrestling Challenge Taping for 2/5/89

Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (w/ Bobby Heenan) defeated Brian Costello & Mark Bow at 3:10 when Anderson pinned Costello following a spike piledriver behind the referee's back

At this point, you’re using the spike piledriver for a finisher. At the time, the spike piledriver would result in a disqualification if the referee saw it.

What was the thinking behind having you switch from the slingshot suplex to the spike piledriver to finish a match?

We’re at your second pay per view event for the company now.

Royal Rumble 89 - Houston, TX - Summit - January 15, 1989 (matinee) (19,000; sell out)

You enter the Rumble about 28 minutes in and last for about ten minutes that night. It took the big guy to eliminate you both. Anderson & Blanchard were eliminated by Hogan via a double clothesline (38:26)

What did you think about your first and only Royal Rumble? Do you like the match?

WWF @ New York City, NY - Madison Square Garden - January 23, 1989 (14,000)

Prime Time Wrestling - 1/30/89

Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard defeated Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty at 16:14 when Blanchard pinned Jannetty after Anderson swept Jannetty's foot out during an attempted suplex and held the laces of his boot down during the cover (Anderson & Blanchard's MSG debut) (Shawn Michaels: Heartbreak & Triumph)

What did you think after working your first match in the Garden? And looking back, how cool is it that it happened with Shawn Michaels?

WWF @ Tucson, AZ - Convention Center - January 24, 1989 (8,000; sell out)

WWF Superstars 2/18/89

Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty fought Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (w/ Bobby Heenan) to a no contest when both teams began brawling around the ring prior to the bell

Matches with the Rockers continued throughout the month at house shows, as well.

WWF @ Phoenix, AZ - Veterans Memorial Coliseum - January 25, 1989 (15,000; sell out)

Wrestling Challenge 2/26/89

Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (w/ Bobby Heenan) defeated Louie Spicolli & Ricky Ataki at 2:38 when Anderson pinned Spiccoli following the spike piledriver behind the referee's back

At this point, since you’re taping matches a month ahead, do you ever make it a point to watch your matches back or to have someone tape them for you so maybe you can?

WWF @ Los Angeles, CA - Sports Arena - January 29, 1989 (8,500)
Prime Time Wrestling - 2/6/89

Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard defeated Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty at 18:21 when Blanchard pinned Jannetty after Anderson swept Jannetty's leg out from the floor as he attempted a suplex and then held the boot down during the cover

WWF @ Milwaukee, WI - Bradley Center - February 3, 1989 (20,000)

Prime Time Wrestling - Face-to-Face Special - 2/20/89:

Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard defeated Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty when Blanchard pinned Jannetty after Anderson tripped him from the outside

Two days later, you’re in familiar territory.

WWF @ Greensboro, NC - Coliseum - February 5, 1989 (1,800)

Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty defeated Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard via disqualification

You and Tully went on last for this match and you guys lost. Any reason why? Was it to return the favor for the TV special or a jab at JCP?

WWF @ Binghamton, NY - Broome County Arena - February 15, 1989 (7,000)

WWF Superstars for 3/11/89

Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (w/ Bobby Heenan) defeated Terry Daniels & Bert Centeno at 3:11 when Anderson pinned Centeno following a spike piledriver behind the referee's back

The next show is a big one. It’s your first match on broadcast network tv.

WWF @ Hershey, PA - Hersheypark Arena - February 16, 1989 (9,000; sell out)

Saturday Night's Main Event #20 - 3/11/89 on NBC (10.0)

The show featured Okerlund conducting a backstage interview with Heenan, Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard regarding their upcoming match against Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty; included Okerlund conducting a backstage interview with Michaels & Jannetty regarding the upcoming contest as well.

Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty fought Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard to a double count-out at around the 9-minute mark after both teams began brawling on the floor; Bobby Heenan was initially in the corner of Anderson & Blanchard but was ejected from ringside mid-way through after twice interfering in the match; after the bout, the fight continued in the ring with Michaels & Jannetty eventually clearing the ring of their opponents

What do you remember about working with the different production crew here compared to the standard WWF show? Did you like Dick Ebersol?

Through the end of February, the Brain Busters trade wins and losses with the Rockers on live shows in Ontario, Indiana, Michigan, Massachusetts, Oregon, California, and you’re going even more places as the months progress.

Did you find the WWF road schedule to be a lot harder than what you had previously experienced?

The program with the Rockers continues in March, with a TV match taped on March 7 in El Paso Texas for the Prime Time Wrestling to air on April 10, 1989. In that match, the Rockers and the Brain Busters go to a 20-minute time limit draw.

Also that night, which was a marathon of tapings, you did a match defeating two enhancement talents, Scott Casey and Omar Atlas, by defeating them with the spike piledriver - behind the referee’s back of course! By the way, it aired on WWF Superstars April 8, 1989.

Did you have any issue with using an illegal move to beat jobbers here? Or did you see it as a way to make your characters seem like even more evil?

The next day at WWF @ Odessa, TX - County Coliseum - March 8, 1989, you taped a match to air the week BEFORE on Prime Time Wrestling - 3-27-89 - with the Rockers defeating the Brainbusters by DQ. But also on that show at the Wrestling Challenge taping for March 26, 1989, as you were beating two job guys, the Brain Busters cut an insert promo about their match with Strike Force at Wrestlemania 5.

But before we can get to Wrestlemania, we’ve got a bump in the road.

WWF @ New York City, NY - Madison Square Garden - March 18, 1989 (matinee) (20,000; sell out)

Televised on the MSG Network and probably WWE Old School on the Network - included Tony Schiavone & Lord Alfred Hayes on commentary;

Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty defeated Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard via disqualification at 13:53 when Anderson pulled the referee out of the ring as Michaels had Blanchard covered following a Rocket Launcher; Anderson reportedly sustained a cracked vertebrae in the match (Allied Powers)

Do you remember what happened that caused the injury?

It happens at the worst possible time, based on what the work schedule looks like. You’re doing another show the very same day in Boston, Mass.

WWF @ Boston, MA - Boston Garden - March 18, 1989 (15,200; sell out)

Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty defeated Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard via disqualification at 22:25 when Anderson pulled the referee out of the ring as Michaels had Blanchard covered following a splash off the top. This match was shown on the Shawn Michaels: My Journey production.

Did you have a hard time getting through that day? Any changes or adjustments to plans to compensate?

So we march toward Wrestlemania 5 with the Brain Busters working exclusively with the Rockers on house shows. It appears like there was never a match between you and Tully and Strike Force before the Mania match happened.

Did you get to work with them at all before that day?

It’s your first Wrestlemania.

WrestleMania V - Atlantic City, NJ - Trump Plaza - April 2, 1989 (matinee) (18,946; 17,500 paid)

Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (w/ Bobby Heenan) defeated Tito Santana & Rick Martel at 9:17 when Anderson pinned Santana following an excellent looking spike piledriver but it’s right in front of the referee! Late in the bout, Martel walked out on his partner after Santana accidentally hit him with the flying forearm; after the contest, Gene Okerlund conducted a backstage interview with Martel regarding his actions, with Martel claiming he was sick of Santana wanting to ride his coat tails (Santana & Martel's first match as a team in 10 months)

How happy were you with this match? How well was it received?

https://www.wwe.com/videos/strike-force-vs-the-brain-busters-wrestlemania-5

Was the referee supposed to be distracted during the spike?

Meltzer would say that everything was executed well as these are four pros but the match was nothing compared to the expectations many had for it as most seemed to pick this as being the best match on the card. The lack of heat hurt both the angle and the match as a whole. **½

What’s even stranger is...this angle really never went anywhere with Tito and Martel! The two never had a big payoff to the feud.

But it seems impossible to have a good match after a partner walks out for story purposes.

Did the booking or the story hurt the potential this match had?

You had one day off after Wrestlemania and then, back to work.

WWF @ Glens Falls, NY - Civic Center - April 4, 1989

Taping for the March 5 WWF Superstars:

Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (w/ Bobby Heenan) defeated Gene Ligon & Mark Brown at 2:02 when Anderson pinned Ligon following a spike piledriver behind the referee's back

More tapings the next night too.

WWF @ Syracuse, NY - War Memorial - April 5, 1989

Wrestling Challenge to air on 4/30/89

Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (w/ Bobby Heenan) defeated Brick Bronsky & Terry Daniels at 3:16 when Anderson pinned Daniels following the spike piledriver behind the referee's back; during the bout, the Bushwhackers cut an insert promo on the Brain Busters

Are you excited to get a new team to work with here? And would you have preferred this be something that had gotten kicked off at Mania?

At shows in late April at the Philadelphia Spectrum, the Toronto Maple Leaf Gardens, and Madison Square Garden, the Bushwackers end up recording victories over the Brain Busters, usually when Butch pins Arn after some kind of hijinx.

WWF @ Des Moines, IA - Veterans Auditorium - April 25, 1989

It’s the taping for Saturday Night’s Main Event 21 - to air on 5/27/89

Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (w/ Bobby Heenan) defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Demolition via disqualification at around 9:15 when a frustrated Ax entered the ring, a brawl ensued, and Ax shoved referee Joey Marella to the mat; after the match, both teams battled their way backstage (Demolition)

WWF @ Omaha, NE - Civic Center - April 26, 1989 (10,310; sell out)

WWF Prime Time Wrestling taping to air on May 15

Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard defeated Koko B. Ware & the Blue Blazer at 7:07 when Anderson pinned Blazer following a spike piledriver behind the referee's back

(who knew Koko and Owen teamed up back then?)

Any memories of getting to work with Koko or Owen Hart here?

As April came to a close, all throughout May, June, and July, The Brain Busters were on the house show circuit in losing efforts to the Bushwackers.

Were these all fun, comedy type matches for the younger fans that we’ve heard WWF always had a monopoly on?

But the Brain Busters still picked up pinfall victories over enhancement teams on TV like at WWF @ LaCrosse, WI - LaCrosse Center - May 16, or the next night, May 17, in Duluth, MN. These wins were for Wrestling Challenge and Superstars, respectively, in June.

WWF @ Lafayette, LA - Cajun Dome - June 16, 1989

Bushwhacker Butch & Paul Roma (sub. for Luke) defeated Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard when Butch pinned Anderson

Was there a mandate or something that the Bushwackers - or even ½ of them - had to win and had to pin Arn?

But despite the series of house show losses, the Brain Busters had still been a pretty formidable team on television. That would continue, too...

WWF @ Niagara Falls, NY - Convention Center - June 27, 1989

Another marathon TV taping event. On Wrestling Challenge scheduled for July 16, 1989, Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (w/ Bobby Heenan) defeated Tony Durante & Gary Wolfe at 2:24 when Anderson pinned Durante following the spike piledriver behind the referee's back

Then on the taping for the episode of Wrestling Challenge to air on 7/30/89 - the show included Gene Okerlund conducting an interview with Bobby Heenan, Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard about their upcoming tag team title shot against Demolition at Saturday Night's Main Event..

Did you know in June you would be winning the tag titles from Demolition? Or just that the match would happen soon?

WWF @ Worcester, MA - Centrum - July 18, 1989

Saturday Night's Main Event #22 - 7/29/89 on NBC

Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (w/ Bobby Heenan) defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Demolition in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match to win the titles; fall #1: Smash pinned Anderson after dropping him throat first on the top rope at 5:00; fall #2: the champions were disqualified for continuous double teaming at 9:29 after ramming Heenan into the ringpost and hitting the Decapitation on Blanchard; late in the fall, Andre the Giant appeared ringside; fall #3: Anderson pinned Smash at 12:33 after Blanchard hit Smash in the back of the head with a chair thrown into the ring by Andre; moments later, Jesse Ventura conducted a backstage interview with WWF IC Champion Rick Rude and Haku regarding the title win, with Heenan, Anderson, Blanchard, and Andre then appearing and celebrating; moments later, Heenan said he had two belts and wanted to add the WWF World Title to the list WWF Superstars:

Did you like having a little touch from Andre in this winning effort? What did this feel like - was it great or was it just another day at the office?

The same night, on tapings for Superstars that would air on August 5, Bobby Heenan, WWF Tag Team Champions Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard were guests of the Brother Love Show! During the segment, Jesse calls your recent tag team title win a major upset. “Nobody thought they had a chance.”

“We started off with the Stallions, went to the Rockers, went to the Bushwackers, and finished with Demolition.”

(2:20 is when Arn’s promo takes off https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LChHsB94Smc)

Heenan says at Summerslam, you’ll see the Brain Busters win again, just like this time, fair and square!

You said in the promo that you were beside yourselves. Was that a shoot?

The Brain Busters continue to pick up wins over enhancement guys in about three minutes or less on TV in early August.

WWF @ Fresno, CA - Selland Arena - August 9, 1989 (9,000; 8,800 paid; sell out)

Prime Time Wrestling - 10/2/89: The Bushwhackers defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard via count-out at 6:44 after Butch threw Luke back inside the ring after the champions collided on the floor

And with that, the series with the Bushwackers came to a close.

How did you like working with Luke and Butch? What were those matches like compared to your other matches?

Starting on August 10 in Phoenix, the house show circuit featured Demolition against the Tag Team Champion Brain Busters. Demolition always won by DQ or count out, including in Tampa, Miami, Jacksonville (whoever heard of that place), Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, and the Palace at Auburn Hills (Michigan).

It’s all on the build to your first WWF Summerslam event.

Summer Slam 89 - East Rutherford, NJ - Meadowlands - August 28, 1989 (20,000; sell out)

Interesting Note: Titan originally wanted to charge $14.95 for the PPV but according to Meltzer, several cable companies balked and they lowered the price $3. (Per Observer)

The opening contest of the night was The Brain Busters vs. The Hart Foundation.

How did you feel about being in the opening match, here? A school of thought is that it’s almost as important as a top main event… Do you agree?

About the match, Meltzer had this to say…

The Brain Busters (Tully Blanchard and Arn Anderson) won a non-title tag team match from the Hart Foundation (Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart) in 16:23. One thing about the WWF PPV shows that was evident here is that they get everyone so psyched up for the main event (or in the case of this show, the main event plus Warrior vs. Rude) that there isn’t a lot of heat for the prelim matches. NWA PPV shows have more heat up and down, although almost every longtime promoter will tell you it’s the main event you should emphasize and which should pop the crowd because prelim matches don’t sell tickets, they should [be] just good enough to keep interest and maybe a little more. As an opener, this was fine but considering the talents of the four, quite disappointing since they aren’t opening match wrestlers. Started slow with no intensity or continual action but the spots themselves were fine. Very slow-paced and all four didn’t seem to show the spark that three of the four are quite capable of. Finish saw Neidhart powerslam Hart onto Blanchard, but when Hart went for the pin, Anderson came off the top ropes onto him and Blanchard pinned Hart. **

As a fan, I thought the match was a great opener between two teams I cared about. But, I didn’t understand why the tag-titles weren’t on the line, especially if the Brain Busters were going to win, anyway.

What did you think of the end result of the match? Do you remember hearing any explanations as to why there would be no title match?

In September, the Brain Busters continued working live events against Demolition in Nashville, Minneapolis, Los Angeles, San Diego, and other towns.

Then, we arrive in Louisville, Kentucky. September 20. Wrestling Challenge taping at the Louisville Gardens.

During the day, WWF Tag Team Champions Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard gave their notice that they would be leaving the company for the NWA. Later on at the show, you both win a squash match against two unknowns. The same thing happens the next night, too.

In the October 2 Observer, here’s what Meltzer would write.

We’ve got plenty of news to hit on this week as well. The biggest story, and one with a lot of potential ramifications is that Tully Blanchard and Arn Anderson gave their notice to the WWF at the TV tapings on Wednesday night in Louisville and will be leaving after the Survivor Series on Thanksgiving night to return to the NWA. If nothing else, this is the first time in recent memory that the NWA has actually raided the WWF for main-line talent and been successful. Truthfully, this has been a year without raids on either side as with the exception of the WWF signing up Tony Schiavone, a television announcer, neither side had raided the other for talent all year despite all sorts of rumors that constantly float around.

Would you call it a raid?

While between now and Thanksgiving gives Titan plenty of opportunity to downplay Blanchard and Anderson, and I would say it is almost a certainty that unless they are persuaded to change their minds and stay that the belts will be taken from them at the next set of television tapings, they will still leave the WWF as main-line talent, not top drawing talent but still as recent champions. While the loss won’t hurt the WWF at all, except from the standpoint of front office headaches of trying to put together and market a new heel team (the Rougeaus are also leaving the WWF and the loss of both teams does leave the WWF with a sizable void in the heel tag team department), it should help fan perception of the NWA. Certainly it would cause some fans to at least question the NWA as minor league in comparison when the NWA and raid the WWF’s tag team champions, or when it comes to pass, recent ex-champions away.

But to me, the raiding of Blanchard and Anderson is really a minor point in this story. The real story is what will happen next. I do know that Blanchard and Anderson had signed contracts with Titan when they arrived last year. The standard Titan contract for all new competitors is for two years, automatically renewable for a third year unless notice is given. Blanchard and Anderson have only been in the WWF for just over one year. While Blanchard and Anderson may have signed a different contract from most of the recent Titan signees, sources close to the situation have said that they do, in fact, have time remaining on their current contract and believe that because the contract doesn’t guarantee any money, with the exception of $50 every television taping they appear on, that it isn’t a binding contract. If this is the case, the ball is in Vince McMahon’s court and several wrestlers are watching.

Can you clear up his contract confusion here? This may have been touched on before.

In recent months, the salary structure within Titan Sports, at least for the middle of the card wrestlers, has been lower than in the past, with the speculation being that the wrestlers no longer had any viable alternatives so there was no point in keeping the money up to the previous levels when the NWA was considered a viable alternative. I do know that most of the WWF wrestlers didn’t consider the NWA as a viable promotion since most of the information they were getting was that the organization was on its last legs, since brainwashing propaganda of the boys has been a long-time tool of management in many promotions, probably since the beginning of time in the business. With Blanchard and Anderson leaving and claiming that it was because they would make significantly more money in the NWA, all of a sudden a lot of people who didn’t consider the NWA an alternative financially will be taking notice as to how Vince McMahon handles this situation. Will McMahon ignore it, figuring that he’s on top and is so far on top, that this is nothing more than a minor inconvenience? Will he try and take legal action and force Blanchard and Anderson to fulfill their contract because by not doing so it would seem to signal a green light for any Titan wrestler who wants to renege on their contract? Will he try and gain revenge by trying to raid key a key NWA name, and at that point, will the NWA’s contracts, which do guarantee specific amounts of money in them, be able to hold up? If the NWA contracts don’t hold up, then why does the NWA even bother to sign these guys up, so no one would figure the NWA has these guys under contract specifically to keep them from jumping and therefore maybe the contracts would hold up. Will the NWA try more raids of Titan talent, or is this a single isolated instance?

From the NWA standpoint, presuming they are able to gain the services of Anderson and Blanchard for the Starrcade show, expect a re-uniting of the Four Horsemen, with the new quartet for 1990 consisting of Anderson. Blanchard, Ole Anderson and Lex Luger, all of whom will feud with Ric Flair. It’s something different and still something the same as a few years ago. It should create interest and presumably up attendance a tad, but the problems the NWA has with drawing at house shows are such that acquiring a few wrestlers is only a small part of the answer. Of course, Anderson and Blanchard are two of the best workers around and at the very least should improve the quality of the cards and give an added hot match on the big show.

Was that the plan? Or hope?

WWF @ Wheeling, WV - Civic Center - October 2, 1989 (7,800; sell out)

WWF Superstars taping for the November 4, 1989 episode.

Demolition defeated WWF Tag Team Champions Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard (w/ Bobby Heenan) at 5:29 to win the titles when Ax pinned Blanchard, the illegal man, with the Decapitation.

However, you would continue carrying the belts around for the next month while doing interviews building to the title match on Superstars that had already been taped.

Do you think that was pretty normal considering the schedule or perhaps done to make sure you didn’t leave with the belts?

Meltzer would speculate in the October 16 Observer that the illegal man deal was done to get you to agree to drop the belts. Was there ever really any thought otherwise from you or Tully about dropping the belts?

WWF @ Topeka, KS - Expocentre - October 31, 1989

Featured Okerlund conducting a backstage interview with Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty regarding their upcoming Best 2 out of 3 falls match against Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard; included Okerlund conducting a backstage interview with Heenan, Anderson & Blanchard regarding their upcoming match, during which Anderson & Blanchard argued with Heenan over him thinking less of them simply because they didn't have the tag team belts anymore, with Heenan saying they needed to listen to him more

Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty defeated Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match at 7:32, 2-1; fall #1: Jannetty pinned Blanchard with a sunset flip into the ring at 1:50 after Michaels prevented Blanchard from holding onto Anderson from the floor; Bobby Heenan was initially in the corner of Anderson & Blanchard but berated his team inside the ring after the first fall and walked out of the match moments into the second fall; fall #2: Blanchard pinned Michaels at 2:09 after Anderson dropped Michaels throat-first across the top rope behind the referee's back; after the fall, Jesse Ventura conducted a backstage interview with Heenan, in which Heenan said Anderson & Blanchard were the worst team he'd ever worked with and fired them; fall #3: Michaels pinned Anderson at 3:33 with a crossbody off the top as Anderson attempted a piledriver on Jannetty (Anderson's last TV appearance for more than 12 years) (Blanchard's last TV appearance for more than 18 years) (Best of Saturday Night's Main Event)

Meltzer had sketchy details about the event in the first Observer report, saying the Brainbusters did two straight jobs but that wasn’t correct. He reported that in Wichita Blanchard was supposed to put Warrior over as part of the Prime Time special but don’t know if he did or not, as “I did not get the details from that taping.”

Blanchard’s last match would be at...

WWF @ Wichita, KS - Kansas Coliseum - November 1, 1989

WWF IC Champion the Ultimate Warrior defeated Tully Blanchard (w/ Bobby Heenan) via disqualification at 6:00 when Arn Anderson interfered; after the bout, Jim Neidhart, Shawn Michaels, & Marty Jannetty made the save against Blanchard, Anderson, Haku, and Andre the Giant

Was that the original finish? Was Tully ever supposed to put Warrior over?

Tully Blanchard was fired immediately following this taping as a result of failing a drug test; he and Arn Anderson were already on their way out of the WWF and were scheduled to have their last match at the Survivor Series before rejoining the NWA; because of the failed drug test, only Anderson was rehired by Atlanta; the scheduled WWF Tag Team Champions Demolition vs. Arn Anderson & Tully Blanchard match did not take place

What was your reaction to the news? Did you ever imagine they were going to screw you guys over as hard as they did on the way out?

Wade Keller in the Torch initially reported that Blanchard was fired for refusing to do the job against the Ultimate Warrior. Was the DQ finish a compromise and he was punished after? Or was that wrong?

The Observer didn’t have a lot about this story until late in the month. In the last issue of November, Meltzer wrote that Blanchard was no longer coming into the NWA because WWF fired him for failing a drug test.

As for Blanchard, everything is now up in the air. NWA officials are claiming that hiring Blanchard right now could be a potential public relations nightmare so they are backing off. The official reason given by the WWF for dismissing Blanchard was that he failed a drug test (no jokes here about him failing because they couldn’t find any steroids in his system). The NWA felt it could put them in an embarrassing position if word got out that they hired someone that the WWF fired for using drugs.

My suspicion is there is a lot more to this story than meets the eye. I believe the drug test was a convenient excuse for the WWF to use because they want him out of their dressing rooms. The NWA very likely considers the acquisition of Blanchard and Anderson as a whole lot less of a coup today than it did when they were tag team champions and gave notice back in early September. mcMahon was able tos successfully “destroy” the two on television leading up to their planned NWA arrival, and did succeed in making it look like the NWA is bringing in two more WWF rejects ala Butch Reed and JYD rather than stealing his tag team champions. At the same time, Blanchard has been in the wrestling business for 14 years, many of them in the front lines of promotional wars in Texas. He should have known Titan was going to use him to set an example for other wrestlers who were contemplating making the big jump. And they succeeded in doing so in more ways than one. When people are looking at destroying you, you’ve got to be careful enough not to give them the ammunition. The last word I’ve heard is the plan is for Ole Anderson to take Blanchard’s place as Arn’s partner in the bookings already made starting Christmas. Actually, if Blanchard were to swallow his pride and go through rehab (whether he needs it or not isn’t the issue here, this entire game is politics, not dealing with an alleged drug problem), my guess is the NWA would take him. Whatever PR problem this potentially could cause would be averted (even though in reality the odds are very slim any such problem would ever crop up) and the NWA would politically be able to look like the group who is giving someone who has tried to face his problems a second chance.

If Tully had gone to rehab, whether it was serious or not, do you think the company might have brought him in? Or was Herd firm in his decision here?

This feels disturbing to type this question so please know it is asked with the deepest respect possible.

Did Vince McMahon destroy Tully Blanchard and Arn Anderson for giving notice to return to the NWA?

With Tully gone, there were still a month’s worth of bookings against Demolition to fulfill. So, we got to see a few interesting combinations...

WWF @ Rockford, IL - Metro Centre - November 2, 1989 (1,500)

WWF Tag Team Champions Demolition defeated Arn Anderson & Akeem (sub. for Tully Blanchard)

What was it like teaming with Akeem here, any memories of it?

WWF @ Peoria, IL - Civic Center - November 3, 1989 (3,500)

WWF Tag Team Champions Demolition defeated Arn Anderson & Haku (sub. for Tully Blanchard)

WWF @ Schofield, WI - November 4, 1989

WWF Tag Team Champions Demolition defeated Arn Anderson & Haku (sub. for Tully Blanchard)

How did Arn Anderson and Haku mesh?

Survivor Series 89 - Chicago, IL - Rosemont Horizon - November 23, 1989 (15,294)

WWF IC Champion the Ultimate Warrior, Jim Neidhart, & Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty defeated Andre the Giant, Haku, Arn Anderson, & Bobby Heenan (sub. for Tully Blanchard) in an elimination match at 20:28; following Neidhart, Michaels & Jannetty's entrance, the three were attacked by Andre until the Warrior ran out to make the save; Andre was counted-out at the 26-second mark after being knocked to the floor by Warrior; Haku pinned Neidhart at 3:30 with a kick to the back of the head after Neidhart knocked Anderson to the floor; Heenan pinned Jannetty at 8:49 following several stomps and a kneedrop after Anderson & Haku double teamed Jannetty; Michaels pinned Haku at 12:51 with a crossbody off the top, with Warrior helping push him, after Haku missed a crossbody off the middle turnbuckle; Anderson pinned Michaels with the spinebuster at 15:38; Warrior pinned Anderson at 18:18 with the press slam and splash after Anderson collided with Heenan; Warrior pinned Heenan with a shoulder block and splash; after the bout, Warrior chased Heenan down the aisle and knocked him down on his way backstage (Anderson's last WWF match)

I’m surprised by them allowing you to get a rare victory over Shawn Michaels at a Survivor Series here on your way out. Did you expect that?

Any memories of your last WWF match here?

That brings us to a close for what was your WWF run from 1988 to 1989.

How would you sum up the experience and the period in your life?

Do you wish you had it to do over?

Questions

Big X-tra has a great question...Why did the Brain busters never have an entrance theme? 

Jason asked..Who came up with the entrance? I have no recollection of him or Tully ever jogging to the ring in N.W.A./ WCW 

RCS88 asked...How was it like wrestling Tom Magee was that your only singles match in the WWF, and had you & Tully not left, were you supposed to drop the tag titles back to Demolition at Wrestlemania 6 #AskArn.

Josh White asked...Was there anybody who showed hostility towards you and Tully when first coming in? I'm just assuming there would be when such a hot team make the jump from the rival company.

Ps I'm thinking Arn just hasn't had the right kind of cheese on his burger to enjoy! Try swiss or gouda

Halloween Havoc ‘89 asks….We know how the fans in the crowd would throw up the 4 fingers to you guys in WWF, but did any of the boys backstage do it as well? Perhaps mockingly even? I'd imagine most would acknowledge how cool of a group the Horsemen were, at least privately.

Joshua asks...Mr. Anderson, God forbid, but what would you do if Vince passed away tomorrow and when they read his will he’d left the company to his old employee AA? After all; “you give my business credibility.” What’s your first move?

BigJakeBlack asks...At SummerSlam1989 You and Tully had a classic non title match with The Hart Foundation.... Was the match meant to showcase The Hart Foundation??? Awesome pacing,selling and bumping by The Brain Busters here......

The Rosencoaster asked...Was there anyone that you didn’t expect to work with in that year run that surprised you when you found out you’d be paired with them? And was there anyone that you hoped to work with but didn’t get the chance to do so during your time there?

Steve Titcomb asked...What’s a match that never happened during that run that you really wish you had a chance to have?

Mike asked..Was there any specific instructions Vince gave you to alter your in ring work? Was blading a no no?

Big X-tra asked..If you and Tully had stayed do you know what the plan creatively would have been for you guys?

Chris Cake asks...If Arn hadn't left, was the plan to hold the titles until Wrestlemania VI and face Demolition there? 

Josh White asks... let's say Tully got hurt and couldnt tag with you, who would be your first choice to take his place as your partner in your WWF run?

Andrew asks..If you could have had a singles run with anyone in the WWF in this time frame who would it be? Do you think you would have been a good IC CHampion?

Luke asked… Prior to your 1st year in the fed, had you met Bobby Heenan? Were you familiar with his work in Indianapolis or the Twin Cities?

Juan asked...Was there any talk of either you or Tully getting a run for the IC title. Or having a singles run at all?  Or was it always going to be just a Tag team run ??

Hoop asked...Both teams in their prime, who wins a match between Brainbusters and FTR and which finishing move get the 3?

The man of the 90s asked...What was the locker room like when Arn and Tully showed up? I can only imagine that some of the more insecure wrestlers saw them as a challenge to their spot.

Joseph asked...what was your reaction when Dusty Rhodes showed up in 1989?

Jeremy asked...The first time I saw you guys on WWF TV, a pop-up window showed an interview of you guys during the match. Tully made a comment similar to “look what we are doing to these guys!”  Who came up with that idea and how was it received in the locker room. It was GREAT!

Wayne asks...Arn what was the biggest adjustment you had to make when you left Crockett for the WWF was it the travel? The different ring size? Etc... #ASKARN

Andrew asks...#AskArn If things had worked out and you stayed in the WWF, who would you have wanted to wrestle that you didn't get the chance to?

David asks...#AskArn If you, during your first year with WWF, time traveled to today to bring back one wrestler to join The Herman Family, who would it be and why?

Jesse asked..#AskArn which tag title belts did you like better, the NWA on those blue straps? Or those WWF tag title belts?

John asked..Do you have any Andre stories? #ARN #ASKARN