Author: It’s no secret, Ole Anderson was a bit of a jerk. Okay, not just a bit. The former Four Horseman and wrestling promoter was a massive jerk. All it takes is a quick peruse on Google to find countless first-hand accounts claiming just this. “Ole Anderson was horrible!“ – Bobby Heenan. “Ole Anderson used the N-word all the time.“ – Teddy Long.
In the highly recommended book, Inside Out: How Corporate America Destroyed Professional Wrestling, Anderson, with the help of co-author Scott Teal, pulls no punches and shares many stories on his time in the business. One story from the book, in particular, stands out –
The time Ole Anderson upset one of his workers to the point of them taking a gun out and placing it to the back of his head.
May this be a lesson learned for all: don’t make a joke about the dead!
ANDERSON:
“When one of the guys wanted time off because his grandmother had died, I started to grill him. ‘What are you going to do – resurrect her from the dead?’
He stammered. He didn’t know how to respond.
‘If you wanna work, then let’s get to work,’ I suggested.
As I walked away, the guy pulled a gun out of his bag and aimed it at the back of my head. I didn’t know about it until Stan Hansen and some of the guys told me about it later. I asked Stan, ‘Why didn’t somebody warn me?’
He just grinned and said, ‘We wanted to see if he would actually shoot you…'”
Whether Ole Anderson learned a tough lesson after this experience or not, I know we all have: don’t speak ill of the dead!
SOURCE: ‘Inside Out: How Corporate America Destroyed Professional Wrestling’ by Ole Anderson/Scott Teal
Quote above shared here with thanks to Matt Pender and our friends over at ‘Wrestling’s Glory Days’ Facebook page
Interested in reading more stories about Ole Anderson? Be sure to check out our piece: THE FOUR HORSEMEN: "You Can Imitate, but You Can’t Duplicate!"
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"Evan Ginzburg’s stories are a love letter to wrestling, filled with heart, humor, and history. A must-read for any true fan." — Keith Elliot Greenberg
Wrestling Rings, Blackboards, and Movie Sets is the latest book from Pro Wrestling Stories Senior Editor Evan Ginzburg. 100 unforgettable stories—from sharing a flight on 9/11 with a WWE Hall of Famer to untold moments in wrestling history. A page-turner for fans of the ring and beyond. Grab your copy today! For signed editions, click here.
"Evan Ginzburg’s stories are a love letter to wrestling, filled with heart, humor, and history. A must-read for any true fan." — Keith Elliot Greenberg
Wrestling Rings, Blackboards, and Movie Sets is the latest book from Pro Wrestling Stories Senior Editor Evan Ginzburg. 100 unforgettable stories—from sharing a flight on 9/11 with a WWE Hall of Famer to untold moments in wrestling history. A page-turner for fans of the ring and beyond. Grab your copy today! For signed editions, click here.
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