Anderson family
Encyclopedia
The Anderson family is a group of professional wrestlers
, a fictitious extended family
largely consisting of brothers and cousins. It started in the Minnesota
area in the late 1960s with a tag team called The Minnesota Wrecking Crew
, consisting of "brothers" Lars Anderson
and Gene Anderson
(the only actual 'Anderson' of the original group). Later versions of the Crew included "brother" Ole Anderson
and "cousin" Arn Anderson
in various combinations with the original two. In total, the four original Andersons won over 11 different tag team
championships together across the country. Several modern tag teams have taken names similar to the Minnesota Wrecking Crew as an homage to the group.
In the 1980s, Ole and Arn allied themselves with Ric Flair
, a Minnesota native who they claimed was another cousin of the family, and formed the famous wrestling stable The Four Horsemen
. The stable was a major influence on professional wrestling in North America, creating the blueprint for future groups such as the New World Order
, Triple Threat
, and Evolution
.
Ole, Gene and Arn ran tryout camps for prospective wrestlers in the late 1970s and early 1980s, "stretching" several future stars, including Al Snow
.
Other wrestlers claiming the Anderson heritage popped up on the independent circuit
in the 1990s. These include Pat Anderson, Rocky Anderson, Karl Anderson
and C.W. Anderson
, who has gone on to moderate fame. Gene Anderson had a son, Brad
, who began wrestling in 1988. Ole Anderson had a son who wrestles under the name Bryant Anderson.
When wrestler Ken Anderson was in WWE, he changed his ring name to Ken Kennedy, to avoid confusion with the Anderson family (as well as the former Cincinnati Bengals
quarterback
of the same name), despite Anderson being his actual last name. He now wrestles for TNA under the name "Mr. Anderson", but is not related to any member of the Anderson family in either reality or kayfabe.
Another WWE star was born Steven James Anderson, but his family name changed to Williams when he was adopted by his stepfather in early childhood; he would achieve fame as Stone Cold Steve Austin
. He also is not related to any member of the kayfabe Anderson family.
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
, a fictitious extended family
Extended family
The term extended family has several distinct meanings. In modern Western cultures dominated by nuclear family constructs, it has come to be used generically to refer to grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins, whether they live together within the same household or not. However, it may also refer...
largely consisting of brothers and cousins. It started in the Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
area in the late 1960s with a tag team called The Minnesota Wrecking Crew
Minnesota Wrecking Crew
The Minnesota Wrecking Crew was originally a professional wrestling tag team that was formed by Gene and Lars Anderson but since then has featured a number of wrestlers who wrestled under the Anderson family name despite not being blood related.-History:...
, consisting of "brothers" Lars Anderson
Lawrence Heinemi
Larry Heinemi is a retired professional wrestler better known by the name of Lars Anderson. His career spans over a decade of performing in National Wrestling Alliance territories as well as American Wrestling Association .-Career:...
and Gene Anderson
Gene Anderson
Gene Anderson was an American professional wrestler best known for his days of teaming with his brother Ole Anderson.-Career:...
(the only actual 'Anderson' of the original group). Later versions of the Crew included "brother" Ole Anderson
Ole Anderson
Alan Robert Rogowski , better known by his ring name of Ole Anderson, is a retired professional wrestler and a promoter. He held numerous NWA World Tag Team Championships with Gene Anderson, who was portrayed as his brother...
and "cousin" Arn Anderson
Arn Anderson
Martin Anthony Lunde better known by his ring name Arn Anderson, is a former American professional wrestler and author. His career has been highlighted by his alliances with Ric Flair and various members of the wrestling stable, The Four Horsemen, in the NWA/WCW...
in various combinations with the original two. In total, the four original Andersons won over 11 different tag team
Tag team
Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name...
championships together across the country. Several modern tag teams have taken names similar to the Minnesota Wrecking Crew as an homage to the group.
In the 1980s, Ole and Arn allied themselves with Ric Flair
Ric Flair
Richard Morgan Fliehr is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Ric Flair. Also known as "The Nature Boy", Flair is one of the most well-known professional wrestlers in the world....
, a Minnesota native who they claimed was another cousin of the family, and formed the famous wrestling stable The Four Horsemen
Four Horsemen (professional wrestling)
The Four Horsemen were a professional wrestling stable in the National Wrestling Alliance and later World Championship Wrestling that was disbanded in 1999. The original group featured Ric Flair, Arn and Ole Anderson, and Tully Blanchard...
. The stable was a major influence on professional wrestling in North America, creating the blueprint for future groups such as the New World Order
New World Order (professional wrestling)
The New World Order was a professional wrestling stable that originally wrestled for World Championship Wrestling . The group later appeared in the World Wrestling Federation after the purchase of WCW by the WWF...
, Triple Threat
Triple Threat
The Triple Threat was a professional wrestling heel stable that existed in Extreme Championship Wrestling from 1995 to 1998. It was Shane Douglas's answer to Ric Flair's Four Horsemen...
, and Evolution
Evolution (professional wrestling)
Evolution was a villainous professional wrestling stable on WWE's Raw brand between 2003 and 2005. At the height of its existence, the group consisted of Triple H, Ric Flair, Randy Orton, Batista and briefly Eugene....
.
Ole, Gene and Arn ran tryout camps for prospective wrestlers in the late 1970s and early 1980s, "stretching" several future stars, including Al Snow
Al Snow
Allen Ray Sarven is an American professional wrestler and actor better known by his ring name of Al Snow. He is best known for his work in Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment and currently works for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as a road agent.-Early career:Sarven...
.
Other wrestlers claiming the Anderson heritage popped up on the independent circuit
Independent circuit
In professional wrestling, the independent circuit or indy circuit refers to the many independent promotions which are much smaller than major televised promotions. They are roughly analagous to a minor league for pro wrestling, or community or regional theatre.Specific promotions on the...
in the 1990s. These include Pat Anderson, Rocky Anderson, Karl Anderson
Karl Anderson
Chad Allegra is an American professional wrestler better known by his stage name Karl "Machine Gun" Anderson currently working for New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is currently one half of the IWGP and GHC Tag Team Champions with partner Giant Bernard.-Personal life:Allegra grew up in Asheville,...
and C.W. Anderson
C.W. Anderson
Chris Wright is an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name, C.W. Anderson. He is best known for his time with Extreme Championship Wrestling.-Early life:...
, who has gone on to moderate fame. Gene Anderson had a son, Brad
Brad Anderson (wrestler)
Bradley "Brad" Anderson is an American professional wrestler and is the son of wrestler Gene Anderson.-Career:Brad Anderson started wrestling in 1988 after being trained by his father, Gene Anderson, and Nelson Royal....
, who began wrestling in 1988. Ole Anderson had a son who wrestles under the name Bryant Anderson.
When wrestler Ken Anderson was in WWE, he changed his ring name to Ken Kennedy, to avoid confusion with the Anderson family (as well as the former Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
of the same name), despite Anderson being his actual last name. He now wrestles for TNA under the name "Mr. Anderson", but is not related to any member of the Anderson family in either reality or kayfabe.
Another WWE star was born Steven James Anderson, but his family name changed to Williams when he was adopted by his stepfather in early childhood; he would achieve fame as Stone Cold Steve Austin
Stone Cold Steve Austin
Steve Austin , better known by his ring name "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, is an American film and television actor and retired professional wrestler...
. He also is not related to any member of the kayfabe Anderson family.
Anderson family members
- Brothers:
- Gene AndersonGene AndersonGene Anderson was an American professional wrestler best known for his days of teaming with his brother Ole Anderson.-Career:...
- Ole AndersonOle AndersonAlan Robert Rogowski , better known by his ring name of Ole Anderson, is a retired professional wrestler and a promoter. He held numerous NWA World Tag Team Championships with Gene Anderson, who was portrayed as his brother...
(Al Rogowski) - Lars AndersonLawrence HeinemiLarry Heinemi is a retired professional wrestler better known by the name of Lars Anderson. His career spans over a decade of performing in National Wrestling Alliance territories as well as American Wrestling Association .-Career:...
(Larry Heinemi)
- Gene Anderson
- Cousins:
- Arn AndersonArn AndersonMartin Anthony Lunde better known by his ring name Arn Anderson, is a former American professional wrestler and author. His career has been highlighted by his alliances with Ric Flair and various members of the wrestling stable, The Four Horsemen, in the NWA/WCW...
(Marty Lunde) - Ric FlairRic FlairRichard Morgan Fliehr is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Ric Flair. Also known as "The Nature Boy", Flair is one of the most well-known professional wrestlers in the world....
- Arn Anderson
- Sons:
- Brad AndersonBrad Anderson (wrestler)Bradley "Brad" Anderson is an American professional wrestler and is the son of wrestler Gene Anderson.-Career:Brad Anderson started wrestling in 1988 after being trained by his father, Gene Anderson, and Nelson Royal....
(son of Gene Anderson) - Bryant AndersonBrian RogowskiBrian Rogowski is a retired American professional wrestler, known by his ringname Bryant Anderson, who formerly competed in Southeastern independent promotions including Smoky Mountain Wrestling during the mid 1990s and, in 1994, had a brief stint in World Championship Wrestling.A second generation...
(son of Ole Anderson) - David FlairDavid FlairDavid Richard Fliehr better known by his ring name David Flair is a professional wrestler best known for his time in World Championship Wrestling , where he held the United States and World Tag Team championships...
- Reid Flair
- Brad Anderson
- Others:
- Rocky Anderson
- Pat Anderson - (Pat Conner)
- C.W. AndersonC.W. AndersonChris Wright is an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name, C.W. Anderson. He is best known for his time with Extreme Championship Wrestling.-Early life:...
(Chris Wright) - Karl AndersonKarl AndersonChad Allegra is an American professional wrestler better known by his stage name Karl "Machine Gun" Anderson currently working for New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he is currently one half of the IWGP and GHC Tag Team Champions with partner Giant Bernard.-Personal life:Allegra grew up in Asheville,...
(Chad Allegra) - TC Anderson