Mr Anderson Interview Highlights

TNA's Mr. Anderson spoke with The Dover Post this week to promote TNA's July 23rd show at the Delaware State Fair. Here are some highlights:




Q What are some of the behind the scenes stuff that we as viewers don’t see?



A It’s a two-hour show every week, and they get to see us for five to ten minutes. If you get a 15-minute segment on TV that’s a long segment because we have such a long roster. So they think you have it made. They don’t see that we do three non-TV events a week. I’ll get home, wash all my clothes, re-pack, and go out for a really, long loop. Then we do two TV shows and then we’re traveling, we drive ourselves from city to city. If we’re in Milwaukee and then Chicago the next night, we have to drive after the show to Chicago. And we have to find a gym, and a place to tan, and make sure we’re eating properly, and it’s 11 at night and nothing healthy’s open. Those are the things that people don’t see that we do. A lot of times we work 16 to 18 hour days, and don’t think twice about it. For normal people, 12 is pushing it. A lot of people work 8 hours shifts and go home. I always go back and think this beats the hell out of every job I’ve ever had.



Q Guys like Ric Flair have had careers for decades now. How long would you like to keep at it?



A If I’m still doing this five years from now, please, just shoot me. I love the wrestling business, I love entertaining people, but it doesn’t define me. And for people who are defined by this, that’s fine. I don’t judge them or look down on them, but it’s not for me. After 13 years of taking abuse I have aches and pains, and my wife calls me the old man a lot — more than I would like for her to call me. But I know that I can’t do this forever.



Q What would you like to do in the future?



A “E.T.” was the first movie I ever saw in the theater, and I remember looking at my mom and asking, “How does somebody do that? I want to be Elliott.” It just so happens to be that I live in the greatest country in the world where you can do anything you want. And if you want to be an actor and you work hard at it, you can do that. I’d like to transition into movies, TV, maybe some behind-the-scenes stuff here at TNA, or as a commentator. Eventually, my plan is to move to Wyoming on a big place of land and hunt, and fish, and spend time with my family and travel, and do some charity work.