Martin Anthony Lunde (born September 20, 1958), better known by his ring name Arn Anderson,
Early life
Martin Anthony Lunde was born in Rome, Georgia, on September 20, 1958.
Professional wrestling career
Early career (1981–1984)
Lunde began his career on December 16, 1981, in Georgia Championship Wrestling, going by the ring name "Jim Vertaroso", having been trained by Ted Lipscomb (Allen). He spent much of the year wrestling in various independent wrestling companies across the United States, including a minor run in Mid South Wrestling based out of Shreveport for Bill Watts from 1982 to 1983.
By the middle of 1983, Lunde made his way to Southeastern Championship Wrestling, a National Wrestling Alliance-affiliated promotion operating out of Tennessee and Alabama. Taking the name of "Super Olympia", Lunde soon became a member of Ron Fuller's Stud Stable before the year was out. Lunde saw success in the tag team ranks by winning the NWA Southeastern Tag Team Championship three times with Mr. Olympia and once with Pat Rose throughout 1984. It was also here in this promotion that Lunde met and began what would become a lifelong friendship with Ric Flair.
At the end of 1984, Lunde left Southeastern Championship Wrestling and re-joined Mid South Wrestling. Lunde's time in Mid South was coming to an end, and during a TV taping the Junkyard Dog mentioned to Bill Watts, the owner of Mid South Wrestling, that Lunde looked like an Anderson. Watts called Jim Crockett and convinced him to book Lunde.
Jim Crockett Promotions / World Championship Wrestling (1985–1988)
Minnesota Wrecking Crew (1985)
In March 1985, Lunde made his way to Jim Crockett Jr.'s Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, based in the Virginias and the Carolinas. By this time, the company extended its range into Georgia after rival promoter Vince McMahon purchased Georgia Championship Wrestling. There was a strong physical resemblance between Lunde and Ole Anderson, who had achieved legendary status in the Georgia and Mid-Atlantic territories as a tag team wrestler. Ole noticed that Lunde's style was a no nonsense approach in the ring and specialized in working over a part of an opponent's body throughout the match, much like Ole himself. Anderson agreed to work with Lunde, helping to hone his capabilities, and re-formed the Minnesota Wrecking Crew with Lunde replacing Gene Anderson and taking on the name of "Arn Anderson", Ole's kayfabe brother. The team quickly became a force in the territory by capturing the NWA National Tag Team Championship in March 1985.