Lucha libre legend Adolfo Tapia, best known to American audiences as the original La Parka during his tenure in World Championship Wrestling (WCW), publicly thanked WWE Hall of Famer Arn Anderson today for his support during the late 1990s.
In a post on his X account, Tapia credited Anderson with protecting the Mexican talent roster from racial discrimination within the company.
“I want to send greetings to Mr. Arn Anderson because during my time at WCW he was one of the people who looked after us and defended us against all the racism that existed there,” Tapia wrote. “I will always be grateful to the great Mr. Arn Anderson.. I send him many blessings from the la park.”
I want to send greetings to Mr. Arn Anderson because during my time at WCW he was one of the people who looked after us and defended us against all the racism that existed there. I will always be grateful to the great Mr. Arn Anderson.. I send him many blessings from the la park pic.twitter.com/Z2SumZ2cUX
— adolfo tapia ibarra (@laparktapia) December 15, 2025
Arn Anderson’s Reputation
Anderson, a founding member of the Four Horsemen, transitioned into a backstage role as a road agent and producer for WCW following his in-ring retirement in 1997 due to a neck injury. In this capacity, “The Enforcer” became a liaison between management and the active roster.
Anderson is widely regarded as one of the most respected figures in the professional wrestling industry. Peers ranging from “Stone Cold” Steve Austin to Cody Rhodes have frequently cited Anderson’s mind for the business and his leadership qualities. His reputation as a shooter and his no-nonsense demeanor allowed him to command respect in often volatile locker room environments.
Allegations of Racism in WCW
Tapia’s comments shed light on the racial tensions that reportedly plagued WCW during the Monday Night War era. While the company featured a deep roster of international talent—specifically cruiserweights from Mexico and Japan—performers have long alleged that a culture of segregation and discrimination existed behind the scenes.
Konnan, a former WCW Television Champion and key figure in bringing lucha libre talent to the promotion, has frequently spoken about the mistreatment of Mexican wrestlers. In various interviews, Konnan has claimed that luchadors were often segregated from the main event talent, paid significantly less than their American counterparts, and subjected to derogatory comments by management figures.
These allegations were not limited to backstage hearsay. In 2000, former WCW manager Sonny Onoo filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against the company. The suit, which was eventually settled out of court, alleged that WCW management discriminated against minority employees regarding pay and promotional opportunities.
Additionally, the departure of “The Radicalz” (Eddie Guerrero, Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, and Perry Saturn) in early 2000 was largely driven by their frustration with the “glass ceiling” in WCW. While their grievances were primarily focused on creative booking, Guerrero also spoke about the difficulties Latino wrestlers faced in breaking through to the main event scene in the United States.
