The Contentious Ten 05.10.10: Ric Flair Matches

Honorable Mentions:

Ric Flair vs. Barry Windham (Crockett Cup ’87): Flair and Windham were natural opponents that made wrestling a great match look easy. This might have made the top ten if I could find a copy of the match in full, but until I see the full match, it will be left in the honorable mentions.

Ric Flair vs. Edge (RAW 2006): One of Flair’s three greatest matches since coming to WWE in 2001, this match came as a huge surprise. I didn’t expect this TLC match to even happen, much less be as good as it is. The match is a huge testament to Flair’s mental and physical toughness.

Ric Flair vs. Terry Funk (Great American Bash ’89): A match I could have put in the top ten, but chose not to because I wanted to spotlight other ones. This has some of the best psychology and hatred of any match you’ll ever see, which easily overcomes Funk’s limited mobility.

Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat (Chi-Town Rumble): I’m sure I’ll get some grief for not including this in the top ten, and yes IT DOES deserve to be there. However, it is the least of the Flair-Steamboat ’89 trilogy and I wanted to spotlight Flair’s other rivalries and not just Flair-Steamboat.

Ric Flair vs. Sting (Great American Bash ’90): Sting and Ric Flair were legendary opponents but they never had a true classic. Time has not been kind to the first Clash of the Champions match, but I think this one has aged a lot better. One of the best executed title changes ever, in my opinion.

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Ric Flair vs. Triple Hsize=6>
Intercontinental Championship Steel Cage Match, Taboo Tuesday ’05size=4>

This wasn’t a match I initially planned on having here until I watched it again; I guess I just forgot how good it is. Ric Flair had just won the Intercontinental Championship from Carlito (a match I saw live) and was a full time babyface for the first time since 2002. In 2003, Flair and Triple H had a spectacular one-off match in Greensboro on RAW, but this feud was more personal, and that’s reflected in this match. On this night, Flair reverted back to the tough as nails brawler that stood toe to toe with Dusty Rhodes, Harley Race, Bruiser Brody, and Terry Funk, and it was a sight to behold. Triple H also gave a great performance here, stealing a lot of Flair’s mannerisms and looking like he would have been perfectly comfortable in the NWA of the ’80’s. Bloody, hate-filled, violent, and grounded with a great story of the ultimate Ric Flair mark thinking Flair is past his due date and trying to put him away for good.

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Ric Flair vs. Vadersize=6>
WCW World Championship Match, Starrcade ’93size=4>

This was the culmination of Ric Flair’s triumphant return to WCW after a year and a half in the WWE. This match is one of the earliest examples of Flair playing the wily veteran babyface who can keep up with the young guys. He came into this match a huge underdog because Vader was one of the most well protected monsters in wrestling history. Vader beat the crap out of Flair in this match before Flair got the victory with a cradle out of nowhere. A real great match that perfectly shows how a wily veteran can beat a monster through skill and determination.

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Ric Flair vs. Randy Savagesize=6>
WWF Championship Match, Wrestlemania VIIIsize=4>

It might not have been the epic first ever televised encounter between Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan as many presumed it would be, but it was a worthy consolation prize. Set up with an angle that Flair had known Elizabeth before Savage knew her, this was a match between two of great psychological masters of the 1980’s. Slick Ric was the WWF Champion and defending it at Wrestlemania, and the match was more than worthy of the event. Randy won the match and the title, but Flair stole the show and a kiss from Miss Elizabeth. This often shows up when people talk about Savage’s greatest matches, but for some reason isn’t mentioned as often when talking about Flair matches.

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Ric Flair vs. Harley Racesize=6>
NWA World Championship Steel Cage Match, Starrcade ’83size=4>

The main event of the first Starrcade was a true passing of the torch moment. Harley Race was a seven time world champion and one of top performers of the 1970’s. Ric Flair was going to be the top champion for the NWA in the 1980’s. This was the blow-off to their rivalry that saw Race put a bounty on Flair’s head, and these two had a bloody, hard-hitting match that mixed wrestling and brawling very well. True, referee Gene Kiniski threatened to ruin the entire match with his overzealous officiating, but not even that could completely ruin the effort these two put forth. This match also gets bonus points for its importance to Ric Flair’s career.

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Ric Flair vs. Shawn Michaelssize=6>
Wrestlemania XXIVsize=4>

About a month ago, I mentioned that I felt this match was tarnished because of Flair coming out of retirement. Yes, the whole concept of the match is kind of pointless, but no more pointless that the Ultimate Warrior vs. Randy Savage retirement match and that’s regarded as a classic by most. I think the action in this match speaks for itself; Flair puts on a great performance here, hitting all his trademark spots and working over Shawn’s ribs and legs expertly. HBK gives one of his best acting performances here. His selling of his injuries is spot on and really puts over the effect of the match, but its the battle between his respect for Ric Flair and his competitive spirit than really make him a great asset to the match. Flair tried all of his tricks and they didn’t work, and when Shawn reluctantly hit the last superkick, he took the finish like the man. I respect that others may have a differing opinion, but this is just a great, great match and a better story. Therefore, it’s on my list.

THE BONUS LIST!color=blue>size=6>

Top Ten Ric Flair-isms size=4>
10. The testicular claw with chops
9. The reverse kick to the groin
8. The Strut
7. Begging off in a corner before thumbing someone in the eye
6. Choking an opponent with his knee while arguing with the referee
5. The turnbuckle flip
4. Getting thrown off the top rope
3. Offering his hand and then backing off and running hands through his hair
2. “Shut up, fat boy!”
1. The Flair Flop

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Ric Flair vs. Lex Lugersize=6>
WCW World Championship Match, Starrcade ’88size=4>

Thanks to the wonders of the internet, I was able to watch this match for the first time ever when I did my research for this list. When I heard that Ric Flair had a great match with Lex Luger at Starrcade ’88, I figured that Flair worked his magic and carried Lex to a great match, similar to how he carried Sting at the first Clash of the Champions. Well, watching this match shows that Luger more than held his own. Yes, having Ric Flair selling all your offense is a huge benefit, but even Flair can only do so much if the offense isn’t good. Luger on his best night was a solid performer, which is why I don’t hold him in the same low regard as men like Psycho Sid and the Ultimate Warrior.

This match is wonderfully worked; Luger had been in the Four Horsemen but left due to having issues with his teammates, and this was him challenging the leader of the pack for the World Title. He dominated Flair for the first third of the match, shrugging off all of offense and working the arm. Flair had to resort to underhanded tactics to get the advantage, using a chair to attack Luger’s leg. Even then, Lex was able to fight back and almost win the match, but his knee buckled when attempting the torture rack, and Flair fell on top for the pin. Many historians say Luger should have won here, and I’d tend to agree, but then, the Flair-Steamboat series wouldn’t have been as special. This is a tremendous match though, and if anyone tells you Flair only had good matches with Steamboat and Sting, this should shut them up.

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The 1992 Royal Rumble Matchsize=6>
WWF World Championshipsize=4>

It may seem a bit preposterous to put a match with thirty men in it and call it one of the best matches for one individual. But this really is Flair’s match. He comes in at number three and spends roughly an hour battling twenty-eight other men (Ted DiBiase was eliminated by Davey Boy Smith before Flair entered.) This including some of the biggest stars and best wrestlers of all time: Hulk Hogan, Roddy Piper, Randy Savage, The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Jake Roberts, Sgt. Slaughter, Sid Justice, The Iron Sheik, Kerry Von Erich, Greg Valentine, Tito Santana, Jim Duggan, Big Bossman, Haku, IRS, Rick Martel, Jimmy Snuka, The Barbarian, Nikolai Volkoff…it’s a who’s who of the late ’80’s and early ’90’s. Sure, there’s a few duds like The Berzerker and the Warlord. Hercules, Repo Man, Skinner and Virgil and Nasty Boy Sags aren’t going to set the world on fire either, but they aren’t bad enough to ruin the credibility of the Rumble.

After going toe to toe with every World Title level competitor in the World Wrestling Federation, Flair sat in the background as Sid through Hogan to the floor, and as Hogan tried to pull Sid over the ropes as retaliation, Flair was able to sneak in and toss him over. He won the match and his first WWF Championship. It didn’t matter that the last elimination was a bit suspect. By wrestling every top star for an hour, he had proven that he was worthy to be the top star in whatever company he was in.

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Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboatsize=6>
WCW World Championship 2/3 Falls Match, Clash of the Champions VIsize=4>

I don’t even really feel like I need to say anything here. The match is up there for your viewing enjoyment, and if you watch it and don’t understand why it is on this list, I just don’t know what to say. Watching Flair and Steamboat wrestle for an hour is easier than watching a lot of wrestlers for ten minutes. Both guys also use the 2/3 Falls stipulation to their advantage, using it as a storytelling tool and changing strategies as the match progresses. The match holds up extremely well today, and some consider it the greatest match of all time. The only reason the two matches above this are higher is because are a tad more intense and slightly better executed. Still, this is required viewing for any wrestling fan.

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Ric Flair vs. Terry Funksize=6>
WCW World Championship I Quit Match, Clash of the Champions IXsize=4>

Mick Foley once said that Terry Funk and Ric Flair are the only two wrestlers who “felt it” each and every time they stepped in the ring. Watching this match, it’s easy to see what he means. This is one of those matches you really have to see to understand what makes it great. The written word can’t convey the stiffness of Flair’s chops; he whales on Terry in this match. You can’t read about Funk screaming “You pig, you egg-sucking dog!” or “Never! Never! Oh my leg is breaking…” and get the same effect. This is a tremendous, awesome, pier-six brawl, and there’s no barbwire, no thumbtacks, no fire, nobody getting thrown off a balcony. Just two great wrestlers who hate each other, beating the Hell out of their opponents and trying to make them say, “I Quit!” Ric Flair may be the greatest heel of all time, but this match is a great example of how well he plays the valiant face looking for revenge.

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Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboatsize=6>
WCW World Championship Match, Wrestle War ’89size=4>

So, you probably already know that the Clash of the Champions match is a five-star classic and this match is also a five-star classic. Both matches are in my top ten matches of all time; they are that freaking good. Flair and Steamboat were made to wrestle; they had great matches with everyone else, but they had amazing matches against each other. So really, picking between these two is difficult, but I actually have a relatively simple reason why I prefer this. This match has Steamboat armdrags. The 2/3 Falls match has Steamboat headlock takeovers. Hopefully, somebody will understand why that matters.

Actually, there’s a lot of things I like about this match over the Clash. I like the psychology of having the judges there at ringside, judging the winner of the match based on each man’s offense. That means that neither man has time to stall or play defense; from the word go, they are both trying to win the match. Steamboat’s strategy is to work the arm to set up for the chickenwing, and he sticks with it. Flair has multiple strategies; he tries to out-wrestle the Dragon, and it doesn’t work, he tries chop wars and that doesn’t work, he tries the Figure Four Leglock and it doesn’t work. In the end, Flair is able to roll through a scoop slam due to Steamboat losing his balance and pick up his sixth World Title. Flair plays a heel gradually switching to babyface here, and for my money, it’s either this or Bret vs. Austin at Wrestlemania 13 for greatest North American match ever.

*****

Whew. That was a lot of fun to do, and doing the research for it has reminded me why I love Ric Flair in the first place. From a guy who has gotten considerable DVD treatment by the WWE to a guy who is long overdue for one, next week wil be The Ten Chris Jericho Matches.