The Wrestling (Hub)Bard 4.05.08: The Legacy of Ric Flair

Hello and welcome to the very first edition of…DRUM ROLL…The Wrestling (Hub)Bard!

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Introduction A.K.A. Who’s This Guy With A Bad Column Name?

I suppose I should introduce myself, as I’m new to 411. My name is Aaron Hubbard, I am an eighteen year old guy from Kansas. I have been a fan of wrestling for as long as I can remember. The first match I can remember watching was Hulk Hogan vs. Ric Flair at Bash at the Beach. I got “smart” to the business in 2002 when I watched Shawn Michael’s comeback match. It was then that I realized that all matches are not created equal. My favortie wrestler is the late, great Eddie Guerrero. I hope you enjoy my work as much as I enjoy writing it. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ashish and Larry Csonka for giving me a chance.

Well, I’m sure you didn’t click on this link to read my life story, so grab a ham sammich and let’s get to the real draw of this column…”The Nature Boy” Ric Flair.

Another Column About Ric Flair?

I’m sure some of you are tired of reading column after column about Ric Flair. I really wanted to find something else to talk about so that readers would say, “Something that’s not about Ric Flair.” But the reality set in that Ric Flair is the only thing in wrestling I really care about at this moment. Let’s face it…WRESTLEMANIA was last Sunday and all that most of my colleagues care about is that Flair has retired. This is a huge event and I think that it would be a disservice to myself and to Ric if I didn’t give my thoughts on it. I will strive to be as different as possible so that you won’t feel as if you wasted your time by reading this article.

Finality.

There is something about that word that makes me feel uneasy. It is cliché to say that humans are afraid of the unknown, but today, it is not fear of the uncertain, but rather the fear of the certain that vexes me. I know what is going to happen as a result of the events that took place at Wrestlemania XXIV, but that doesn’t make me any more comfortable with the idea of it. I’m still afraid of a wrestling world without Ric Flair.

Over the years, I have tried to explain my love of professional wrestling to non-fans many times. I think that the love of wresling is only something that can be truly explained and shared with other fans. And I have also tried to explain just how much Ric Flair means to wrestling. This is a difficult task when the phrases, “great worker”, “amazing promos”, and “five-star matches” mean nothing to who you are talking to. Most people who are familiar with wrestling in passing know names such as Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and The Rock. These men are great “sports entertainers”. They have made a ton of money for Vince McMahon and their legacys have transcended the wrestling industry. Most non-fans do not know the name Ric Flair. His legacy does not transcend the industry: he is not bigger than the industry.

Ric Flair IS the industry.

Ric Flair has been wrestling longer than I’ve been alive. His career has lasted over thirty-five years. With the exception of a few years where Flair had his spirit crushed by the politics of WCW, he has been passionate and given his all to the business for that entire time. He is respected and even revered in this business. He has a legacy that will probably never be duplicated. Only Shawn Michaels has a chance of coming close to having a legacy anywhere near the level of Flair’s. Let us take a look at what has made his legacy.

1. His Body of Work: Over his almost forty year career, Ric Flair has left a body of work that few could ever dream of attaining. His numerous classic promos, feuds and especially his matches have reached legendary status in the pantheon of wrestling. Flair has participated in many five-star matches with the likes of Sting, Barry Windham, Terry Funk and especially Ricky Steamboat. He was one of the first “workers” in wrestling and helped evolve it from the slow paced bouts of yore to the fast-paced, action-packed product of today. Flair’s work ethic is inspiring: he worked with a passion and a drive that few have matched.

2. His Influence on Others: The influence of Flair on many wrestlers is obvious. He was the child-hood favorite of many of today’s top stars, most notably Shawn Michaels and Triple H. He popularized the pacing of such workers as Chris Benoit and Eddie Guerrero. His flamboyance has been imitated by men like The Rock and Edge. Every smart mark that gives out star-ratings owes a thank you to Ric. He made wrestling what it is today…he is the greatest “wrestler” to ever live.

3. His Longevity: Ric Flair had his first match in 1972 and his last match in 2008. That’s a very long career. He is fifty-nine years old. Age had taken a toll on Flair’s workrate by the twenty-first century. But still he was popular. My personal favorite Ric Flair moment was when he won the Intercontinental Championship from Carlito at Unforgiven 2005. I was there live to see it, and it was the only time I got to see Ric Flair live and in person. It wasn’t the best match of the night but it left the biggest impression on me. The fact that this man who is old enough to be my grandfather is able to captivate my imagination while no longer being the great worker he once was is nothing short of astounding.

Alas, all things must come to an end. And at Wrestlemania XXIV, Ric Flair’s career came to an end.

To Be The Man, You Gotta Beat THE MAN!

This is one of Ric Flair’s greatest catchphrases. Over his career, Flair has been “The Man” in wrestling. He was the very best thoughout the entire eighties as well as much of the nineties. But by the twenty-first century, Ric was no longer “The Man”. His body would not allow him to have the classic performances he was capable of night-in and night-out. Granted, there were nights that Ric was “The Man”, but they were few and far between. Heading into Wrestlemania XXIV, many critics were skeptical. They sad that Flair was too old, too worn down, that he should have retired ten years earlier, and that Shawn Michaels would have to carry him in order for the match to be any good. Listening to all the negativity, and knowing that this would be Ric’s last match made it very difficult to look forward to this match.

But at Wrestlemania, Ric Flair was “THE MAN”. One last time, Flair was the best wrestler in the world. He wrestled as a man twenty years younger, pulling out moves we hadn’t seen in years. He proved that he did not need to be carried and was still capable of putting on a classic match. Shawn Michaels was there every step of the way. At Wrestlemania, HBK steps up his game. He becomes “The Showstopper” in much the same way that Ric Flair becomes “The Man.” And when Shawn beat Naitch, Flair could retire in peace, knowing that he had just had one last five-star classic.

There are critics of this match, but I have no qualms about giving the full rating. Sometimes a match isn’t about flawless execution of catch-as-catch can wrestling, although this was pretty close. Sometimes it’s not about what the fans want. People have complained that Flair should have bled, or cheated more, or won the match, or retired years ago. But this match wasn’t about us. It was about RIC FLAIR. And the only person who knew what Ric Flair should have done is Ric Flair. This wasn’t about what we wanted from Ric Flair, it was about what Ric Flair wanted for Ric Flair. We were just lucky enough to have the privilage and the honor of seeing it. I am certainly not going to point out errors.

Why am I still talking?

Most of the writers on this site have tried to speak on Flair’s career and his legacy in a way that covers it all. Unfortunately, we are mere men, and nothing we say really does justice to Ric’s legacy. I realized this when my reading my first draft of this column and seeing how I rambled on for around thirty paragraphs on Flair’s legacy without saying anything of major worth. I want to talk about Flair, but I can’t pay proper tribute with my words. I just can’t quite capture lightning in a bottle like I want to.

So I’m going to do something right now that is hard for me to do. Especially since it’s my first column.

I’m going to shut up.

It’s time for me to stop trying to convince you of how great Ric Flair is. Actions speak louder than words, and Ric Flair’s actions in this match provide more evidence of his greatness than any of my thoughts. So it’s time for me to stop talking, and let Ric’s ring work do the talking. So let’s take a look at his greatest match with Ricky Steamboat in 1989.

WCW Championship Match: “Nature Boy” Ric Flair vs. Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat (C)-Wrestle War, 5/7/89, Nashville, TN

I think I should give you a history lesson first. These two had already had two televised championship matches in 1989, both of which were rated five-stars. In the first one, Steamboat won the championship from Flair. The second one was a fifty-five minute two-out-of three falls match where Steamboat made Flair tap out to the double chickenwing, which plays a large role in the psychology of this match. There are three judges for this match: Lou Thesz, Pat O’Connor, and Terry Funk. In the event of a draw, they will decide the winner.

This review will be a shortened version. If you want to read a detailed version of this, I will provide it on my review of the Ultimate Ric Flair Collection. Dragon hits an armdrag early. They do a quick rope run sequence and Steamboat works on the arm with a hip block takeover and an armdrag into an armbar. They slap each other and Ricky gets the better of that. Flair begs off and he is really tentative to lock up with Steamboat. Flair chops Dragon and they do their patented chop war and Steamboat hits a back body drop and Flair takes a powder. The story here is that Ric has been beaten twice by the Dragon and is nervous about wrestling him.

Naitch grabs a headlock and Steamboat counters to win a test of strength. He works an armbar and has found his focus. He works the arm for a while. Ricky is awesome at working a body part because he doesn’t just rest in the holds. He’s always doing something. Flair escapes and Dragon hits another armdrag into an armbar. Steamboat’s armdrag is as perfect a move as any in wrestling. “You keep your mouth shut!”-Ric to the fans. Flair tries to escape Dragon but gets outwrestled at every turn. Ricky stays focused on the arm. Flair gets out of an armbar with chops but gets caught again. He just can’t gain any momentum.

Dragon works the arm and Flair resorts to pulling hair to escape. He hits a series of forearms to gain a temporary advantage. He continues to sell the arm while working over the Dragon with strikes. Naitch has had to resort to brawling instead of wrestling but even then Steamboat wins with chops. FLAIR FLOP! Ricky continues to work the arm including a bridging hammerlock. Flair counters by lifting him and dropping him on the top rope. He tries a sneak attack but Dragon sees it coming. He hits a hip block takeover and a dropkick that sends Flair to the outside at 10 minutes in.

Dragon wants to go outside while Flair takes his time getting back in. Ric hits a few kicks but runs into another armdrag. Steamboat keeps working at the arm and Flair sells the holds like they could make him tap out. Flair gets a hope spot with a hip block takeover but takes too long to follow up and misses an elbow drop. That was clever of Naitch to miss a move that further injures the arm. Flair works over the Dragon with strikes. Steamboat is a great seller. Dragon is getting frustrated by Flair “fighting” instead of “wrestling”. Naitch rakes the eyes and throws Ricky through the ropes but Dragon shows determination and works him over with chops in the mounted position. Flair does his corner flip spot. Dragon hits the ropes and Flair uses his momentum to send Steamboat to the floor.

Flair is able to work Dragon over on the outside, but it turns into another chop war, which Steamboat wins. He chases Naitch back into the ring and hits a springboard brain chop. Flair cannot keep any of his momentum. Steamboat loses his focus after being frustrated with Flair’s cheating and works Flair over with a facebuster. Flair does another corner flip and runs into a clothesline on the apron. Dragon goes back to the armwork, but Ric is starting to get to him. FINALLY Flair is able to turn the tide when Ricky makes a mistake and misses a crossbody that sends him to the floor.

Flair works Dragon over and hits his running knee drop and chops. Steamboat continues to fight back so Flair chokes him and uses punches to his advantage. Flair gets a back suplex for a series of near-falls. This match has gone past 20 minutes but you wouldn’t know it by watching this. Flair does another knee drop and “Woo!” He’s getting confidant for the first time in the match. Naitch hits a butterfly suplex for another 2. Now he’s getting frustrated that his trademark stuff isn’t finishing the Dragon. Flair and referee Tommy Young get into a battle of words. Flair drops Dragon throat-first onto the top rope and chokes him with his knee. Ricky starts to get momentum so Naitch pulls him out and hits a vertical suplex on the floor.

Ricky counters a suplex with an O’Connor Roll for 2. Flair hits a crossbody that sends both men over the top in an awesome spot. That’s the only time I can recall seeing that spot. Flair unfortunately kills all his momentum by heading up top and the inevitable happens. Dragon essentially hulks up and he works Flair over with chops and a back body drop. Flair begs off and tries another suplex but Ricky counters it with a schoolboy for 2. Naitch tries a suplex but Steamboat counters to a SUPERPLEX! Dragon decides it’s time for the Double Chicken-Wing, which he’s been building to all match but Flair gets the ropes. Steamboat hits a brain chop off of the top rope. He doesn’t cover which might have cost him.

Dragon goes up top but Ric falls on the ropes and Steamboat falls to the outside and has hurt his leg. Flair starts working it over and suplexes Ricky back into the ring. Naitch continues to work on the leg and FIGURE-FOUR LEGLOCK! They fight in the hold and 30 minutes go by. Dragon manages to get the ropes. Jim Ross on commentary puts over how the NWA is a wrestling company. Flair grabs a single leg, but Ricky counters with an ENZIGURI! He limps around and tries a scoop slam but Flair catches his hurt leg and rolls him up for 3 at 31:30! Ric Flair becomes a six-time world champion, which sounds so weird in this day and age.

My Match Analysis: This match is absolutely stellar. The story of Dragon outwrestling Naitch and forcing him to brawl and cheat, only to get frustrated at Flair cheating and make mistakes is a great one. Dragon’s work of the arm is excellant, and he stays focused on it for most of the match. The rare times where he loses his focus are to show his frustration with Slick Ric. Flair got to get all of his trademark offense in, and both men executed everything at very high level. These two have perfect chemistry, and they don’t botch anything, so the match is pretty much perfect as a result. I loved how the legwork played into the finish, but it was subtle enough that some may have missed it. I’ll go on a limb and say this is the best American match ever, and wouldn’t complain if someone said it was the best ever, period. *****

Diamonds Are Forever

So this completes my look at the legacy of Ric Flair. I just want to take this moment to say thank you to Ric for all of the great memories I have of him. I plan on doing a review of the Ultimate Ric Flair Collection DVD Set in the near future as a celebration of his career, if you want to check that out.

In closing: “Diamonds are forever, and so is Ric Flair.”

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!