Hey Yo Stud Muffins & Foxy Ladies,
Pro Wrestling Love vol. 16:
The Best of World Championship Wrestling 1991-1994
Objective: Break up the Greatest Match Ever Project
(hosted at gwe.freeforums.project.net) into more manageable chunks to help me
build my Top 100 List for the project.
Motivation:
Contribute to the discussion around these matches to enrich my own
understanding of pro wrestling and give a fresh perspective for old matches and
even hopefully discover great pro wrestling matches that have been hidden by
the sands of time.
Subject: This sixteenth
volume of Pro Wrestling Love begins the Top 12 countdown of the best matches to
take place in World Championship Wrestling from 1991-1994. Originally, I wanted
to go from July of 1991 to July of 1994. July of 1991 is when Ric Flair the
most important, biggest star of Jim Crockett Promotions and WCW left for the
WWF after a dispute with Jim Herd and management. July of 1994 is when Hulk
Hogan debuted in WCW. Both are landmark events in WCW history and bookend what
I consider the classic Turner era of WCW. The year 1989 still feels very
Crockett. With Flair’s departure, it really feels like a fresh promotion. The
returns of Rick Rude and Ricky Steamboat in November of 1991 are the shot in
the arm for WCW to lead it to its best in-ring year in 1992. Of course, the
debut of Hulk Hogan changes the complexion of WCW forever shedding its Southern
roots and becoming a national promotion. For ease, I chose to use the calendar
years of 1991-1994.
You can revisit past Pro Wrestling Love Volumes at
ridingspacemountain.blogspot.com. You can check out the full version of these
reviews in ProWrestlingOnly.com by going to the forums and finding the folders
associated with the date of the match.
Contact Info: @superstarsleeze
on Twitter, Instagram & ProWrestlingOnly.com.
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| It wasnt just the matches that were red hot in WCW...MISSY WOOOOOOOOO |
Honorable Mentions
So many…I love this era…so here we go…
Vader vs The Boss -
WCW Spring Stampede 1994
My favorite style of wrestling is big time, hoss fighting.
You know two big uglies throwing each other around. This match epitomizes my
favorite style.
Cactus Jack vs
"Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff - WCW SuperBrawl III Street Fight
A very underrated brawl on a very underrated show. The year
1993 tends to get written off for WCW but there are plenty of gems and this one
of them.
WCW World Champion Ric Flair vs Brian Pillman - WCW Saturday Night 4/13/91
Barry Windham vs Brian Pillman - WCW SuperBrawl I Taped Fist
Before WCW shot Brian Pillman to Hell with the Yellow Dog (though I do contend the angle was good the finish just sucked), he was embroiled in a hot feud with Barry Windham & the Horsemen coming out of Wargames in February. He had a ton of great TV matches with Barry in the spring of 91 centered around his injured shoulder it all came to a head in a brutal taped fist match at SuperBrawl I that is criminally short. Also during that time, Pillman had a great TV match with Windham's Horsemen buddy, Ric Flair that featured Flair in full cheating heel mode and I highly recommend to watch both matches.
NWA World Heavyweight
Champion Barry Windham vs Steve Regal
WCW Worldwide 4/17/93
NWA World Heavyweight
Champion Barry Windham vs 2 Cold Scorpio
WCW Clash of the Champions XXIII
Barry Windham was in a scary groove at this point of his
career. It is so sad that a knee injury in July of 93 basically ruined the rest
of his career. This was Windham fulfilling the promise he showed in 1988 as Ric
Flair’s heir as a potential top heel champion.
WCW World Tag Team
Champions Hollywood Blonds vs 2 Cold Scorpio & Marcus Alexander Bagwell
-WCW Worldwide 5/8/93
The Hollywood Blonds are the stuff of legend in internet
circles and this is their best match together.
WCW US Champion Sting
vs Cactus Jack - WCW Power Hour 11/23/91
WCW World Heavyweight
Champion Sting vs Cactus Jack - WCW Beach Blast 1992
The latter match is pretty famous for being Cactus’ first
big break in WCW. The former is a great under the radar brawl that I highly
recommend.
WCW World Heavyweight
Champion Vader vs Cactus Jack - WCW Saturday Night 4/17/93
WCW World Heavyweight
Champion Vader vs Cactus Jack - WCW Saturday Night 4/24/93
Amazingly brutal series of matches besides these two
behemoths. It is the ultimate sadist in Vader and the ultimate masochist in
Cactus Jack.
Unified World Tag
Team Champions Miracle Violence Connection vs
Barry Windham & Dustin Rhodes
- WCW Saturday Night 10/03/92
Miracle Violence
Connection vs The Steiner Brothers - WCW Clash of Champions XIX
The Miracle Violence Connection of Dr. Death Steve Williams
& Terry Gordy have become controversial in wrestling criticism. Some see
them as only Bill Watts’ boys and not deserving of their push that they just
had dry matches. I, among others, see their run as not a smashing success, but
one that did deliver some great power matches.
Vader vs Dustin
Rhodes - WCW Saturday Night 11/21/92
Vader vs Dustin
Rhodes - WCW Clash of the Champions XXIX
Two wrestlers that we don’t think of having incredible
chemistry with each other, but these two matched up so well. I really love that
Clash match and it pains me that it did not make the Top 12. Definitely one of
the last matches out.
Arn Anderson w/Paul
E. Dangerously vs Dustin Rhodes - WCW Saturday Night 01/04/92
WCW World TV Champion
Barry Windham vs Arn Anderson - WCW Saturday Night 6/6/92
Two great Arn Anderson matches against long, lean blonds
here that feature great double limb psychology. Highly recommend both as
showcases of traditional textbook wrestling done right.
WCW World TV Champion
Ricky Steamboat vs Steven Regal - WCW Fall Brawl 1993
WCW World TV Champion
Lord Steven Regal vs Larry Zbyszko - Saturday Night 5/28/94
Steven Regal is one of the great all-time great midcard
wrestlers in history. Always having interesting, unique match that drip with
struggle. The Regal vs Zbyszko feud is one of those semi-famous feuds that
holds up. The Fall Brawl 1993 match against Steamboat is a total under the
radar gem that has been lost to the sands of the time.
Dangerous Alliance
(Rick Rude, Arn Anderson, Bobby Eaton & Larry Zbyszko) vs WCW (Sting, Ricky
Steamboat, Barry Windham & Dustin Rhodes) - WCW Saturday Night 2/22/92
Dangerous Alliance
(Arn Anderson, Bobby Eaton & Larry Zbyszko) vs
Ricky Steamboat, Dustin
Rhodes & Nikita Koloff - WCW Saturday Night 5/23/92
The Dangerous Alliance of Rick Rude, Steve Austin, Arn
Anderson, Bobby Eaton & Larry Zbyszko is THE reason why the first half of
1992 was such an amazing time for WCW. Pretty much every week there was a six
man or eight man tag that just rocks and is ton of fun. The match from May is
absolute last match out, it is a great babyface blowout match that just rocks.
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| LONG LIVE THE NATURE BOY! |
#12. WCW World Tag Team Champions The Nasty Boys vs Cactus Jack & Maxx Payne
Spring Stampede 1994
There has been a movement on the internet I have noticed that prefer the Slamboree 94 match where Kevin Sullivan replaces Maxx Payne and while I love that match too it cant compare with the original. At this time, there was an undercurrent on the independent scene of hardcore/garbage wrestling that utilized a lot of weapons/plunder in the matches. Cactus, who was making his mark by taking death-defying bumps, had his finger on the pulse of this scene that was surging in both Japan and America. This was the first match of this genre to take place on a national stage. Brawls and street fights were not uncommon at all in the 1980s, but they were usually hate-filled match that focused on punching and blood. These matches of the 90s shifted more towards using a variety of wrestling. Memphis wrestling clearly had an influence here, but again the emphasis here was on the weapons rather than hate and blood. In today's WWE landscape, most gimmick matches are just glorified weapons matches. It all begins here. The difference is the style had yet to become a self-parody and this match is legitimately great.
Incredible! Violent, short but sweet. ECW was just getting in their groove but this was better than any ECW garbage match I can think of. Mayhem and organic.
As good as having two refs was, they needed more cameras in place for the finish. I think the finish was hurt by the fact that Cactus's wicked "back of the head to the concrete" bump felt totally upstaged by Payne/Knobs (they were in the foreground) even though that was the bump that directly led to the finish. At Superbrawl IV, the central hook of the match was that exact bump and it really got played up to max effect.
Probably my favorite weapons-laden, tour of the arena matches. I usually hate those type of matches because of the annoying guide your opponent to a spot transition. This one just felt organic and violent. American wrestling could use one of these right now. Saggs blasting everyone with chairs. The concession stand portion was great, but the finish was incredible. The shovel shot to Cactus head before he could cover was disgusting and that bump off the ramp on the back of his head to concrete always gets an oh my fucking God from me. Sags mercy killing shovel shot to Cactus head is excessive but fits the violence of the match.
I do not think anyone has mentioned this so I think this definitely is one of the all time great Tony Schiavone quotes"
"I dont think that shirt even fits him!" - when Payne grabs a Nasty Boys shirt from the merch stand and chokes Knobs with it.
Total garbage spotfest! Loved every minute! ****1/2
#11. WCW World Light Heavyweight Champion Jushin "Thunder" Liger vs Brian Pillman SuperBrawl II
America's first taste of international junior heavyweight style that would become so influential. It would be Rey Mysterio & the Luchadores that would cement the position of cruiserweight/junior heavyweight wrestling in America forever. Now it is hard to even differentiate heavyweight and junior heavyweight wrestling because so many heavyweights have incorporated the junior heavyweights and so many junior heavyweights (AJ Styles, Daniel Bryan etc...) are pushed as heavyweight main eventers. It all begins here so not just a great match, but an important match.
I have this match on the Brian Pillman DVD set and have always thought it was great, but at the time they were editing out Jesse's commentary. I have to say I was really impressed with The Body and how much he put over Liger. Dusty, God bless him, I think really did like the luchadores, but just did not take them seriously. The less said about Heenan and the Luchadores the better. Here, Jesse was putting over how intimidating Liger looked, how great he was both on the mat & the air, and how he had earned the respect of the crowd and that the USA chants were just out of reflexive patriotism. I used to think it was a close call between Jesse and Heenan, but the more and more I watch the more it is becoming a no contest in favor of The Body.
Watching the match this time around, it definitely came off more as an exhibition and showcase of Liger and Pillman's talents as athletic wrestlers. I would not call this an out and out spotfest because the transitions were still pretty tight, but it was clear that story was to WOW. After the early establishment that they were equals, I did like that Pillman was wrestling his usual rugged style (dropkick to the outside, chops, matwork) as a contrast to Liger's moonsault and back handspring (nice pop for that one). It was weird they did not payoff the Liger surfboard attempts. It is always great when an opponent has something scouted and give maximum effort to avoid it, but I thought after wearing him down more that we would get the surfboard for a good nearfall type spot. There were some parts of the match that I did find too back and forth. Like Pillman hitting a nasty back drop driver and then pretty much immediately taking heat to the knee. I thought Pillman had been working pretty effectively as the subtle heel so maybe this was to reestablish him as the babyface, which seemed to work because in the figure-4 was when the U-S-A chants started. After the figure-4, Pillman starts to mount a comeback, but Liger drops him over to the floor and heads to the top. It was cool to watch the crowd all stand and be stunned by the somersault from the top to the floor. This is an example of why I would not say this was a total spotfest at this point they has demonstrated that Liger is a high-flyer so they want to showcase Pillman in that role so they have an epic struggle over a suplex back into the ring and ends up with Pillman running Liger's head into the turnbuckle leaving him prone to Air Pillman. Sure, Pillman blows off the legwork, but hey at least he did not just hit Air Pillman they actually bothered working a transition. Now Pillman hits a suplex over the top rope to the floor, which I always mark out for because it is so rare and then a cross body from the top to the floor. Two can play at that game, Mr. Liger. Here again is where it gets a little spotty with Pillman taking signature chin bump on the railing (always nasty), but then meeting Liger with a dropkick (pitch perfect) as he came off the top.
Too often you will only see wrestlers establish they are equals by going for the same moves early on, but I like they continued that thread later into the match with both going for dropkicks and spinning wheel kicks. It felt like you were watching the two of the best in their respective styles. They do a really hot Japanese-style finish stretch with a ton of bombs and nearfalls that is very reminiscent of the Pillman/Badd finish stretch at Fall Brawl '95. I am not going to do a laundry list of moves as it much better to watch it yourself, but I will give them praise for their urgency and struggle they gave these spots. Also shout out to Liger for taking that super front suplex hard on his stomach. The build to the superplex was well-done and when it did not get Liger the fall, it got a nice pop. Liger going for the kill with the diving headbutt, but crashing and burning was an excellent finish. You live by the sword, you die by the sword. I am surprised my man, Jesse The Body did not bust out that cliche because that was a perfect way to sum up the finish. ****1/2
#10. Four Horsemen (Ric Flair, Barry Windham, Larry Zbyszko, Sid Vicious) vs
Sting's Squadron (Sting, Brian Pillman, Steiner Brothers) - Wrestlewar '91 WARGAMES
A very underrated Wargames that is seemingly only remembered for Sid Vicious nearly killing Brian Pillman twice on two wildly dangerous powerbombs, but this is a barnburner. The opening five minutes are the best opening five minutes in Wargames history. Brian Pillman is a blood thirty lunatic as he wants to rip Barry Windham limb from limb. This sets the tone for the whole match. It is forgotten about because 1991 WCW feels so irrelevant and so cold.
Watched this match last night and those first five minutes blew me away moreso than any watch I had had before. From the beginning, when the visibly injured Pillman breaks from the pack to exact revenge from the Horsemen. I love how commentary puts that and all things Pillman over. I like how Pillman mixed athletic and violent spots to display both sides of his character. Sometimes, when people grab onto the ceiling of the cage and try to do a spot it comes off artificial. This looked Pillman was looking for that extra leverage to fuck up Barry Windham. Once Pillman busted Windham out, when he had Windham's blood smeared on his mouth that is one of the most feral, barbaric things you will ever see in a wrestling ring. Pillman was a man possessed in that segment. I loved Barry Windham's crazy out of control bump over the top rope of both rings into the next ring. Windham was a next level athlete.
Flair is in like a wild man and even with his mushroom cut can still go toe to toe with Pillman in a chopfest. Flair begs off and now finally Big, Bloodied Barry has recovered enough to break Pillman's momentum. Together the Horsemen friggin chuck Pillman as hard they can shoulder first into the cage. I said "Holy Shit!" audibly seeing that. That was such a great spot. Flair goes over and gives the Sting team a big 'ol hip thrust. I love it! Barry hoists Pillman onto his shoulder and drives him his shoulder into the cage. Then they throw Pillman across into the other ring (a wicked bump, similar to Big Barry's earlier) in order to get him away from Sting's door. Holy shit, that's some sweet strategy. I know just realized Pillman did the same thing to Windham in the first segment. Even in the heat of the battle, these wrestlers are the ultimate tacticians. Both Horsemen meet Sting at the door, but Sting is hopped on on that sweet Phoenix noise!?!?!?!?! He hits a double clothesline to a big pop. It is bulldogs for everyone. Windham is resorting to eye-rakes to everyone, but Sting can't be denied. Larry Z in is so Sting just flies over both rings and clobbers Larry Z.
It settles into a blur of violence until the wicked ending. The Steiners brought a lot of great energy while Sid brought a lot of awkward spot calling and stilted moments. Sid single-handlely knocks this out of classic status for me. I say that as one of the biggest Sid's fans of all time, but I gotta call a spade a spade. They hit a great crowd-pleasing spot in the form of a quadruple figure-4 spot. I like violence as much as next wrestling fan, but I thought the violence at the beginning of this match was a lot more noteworthy than the middle of the match. I thought it was interesting that Rick Steiner was the one that busted Flair open. I thought those honors would have gone to the Stinger. I swear everytime the camera was on Sid he was calling a spot. Ugh. I actually like how Larry Z threw Rick Steiner into the cage hard, but Steiner no-sold because "Muthafucka, I got no brains." Scotty Steiner is the bundle of energy you expect great Steinerline on Sid. Stinger Splash by Sting and locks the Scorpion Deathlock onto Flair. I agree that this some of the best Flair/Sting segments ever.
I never been a big fan of the military press into the roof spot as it does not looks like it hurts. I LOVE that while a bunch of action is going on you can hear Larry Z's screams of agony in the background. Wargames is friggin' awesome. Sid gets a hold of Pillman and throws him up into the ceiling. Then he nearly kills Pillman dead with the first powerbomb and then does another one. El Gigante, the friendly giant, is out to surrender for his unconscious amigo. I know that powerbomb was unsafe, but goddamn it looked brutal.
This is an excellent violent affair. That maybe the best opening 10 minutes in Wargames history. Pillman is an absolute beast throughout the match and the best violent performance of his career. I would say this the WCW match of the year over the Clash Tag that features the return of Dragon. I have to think long and hard if it is better than '94 Wargames match. I would say they are pretty even. '94 may win out because there is more emotion with Dusty & Dustin vs the Stud Stable. Still is a very breezy and bloody match. ****1/2
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| When you are a walk-behinder, the view never changes...the view never changes... |
#9. Dusty Rhodes, Dustin Rhodes, & Nasty Boys vs Stud Stable (Terry Funk, Arn Anderson, Bunkhouse Buck, Col. Robert Parker) - WCW Fall Brawl '94 WARGAMES
The last hurrah of old school, Southern WCW before the Hulk Hogan transformation completely sets in. Throughout 1994, Col. Robert Parker had assembled a Stud Stable of Dusty Rhodes' enemies throughout the decades and set about to exact revenge on his son Dustin Rhodes. You had his archrival from the '70s in Florida in Terry Funk. Parker & Buck (aka Jimmy Golden) were from Alabama/East Tennessee and I am sure had crossed paths with the American Dream. After years of being beaten by Dusty, they had their eyes locked on his son and taking out their anger on him. Dustin looked for help from an unlikely source in Arn Anderson and to the shock of no one Arn Anderson turned on young Dustin and joined Dusty's enemies as of course Arn was a principle Dusty enemy of the 80s as a part of the Four Horsemen. This causes Dusty to get back in the saddle and deliver the GREATEST promo of all time. Words cant do it justice. Watch the promo where Dusty tells his son, Dustin that he wants to join him in this fight. It is a must see before you watch this match.
Banner fucking year for the Nasty Boys! Jerry Saggs, brother in-law of Dusty (just found out that today and am still floored), is an total animal. The man just loves dishing out pain. The use of cowboy boots and belts was great to ratchet up the heat and intensity in lieu of blood. Dustin & Arn it was the natural pairing. Arn trying to psych Dustin out and get him to his door luring him in only to have his head rammed into the steel cage. Dustin flying across the ring to deck The Enforcer. Can you feel it? Because I can! Hot Damn! This is not Pillman against Windham in Wargames 91, but it is pretty damn good. Arn does take over with a DDT and then gets a crab as Bunkhouse Buck comes in and he is actually pretty energetic taking it to Dustin. Then Jerry Muthafuckin Saggs comes in. This sadist just starts chucking everybody into the cage and drops Buck like a bad habit with a piledriver. Funk had been bothering me in other bouts, but I loved him here. He is a rabid dog that cant wait to get in and he has his cowboy boot in his hand. He lunges at Dustin and obliterates him with the boot and then raking Dustin's face against the steel in front of Dusty is next level heel shit. Then there is the bump to end all bumps. Saggs the sadist and Funk the masochist get together in an unholy union where Saggs PILEDRIVES FUNK BETWEEN THE RINGS. Funk drops into the abyss and Saggs I think was so hurt he actually had trouble getting back to his feet due to the awkward landing. Muthafucka! The Tennessee Stud is pissing his pants that he has to come into the ring. I think Parker did the right thing to play up the chickenshit role rather than being the badass Tennessee Stud. Fans wanted to see the comeuppance against the coward who was going to beg for mercy. Once Fuller has an opening he kicks Dustin and then starts whipping everyone with a belt. I am loving the belt and the cowboy boots and all that shit. So Southern and so badass! Now there is the Dusty chant as the fans eagerly anticipate the entry of the American Dream, baby! Dusty hits the ring to a MASSIVE POP and shit is on! Everyone goes into the cage and eats the Bionic Elbow. Parker is cowering and Dusty slaps on the Figure-4. The Nasties splash and elbow drop Parker as Meng is violently shaking the cage, which adds a lot to the environment. Parker has not choice to give up. MENG seems to be more than a bodyguard for Parker as he is very distraught about his employer's well-being. I think he cares!
My one complaint is that the feud started as Dustin vs Stud Stable. In a lot of ways, this became about Dusty and the finish made Dusty look like the hero and Dustin was kinda in the background. I think they could have laid out a bit better to have Dustin take out Buck, AA and Funk in climatic fashion clearing the way for his father to get the win. I just hate seeing Dustin as an afterthought when this is really his feud. I did not feel like the payoff was really there. In terms of action this was awesome. Really entertaining, went by in a flash and just a ton of fun. Definite WCW match of the year contender. Hard pressed right now to determine if I like this Dustin/Buck, Flair/Steamboat or Nasties/Cactus& Payne more. Loaded year from WCW! ****1/2
#8. WCW World Tag Team Champion The Enforcers (Arn Anderson & Larry Zybszko) vs
Ricky Steamboat & Dustin Rhodes - Clash of the Champion XVII
WCW Match of the Year, 1991
Probably the best surprise tag partner angle of all time as Barry Windham had his hand crushed by the Enforcers in a car door at Halloween Havoc. A pitch perfect Southern Tag Team match here that should be studied by wrestlers and fans alike.
"He's just a man. He's just a man" - Arn Anderson after taking a Ricky Steamboat ass-kicking
One of the all-time great Southern tags and returns in pro wrestling history. After Flair's departure in July of 1991, it looked like WCW was on death's doorstep. It is amazing that just four months later, WCW was completely revitalized by the returns of Ricky Steamboat & Rick Rude. Here, The Enforcers had crushed Barry Windham's hand at Halloween Havoc and he was unable to compete. Thus Dustin got Steamboat as a replacement. The reaction of Arn Anderson is something to behold. His character work was amazing throughout this match. His freak out at the beginning, selling for the shine, the aforementioned quote and then asking for a timeout, all great shit. I loved the babyface shine. Thats how you capitalize on a return. Steamboat came out breathing fire. I loved how Arn and Larry Z were still attacking, but Steamboat was fighting through it all. The bumping & stooging by the Enforcers was top notch. I love how they finally gain the advantage. Larry Z runs his mouth and gets Steamboat back into the match. Then he slaps Steamboat and Larry Z heads for the hills. It was all a well-laid trap. In this game of cat and mouse, Steamboat gets caught exiting with a knee from Arm. Tony does a great job explaining how that may have looked helter skelter, but it was actually a well-thought out plan. As the ref is detain Dustin, the Enforcers consolidate their advantage with a double team. Anderson goes from coward to confident in a blink of the eye. Signaling that Dragon is done. Did I mention I love Arn Anderson. Great heat segment on Steamboat. Loved the ab stretch and Boston crab where they get that extra leverage. Good false tag before the real one. Real quick finish, Dustin cleans house and tags Steamboat back in crossbody for the win. They follow the Southern tag formula to a tee and it is great. Really inspired heel performance here and Dragon looked great on his return. Im a smidge lower on this than most. I thought they went home too fast. Dustin is barely in the match. I thought the front half was real next level whereas the back half was just textbook. Really great execution of the textbook, but still textbook. It just doesnt quite get to that tippy top level for me. I am thinking about Greatest Match Ever when I am writing this so thats why I am nitpicking. Regardless, this is a classic and something anybody who loves tag team wrestling should watch. The Dragon has returned to WCW let us rejoice and be glad! ****1/2
#7. WCW World Heavyweight Champion Vader vs Ric Flair - Starrcade 1993
A very polarizing match over the years and I dont know why. I dont see the argument against this match. The emotion of this match carries this to being one of the greatest, most memorable matches in the history of WCW. I think this is babyface Ric Flair at his best just so energetic and tenacious in this one.
How can you not get emotional watching this? The opening video package is amazing. Vader showing up in the Ribera Jacket saying we are going to have a party and he likes this kinda party was great. Flair being picked up by Okerlund in the limo was cool. "If there is no more Ric Flair, who will go Wooo?" - Fan to Flair in 1993, amazing. The world without Ric Flair is going to be a lot less fun. Vader is such a great brute. I love that double fist pump Ric Flair gives on the entrance way. He loves pro wrestling. Pro wrestling loves him.
I'll be honest this is more lopsided than I remember, but it is fine by me because Vader was in a ridiculous groove at the time point in his career. There may be no wrestler at working heat segments ever. That's a big claim, but his brutality is totally engrossing. You cant take your eyes off Vader destroying an opponent. You see tuffs of blond hair burst into the air with each massive blow. Flair taking it to Vader early was the wrong idea. Flair chops and Vader just shoves him. "You aren't man enough" Vader twists him into a Greco-Roman Knucklelock and beats the shit out of him. Flair is the king of verbal selling and the way he hollers in pain is great. Of course, what makes Vader a great heat segment worker is how he feeds for his babyface to get hope spots. Vader misses and eats the railing. The electricity when Flair chops and punches was amazing. Flair has great, great punches. We don't talk about that enough. Harley interrupts this comeback and Flair takes a wicked bump on the floor. Vader DESTROYS Flair. Huge superplex! Punches and forearms. Wicked clotheslines. He busts open Flair real good on a lariat to the mouth. Flair "You son of a bitch!" Flair bleeding from the mouth adds to this grittiness. The fact he is in way over his head against this unstoppable monster. Vader starts to give Flair more opening. A missed splash here and a missed splash there. Vader locks up Flair again and this time Flair goes to the eye. Then Flair just unloads with punches and CHOPS HIM IN THE FACE! Off comes the mask. Vader's face is cut up and red. Hell Yes! Flair goes for the leg. The crowd comes alive. You can hear the excitement in Tony's voice. Wraps the Grizzly Bear's leg around the post and then the chair to the knee. Vader tries to attack. Flair just starts beating the shit out of his face while Vader yells "Hit me! Hit me!" Flair crowns him with a chair. That is the one sequence I always remember. This comeback is positively electric. It is the ultimate fist pump. You want to know you are over? Pick up someone's foot and see a crowd lose their shit. Flair picks up Vader's foot to setup for the figure-4 and the crowd goes wild. Vader still has some fight in him. Missed Vaderbomb! Figure-4! This should have been the finish. I know Vader submitting might have hurt his image but damn it would have been great. Vader gets control again after he makes the ropes. MISSED VADERSAULT! Insane spot. Flair covers. Harley headbutts Vader. Fun spot, but not necessary. The finish sucks as Vader does get back up and then Flair tabletops for the win. Doesn't matter Flair wins and it is one of the loudest pops of all time.
Great performances by both wrestlers. Vader comes across as an unbeatable monster. Flair is selling like a champ and really does feel over his head. What I love about Flair's offense it is all chops and punches! He came to fight! This match comes across as a fight and Flair is fighting for his life! Vader is the king of the missed move and does a great job giving Flair openings and selling for Flair's molten hot comebacks. I actually really liked the finish stretch just not the finish. Big fight feel and a big fight that delivered. Long Live The Nature Boy! ****1/2
