Geek Soap Box

In ranking the greatest pro wrestling matches of all time, it is entirely possible that five of the top ten would involve contests between legendary “Nature Boy” Ric Flair and his greatest nemesis, Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat.

The two began their decades-long feud back in the 1970s, over the NWA Television Championship. From there, the stakes only increased, and twice the two squared off in lengthy programs for the NWA/WCW World Heavyweight Championship, in 1989 and 1994.

It’s evident from any of these matches just why Flair and Steamboat are considered among the greats. Both not only display a vast array of offensive tactics — from traditional mat grappling to more flashy power and aerial maneuvers — but both could “sell” on defense like no others. When superplexed off of the top rope, as a viewer you can feel those Flair screams and easily envision the pain that would be coursing through his neck and back. It’s that detail and intricacy in every detail that today’s product sorely lacks. These matches were championship matches, the stakes were as high as they could be, and you lived and died with every moment.

This particular match is perhaps the swan song of the Flair/Steamboat battles, an encounter from 1994 on the television program WCW Saturday Night in Atlanta, GA. Previously, the two had battled to a virtual stalemate at the Spring Stampede supercard, and as a result the title was held up for the rematch. Until its rebirth on WWE 24/7, this match proved nearly impossible to find and was never aired again after it’s broadcast.

What is particularly telling is that, at 40 minutes, it’s not even among the best matches these two had by any means, but it’s still light-years above anything anyone else was doing. The ending in particular was rather odd, a sort of surprise/miscue shot to the gut that eventually earns Flair his 12th title reign. Was it scripted? Planned? A botched spot? It’s a head-scratcher of a resolution, but in some ways the unanticipated nature of how it comes about adds yet another dose of sports reality to a legendary performance.

Here’s part one, of four, you can navigate to the rest from there.