[2000-03-20-WCW-Nitro] Ric Flair vs Sting

[Loss]

They do their standard match, but in about five minutes. Flair is working so hard and Sting looks so bored. Quite the contrast. Luger runs in to attack Sting but Sting fends him off on his own. The numbers catch up to him in the post-match. More heat for all of this than anything in a long time. Vampiro (still so weird) makes the save to chase Flair and Luger away.

[soup23]

Maybe Nikita can come in for Thunder so Flair can have all his greatest hits matches tour. Here we get the bite sized version of him vs. Sting in what was probably the 200th time they wrestled each other. Not a lot of juice from Stinger in this match and Flair vs Sting has always portrayed the worst aspects for Ric. The finish was predictable with Luger running down and continuing the attack. The nostalgia act continues. *1/4

[GSR]

Each gets the better of a shoulder tackle, Sting with a leapfrog and a press slam. Whip to the corner and Flair just about manages his flip, but it looks like it’s in slow motion. Clothesline on the apron and Flair falls to the outside where he’s joined by Sting. Poke to the eyes, Flair then whips Sting into the guardrail but he no sells it and clotheslines the Naitch who takes a bump on the arena floor. Back inside and Sting with a hip toss and a dropkick. He goes for a running bodyblock, however Flair ducks out the way and he goes flying into the top rope. Kick to the groin low blow from the ‘dirtiest player in the game’. He backs Sting into the corner but his chops don’t have the desired effect. Sting continues to no sell Flair’s offense and a second press slam. Another eye poke (which seems to be the only move that works for the Naitch!), he heads up top, but of course Sting slams him to the canvas. A pair of clotheslines and here’s Lex Luger for the DQ. Sting runs roughshot over Team Package with more clotheslines and ‘Stinger splashes’ for both. Scorpion deathlock on Flair and apparently Charles Robinson never DQ’d Flair for outside interference as he’s asking him if he gives up (Little Naitch showing his bias early!). Luger pulls Robinson from the ring and now the bell rings, with no-one (including the commentators) any the wiser as to whether this was a DQ or Ric submitted. Team Package double team Sting after the match until Vampiro makes the save.

 

Flair doesn’t half look like a chump in some of these TV matches. Far too much of his offense is no sold and the only things that seem to have any effect on his opponents are eye pokes and low blows. An easy five minute watch but no new ground is broken when it comes to these two. Not sure why Charles Robinson doesn’t DQ Flair when Luger interfered and the finish was unclear as to what went on.