The Four Horsemen is the oldest and most elite group in wrestling's history! If you've watched Monday Nitro on September 14, 1998, you've seen a part of Horsemen history. Perhaps the most emotional and greatest moment in wrestling television, here is the transcript of the Horsemen's reunion...
[J.J. Dillion enters ring]
J.J. Dillion: I would like to ask the enforcer Arn Anderson to come to the ring!
[Arn Anderson enters ring]
J.J. Dillion: I had a private conversation with you since you and I last appeared publicly in a ring such as this. And I feel that I owe it ... I owe to you, I owe it to all these great fans, and I owe it to myself ... To share with them publicly what I said to you, privately. And that is the fact that I owe you an apology for the things that I said to you. But my intensions were good. I mean't well. Quite frankly, a friend doesn't say to another friend the things I said to you, or put you in the position that I put you into. And for that, I owe you an apology and I hope that you will accept my forgiveness.
Arn Anderson: Can you smell it, J.J.? Take a breath, can you smell it? When 15,000 people blow a roof off a place, that's what pop smells like. Take a bow! What you said to me is what all those people have been saying to me for a year and a half -- and only a true fan would say that. They said, "Arn Anderson, stand up and be a man -- like you've always been!" And I couldn't hear those words, because something was in the way. And I'm going to start at the beginning, because you have to start at the beginning ... because tonight is a new beginning for The Four Horsemen. [Tony Schiavone: Oh Yeah ... Bobby Heenan: What could that mean?] And when I was a kid like all kids, people asked you, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" There was no gray area for me. Always knew I wanted to be a wrestler. And when that finally happened to me, it was the proudest day of my life. And then in 1986, I started coming to the these towns -- just like Greenville, South Carolina -- as a Horsemen. And my life changed forever. And the doors that opened for me, I had never dreamed of. And wrestling the greatest wrestlers in the world -- in a town like this and all across this country -- showed me who I was. And everyday that I walk up since then, I tried to up-hold the standards, that we -- you and I and the rest of us -- set for ourselves. About a year and a half ago, I layed down on an operating table, and when I woke up, Arn Anderson -- the wrestler -- was dead. And I thought to myself, "How could I be a Horsemen if I couldn't be a wrestler?" Well, the fact is, I questioned my mind. [Crowd cheers "We Want Flair"] Trust me, everybody is going to get it -- what they want tonight ... Bischoff, Eric Bischoff ... And when I thought I could no longer be a Horsemen, Chris Benoit came to me first. And he said, "This could all happen." And with that prelude, I would like to bring the other three Horsemen down right now. [Bobby Heenan: This is history]. Steve "Mongo" McMichael, come on down!
[Steve McMichael enters ring]
[Tony Schiavone: What a wonderful night!]
Arn Anderson: Chris Benoit, come on down!
[Chris Benoit enters ring]
[Bobby Heenan: What excitement, huh? ... Tony Schiavone: I'll let you speak for yourself here.]
Arn Anderson: Dean Malenko, come on down!
[Dean Malenko enters ring]
Arn Anderson: [McMichael, Benoit, Malenko, and Dillion look upon Anderson] Now, before we go any further, Chris Benoit, you got this thing rolling, and I'm going to go on record saying, that if there's a finer wrestler in all land than you, I don't know who it is. Your intensity the first time I saw you wrestle, made you something special. You are something special in my eyes. You knew what it was to be a Horsemen. You will carry that tradition way past the year 2000. "Mongo" McMichael, you're a hard-headed. A lot of times, you're hard to be around. But the fact is, in my eyes, you're all-man. You're surving all pro. And when this is all and done, if I've got anything to say about it, you will mean to this sport what you meant to the sport of football. Now Dean Malenko, I've been out here yacking for the last 10 years about what it meant to be a Horsemen -- work ethic. Respect for the buisness, respect for each other ... respect for the people that came before us. And while I was yacking the last year, and the last couple of months, you were out there fighting for the rights of The Four Horsemen. You exemplify exactly what a Horsemen has always meant -- over achievement. Being the very best you could be, each and every day of your life, whether you were sick, or hurt, or whatever the case maybe. And it makes me proud. Now, and I'm going to say it one more time. I said, that you didn't get it -- well, I didn't get it. Because if there was ever a Horsemen, it makes me a little misty eyed, and real proud to call you this day ... The finest thing I can call you this day -- that's a Horsemen. Ladies and gentleman, for the year 2000, we're going to do exactly what all of you people across this nation have asked us. "Arn Anderson, bring back the Horsemen." And I feel it fair to tell you, I'm not going to be responsible for what hits next. Because, we don't wear white hats. We are not nice guys. And I can tell you this -- heads are going to roll! So, I've said it. Be careful for what you wish for, because now, you have it....Ohhh, what a goof! What a goof! You know, I get accused of getting racked in the head a few times, and have a little touch of alzheimers. My, God, I almost forgot the fourth Horsemen. RIC FLAIR, GET ON DOWN HERE!!
[Crowd 'pops']
[Bobby Heenan: Here we go!]
[Ric Flair enters ring]
[Tony Schiavone: Ho Ho Ho, Hooo! One week ago, ladies and gentleman, when Mark McGwire hit 62, you said you'd always know where you would be on that day. Well, at 10:38 Eastern time, on Monday, September 14, you were part of Horsemen history. He is back ... Bobby Heenan: Look at the Horsemen of that man's eyes ... Mike Tenay: It tells the whole story ... Bobby Heenan: Oh, it sure does, Mike Tenay ... Mike Tenay: Words just do not do this moment justice ... Bobby Heenan: Look at the respect they show on Nature Boy]
[Ric Flair, crying, hugs Horsemen]
[Bobby Heenan: Boy, that looks good]
Arn Anderson: Greenville, I give you the champ!
Ric Flair: My, God. [Crying] Thank you. They're not stopping. Thank you. Thank you very much. I'm almost embarrassed by the response, but when I see this ... but when I know I spent 25 years trying to make you happy every night of your life, it was worth every damn minute of it! Now, someone told me the Horsemen were having a party tonight, in Greenville! Could that be true, that the most elite group, that Eric Bischoff said was dead, is alive and well?!? Bischoff, this might be my only shot. But, I got to tell you, I'm going to make it my best. Is this what you call a great moment of TV? That's wrong, because, this is real! This is not bought and paid for! It's a real life situation! Just like the night in Columbia, South Carolina, when you looked at me, tears in my eyes, and said, "God, that's good TV." That was real! Arn Anderson passed the torch! It was real, dammit! You think Sting would of be crying in the dressing room, like I was on TV, if it wasn't real? This guy [points to Anderson], my best friend, is one of the greatest performers to ever live. And you [referring to Eric Bischoff] ... you squashed him one night. Then you get on the phone and tell me, "Disban the Horsemen. They're dead." "Disban the Four Horsemen." Me, you know what? I look myself in the mirror the next day, and I saw a pethetic figure that gave up and quit. And for that, I owe you, the wrestling fans ... I owe these guys ... an apology. Because, it won't happen again, where we let Bischoff disban what you think .......
[Eric Bischoff makes his way out]
Ric Flair: You! You're an overbearing asshole. You're an obnoxious, overbearing ass ... Abuse of POWER! You ... abuse of power! Cut me off!
Eric Bischoff: You will never ever wrestle here again!
Ric Flair: Abuse of power! You suck! I hate your guts!
Bischoff: My House. You're history!
Flair: You are a liar, you're a cheat, you're a scam! You are a no good son of a bitch! Fire me! I'm already fired! Fire me! I'm already fired!
Considered by many as being the overall greatest Professional Wrestling star of the 1980's, Richard Fliehr combined his superior wrestling skill with unmatched desire and unparralelled arrogance to create the greatest show on earth - the "Nature Boy" Ric Flair. Hailing from Minneapolis, Minnesota, Flair trained for a while under the great Verne Gagne and Billy Robinson and began his pro wrestling career in 1972. His career took off in the Mid-Atlantic region where he won that regions title, the regions Tag Team title, the U.S. Title and the World Tag Team title. In the midst of this success, his career and his life almost ended. While on an airplane flight with Johnny Valentine and promoter David Crockett, Flair suffered a broken back (and supposedly a broken neck) when the plane crashed. Although it would not have been hard to speculate that this would have ended his career, Flair returned to the ring within 6 months and a short time later teamed up with Greg "the Hammer" Valentine to win the NWA Tag Team title. He went on to win the NWA World Title when he defeated Dusty Rhodes in 1981. He later won the same belt by defeating the legendary Harley Race in 1983. After losing the belt to Kerry Von Erich in Texas, Flair travelled to Japan a month later where he recaptured the World Title from Von Erich. Flair then returned to the United States where he wrestled in some of the finest matches in the 1980's, including two against Ricky "the Dragon" Steamboat, first losing and then regaining the title belt. Eventually Flair left the NWA/WCW and moved to the WWF taking the WCW belt with him. After returning the belt to WCW (after a monterary settlement,) he defeated Randy Savage for the WWF Heavyweight championship, after which he returned to the WCW where he has once again recaptured the title as World's Heavyweight champion. Ric Flair has been able to thrive and survive for over 25 years in the sport of Professional Wrestling. He has never been the biggest wrestler and probably not even the most talented - but no one has been able to duplicate his showmanlike ability to play the role of the Jet-setting, wheeling dealing woman stealing playboy, a role which has caused him to be despised by many but loved by most. His "styling and profiling" has given him the ability to do what few villians have been able to over their career - being the crowd favorite and the one whom the fans come to see. He has recited the statement many times that "to be the man, you have to beat the man" - a number of men have defeated him in the ring over the years, but no one else has been able to be the man like Ric Flair has. In his own words to wrestling viewers, Flair advised "whether you like it, or you don't like it - learn to love it 'cause it's the best thing going!"
8.2) Why did he leave WCW in 1991?
Money and respect. WCW offered a 50% pay cut and greatly reduced booking power, including revoking his "veto clause" over World title changes, and wanted to put Lex Luger on top for the next year. Flair disagreed, and the week before Great American Bash 1991 was either fired or quit, depending on who you ask. He showed up in the WWF in October of 1991 and was immediately put on top of the federation.
Why did he take the NWA World title belt with him?
Because he owned it, sort of. Jim Crockett had the belt specially made for Flair in 1985 for $10,000 US and gave ownership of the belt to Flair in lieu of payment of bonus money, which meant Flair thought he could take it with him wherever he went, even after leaving the NWA/WCW. Ted Turner bought it back for $23,000 US in 1991 after a lawsuit and brought it back to the company.
Why did he leave the WWF in 1993?
Vince McMahon felt he no longer required his services, and Flair wanted to go back to WCW, so the two mutually agreed to part ways and the contract was ended amicably. That's all there is to it.
How many times has he been a world champion?
That depends on what changes you wish to recognize.
In July 1994, Ric Flair said many times that he was an 11 time world champion. This number was come to by recognizing his 8 undisputed NWA title reigns, 2 WWF title reigns and 1 WCW title reign. Flair has since held the WCW title three more times, bringing the undisputed total to 14. However in addition to this, there have been a number of disputed or not widely recognized reigns, which are listed below...
On March 21, 1984, Flair was defeated by Harley Race in New Zealand for the NWA title. He regained it on March 23, 1984 in Singapore. This switch is only now being recognized as official in the US.
On March 21, 1991, Tatsumi Fujinami defeated Flair in Tokyo, Japan. The Japanese referee for the match counted a pinfall, while the WCW referee for the match DQed Flair for tossing Fujinami over the top rope. Flair defeated Fujinami May 19, 1991 in St. Petersburg, FL to end the dispute.
On April 17, 1994, Ric Flair and Rick Steamboat went to a double pin finish. On April 21, 1994, (aired on TV May 21, 1994) Flair defeated Steamboat to end the dispute. It was never officially announced that the belt was held up, although Flair gave the belt to WCW commissioner Nick Bockwinkel and said he wanted it held up.
There are also stories that Flair did title switches with Jack Venano in the Dominican Republic and Victor Jovica in the Caribbean, similar to the New Zealand/Singapore title switch with Harley Race. The Venano story has been confirmed by a fan who was there live to see the title change, as has the Jovica one. Neither is recognized in the US as of this writing, although if the powers-that-be need to pump up Flair's title reigns again, good money says they will.
Remember! Flair is an undisputed 14 time World Champion, not a 14 time WCW World Champion! The reason why WCW is calling him a 14 time WCW World Champ is because of his WCW International Title reign. You must know that WCW's International Title is nothing. It's a make believe title that exists only in the minds of WCW's booking committee at the time and it doesn't have a lineage to the NWA Title. When Flair defeated Sting, the International champ, and defeated Vader, the WCW champ, FLAIR UNIFIED NOTHING. The NWA stopped allowing use of the NWA name and title with Barry Windham and booted WCW out of the NWA. WCW pretended to still be a member for a few months more to present the illusion of the title meaning something, but the "real" NWA threatened them with legal action for continued use of the name, so in reality Flair won a meaningless "title".
Chris Benoit is one the most respected mat technicians in the last 25 years. Standing 5' 10" and weighing 220 lbs., Benoit is unlikely to intimidate opponents because of his size, but it is his tenaciousness, intensity and aggressiveness that has caused him to be referred to as "the Crippler", "the Wolverine" and "the Human Buzzsaw." Benoit began his wrestling career in Calgary Stampede Wrestling after training under the legendary Stu Hart in the vaunted "Hart Dungeon." Often teaming with one of the Hart Brothers, Benoit won tag titles while traveling to the United States and to Japan. In Japan and in Mexico Benoit was much admired as he wrestled under the moniker "the Pegasus Kid." After winning the Light Heavyweight title in Mexico, Benoit headed north to Pennsylvania where he showcased his extreme style in Extreme Championship Wrestling. In 1995, Benoit moved on to World Championship Wrestling where he would become a member of the most elite fraternity in professional wrestling, the Four Horsemen.
Why does he lose so much?
Well, he doesn't really, but that's the perception. His main problem is being pushed to a higher level on the card and then jobbed to make others look better. This has been happening since early 1996. Why? The most widely accepted theory is that the marriage of WCW booker Kevin Sullivan and Nancy (Woman) Sullivan was broken up largely due to an affair between Benoit and Nancy. Benoit was managed by Woman at the time, and she appears with him in public often, adding to this theory. Sullivan, for whatever reason, was given control of the bookings of Benoit and "punished" him with endless jobs in retaliation for the affair. This would seem to be exceedingly unprofessional on Sullivan's part and the kind of spiteful thing one could get fired for, which is a negative against the theory. No one but Kevin Sullivan, Benoit and Woman really know for sure, one would guess.
How many times has he been World champion?
Who knows? This is very dependant on what you're recognizing as a World title, first of all. Strictly speaking, Sting is only a five-time champion, but WCW has somehow managed to pump the total up to seven. He cleanly defeated Ric Flair to win the NWA World title in 1990, that much we know. Then it gets messy. In 1990, WCW officially broke off from the NWA, declaring Sting to be the first WCW World champion, while still holding the NWA World title. Sooooo, technically speaking, Sting was a *two* time World champion at that point, despite never actually losing the first title *or* winning the second. To further complicate the matter, WCW became an autonomous organization on 01/01/1991, while not recognizing their own champion officially until 01/11/1991, when Ric Flair defeated Sting to win the title. WCW has since retroactively decided to recognize Sting as the first WCW champion instead of Flair in order to "fill in" the 10 day period, but it all depends on who you ask. This title reign is almost totally meaningless in the long run. In 1992, Sting cleanly beat Lex Luger to win the WCW World title (just the WCW title this time...) to become a three-time champion, despite the announcers calling him a two-time champion because the NWA-WCW thing was still taboo to talk about on TV at the time. In 1993, Sting and Vader traded the WCW World title in London and Ireland, giving Sting his fourth title reign. Again, it was only called his third. Sting beat Rick Rude in Chicago mid-way through 1994 to win the WCW International World title, which is not recognized by anyone with an IQ greater than 2 as a legitimate World title, and the title was regained by Rude in Japan, but immediately vacated due to the controversy of the title change. Sting then defeated Vader to regain the vacated title at Slamboree 1994. It needs to be stressed that neither title reign is officially recognized as a World title reign by anyone but WCW. And of course he beat Hulk Hogan for the WCW World title at Starrcade 97, which boosts it to six reigns, then beat Hogan again at Superbrawl VIII for his seventh title, although they're not pointing it out for some reason. However, cooler heads will usually point out that he clearly has 5 title reigns and the other two are just semantics. As always, judge for yourself.
