Anyways, I though I’d review something short and sweet for my debut. I’d like to begin with one of the videos that WCW put out in 1995. The first half is all interviews, while the second half consists of matches (which are brutally clipped). These tapes tend to run for about an hour or so. Well here we go, ladies and gentlemen I present Ric Flair: 2 Decades of Excellence. The tape is made up almost entirely of clips, so throughout it will be seen various Flair beatings on Dusty Rhodes, Scott Steiner, Sting, Ronnie Garvin, Lex Luger, Vader, Ricky Steamboat, Terry Funk and many more.

We begin with a montage of Flair clips with Michael Buffer announcing “da man” as the 11-time world champion. This is proceeded Flair being interviewed.

Flair on himself: Naitch sees himself as a pro, unselfish, relentless, etc…. he then deems his style as “poetry in motion”. Well I can’t argue with that, at least until 1995 and onward. He broke into the business in 1973, and started under Verne Gagne. He became a wrestler because he has always been a lifelong fan.

Flair on his idols: He says that he doesn’t really have any idols but that he greatly respects the great men that he has fought. Throws out the names Anderson(s), McDaniel, Mulligan and Rhodes. The style of Joe Naimith was also an influence on his overall wrestling character.

The next portion of the tape consists of interviews with “Friends” of Flair.

Dusty Rhodes: Ric Flair is wrestling’s greatest champion. He said that their rivalry was like Bird vs. Magic. Flair as Bird I can see, but Dusty as magic?

Gordon Solie: The man always had to be above average and to always succeed. An inner force always drove flair.

Sting: He underestimated Flair and was panting throughout their matches. Wrestling Flair always made him nervous he was a legend. Flair is the “dirtiest player”, and has a passion for the money, the gold, and to be the best.

Arn Anderson: The greatest all-around wrestler of all-time. He has a combination of everything. It was his ego (duh) that drove him to be #1. Flair told him that every night he would always leave the ring as the champion. Well it is a worked sport.

Dustin Rhodes: He was scared as a kid because of all the vicious beat downs his dad received as a kid. It might have made a good revenge angle if they pursued it, when both of them were still good workers.

Flair on Fights: His 1st title victory vs. Dusty was when he knew he had the ability. His most memorable fight was against Harley Race in 1983 for his second title.

Flair on the Horsemen: At one time they were wrestling’s most prestigious group. Then they added Paul Roma………… At one time they had it all, the titles and all the prestige. Well they all were in the “Charlotte Clique” so it’s no wonder. This group’s politicking back stage was the forefather to the present day “ NWO/DX clique”.

The Nature Boy then goes on to talk about his recovery form the plane crash that he was in during 1975. He also speaks about the future of wrestling. This future consists of Sting, Johnny B. Badd, Harlem Heat, The Nasty Boys, and Alex Wright. Funny that aside from Sting, I never saw Ric Flair help any of the other guys become “huge stars”. He says that the morning he wakes up and feels like he doesn’t have it anymore will be the time when he retires. He also hopes that somebody will tell him. Obviously the man never goes on the Internet.

The Matches. These are all horrible clipped so I won’t bother going through them blow by blow.

Ric Flair vs. Harley Race, Starrcade 1983.

This is when the Nature Boy won his second of God knows how many World Titles. It’s a cage match with guest referee Gene Kiniski. This match is full of rest holds and punching and kicking. But the psychology and intensity make up for it! There is also blood running all over both individuals. The crowd is solely behind Flair through the entire match. The finish comes when Flair hits a flying body press from the top rope for the 1, 2, 3. The clipped version was ok, but I bet that the whole thing was very solid.

Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat, Wrestle War ’89.

This was an incredible match with tremendous heat. It had it all psychology, intensity, good transitions, etc. All I can say is chops, chops, chops! These guys just drill each other and I’ve never seen two guys go so well after twenty minutes. This match still holds up today. I’ve never seen such a great rivalry since (excluding juniors and puro stars). The finish comes when Flair holds on to Steamboat during a body slam and rolls him up for the pin fall. Even clipped the match was still great, but the whole thing is among the top ten matches of all time. And there was no overbooking, garbage wrestling, or run ins.

Ric Flair vs. Vader, Starrcade ’93.

This is my all time favourite Flair match as the man faces off against the monster, Vader. This, with his matches in ’94 against Steamboat, would be Flair’s last hurrah in the ring. This match epitomizes David versus Goliath. Both men work very hard, and Vader sells very well for the Nature Boy. The fact that this match was in Charlotte made Flair a huge baby face. Finish comes as Flair clips Vader from behind and rolls him up for the pin fall. Note to Vince McMahon, this is how you have to book Flair/Taker at mania.

This tape is a lot of fluff. It’s all softball and there is no sense of controversy at all. The matches are all clipped to hell, therefore, bastardizing all of the matches. But the tape does give a good overview of flair’s career mainly through the 80s up to the mid-90s. So if you like a sugarcoated history of Flair than this is for you. As for me this tape gets a fair rating.