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Post by Cap on Dec 8, 2017 9:14:46 GMT -5
Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat (WCW - NWA World Championship - 5/7/1989)
The last time I watched the trilogy all together, this was my favorite. I know a lot of people see this as the #3 in the series, but I love how much they build on the other matches, how much pace and urgency they give everything in this match. The story gets tweaked a little in this one and I think it at least stands up with the other matches. I'd be surprised if this one slipped of my list.
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Post by elliott on Dec 8, 2017 18:41:48 GMT -5
Seconded. Actually agree with Cap the last time I watched them all, this was my favorite. This feels the biggest and most perfect. It also gets an additional boost from one of the best post-match angles ever.
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Post by Grimmas on Jan 4, 2018 23:07:56 GMT -5
My favourite of the Flair-Steamboat trilogy. It doesn't have the screwy finish of Chicago, nor is it as long as New Orleans. It's high octane Flair and Steamboat, all killer and no filler! Two years ago it was my #7 of all-time, it will definitely make my list.
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Post by stunninggrover on Feb 19, 2018 19:10:19 GMT -5
WCW Wrestle War in Nashville, TN. Ricky Steamboat defended the World Heavyweight Championship against former champion Ric Flair. Jim Ross and Bob Caudle on commentary. This was another great match between Flair and Steamboat (but, I prefer their match from New Orleans, LA). I like the idea of having Lou Thesz, Pat O'Connor and Terry Funk as judges at ringside. Terry Funk attacked Flair after the match. There's a pretty good chance this will be in my top 100.
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Post by superstarsleeze on Mar 30, 2019 11:07:39 GMT -5
One of the surprises of the re-watch is that this is my #1 Flair /Steamboat match and my #3 US match overall. It is an all time great Flair/Steamboat match with Garvin/Flair level physicality which adds more heat through in great Flair control segment and an amazing finish especially for the 80s. NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ricky Steamboat vs Ric Flair - WrestleWar '89 I think the thing that has stuck with me most about this match since first seeing it in 2003 was Jim Ross' call. This is the NWA where we wrestle. He really made this feel like a contest. Even though, try to contend pro wrestling is more of a shoot than amateur wrestling was a little much.  It has been so long since I watched the Trilogy together and I expected this to be a distant third, but it is not and it feels really unique. This is the most physical of the three matches. This feels more like a Ronnie Garvin match with lots of chops and firefights. Flair is going for big heavy blows early and often. The Dragon returns with slashes of his own. They play off the Double Chickenwing submission with Steamboat going after the arm. Great arm work by Steamboat it is varied and tight. Flair does a great job selling it in and out of the holds. Flair looks to use the Chop to get out of the hold and back in control, but each time Steamboat fires back and overwhelms the Nature Boy. I loved the bit where Flair hiptossed Steamboat and just his body language made the spot feel huge. The crowd reacted as such. It is amazing that with the right characters, a simple hiptoss can feel like a high spot. Flair misses the elbow drop and Steamboat goes back to the arm. Towards the end of the first half of the match, Flair goes to what I believe is his best strategy and that is throw the man out of the ring. The first time Steamboat lands on his feet and furiously comes back in and fires back. The second time, Flair uses a running Steamboat's own momentum against and hurls him over the top rope and he takes a nasty spill. Flair takes advantage of this bu chopping him over the railing and punishing him on the outside. It should be noted Flair has not begged off yet probably because he is turning babyface at the end of the match and wants to look strong. He is wrestling a very physical style and this has been a great hard-hitting match through the first half. Flair yields his position as King of the Mountain to come back out against Steamboat on the floor, but the Dragon roars back. Blistering the Nature Boy with chops. Flair Flip and Steamboat catches him running down the apron. Flair's saving grace is Steamboat takes another high risk as the Dragon leaps and Flair moves and Steamboat hits the top rope and falls to the floor. Now Flair in his element. He measures Steamboat and really kicks his ass. Great chops and punches. The kneedrop. Butterfly Suplex. Great pins. Steamboat tries to lunge but gets hotshotted that was an awesome hope spot turned into a cutoff. Steamboat is too close to the ropes to cover as as Flair argues with the ref he puts his shin on Steamboat's throat. Great stuff! Steamboat chops hard and as Flair falls he picks the ankle of the weary Steamboat and pulls him outside and does more damage namely a suplex to the floor. This is an amazing heel Flair performance. They pick up the pace in the ring. Whipping everyone into frenzy and they pay it off with the bump I always remember the out of control crossbody where they both tumble to the floor. PRESS SLAM! Steamboat is feeling it! The Dragon is Breathing Fire! SUPERPLEX! DOUBLE CHICKENWING! GREAT SEQUENCE! High Drama! Flair scrambles for the ropes and forces the break. I love the spot where Steamboat is poised for either a top rope chop or top rope crossbody and Flair falls into the ropes jostling them and causing Steamboat to take a nasty spill hurt his leg. This entire match so much of Flair's offense is set up by Steamboat's mistakes or happenstance. Now Steamboat's leg is hurt for the master of the Figure-4 it is almost too easy. Flair zeroes in on the leg and suplexes him back in. FIGURE-4! Rope break. There is a great sequence where Flair has the foot. He is pounding on the knee as Steamboat is chopping him. It feels like this gargantuan struggle. ENZIGUIRI! The Dragon looks poised for a comeback. Lifts Flair up but his knee gives out and Flair cradles him 1-2-3! Amazing match! For some reason, I came in thinking this would be #3 but I think this is my #1. The Chi-Town Rumble is the great pure workrate sprint with crazy ending and Steamboat winning the big one, but it does lack the physical edge. The Clash match is the great, lengthy, classic championship match but there are lulls in it and it is a bit messy down the stretch. This has all the tightness of the Rumble match, the psychology of the Clash, but the added physicality of a Flair/Garvin. Gun to my head: WrestleWar, Chi-Town Rumble, Clash. All are ***** and really no matter how you rank it, it doesnt matter they all rock. ***** |
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Post by puropotsy on Apr 10, 2023 20:22:32 GMT -5
OK this is my favorite match and I feel is the best one in my GME re-watch so far. The best of the trilogy for me which is honestly like splitting hairs. I loved the incorporation of the judges in the commentary and obviously with Terry Funk after the match. The physicality was ratcheted up a notch in this match and fed off the storytelling of 2/20 and 4/2. Steamboat’s leg-selling in the end clinches it for me but I also loved his intense pursuit of Flair throughout the match. And I also love a good chop-fest and feel this match is the best version of making it a competitive aspect of the match.
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Post by microstatistics on Apr 12, 2023 22:06:31 GMT -5
In terms of story elements (Flair's last chance & Steamboat seemingly having his number, the threat of the chickenwing and the armwork, the judges guaranteeing a decisive winner), this seems like it was tailor-made for me to like it the best from the trilogy. But I came away thinking it might be the weakest. I think it needed a more urgent/focused Flair performance, especially considering he was going to win and turn face. I liked his physical offense and the selling was fine but he just did his usual shtick instead of grinding it out and got lucky that Steamboat injured his leg. Moreover, the repetitive sequences from preceding matches didn't help and they could have done with more learned psychology instead.
I am at a bit of a loss with this series. All three are really good but lack that one ingredient to reach the next level. Chi-Town is worked the tightest but needed a psychology-based-hook. Clash 6 probably has the best "wrestling" but struggles with pacing due to the elongation. And this one has the best individual components but is less than the sum of its parts.
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