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[1996-01-15-WCW-Nitro] Ric Flair vs Sting


Loss

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  • 3 weeks later...

The typical Flair/Sting match with all the standard spots. I will say that I've never seen a Flair/Sting match that didn't have the crowd really into it, and this is no exception. Sting started working the top rope superplex into their matches around '95 or so, and there's a good one here.

 

This is pretty typical "dumb Sting" also, as Luger clearly hits him with the megaphone to cost him the match and Hogan and Savage come out to point it out for him. His response? "I need to hear it from the horse's mouth. I'm gonna go talk to him and make sure!" Funny stuff.

 

Then, Hogan gets really obnoxious (I was about to say all of a sudden, but it's not really a new development) and starts blaming Savage for losing so many matches to Luger, saying he's hurting their momentum, and Savage has enough and walks away. No wonder crowds were hating Hogan at this point.

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  • 4 weeks later...

Another solid bout between the 2. Flair's selling of the superplex us pretty great. It's funny how Sting and Savage are booked compared to Hogan. Sting has lost 2 big matches in a row, but also is a dumb babyface who the fans like. Savage has lost 4 in a row to Luger, but is at least smart. Then Hogan who has all the momentum but the fans don't care for him at this point but he's smart. At least their is a pecking order to the booking.

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I have decided that the only manager schtick more annoying that Jimmy yelling into that megaphone is Fonzy's whistle. I sure could do without both of them.

 

I like Sting's look here, and he starts off with three very cool kip ups that get the crowd hot. A fun match with some great segments, particularly the missed drop-kick into a figure 4 into a roll up pinfall attempt.

 

The interviews after are just embarrassing. As usual, Sting is awful on the mic. Hogan is like a parody of himself. I felt like he and Savage were cutting a modern promo in an 80s style - and it hurts my ears bc it fails in both formats. I don't even really understand what they're arguing about. It doesn't help that I just watched that far superior Lawler + Gilbert segment.

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Sting just went to high risk maneuvers way too often. He maybe hit 10% of his high risk stuff. Flair just kept beating on him, but at the same time Sting had a shot but Luger nailed him with the microphone. Even with Sting being the blindly trusting babyface, I still really liked him at the time. I didn't like the Crow version of Sting as he had to take a year off and it wasn't the same when he came back. Of course it got even worse around 2000.

 

I see why people were starting to hate Hogan. He is a gold digger and all he wants is the title, and cannot stand any of his friends to be at the top of the pedestal. Truth be told that is always in his character. You don't think he went after Liz in the back in the latter stages of 1988 so he could get a title shot from Savage, and make Savage look bad. Hogan talked Bret out of his rematch clause at WM9 right after the loss. Bret was in no shape to make a decision like that, Hogan knew it and slipped in to take the shot. On top of that Yokozuna was fresh off winning the title and Hogan slipped the ref a $20 to ring the bell and beat Yokozuna who was in no shape to fight.

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  • 1 month later...
  • 2 years later...

Flair/Sting is always worth a watch, and this match is like a reunion tour. Flair hasn't fallen to the point where he is the David Ruffin and needs someone off-stage singing his parts yet, but it seems like WCW thinks he is. Hogan really comes across as such a dick here, and it is no surprise that the fans can't stand him at this point.

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  • 1 month later...

Most of their standard stuff against each other. Luger and Hart get involved ringside and Lex waits patiently to accidentally hit Sting with the Megaphone. Flair gets a win over Sting! Funny when he had the figure four he started to use the ropes for leverage after Sting’s shoulders were already counted down.

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  • 6 months later...

Rather fun Sting vs Flair typical match. Luger is a great character at this point, what a smooth motherfucker. Well, of course, only the dumbest of dumbest babyface could fall for his antics.

Hogan is a total whiny bitch in the post-match. Hilariously bad and obnoxious.

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  • 11 months later...

Solid action but from a pairing I never enjoy very much. Sting did do a good job here timing his comebacks.

 

The main thing was after the match where Hulk gets into Macho's face for being the #1 contender. I know it is jarring but it is simply amazing how much Hogan transformed for the better in just a short amount of time. (**1/4)

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  • 2 weeks later...

Of COURSE a World title match between Flair and Sting plays second fiddle to Hogan vs. Meng.

 

Sting vs. Flair by numbers. They've done better, but they've done worse too. Screwy finish as Luger attempts to wrest the megaphone from Jimmy Hart, and accidentally KOs Sting with it as Sting goes in for the Stinger Splash, giving Flair the win. Hulk and Savage browbeat Sting for continually allowing Luger to screw him over. At least Savage has a personal grudge against Lex--Hogan is just an overbearing obnoxious father figure. Sting is too out-of-it to know for sure what happened. Hulk and Savage hype their "secret weapon" at the Clash...and then Hogan goes after SAVAGE for losing to Luger so often, and for not giving him his rightful title shot. What a whiner.

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  • 2 years later...

Watching this and liking it quite a bit it occurred to me that I've only watched a small handful of classic formula Flair matches over the past several years. This would probably be a good time to go back and watch some of the classics now that it feels fresher to me. Good match, and a pinfall figure four ending! The Luger/Sting thing is pretty fun pro wrestling soap opera stuff. Afterward, Savage/Hogan bickering was a step below in that category.

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  • GSR changed the title to [1996-01-15-WCW-Nitro] Ric Flair vs Sting
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