[1995-09-11-WCW-Nitro] Ric Flair and Lex Luger

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

This is the first time we see the full Nitro set, as they're in an arena as opposed to the Mall of America. I remember being wowed by the whole Nitro setup, which looked great for the time. Flair is out for an interview with Gene, and says the only thing missing in South Beach the night before was Arn Anderson. He's told he was instead in his hotel room talking to his wife and kid on the phone. He compares them to Joe Montana and Lawrence Taylor.

 

Luger is out, and Flair goes gaga over him. Luger tells him some things never change and he's still too much, and Flair says "And I'm gonna stay too much! WHOOO!"

 

Flair is great here.

[El-P]

This is the first time we see the full Nitro set, as they're in an arena as opposed to the Mall of America. I remember being wowed by the whole Nitro setup, which looked great for the time.

WCW just kicked Vince's ass badly all of a sudden. It made RAW look like totally second rate. Amazing that it took a good year and a half before WWF ackwnoledged this and changed the set up for RAW. Sad thing when you think RAW basically looks the same as it did in 2001 now, which is all an evolution of the RAW IS WAR set of 1997. But anyway, in 1995, Nitro made things move.

[Tim Evans]

Crazy Flair going gaga over Luger rules. I remember thinking WCW was must see tv at the time even though I was a diehard WWF fan.

[PeteF3]

It's superficial, but yeah, with the new set WCW instantly feels hotter than it has in years. Check out the "WCW" sign where the first "W" flips into an "E." Cute. Flair calls out Arn for being at home with the wife and kids and not running with the Horsemen, and Flair suddenly sounds like a jilted ex-lover. This image is not helped by Luger's appearance, which causes Flair to go all Bobby Heenan-unveiling-the-Narcissist in fawning over him. Luger just says that Flair hasn't changed, and...leaves. Okay then. Snark aside, Flair was fun, and I get why Bischoff & Sullivan felt the need to cram a "hook" into every last segment, even if they didn't lead anywhere. Bad for the business in the long haul, but probably necessary at this point.

[flyonthewall2983]

It seems this segment was designed more to get Luger airtime, even if it's without any context. It's too bad they just didn't reform the Horsemen right there and then. Flair flashing the fingers and "the.symbol.of.excellence" was a nice touch.

[Superstar Sleeze]

Flair was a ton of fun in this. His promo about how Double A is now in the hotel room calling his wife and kid when he used to go out partying and womanizing with Flair is great heel schtick. Luger looks killer and Flair lets us know that Luger is all man, baby. Flair fawning is great. Luger says some things never change and he says Flair is just too much. Flair says he is going to stay too much. Amen, brutha.