[1998-11-23-WCW-Nitro] Ric Flair, Eric Bischoff and Barry Windham

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

Bischoff says tonight, Ric Flair will understand that he is the one that runs this company. This is their time to resolve their issue. Bischoff says Flair has no authority to hire or fire anyone and asks Barry Windham to come out to resolve this. Bischoff tells Flair that Windham is about to knock him on his ass. Flair responds by sighting tradition and Barry Windham's history. Bischoff says Flair just has to understand that he has the power. He slaps Flair and Flair slugs him until Windham attacks him from behind. Flair looks excited to do something physical. Windham gets the better of him though. Windham holds Flair down while Bischoff gets in some kicks. The Horsemen try to make the save, but the NWO cut them off at the pass and attack them. Great segment with lots of heat, but Barry Windham in 1998?

[Zenjo]

It would've been a really good swerve if Windham hadn't turned here. Not for any storyline reason, I'd have just been surprised.

[soup23]

Finally some escalation but I love WIndham but he shouldn't have been the catalyst here. Anyway, Windham beats up on Flair which shocked no one and then a huge beating commences with the NWO B&W looking menacing for the last time.

[PeteF3]

For all the talk of "tradition" you'd think someone would be clued in on the fact that Windham was not an "original" Horseman, but I guess Ole has been Stalinized from history at this point. I didn't care much for the delayed execution of the Windham turn, nor for Bischoff telegraphing it. Windham's probably in a better role as an NWO B-teamer than a Horseman hanger-on, though.