[1995-11-26-WCW-World War III] Ric Flair vs Sting

[Superstar Sleeze]

Ric Flair vs Sting - World War III 1995

The grudge match following the infamous Ric Flair turn at Halloween Havoc, great match and great angle. Is this match they should have run after that angle? No. It is a very good Greatest Hits version of their matches at around 15 minutes which makes for an entertaining experience even if it is not congruent with the storyline at the time. 

Pretty strong Sting shine here. There is A LOT of Gorilla Press Slams. For Flair detractors, I am sure that will get long in the tooth for them. Flair tries an eyepoke to set up the chops and big heavy blows. Flair's strikes always look great. Sting comes roaring back. Pretty standard Sting stuff. Sting fighting through Flair's offense with standard back fists and kicks looked great. All press slams were good. Flair bailing to the various rings (there were three because of the 3-ring Battle Royale) and Sting kicking his ass was good. I really liked the transition to heat as Sting crashes and burns on a Stinger Splash onto the steel railing. When Sting tries to mount a comeback, Flair ballshots him. I love that as a 1-2 punch to consolidate his advantage. The pro-Flair contingent would be very happy to see this heat segment. It is one of Flair's strongest of the 90s. He really works the leg of Sting well. A good variety of attacks to the leg, good tempo, well-struck and well-sold by Sting. Really liked the chop block. Great heat on the Figure-4. Loved Sting's reaction to being slapped and hulking up through the Figure-4. Things get desperate for Flair as he shove Nick Patrick who shoves him back down to a big pop. Then it is pretty much all Sting as he stalks him into a new ring and the Press Slams abound. Great superplex and the Scorpion Deathlock finishes it. Sting does relinquish the hold even though a big deal was made that was he was going to keep it on forever. 

Like I said it was a Greatest Hits of Flair vs Sting. I thought Flair's heat segment makes this stand out and puts it into very good category. I liked the Sting finish stretch in the sense he strung about 4-5 impressive moves together to clinch a victory. I think I would have liked 1-2 wrinkles thrown in there to take the match to the next level, but this still was a very good match. Flair has a very good, under the radar 1995. *** 3/4