Best Matches: Ric Flair

1974:

• Ric Flair Vs Chris Taylor - AWA 1974 - One of Ric Flair's earliest wrestling matches.

1981:

• Ric Flair Vs Dusty Rhodes – NWA House Show 17/06/1981 - Ric Flair’s first World Heavyweight Championship win.

1982:

• Ric Flair Vs Jerry Lawler - AWA 1982
• Ric Flair Vs Kerry Von Erich – WCCW 28/12/1982

1983:

• Ric Flair Vs Harley Race – NWA Starrcade 1983

1984:

• Ric Flair Vs Dusty Rhodes – NWA Starrcade 1984 - This is not their first nor their last match with each other, but it would be wrong not to include this as it one of their most iconic matches in their series. It’s quite a short main-event that goes for under 15 minutes and has a very unique ending.

1986:

• Ric Flair Vs Ronnie Garvin – NWA Superstars on the Superstation – 4 ¼*
• Ric Flair Vs Barry Windham – CWF Battle of the Belts 2 – 5* - This is the first 5 star match on this list, but sure as hell not the last one for the Nature Boy. This match was actually hard to find – but it was a good find, it’s a 50-minute war between two great wrestlers.
• Ric Flair Vs Nikita Koloff – NWA Starrcade 1986 – 4*

1987:

• Ric Flair Vs Barry Windham – NWA Crockett Cup 1987 – 5*
• Ric Flair, Lex Luger, Arn Anderson, War Machine & Tully Blanchard Vs Dusty Rhodes, The Road Warriors, Nikita & Paul Ellering – 5*

1988:

• Ric Flair Vs Road Warrior Hawk – NWA Bunkhouse Stampede 1988 – 3 ¾*
• Ric Flair Vs Sting – NWA Clash of the Champons I – 4 ¾*
• Ric Flair Vs Lex Luger – NWA The Great American Bash 1988
• Ric Flair & Barry Windham Vs Bobby Eaton & Stan Lane – NWA Clash of the Champions IV – 4*
• Ric Flair Vs Lex Luger – Starrcade 1988 – 4 ½*

1989:

• Ric Flair Vs Ricky Steamboat – NWA Chi-Town Rumble 1989 – 5* - Hands down 1989 was Ric Flairs year in my opinion, making this list I got to watch matches I had never seen before, or rewatch matches I had seen before. I was absolutely stoked to rewatch this trilogy right here. I know it probably seems 'overrated' and cliché to name this trilogy, but honestly it's so great. The ring psychology in this match is fantastic; you can really feel the tension that these two 'hate' each other. As well as their great chemistry with their ring work, with the combination of a fantastic commentary this match deserves the 5 stars to start the feud.
• Ric Flair Vs Ricky Steamboat – NWA Clash of the Champions VI – 5* - The rematch in this series is labelled as ‘2 Out of 3 falls’. This match just about goes the full 60 minutes – Flair would become known as the ‘Iron Man’ within the squared circle. The trading of back and forth falls is does to perfection with the first fall coming after a fast pace style, and the second fall coming after quite a slow build up just fits perfect for a match between these two. This match earned it’s 5 stars just like their last match – It’s probably my favourite match in the trilogy.
• Ric Flair Vs Ricky Steamboat – NWA WrestleWar 1989 – 5* - This was actually the first ever NWA/WCW thing I had ever owned on VHS (truthfully my dad had given it to me when I was like 7 because he has recorded it) so this show/match is very close to my heart. Re-watching this match after the first two, it just seems like a big fight feel – who would win the final battle in their battle. I can’t stress enough how much I love this trilogy there’s a reason why all 3 matches got the 5 star ratings and why fans love them. Also just a heads up stay for the post-match antics.
• Ric Flair Vs Terry Funk – NWA The Great American Bash 1989 – 4 ½*
• Ric Flair & Sting Vs Dick Slater & The Great Muta – NWA Clash of the Champions VIII – 4 ¼*
• Ric Flair & Sting Vs Terry Funk & The Great Muta – NWA Halloween Havoc 1989 – 4*
• Ric Flair Vs Terry Funk – NWA Clash of the Champions IX – 5* - This feud started happening after the Flair/Steamboat trilogy, and it was a good transition into turning Flair into the babyface for this feud. It's contested in a 'I Quit' Match. Terry Funk may be known for the guy that'll never 'retire' but honestly this match was really fun and I bet around that time people wish he never did retire. As I said earlier, 1989 was 100% Flair's year and he was the #1 in all promotions.
• Ric Flair Vs Lex Luger – NWA Starrcade 1989 – 3 ¾*
• Ric Flair Vs Sting – NWA Starrcade 1989 – 4 ¼* -

1990:

• Ric Flair Vs Lex Luger – NWA WrestleWar 1990 – 4 ½*
• Ric Flair Vs Sting – NWA The Great American Bash 1990 – 3 ¾*
• Ric Flair Vs Lex Luger – NWA Clash of the Champions XII – 3 ¾*
• Ric Flair Vs Butch Reed – NWA Clash of the Champions XIII – 3 ¾*

1991:

• Ric Flair, Barry Windham, Larry Zbyszko & Sid Vicious Vs Brian Pillman, Rick Steiner, Scott Steiner & Sting - WCW WrestleWar 1991 – 5* - This match is really fun and fast paced though honestly you've got The Four Horsemen taking on 4 of the biggest names in WCW at that time, in a great performance. It's really good that I was actually able to include a great match on this (a 5 star match as well) with all members of the Four Horsemen, on top of that I got to include a very good War Games match on this essential list. I've always thought this match was the match to help make Brian Pillman a star in WCW.
• Ric Flair Vs Tatsumi Fujinami – WCW/NJPW Supershow I
• Ric Flair Vs Tatsumi Fujinami – WCW SuperBrawl I – 3 ¾*
• Ric Flair Vs Hulk Hogan – WWF MSG Live Show 22/12/1991 - I’m adding this match to the list because throughout the 80’s and early 90’s the big talk was ‘Will Ric Flair and Hulk Hogan ever face each other?’. Two of the biggest stars of all times from opposite brands finally got to meet in late 1991.. at a house show. The story goes that they tested this match between each other at house shows to see how the crowds would react to it, to see if it could main event Wrestlemania 8 the following year. This is the only recorded match of theirs that is on WWE Network from Flairs original run in WWF.

1992:

• 30 Man Royal Rumble Match – WWF Royal Rumble 1992 – 3 ¾* - The Iron Man of the Rumble Ric Flair enters from the 3rd spot and lasts just over an hour and wins it – but not only wins the Rumble but wins the WWF Championship. This is arguably one of the best Rumbles of all time, and also has as all-star wrestlers in it. All signs pushed to a Flair/Hogan Main-Event at Wrestlemania 8. Also if you can find the full post-match promo with Flair I highly recommend it.
• Ric Flair & The Undertaker Vs Hulk Hogan & Sid Justice – WWF Saturday Night’s Main Event 27/01/1992
• Ric Flair Vs Macho Man – Wrestlemania VIII – 4 ¼* - This match was originally meant to be Hogan/Flair at the Rumble, but for some reason WWF Officials decided to change it to a ‘double main-event’ of Flair/Savage and Hogan/Sid.. the later actually closed the show. So what that we didn’t get to see Hogan/Flair face each other, we got a match that would be much better between Flair and Savage. It is the first time that either man would face each other in a wrestling ring and it’s honestly one of the most underrated Wrestlemania matches of all time – it’s criminally forgotten. I absolutely adore this match.
• Ric Flair Vs Macho Man Randy Savage – WWF Prime Time Wrestling 01/09/1992

1993:

• Ric Flair Vs Mr. Perfect – WWF Raw 18/01/1993 – 4* - This would be Flair’s last match in WWF and it was placed under the stipulation ‘Loser leaves WWF’ match. Mr Perfect who was aligned with Flair throughout 92 would get the rub of defeating Flair which should’ve skyrocketed him into the WWF Championship scene.. however it did not.
• Ric Flair & Arn Anderson Vs Brian Pillman & Steve Austin – WCW Clash of the Champions XXIII - 4*
• Ric Flair Vs Rick Rude – WCW Halloween Havoc 1993
• Ric Flair Vs Vader – WCW Starrcade 1993 – 4 ½* - One of my favourite WCW matches of all time, I’m very surprised that it isn’t mentioned by people on this sub or even wrestlers in general when they discuss Vader’s best matches, cause this is my favourite Vader match.

1994:

• Ric Flair Vs Ricky Steamboat – WCW Spring Stampede 1994 – 4 ¼*
• Ric Flair Vs Hulk Hogan – WCW Bash at the Beach 1994 - The match that was meant to take place under WWF’s banner show ‘Wrestlemania’ would ultimately end up happening at one of WCW’s biggest PPV’s ‘Bash at the Beach’. It’s a fun match, but really I would recommend their Halloween Havoc match a couple of months later – that’ll always have a place in my heart.
• Ric Flair Vs Hulk Hogan – WCW Halloween Havoc 1994 – 4 ¼*

1995:

• Ric Flair Vs Randy Savage – WCW The Great American Bash 1995 – 4*
• Ric Flair Vs Arn Anderson – WCW Fall Brawl 1995 - Two former Four Horsemen brothers facing off in one of the main events of WCW’s Fall Brawl in a really nice match, that is forgotten.
• Ric Flair & Sting Vs Arn Anderson & Brian Pillman – WCW Halloween Havoc 1995 – 3 ¾*
• Ric Flair Vs Sting – WCW World War 1995 – 3 ¾*

1996:

• Ric Flair Vs Randy Savage – WCW SuperBrawl VI
• Ric Flair Vs Eddy Guerrero – WCW Nitro 20/05/1996 – 3 ¾*
• Ric Flair Vs Randy Savage – WCW Nitro 17/06/1996 – 3 ¾*

1998:

• Ric Flair Vs Bret Hart – WCW Souled Out 1998 – 3 ¾*
• Ric Flair Vs Eric Bischoff – WCW Starrcade 1998 - Flair has stated that he hated WCW the last four years of his career, he really didn't like Bischoff back then. But the fact that he had to lose after getting KO's by Bischoff must've really pissed him off. I include this match as it as significant that this may have been the turning point of Flair enjoying his professional wrestling career in WCW. This match really should’ve been Flair going over and finally getting his hands on Bischoff and beating him within an inch of his life.

2000:

• Ric Flair Vs Shane Douglas – WCW Slamboree 2000

2001:

• Ric Flair Vs Sting – WCW Nitro 26/03/2001 - On the last WCW Programming of Monday Night Nitro of all time, the two men that helped make WCW what it was – got to main event the show. Ric Flair who was not in any wrestling shape at all faced Sting in a shirt in front of a ruckus crowd. It’s an emotional night for both of them, But Flair has stated that this being the last Nitro of all time made him so happy, because of how miserable he was in WCW.

2002:

• Ric Flair Vs Mr. McMahon – WWF Royal Rumble 2002 - Ric Flairs returned to WWF in November of 2001, after the end of the Invasion storyline. He would proclaim that he has 50/50 ownership in WWF with Vince McMahon. This lead to his return match against Vince McMahon at Royal Rumble in a Street Fight. Very fun match, always enjoyed this match – of course you also get a standard Ric Flair blading.
• Ric Flair Vs The Undertaker – Wrestlemania X-8 - An interesting piece of knowledge is that Undertaker actually requested to face Flair at Mania this year, he spoke to Triple H & Mr. McMahon about it and when Triple H told Flair he couldn't believe the honour that was just placed on him. This was before the ‘Streak’ was a big thing but it still referenced by Undertaker at the end of the match. It’s a very fun match, and has a great run in by Arn Anderson who delivers the best spine-buster in the game. However, Flair believes that this match was ‘All Undertaker’ basically saying he carried him throughout this whole match.
• Ric Flair Vs Chris Jericho – WWE Summerslam 2002

2003:

• Ric Flair Vs Triple H – WWE Raw 19/05/2003 - This was a special night for Flair, as he was turning face for one night only to face his friend Triple H for the World Heavyweight Championship just around the corner from his home. It brings out the best in both opponents and if you get the chance watch the Ric Flair appreciation after the match.
• Ric Flair Vs Shawn Michaels – WWE Bad Blood 2003 - The Dream match, generation vs generation - 80s vs 90s. Entertaining match, Shawn & Flair get all their moves and spots out wonderfully and it shows the best from each men, five years before Flair’s retirement match against Michaels at Wrestlemania 24.

2004:

• Ric Flair, Randy Orton & Batista Vs Mick Foley & The Rock – Wrestlemania XX - 3 ¾*
• Ric Flair, Triple H, Randy Orton & Batista Vs Mick Foley, Chris Benoit, Shawn Michaels & Shelton Benjamin – WWE Raw 12/04/2004 – 4*
• Ric Flair & Batista Vs Chris Benoit & Edge – WWE Raw 26/04/2004 – 3 ¾*
• Ric Flair, Randy Orton & Batista Vs Chris Benoit, Chris Jericho & Edge – WWE Raw 02/08/2004
• Ric Flair, Batista & Triple H Vs Chris Benoit, Randy Orton & Shelton Benjamin – WWE Raw 20/09/2004 – 3 ¾*
• Ric Flair Vs Randy Orton – WWE Taboo Tuesday 2004 - Randy Orton at this point, had been kicked out of Evolution, and had lost his World Heavyweight Championship and was feuding with his former Evolution partners. This match is major throwback to the old 1980’s NWA Steel Cage match. In a weird turn of events both men would shake hands after the match, yet Flair would turn on him the night after.

2005:

• Ric Flair Vs Carlito – WWE Unforgiven 2005 - This was Ric Flairs only single WWE Championship win since his return to WWE in 2002, and it was really a special one you could just see how happy he was and everyone was that he won the Intercontinental Championship. He got to work with a rookie (Carlito) and help develop him into a decent worker within a WWE ring.
• Ric Flair Vs Carlito – WWE Raw 19/09/2005 – 3 ¾*
• Ric Flair Vs Triple H – WWE Taboo Tuesday 2005 - Much like the previous Taboo Tuesday, Flair would face another former Evolution member and former best friend – Triple H. This match is major throwback to the old 1980’s NWA Steel Cage match, much like that much. After Triple H seems like he’s going to win, Flair gets an opportunity on the offense delivering all the same pain that Triple H dished out back on him. It’s a very bloody and brutal match.
• Ric Flair Vs Triple H – WWE Survivor Series 2005 – 3 ¾*

2006:

• Ric Flair Vs Edge – WWE Raw 16/01/2006 – 4*
• Ric Flair Vs Rob Van Dam Vs Bobby Lashley Vs Finlay Vs Matt Hardy Vs Shelton Benjamin – Wrestlemania 22 – 4*
• Ric Flair Vs Big Show – ECW 11/07/2006 - To be honest, most matches under the WWECW banner were pretty bad, but in the summer of 2006, ECW Champion Big Show would face the dirtiest player in the game, Ric Flair in a very well match that I still hold up as one of the best matches on WWECW television.
• Ric Flair Vs Mick Foley – WWE Summerslam 2006

2007:

• Ric Flair Vs Randy Orton – WWE Raw 26/11/2007 - In late 2007, Ric Flair returned to WWE Television, and Vince McMahon seemed annoyed at this because he made Ric Flair compete in ‘Career Threatening Matches’, basically meaning that the next time Flair would lose by pinfall or submission he would have to retire from WWE. The first match under this stipulation was with WWE Champion, and former Evolution member Randy Orton.
• Ric Flair Vs Triple H – WWE Raw 30/12/2007

2008:

• Ric Flair Vs William Regal – WWE Raw 14/01/2008 -
• Ric Flair Vs Shawn Michaels – Wrestlemania 24 - This match had a retirement stipulation to it; where if Ric Flair lost he would have to retire. This isn’t the best wrestling match of all time, but it’s one of the saddest and storytelling matches of all time. Honestly, Ric Flair has had one of the best careers of all times with so many endless classics its no wonder why people consider of the greatest wrestler of all time. The whole weekend was super special for Flair – he was inducted to the WWE Hall of Fame, he had this match and then the next night on Raw he was given a farewell speech which resulted in tons of past wrestlers, present wrestlers, crew members and everyone in the back including Undertaker and Vince McMahon to come out and pay their respects to him.

2010:

• Ric Flair Vs Jay Lethal – TNA Victory Road 2010 - You know I could complain about Flair returning to wrestle after his Mania match with Shawn Michaels and how it disrespects WWE, but I’m gonna stay positive because I (along with others) really enjoyed the famous TNA Segment with these two, and really this match isn’t terrible by any means so I felt obliged to add it to this list.

2011:

• Ric Flair, Matt Hardy, Bully Ray & Abyss Vs Christopher Daniels, James Storm, Kazarian & Bobby Roode – TNA Lockdown 2011 – 4*