FEEDBACK: Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat Trilogy (with links)

[Deleted]

Leave your feedback below for this week's Review-A-Wai as Wai Ting and Dan Lovranski profile one of wrestling's greatest trilogies, Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat in 1989. Download the show Friday at www.liveaudiowrestling.com.

NWA World Heavyweight Championship
Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat
(Chi-Town Rumble, February 20, 1989)




2 Out of 3 Falls Match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat
(Clash of the Champions VI, April 2, 1989)




NWA World Heavyweight Championship
Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat
(WrestleWar 1989: Music City Showdown, May 7, 1989)

[mcwaylon]

Every wrestling fan knows it as "The Trilogy", and it lives up to the hype. Flair/Steamboat is the wrestling equivalent to Ali vs Frazier in boxing. The only event in wrestling that has captivated fans more is the rise of SouthPaw Regional Wrestling (just kidding Mouth). All 3 matches are great and would win MOTY honors individually if they were fought in separate years. The first match is amazing, the 2nd match has been deemed by some as the best match in North America ever, and the 3rd match is a fast paced classic and the best cap-off for a series of wrestling matches ever.

One thing that needs to be said: even though many say the 2nd match is the best of the 3, it was the least viewed of the 3 since booker George Scott refused to promote the Clash match out of fear the house shows would suffer. Needless to say he was fired right after this happened. Flair has said that there are even better matches that the two had together on house shows and its a shame we will never see those. Personally of the 3 I like the first one the best, but each of the matches is required viewing for any hardcore wrestling fan.

[Christian Small]

I originally became aware of this trilogy via the Ultimate Ric Flair Collection, which had the last 2 matches on it. I didn't watch the Chi-Town Rumble match until it was on the Rise & Fall of WCW. I've always heard that the 2nd & the 3rd were regarded as the better of the 3 (both receiving 5 stars from Dave Meltzer) and there's a lot of debate about which one is actually better. For me personally I preferred the 1st over the 2nd but the final one is my absolute favourite. All 3 are absolutely incredible and it really depends on the day as to which someone could prefer, I just didn't like the finish all too much in the 2nd. I liked the 1st one mainly for the shock of Steamboat actually winning and the last because it summed up everything they had done in a great package, it also turned Flair face in the process but that could have also been Terry Funk beating the piss out of him after. Speaking off we have to give credit to Jim Ross who called these matches so well, really highlights why he's the greatest of all time on commentary. Who did you like him working with: Magnum TA, Terry Funk or Bob Caudle? Overall these were great to go back and watch, it amazes me that matches that are near 30 years old still hold up.
I want to end with a question for you guys. Do you think the Okada/Omega trilogy could be seen as better than this? It's already had 2 outstanding matches and the 3 (coming up in the G1) has high expectations. Also have you guys watched the Punk/Joe trilogy from ROH and what do you think of that? Those are the only trilogies that jump to mind when I think of wrestling and one of those isn't a trilogy yet.

[rinaldo]

Rinaldo from Milan, Italy.

Can't wait for your review of this. Sure, hardcore fans may know Flair and Steamboat faced each other countless times in the late '70s for the NWA US title but this is the trilogy that made 'em legends IMO. Nowadays programs work so fast that the same people are facing each other all the time but back then you had to wait for the story to unfold and Steamboat/Flair still remains one of the best stories in wrestling. The promos, the TV segments, etc. and the arch that started with Flair as a heel and ended with him as the respecting babyface. Top notch.

[jmtempleton]

Jesse from the 6

Interesting choice of review this week. Of course, the three matches are exceptional, but I wonder about the storylines in NWA/WCW. Perhaps Mouth (or maybe Wai) can shed some light on this.
My understanding was that the company was grooming Sting as the next big star to take over from Flair, and that's why didn't put the title on Luger and instead had him lose to Flair at Starrcade '88. So why did they decide to put the title on Steamboat almost immediately upon his return to NWA/WCW? And how did they decide to go from this feud to having a face Flair defend the title against a heel Terry Funk at the Great American Bash?

Take Care