Ric Flair by Tim O'Meara

Growing up in the north, I didn’t see Ric Flair until his first run with the then WWF in the early nineties. It wasn’t until later that my small town got access to cable and finally, the superstation TBS so I could watch him on a more regular basis. Like all of us, we knew immediately that we were watching near perfection in the ring whenever he preformed. His role was to get you to hate him, and my God did he do that. He was flashy to the point of being flamboyant. In the macho world of pro wrestling, that took major backbone both in the ring and in the locker room. We knew he had to be tough because anyone who acted like that had to be able to back it up. Unlike the rock band Kiss, which is all style and not much substance-Ric Flair had it all.

It’s often said that in wrestling, the heel carries the face in the match. It’s true of course, but it’s much deeper than that. In reality, the face is only as good as the heel is. After all, if a good guy beats up a loser, how good can he really be? This is evidenced by Hulk Hogans first run in the WCW. No one cared to see him beat up Ed Leslie. When Flair went back into the WCW and challenged him, ratings and buy rates when up. Flair carried Hogan to some of the best matches that the Hulkster was ever involved in. Flair carried every one of his opponents. From great ones like Sting and Steamboat to mediocre ones like Hogan.

Wrestlers have shelf lives. Very, very few of them have the ability and charisma to last more than a few years. We are in awe of those who do-from Bruno Samartino to Andre the Giant. Hulk Hogan to Bret Hart, Undertaker to Stone Cold to John Cena. As in awe as we are for those who last so long, it’s a rarity. That Flair had lasted so long at a high level in the ring is nothing short of astounding. From the 70’s to the early 2000’s he wrestled at a high level, going though promotions and changes in the wrestling industry. He was a star in the regional world of wrestling in the late 70s. He was a legend in the steroid scandaled 80s, and he became an icon in the 90s during the Monday Night Wars.


Eric’s note: We all know who Tim is voting for, but what about you? Voting closes on Sunday.