Flair vs. Sting: Not Suitable for Televsion?

[Zeven_Zion]

I don't trust scum-sheets so until I see it with my own eyes I can't really have an opinion. It is very likely, though. If it did happen like that then at least it's a signal for some people to hang it up. *Cough* Woo .. *Cough*.

We get shitty matches on a weekly basis. In WWE and TNA. If this sucked, then it's a crappy bonus. But of course I can never expect the IWC to have some common sense. Sting's had great matches, Flair's had great matches (even though they were months ago), and if this one sucked - dudes are havin' a bad night. That's pretty much what it was IF true. It was not Flair being too old, or Sting for that matter. Wrestlers have bad matches. They forget spots, they get hurt, you know the drill.

And I'm not trying to find excuses. Just think for a moment. Think of Flair's last ... say five matches. Then think of Sting's. Are any of them absolutely horrible? Nope. None of them are great either. But this match seems like a shit storm. So out of all the decent matches they have at the same age they are right now, same health, same everything, they have one bad match (supposedly) and everyone goes bananas about it? This isn't Rob Terry. It's Ric Flair and Sting.

Now, if both Flair and Sting had bad matches consitently, and the matches were obviously bad due to their age and limitations due to said age - then you have yourself a freaking argument. But no. The majority of their matches are not that bad.

Flair had a pretty good match with Mick Foley. Don't remember anyone praising him for it, saying he's still got it? But the minute ... no wait, the second there's a "report" about Flair having a bad match with Sting everyone goes crazy. TNA is running this that way, that's their fault. Then it's Flair's fault. Then it's Sting's fault. Then it's the popcorn vendor's fault.

Ric Flair hurt his arm? "IT'S BEKAUSE HE'S OLDDDD!!". Right. And Randy Orton dislocated his shoulder because he's old too.

Then again, the almighty dirt-sheets also reported multiple times that TNA sold only 400 tickets for Huntsville or wherever it was so take this with a grain of salt. Read the spoilers every week. Half of the shit they say didn't happen the way it was "reported". Far from the truth.

... Didn't WWE let Bret Hart "wrestle" at WrestleMania? Why are dumb fucks like Brian in Austin freaking out then? Or did you think it was a WrestleMania classic? How many times did we see Ric Flair wrestle before his retirement? Almost every damn week. He wrestles in TNA once every three months and the IWC raises a fuss to the heavens above. Bret Hart alone has had like three matches. A guy that's had two strokes. But somehow Hogan is the evil of the world for feeling like having ONE last match, not three. Then you have Jimmy Snuka in the long list of half-dead corpses wrestling. Add Piper to that list as well. Difference between them and Flair/Sting is that all of those people didn't have one decent match. Sting and Flair, however, have. So what's the problem?

Oh wait, it's the TNA section. This is where we bitch and cry and moan and whine. Here you have Robert Roode getting a huge push. A TNA original, a new face in the Main Event scene. The very thing the IWC has been crying and moaning and bitching and whining to see for two years ever since Hogan came along and all I see is one thread about it that's getting lost in the shuffle due to other threads filled with mindless complaints and bitching. Look at the views and see what people are interested to read. Roode's thread is already getting passed by this one, the one about Hogan and Bischoff staying away from TNA and Gunner shitting on the IWC. That's all everyone cares about. Hate, bitching and some more bitching.

You'd think the IWC would be more excited for one of their dreams coming true. A young star getting a push that is. And it's not only Bobby. Aries also won the X-Division title. No one seems to talk about that. Or is it that you never wanted that to happen. You just wanted to bitch about it NOT happening .. yet. And when it does happen you look the other way and scan the company for something else to bitch about, because this task was completed. Just like you bitch about EVERYTHING. You don't want TNA to get better, you don't want wrestling to get better in general. You just want to look for shit to criticize so you can feel like smartasses.

Watch your favorite program, go on the Internet and discuss. This is not a discussion. There are no valid arguments, there is no common sense, there's just an unlimited stream of bias and ignorance.

 

[Peoples_Champ]

This is great marketing. Build on the health issues from the recent Flair story, the combined ages of the talent, the skepticism of internet reporting and people's desires to see a train wreck and you are going to increase your viewership.

The common message in every post so far is that everyone is going to have to see this match. Whether it really is a train wreck or it turns out to be something salvageable doesn't matter as long as it helps TNA's rating. No one is mistaking these two as the future of the company. Brilliant!

I agree 100%. My first thought when I heard about this was "I have to see how bad this match really is!" I can't remember the last time I saw TNA, but this will definitely give a bit of a boost to the show *plus* its taking attention away from WWE before their PPV.

The headline will be this horrible match, but all those guys that the IWC want to see will definitely be on before. If this happens, I will give the fools running TNA their due credit.

 

[wrestlingfanusa]

ok i havent read everyones post yet but i will bc i had to say this tna is kinda like people who go dumpster diving u know the types that go and find stuff and sometimes its really good stuff that works and sometimes its just utter awful well that reminds me of tna like with the talent they bring in sometimes its crap and sometimes they get gold like the crap they have brought in would be people like matt hardy rikishi dustin rhodes u know people like that others have worked out well like when they got joe and sting and anderson and rvd they are relying so much on wwe's leftovers and wat they need is a development place where they can bring in talent n let them grow they are relying on sting flair hogan angle etc to keep them up in the ratings or at least try to its like they are running on there last tank of gas bc flair wont be able to go forever yes idc wt the match review says look at the shape of sting u can laugh all you want ppl but show me someone that agile for his age taht does wat he does and flair can go pretty well for someone his age and he would retire but he cant bc of debt so i think they just had a off nite wat would really help if one of them could take time off n rehab some esp sting

 

[Dizzy]

Don't kill the messenger, but how do you take this news? Alarming? Not a big deal? Need to write an entire diatribe on how the internet sucks? Well, don't do the third, but do tell if you think this is something to be worried about.

Regardless of source, this is a bit alarming to me. It's been said for a while that Flair hasn't looked good and that Sting's matches have gotten progressively slower and worse. Putting them together seemed to me a recipe for disaster but the "draw" is what people kept arguing. We'll see tomorrow how this plays out, but this isn't the most encouraging of words about it.

Looking forward, that same Sting is going to take on Hogan, who arguably is in worse shape than Flair. Is this all a recipe for disaster? Keep in mind we're talking about the most hyped match on the BFG card. I can't imagine this is a positive sign, but I leave it to the masses. Discuss.

I read from two different reports that the match was pretty good for the time it got. So, I would take it with a grain of salt until tomorrow.

Obviously, this match was never going to be great but the simple fact you are talking about them in the same ring again is what makes it exciting and introducing even if you hate the idea of it, you still can't lie It's amazing to think about it. The only way you thought you could ever see Sting vs. Flair in the same ring or even face to face is in WWE if Sting went there but It's quite honestly pointless not to push these matches and promos. Like it or not, TNA is young and why shouldn't they pay dues by using some of the great legends in the ring atleast once?

There hasn't been ONE legend that hasn't headlined a major PPV just for the hype and ratings. I don't see it as any different. The match between Hogan and Sting has changed, so people's moaning and gowning over it should die down until we know what the official changed match will be.

 

[JJYanks121]

Well, I've been reading all of your responses all day and it's pretty much what I expected.

The most common thought defending the match is "we haven't seen it yet", which is fine. I'll watch it tomorrow with low expectations and we'll see. Thing is, why should I have to watch a major wrestling show put on a match that I have to lower my expectations for? Does that sound stupid to anyone else?

I understand that it is Flair and Sting. I also understand that these men have had so many great matches against one another. I also understand that Yogi Berra and Don Larsen teamed up in 1956 to throw a perfect game in the World Series, but I wouldn't want the Yankees to sign those guys now just for nostalgia purposes.

I mean, I get the fact that some people like nostalgia. I personally would rather pop in a DVD of when these guys were actually good rather than watch them impersonate that today, but to each their own. The problem we experience here is that people like Hogan, Flair, and the like could be fine managers and have a place in today's wrestling world in that capacity, but headlining major Pay Per Views or television shows? I don't find it to be a good idea. I mean, imagine someone trying out Impact Wrestling and seeing two shells of their former selves putting on a terrible match by wrestling standards (yes it may not be the worst performance ever, but compared to anything else on the card, it's going to suck). Do you think those people are going to be like "wow, this company has Ric Flair and Sting, I should stick around!" or are they more likely to say "oh, that's Ric Flair and Sting........what a shame".

Now, I can kind of see the argument the other way, but I'd think most people wouldn't. Thus, I present an alternative. It's something I have been behind for a long time and something I think could work quite well. Ladies and Gentleman, I present: Wrestling Old Timer's Day!

I got the idea at Yankee Old Timer's Day, something I've been to on a few occasions. It's nice to see guys either just retired or guys who haven't played in years gathering together to share old times and play and old timer's game. The guys who are healthy enough play while everyone gets an introduction and a round of applause. Imagine if WWE and TNA did their versions of this. You do a Saturday special or something for let's say 2 hours. You get who you can get, introduce the people with their credentials, and then just have a nostalgia show. This would be heavily supervised as the old guys could suffer a bit if something goes wrong, but the reason I think that this works while the Sting/Flair match doesn't is that it's not part of a major storyline. It's on a show where the wrestling is expected to be subpar and you are 100 percent shooting for an audience that understands that. The Old Timer's game at Yankee stadium sucks for the most part as guys jog for the balls and take weak hacks most of the time, but it's the idea that they used to be good but aren't anymore that's accepted. This concept in wrestling could work I think.

So there's my suggestion to prevent things like the match we will see tomorrow. I stand by the fact that it's a bad idea to do it to begin with, but I will also check it out and give my opinion based on what I see.

 

[xxxdaniel_ariesxxx]

What's next? Wait I shouldn't ask that, because the TNA board of directors are already looking into it probably...

Actually I believe they have already decided on the main event for next years Bound For Glory... it will be the re-match a century in the making... in one corner will be "The Russian Lion" George Hackenschmidt vs the man who robbed him of the World Title, the legendary and original "Dirtiest Player in the Game" Frank Gotch!!!

now, all joking aside...

when it comes too Hogan and Sting or Flair and Sting... I really have no interest in seeing either of these matches in 2011 unless I am watching one of the DVDs from my collection. Thats one thing that I can honestly say about WWE, while they might bring in the occasional fossil to have a serious match, they will usually put them in there with someone who can at least work to hide their weaknesses (the exception being Bret Hart vs Mr. McMahon at WMXXVI).

All I can say is I hope that Roode is up the the task of putting on such a classic that it makes up for the sure fire suckfest that will be Hogan and Sting (come on, admit it, this match is going to be bad... one the the participants can barely walk, let alone put on a decent match). And I hope that the Angle/Roode match goes on last so we are not stuck with Hogan/Sting being that last thing we remember from TNAs biggest show of the year.

 

[Brian in Austin]

I don't trust scum-sheets so until I see it with my own eyes I can't really have an opinion. It is very likely, though. If it did happen like that then at least it's a signal for some people to hang it up. *Cough* Woo .. *Cough*.

We get shitty matches on a weekly basis. In WWE and TNA. If this sucked, then it's a crappy bonus. But of course I can never expect the IWC to have some common sense. Sting's had great matches, Flair's had great matches (even though they were months ago), and if this one sucked - dudes are havin' a bad night. That's pretty much what it was IF true. It was not Flair being too old, or Sting for that matter. Wrestlers have bad matches. They forget spots, they get hurt, you know the drill.

And I'm not trying to find excuses. Just think for a moment. Think of Flair's last ... say five matches. Then think of Sting's. Are any of them absolutely horrible? Nope. None of them are great either. But this match seems like a shit storm. So out of all the decent matches they have at the same age they are right now, same health, same everything, they have one bad match (supposedly) and everyone goes bananas about it? This isn't Rob Terry. It's Ric Flair and Sting.

Now, if both Flair and Sting had bad matches consitently, and the matches were obviously bad due to their age and limitations due to said age - then you have yourself a freaking argument. But no. The majority of their matches are not that bad.

Flair had a pretty good match with Mick Foley. Don't remember anyone praising him for it, saying he's still got it? But the minute ... no wait, the second there's a "report" about Flair having a bad match with Sting everyone goes crazy. TNA is running this that way, that's their fault. Then it's Flair's fault. Then it's Sting's fault. Then it's the popcorn vendor's fault.

Ric Flair hurt his arm? "IT'S BEKAUSE HE'S OLDDDD!!". Right. And Randy Orton dislocated his shoulder because he's old too.

Then again, the almighty dirt-sheets also reported multiple times that TNA sold only 400 tickets for Huntsville or wherever it was so take this with a grain of salt. Read the spoilers every week. Half of the shit they say didn't happen the way it was "reported". Far from the truth.

... Didn't WWE let Bret Hart "wrestle" at WrestleMania? Why are dumb fucks like Brian in Austin freaking out then? Or did you think it was a WrestleMania classic? How many times did we see Ric Flair wrestle before his retirement? Almost every damn week. He wrestles in TNA once every three months and the IWC raises a fuss to the heavens above. Bret Hart alone has had like three matches. A guy that's had two strokes. But somehow Hogan is the evil of the world for feeling like having ONE last match, not three. Then you have Jimmy Snuka in the long list of half-dead corpses wrestling. Add Piper to that list as well. Difference between them and Flair/Sting is that all of those people didn't have one decent match. Sting and Flair, however, have. So what's the problem?

Oh wait, it's the TNA section. This is where we bitch and cry and moan and whine. Here you have Robert Roode getting a huge push. A TNA original, a new face in the Main Event scene. The very thing the IWC has been crying and moaning and bitching and whining to see for two years ever since Hogan came along and all I see is one thread about it that's getting lost in the shuffle due to other threads filled with mindless complaints and bitching. Look at the views and see what people are interested to read. Roode's thread is already getting passed by this one, the one about Hogan and Bischoff staying away from TNA and Gunner shitting on the IWC. That's all everyone cares about. Hate, bitching and some more bitching.

You'd think the IWC would be more excited for one of their dreams coming true. A young star getting a push that is. And it's not only Bobby. Aries also won the X-Division title. No one seems to talk about that. Or is it that you never wanted that to happen. You just wanted to bitch about it NOT happening .. yet. And when it does happen you look the other way and scan the company for something else to bitch about, because this task was completed. Just like you bitch about EVERYTHING. You don't want TNA to get better, you don't want wrestling to get better in general. You just want to look for shit to criticize so you can feel like smartasses.

Watch your favorite program, go on the Internet and discuss. This is not a discussion. There are no valid arguments, there is no common sense, there's just an unlimited stream of bias and ignorance.

Good Morning ZZ: I noticed that you made a reference to me in your post so I thought I'd offer some thoughts sans any personal attacks.

First, let me say this about Ric Flair. I believe him to have been one of, if not the, most charismatic wrestlers not only of his time, but of all time. What he did to put pro wrestling front and center during the territory days can't be overestimated and he's a legendary figure thru and thru. His efforts to put over other wrestlers also shows his passion for the business and his desire to not only remain a viable part of 'the show' but also his desire to see that the next generation gets their opportunity to shine as well. I have enormous respect for what he's done for the business and his passion to continue to push forward as a pro wrestler are unmatched in my opinion.

With that said, it cannot be ignored that he's physically unable to put on a match as he was years ago. His mere appearance and red-faced rants alone aren't enough anymore to put the product over with all fans. Will some react and say his latest promo was 'great?' Of course they will because they love Ric Flair, and in the end that's fine. But it doesn't mean that the overall contribution serves the larger purpose in the best possible way. Does anyone think today that his match with Jay Lethal, when Lethal disrobed him down to his underwear was really necessary to put Lethal over? And where is Lethal now by the way? Point is, that match is a microcosym of what I'm talking about. That match didn't serve the larger purpose and in fact failed horribly. Did it create a 'moment' for fans? Yes, but it was fleeting at best.

ZZ, I get that you're a huge TNA fan and based on most of your commentary here it's clear you are willing to give them the benefit of the doubt most of the time. Good for you, but I believe your logic is flawed if we look at the facts.

1. TNA has not made progress in television ratings, which is allegedly why Hogan and Bischoff came on board.

2. While it's true that ONE GUY in Roode is FINALLY getting a push, what cannot be ignored is that the status quo remains. Meaning, it's the grizzled veterans who continue to be 'the guys' in TNA and it has been so since Hogan and Bischoff arrived. Examples: WHC's include Sting, Kurt Angle, Jeff Hardy, Mr. Anderson.

3. While they are now finally taking their show on the road to different arenas for tapings, it also cannot be ignored that in the last 5 years their company has not really progressed on a measurable, positive trajectory. They tried to compete with WWE on Monday nights and got hammered. They tried an after the show, show and that failed. They've tried going 3 hours and that failed. Their PPV's are not getting the buyrates they need. Clearly they are now piping in crowd noise for the tv broadcasts because their fans are largely sitting on their hands during tapings. They've tried live programming and that failed.

Let me wrap this up by saying that as a wrestling fan I WANT TNA to succeed as I believe a rising tide lifts all boats. It keeps more pro wrestlers employed, it makes WWE continue to improve their product, and most of all it's good for fans to have more than one choice for their programming.

Anyone who is approaching this issue logically has to wonder who is really running the show and how long they can continue to wander aimlessly before it starts impacting them financially to the point that it threatens their existence. How long can they continue to pay high-priced talent like Hogan, Bischoff, Sting, Angle, Hardy, and others without getting a ROI before it blows a hole in the bank account?

I for one hope they can turn things around, but past history indicates that isn't likely to happen.

 

[neildittmar]

I liked your post Brian... it pretty much sums up how I feel about TNA even though I would consider myself a fan, though not a long-time one.

It's difficult to argue that even on paper, Flair vs. Sting had solid potential to be an absolute train wreck. Though I'm also of the I'll believe it when I see it opinion, it's not a stretch to think that these two at their advanced ages had a really, really bad match. Will I still watch though? Absolutely! Will I call a spade a spade and proclaim the match terrible if I believe it is in fact so? Definitely. What I won't do is stop watching the program or come on here berating TNA in its entirety for what equates to "one bad match."

In my opinion, it's all about perspective. I don't think TNA has promoted Flair/Sting as the "match of the century" or anything close by any stretch. Maybe I've grown a bit numb to the whole hype train, but the build-up to Flair/Sting hasn't been much different than any other feud that has come down the pike in TNA in my eyes. Dare I say that it's achieved somewhat of an "afterthought" status to a degree, in that Stings victory over Flair is pretty much a lock so that the pending Hogan/Sting match at Bound For Glory can happen. This makes the match in question even less relevant from a "total picture" perspective.

Speaking of which, that's the match I think TNA is really getting behind to sell BFG tickets and PPV. A Flair/Sting one-off on iMPACT going south is one thing. A Hogan/Sting confrontation that has been promoted and built for nearly a year, presented as a top card billed matchup on TNA's biggest show is entirely another. If one individual miscue has the potential to really hurt the company long-term, a truly terrible Hogan/Sting match is it.

That's the match that has me concerned about the company as a whole a lot more than Flair/Sting on iMPACT ever would or could.

 

[Brian in Austin]

I liked your post Brian... it pretty much sums up how I feel about TNA even though I would consider myself a fan, though not a long-time one.

It's difficult to argue that even on paper, Flair vs. Sting had solid potential to be an absolute train wreck. Though I'm also of the I'll believe it when I see it opinion, it's not a stretch to think that these two at their advanced ages had a really, really bad match. Will I still watch though? Absolutely! Will I call a spade a spade and proclaim the match terrible if I believe it is in fact so? Definitely. What I won't do is stop watching the program or come on here berating TNA in its entirety for what equates to "one bad match."

In my opinion, it's all about perspective. I don't think TNA has promoted Flair/Sting as the "match of the century" or anything close by any stretch. Maybe I've grown a bit numb to the whole hype train, but the build-up to Flair/Sting hasn't been much different than any other feud that has come down the pike in TNA in my eyes. Dare I say that it's achieved somewhat of an "afterthought" status to a degree, in that Stings victory over Flair is pretty much a lock so that the pending Hogan/Sting match at Bound For Glory can happen. This makes the match in question even less relevant from a "total picture" perspective.

Speaking of which, that's the match I think TNA is really getting behind to sell BFG tickets and PPV. A Flair/Sting one-off on iMPACT going south is one thing. A Hogan/Sting confrontation that has been promoted and built for nearly a year, presented as a top card billed matchup on TNA's biggest show is entirely another. If one individual miscue has the potential to really hurt the company long-term, a truly terrible Hogan/Sting match is it.

That's the match that has me concerned about the company as a whole a lot more than Flair/Sting on iMPACT ever would or could.

Excellent post my friend. I am one who likes to deal in facts, which is what prompted my last post. At the end of the day, TNA is a business and their decision-making has to be based in what is best for their business. As a smaller promotion than their largest competitor, TNA doesn't have the luxury of making big mistakes in booking and promoting their biggest PPV of the year by risking that the match that is going to be their main event (regardless of where it appears on the card) comes off badly. Hulk Hogan HIMSELF has said he's not sure day to day if he can physically compete. Merely that alone would be enough for me, were I in the meetings, to question the sanity of this decision and the risks involved in going forward with this match. Not risks to his health necessarily, but risks involved in how this will be perceived beyond the PPV and whether or not, if it comes off poorly, it impacts their ability to bring in better, and younger, talent for the future. Let's say, for example, that WWE has a talented hand at the end of his contract and he's contemplating making the jump because he's been told he'd get a push in TNA. He watches BFG, the Sting/Hogan match comes off horribly, TNA gets buried by the wrestling media, AGAIN, and their buyrates were down as well. AGAIN! You think THAT guy is going to TNA after that mess? And before anyone writes the idea off as nonsense, need I remind you all of the Jeff Hardy fiasco? Does anyone really believe that C.M. Punk, for example, EVER seriously considered going to TNA after stepping back and looking at not only their infrastructure, but their leadership? (or lack of it)

At the end of the day, it is what it is. It's Sting v. Hogan being billed as the headlining match at their biggest PPV of the year, which speaks VOLUMES about what the officials at TNA REALLY think of the young talent they have on their roster. And THAT is not a good thing!

 

[GrandSword]

Now that the match has aired, what is everyone's view on it? We Aussies don't get it till Saturday night so was wondering what everyone's thoughts are now that the match has been on tv.

 

[Dizzy]

What? Who the hell said Hogan vs. Sting is headlining the PPV? The World title match has always headlined a TNA PPV and it won't change now.

Secondly, we have heard reports of the match between Hogan/Sting changing into a Tag Team match however, I didn't post it because It's considered spoilers.

So, again, people are really exaggerating with this match. It's not the end all or be all but it is the importance of the company, kayfabe wise. Besides, Hogan/Bischoff's contracts expire October 28th. This will probably be the last time we see Hogan.

Again, you all are complaining over nothing. Roode is being pushed, Storm being pushed, Crimson being pushed, Gunner being pushed, Aries being heavily pushed and Sorensen being pushed. Focus on that. Hogan/Sting is simply a match set up for the name value, hype, storyline and potential exit angle for Hogan/Bischoff era. Nothing more, nothing less.

 

[BigDaddyKewl]

I didnt think the Sting vs Flair match was that bad. Pretty similar to every match Flair has had in the last 20 years. Flair took a superplex which was impressive. I think the match "was suitable" for TV.

 

[JJYanks121]

What? Who the hell said Hogan vs. Sting is headlining the PPV? The World title match has always headlined a TNA PPV and it won't change now.

Secondly, we have heard reports of the match between Hogan/Sting changing into a Tag Team match however, I didn't post it because It's considered spoilers.

So, again, people are really exaggerating with this match. It's not the end all or be all but it is the importance of the company, kayfabe wise. Besides, Hogan/Bischoff's contracts expire October 28th. This will probably be the last time we see Hogan.

Again, you all are complaining over nothing. Roode is being pushed, Storm being pushed, Crimson being pushed, Gunner being pushed, Aries being heavily pushed and Sorensen being pushed. Focus on that. Hogan/Sting is simply a match set up for the name value, hype, storyline and potential exit angle for Hogan/Bischoff era. Nothing more, nothing less.

You do realize that you posted this in a thread solely about the Flair/Sting match right?

As for the match, other than being way too long (how that gets 15 minutes while young talent gets like 6 in main events is beyond me), it wasn't unwatchable. I mean, it wasn't good by any stretch, but I got through it.

Put it this way, if you expected a slow paced, basically nothing match between two legends, you got that. Very little happened, there were a couple of cringe-worthy big spots thrown in, and that was it. I won't even mention the nonsensical overbooked ending, but basically here's what we got: it was watchable and not much past that. Keep in mind this was edited so the truly bad stuff might not have been seen but since I was the one who posted the information to start this conversation, I figured I'd follow through. Well there it is, now what about you? Did any of you think this match was good? Barely watchable? Not watchable at all? Speak now!

 

[Papa Pillman]

I may be in the minority but, assuming that the worst of the "botching" took place during the commercial break segment of the match, I feel that the match we saw wasn't bad at all. In fact there were a couple of nice spots(that superplex was sick). What I saw were two guys who know how to work with each other doing everything they could to try and hide their physical shortcomings well enough to put on a match that entertained the people and progreesed the story-arch, and they seemed to have succeeded.

 

[Zeven_Zion]

So where were the spots Sting forgot? Nowhere. The match was flowing together as well as it could. Was it good? Eh ... I've seen better. Was it bad? I've seen worse. Not a classic, not an eye bleeder. It was just good to see those two in the ring again.

And Flair hurt his arm during the match? You mean, he was SELLING it throughout the match and whoever reported it thought it was for real? Flair is pretty good! Then again, he's like Obi Wan. His tricks only work on the weak minded.

As always, the dirt sheets eat a dick as soon as the show airs which was my point in the first place. Here's a clue : next time don't jump to conclusions. Negative OR positive. Not JJ - the ignorant ones.

Saying the match is going to be dreadful is just as ignorant as saying it's going to be an amazing contest. It was neither. The only really fucked up thing about it was the finish. Didn't like it. TNA has a lot of issues to iron in that department overall. Other than that - mediocre at best but enjoyable if you like Naitch. He always makes it worth my while.

Were the crappy stuff edited? Maybe, maybe not. It's harder to edit a match than to edit a promo. I'm judging by what I saw because everything beyond that is mindless speculation. And what I saw I liked, except for the finish. I get why it was done, and the idea was nice, but the execution was choppy and very poor.

... woo.

 

[George Steele's Barber]

Besides the poorly executed run-ins and brass knuckles made out of feathers this was what it was. It was a far cry (maybe through editing) from the description in the original post. While I was being somewhat sarcastic (look up sarcasm in a dictionary Brian in Austin) regarding my confidence in the brilliance of leaking a fake story about the old-man botches and near heart attacks I still think it is a possibility that TNA leaked this story to promote a train wreck and pull in more viewers.

 

[Dowdsy McDowds]

Just watched the 9 min version of the YouTube channel and I found it quite enjoyable for what it was. Flair didn't look in good shape but still did a fine job regardless, and deserves props for taking that super-plex bump.

The run-in I didn't mind that much to be honest as it had no bearing on the outcome and was another failed attempt by Hogan to get out of a match which showed his weakening power and confidence. The only thing I didn't like about the run-in segment was Earl Hebner just standing about and not really attempting to get people out of the ring. Even when Anderson is standing in the ring with a chair, Earl just kinda looks at him and keeps leaning against the ropes. A minor thing but it was irksome nonetheless.

The match was fine, had the crowd into it and ended with a nice image of Sting beckoning Hogan on while he made Flair tap.

 

[neildittmar]

Now that I've seen the match, I revert back to what I said in my prior post. The success (or failure) of Flair/Sting last night was all about perspective.

If you were expecting a continuation of their feud from the late 80's/early 90's when both men were at their peak, you were likely disappointed.

If you were demanding a confrontation between two legends in their prime that could still work like they did 20-30 years ago, you were likely disappointed.

If you could rationalize that Sting and Flair are in their 50's and 60's respectively, were advancing a storyline, and giving the fans pretty much everything they had left, then you might've been on the right track of appreciating this match for what it was. Yes, Sting carried the bulk of the match. Yes, Flair looked like he was literally going to die at certain points. Yes, there were some botched spots and miscues and yes, nearly anyone could tell that the match the TV audience saw was HEAVILY edited.

On the contrary, it was nowhere near unwatchable though and was certainly suitable for television. For comparison purposes, it wasn't that Jackie Gayda match by any stretch of the mind. It wasn't the absolute trainwreck it was anticipated or made out to be.

While I wouldn't want to see this kind of thing on my TV week in and week out, Sting/Flair as a one-off was nowhere near the attrocity the dirt sheets made it out to be, which I expected. It also wasn't a 5-star encounter between two legends in the match of their lives, which I also expected.

That said, sometimes it's best to go in with low (or no) expectations and possibly be pleasantly surprised rather than trash something from the get-go, then subsequently pat yourself on the back when you were "right" about all the things you said prior.

 

[Brian in Austin]

Having watched it I can say it wasn't as bad as I had expected, but it was still pretty bad. Clearly, Sting was carrying Flair throughout, and Flair has no business wrestling anymore. I get the nostalgic interest in this match and the storyline leading to Hogan v. Sting. But now that it's come out that Hogan has said he "absolutely can't take any falls" does anyone STILL believe their match is a good idea?

 

[dammit100]

I know he's old, but it seems like Flair was moving at half speed last night. I get methodical pacing but DAMN.

 

[MisterRob]

If your perspective is from them being two old guys in their 50s and 60s wrestling.. then the match was watchable. If your perspective is comparing it to the current wrestling landscape of 2011... then these two guys had NO business even being in the ring wrestling. Flair looked and moved around like a 60 year old man, and you could tell by some of the bumps he took and some of the alterations to moves (like how he took the Scorpion Deathlock) that he should not have been wrestling at all. You have an entire roster of young, primed, ready wrestlers who can put on good matches, if not exciting and great matches, and instead you give the main event to two old men, one whose likely going to die in the ring.

It's all perspective, really. But I don't think perspective makes TNA look very good for deciding Sting/Flair needed to be done in 2011.

 

[T2KFreeker]

After watching the match finally, I can say this: the "Source" was full of $-hit! I will not say that this match was a classic. It's not to the level these men worked during their tenure at WCW, but it was a fine match. It got the job done and neither Sting nor Flair looked anywhere as bad as it was said. It could have been much worse than it was. Now all we have to do is pray that the match at BFG is even close to that and that it's hopefully not the main event that closes out the show. The match was competent and did what it was meant to do which was lead up to Sting VS Hogan. Nuff' Said.

 

[Brian in Austin]

After watching the match finally, I can say this: the "Source" was full of $-hit! I will not say that this match was a classic. It's not to the level these men worked during their tenure at WCW, but it was a fine match. It got the job done and neither Sting nor Flair looked anywhere as bad as it was said. It could have been much worse than it was. Now all we have to do is pray that the match at BFG is even close to that and that it's hopefully not the main event that closes out the show. The match was competent and did what it was meant to do which was lead up to Sting VS Hogan. Nuff' Said.

But you can't possibly believe that was a good match, or that Flair should be wrestling anymore. He was clearly not only out of shape, but looked almost fragile in there. Sting was very cautious with him trying to ensure their safety during the match. I'm a big fan of both men but Ric needs to stop! It's time and he could be so much better behind the scenes. Sting is also near the end now and I think he should also consider hanging it up. And lastly, I'm happy to hear that it appears Hogan is also going to call it a career. I've admired all these men gave to their profession and would like to know that each retired relatively healthy instead of permanently injured, much like Hogan is now.

 

[New Hot Fed]

I know he's old, but it seems like Flair was moving at half speed last night. I get methodical pacing but DAMN.

He was far quicker than that when he faced Hogan in early 2010. I think he must not be in great shape last Impact. But the match was not as bad as I thought it would be.

 

[Brian in Austin]

Now comes word that the Sting/Flair match was heavily edited, which doesn't surprise me. So what we saw was as much good footage as they could use, which speaks volumes about how bad it really was.