Steamboat-Flair grand finale feud

[TEIWCSCSAATBHPHASP]

https://youtu.be/U_xnxy0cGE0

Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat V. "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair w/Sherri Martel

Date: July 27, 1994
Scene: WCW (The Main Event)

Entering 1994, Steamboat engaged in one last feud with longtime rival Flair over the WCW World Heavyweight Championship Belt, culminating in a main event match at the 1994 Spring Stampede PPV best notable for both men's shoulders being pinned at the same time. It wasn't quite the end of the feud overall, as on the May 14, 1994 edition of WCW Saturday Night, Flair defeated Steamboat to reclaim sole possession of the Big Gold Belt. Their final singles match was on Main Event in July which ended on a disqualification when "Stunning" Steve Austin (the man who would eventually in 2-3 years later go on to become the top megastar of the WWF's Attitude Era in the late 90s/early 2000s) interfered. The end point of the Steamboat/Flair feud was a bonus tag team match on the July 31, 1994 edition of WCW Main Event where Steamboat enlisted Sting as his tag team partner for the night, while Flair enlisted Austin.

This was the official final singles matchup bout between Flair and Steamboat, because shortly thereafter, Steamboat wound up accumulating a career-ending injury at Fall Brawl and had to be replaced by incoming WCW newcomer and ex-WWF import "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan. Not to mention, I think WCW and Bischoff in 1994 had a trying time period of having to adjust to Hogan and the rest of the WWF imports, when WCW signed Hogan away from the WWF after a failed attempt at Thunder In Paradise and branching out a film career for himself in Hollywood, California.

In addition, after having spent the early 1990s seemingly being the definite future face of the WCW franchise as the colorful, energetic Surfer Sting, having squared off against the likes of Flair, Luger, Rude and Vader and peaked in 1993; Hogan's arrival in 1994 and Randy Savage later that year meant that Sting had to be stunted down a bit to the upper midcard, and it was pretty evidently clear that Sting started losing motivation as an in-ring worker because WCW slowly (but clearly) began to turn away from the realistic pure wrestling (Sting/Flair) and into a cartoony WWF wannabe company (Hogan/Savage), even though the wrestling remained as real as ever prior to the nWo era.

Hogan & Savage's arrivals in WCW meant that Surfer Sting looked anything but his trademark energetic bouncy self, and by 1995-96, it was pretty clear that Sting decided to stop dying his natural black/brown hair bleach blonde (the Guile-esque flattop haircut). Flair also started losing favor with the WCW bookers and lost a lot of input as a consequence for convincing Bischoff to hire Hogan in the first place, and would eventually do nothing of note for most of the late 1990s until a career revival with the WWF/E in the 2000s cleaned up his career trajectory outlook a little bit with the help of Triple H and Shawn Michaels.

Anyways, Flair and Steamboat's final ever feud could very well serve as one of the most underrated gems, if not the most definite underrated gem of all. Ever since Flair returned to WCW in early 1993, he ended up being utilized as a face because of his absence since the infamous Great American Bash '91 incident with Jim Herd (since fired). After spending almost the entire 1993 as a babyface with Arn Anderson, Paul Roma and Paul Orndorff as The Four Horsemen, Flair became a tweener as 1994 arrived, whether he was acting as a face against Barry Windham or acting as a heel when it came to Ricky Steamboat and Sting, before going full-on heel once Hulk Hogan arrived for Bash At The Beach '94.

 

[Makaveli31]

I agree. If Flair-Steamboat had been waged in the WWF in front of 60,000 plus at SkyDome or in front of 100,000 at the Silverdome it would be regarded as the great feud of all time. Two of the greatest to ever step into the ring, waging war with each other. Flair, the ultimate playboy vs Steamboat the ultimate family man. When we spoke about all time great feuds this was never mentioned because it wasn't waged in the aforementioned mentioned domes and stadiums. It was waged BEFORE WCW elevated itself on the same level as the WWE. It that sense we can thank Hulk Hogan for that.

It just shows you the level of star power Hogan had over Flair. He consider Hogan and Flair equals but Hogan brought WrestleMania to the WWF. Flair was wrestling Steamboat at the UIC Pavilion in front of a couple thousand fans. Flair-Steamboat was the last "throwback" to the days of the NWA when wrestling mattered. It was only a matter of time before Hogan took what worked "up north" and tried to shoehorn it to fit WCW which backfired i.e. Dungeon of Doom.

Like you said, Sting (the franchise of WCW) became disenfranchised and grew out his hair. He later took more than year off from actual in-ring wrestling. Hogan used his creative control to make sure he was not put on a politically disadvantageous position. He brought in guys like Brutus Beefcake, Honky Tonk Man, John Tenta, Hacksaw Duggan to make sure he had his "boys" to counter Flair, Anderson, Sullivan, Rhodes etc....

But yes the Flair-Steamboat rivalry of '94 is an underestimated gem.

 

[FlairFan2003]

In terms of star power, Flair & Steamboat did sell out in a fairly large arena in Nashville for WrestleWar 89. Lets not forget Starrcade was drawing houses well over $900,000 in an era where ticket prices were mostly $10 & under, with Flair as the main event. In fact, not only where WWE & Hogan not doing anything that big at the time it was that success that lead to the formation of W-Mania in the 1st place. Factor in the attendance at Closed Circuit locations and Flair in those days was main eventing in front of 50-60 thousand fans.

When Meltzer reviewed house show & PPV attendance in the 1980s for all of Pro Wrestling, Hogan did lead every year from 84-89 but Flair finished 1st or 2nd nationwide in every year but 1988 (3rd). Flair also was ranked as wrestling's top draw in 1992 & 1995 & ranked high in 94 & 96 (the last years he wrestled a full time schedule). He was a Top 10 draw nationwide in 1999 also.

Steamboat really had the misfortune of coming to WCW during down times & of being "the fill in" storyline between much more heavily promoted feuds. In 1989 WCW was in the misdt of a major overhaul having struggled in 1988 with the controversies surrounding Dusty Rhodes booking & Jim Crockett's sale to Ted Turner. Flair-Luger was the mega feud ending the Crockett era and Steamboat was basically a go between to get to the Flair Face Turn and the huge Flair/Sting-Terry Funk wars that revitalized (momentarily) of the company. In 1994 Steamboat's run came on the heels of a heavily promoted money making feud between Flair & Vader and could have stood on its own except almost immediately rumors of Hogan to WCW started and undermined the feud, as well as shorter runs Flair did with Steve Regal & Barry Whyndam immediately after.

The last televised singles match between them really was to just to advance Flair's cowardly heel turn (to oppose Hogan) and put over Steve Austin (Steamboat's next opponent, hence the very good Flair/Austin vs Sting/Steamboat tag match that was truly the last televised confrontation between them). A better match (one of their very best) was the final World Title Match between the two in May. An excellent back & forth 40 minute showcase that easily stands with their acclaimed work in 89.

 

[Makaveli31]

In terms of star power, Flair & Steamboat did sell out in a fairly large arena in Nashville for WrestleWar 89. Lets not forget Starrcade was drawing houses well over $900,000 in an era where ticket prices were mostly $10 & under, with Flair as the main event. In fact, not only where WWE & Hogan not doing anything that big at the time it was that success that lead to the formation of W-Mania in the 1st place. Factor in the attendance at Closed Circuit locations and Flair in those days was main eventing in front of 50-60 thousand fans.

A fairly large arena? WrestleWar '89 drew 5200 fans compared with WrestleMania 5 which drew almost 19,000 fans and probably could have drew more but Vince had a deal with Donald Trump to bring WrestleMania to Atlantic City. We're comparing apples and oranges here. Yes, Starrcade was drawing in places like Greensboro, NC once they outside Greensboro it tanked. Starrcade '87 in Chicago were only 8,000 fans to the UIC Pavilion. Again, compare that to over 90,000 to WrestleMania III in Detroit. Starrcade '88 drew only 10,000 fans. Starrcade '90 drew 7,000 fans. Yes, Flair drew in places in North Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia but Hogan was drawing in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. That's why the WWF became a national promotion and JCP ended up selling to Ted Turner.

I'm not disputing the fact that Flair was a DRAW but I'm just saying imagine if Flair-Steamboat had the WWF machine behind them in the late 80's/early '90s when this classic feud went down. We'd be talking about Flair-Steamboat like we talk about Savage-Steamboat or Bret-Shawn.

 

[FlairFan2003]

A fairly large arena? WrestleWar '89 drew 5200 fans compared with WrestleMania 5 which drew almost 19,000 fans and probably could have drew more but Vince had a deal with Donald Trump to bring WrestleMania to Atlantic City. We're comparing apples and oranges here. Yes, Starrcade was drawing in places like Greensboro, NC once they outside Greensboro it tanked. Starrcade '87 in Chicago were only 8,000 fans to the UIC Pavilion. Again, compare that to over 90,000 to WrestleMania III in Detroit. Starrcade '88 drew only 10,000 fans. Starrcade '90 drew 7,000 fans. Yes, Flair drew in places in North Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia but Hogan was drawing in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. That's why the WWF became a national promotion and JCP ended up selling to Ted Turner.

I'm not disputing the fact that Flair was a DRAW but I'm just saying imagine if Flair-Steamboat had the WWF machine behind them in the late 80's/early '90s when this classic feud went down. We'd be talking about Flair-Steamboat like we talk about Savage-Steamboat or Bret-Shawn.

Most people do, the 1989 series between them is often cited as the best main event feud of the era for combining match quality with feud quality. In fact, following wrestling for over 30 years, Ive seen this held up by critics as "the best", not too mention all the props newer talent like HBK, HHH, & Jericho have given it.

Its clearly regarded as Steamboat's best feud by a wide margin. Flair's career was so long its hard to clearly state what his best feud was but this is always near the top alongside Dusty Rhodes, Sting, & Savage.

 

[Makaveli31]

Most people do, the 1989 series between them is often cited as the best main event feud of the era for combining match quality with feud quality. In fact, following wrestling for over 30 years, Ive seen this held up by critics as "the best", not too mention all the props newer talent like HBK, HHH, & Jericho have given it.

Its clearly regarded as Steamboat's best feud by a wide margin. Flair's career was so long its hard to clearly state what his best feud was but this is always near the top alongside Dusty Rhodes, Sting, & Savage.

I think if you did a poll of wrestling fans who were FANS of that era (1987-1990) and asked them what was Rick Steamboat's defining feud most people would answer the feud with Macho Man Randy Savage which played out on WWF TV in front of millions of people and culminated in the Wrestle Mania III match in front of 90,000 plus fans. Steamboat's feud with Flair might have been the best in terms of match quality but if we're talking the most memorable it would have to be the feud with Savage.

 

[FlairFan2003]

I think if you did a poll of wrestling fans who were FANS of that era (1987-1990) and asked them what was Rick Steamboat's defining feud most people would answer the feud with Macho Man Randy Savage which played out on WWF TV in front of millions of people and culminated in the Wrestle Mania III match in front of 90,000 plus fans. Steamboat's feud with Flair might have been the best in terms of match quality but if we're talking the most memorable it would have to be the feud with Savage.

Where are you taking this poll, New York ? Nationwide in the 1980s Steamboat's run with Flair is considered his best run in his career, his run with Savage definstely gets props, as do runs vs Rick Rude & Steve Austin and a few others (to lesser degree), but to this day their 1989 series is still regarded as the best main event program of the era & one of the best all time, great promos, great twists, and classic matches galore. They even won 1st & 3rd place in the annual Pro Wrestling Illustrated Readers Poll for Match of The Year.

This thread was about their 1994 run, which was good, although the last few encounters were more about advancing other storylines (Steamboat vs Austin, Flair vs Hogan).

 

[MrMojoRisin]

Where are you taking this poll, New York ? Nationwide in the 1980s Steamboat's run with Flair is considered his best run in his career, his run with Savage definstely gets props, as do runs vs Rick Rude & Steve Austin and a few others (to lesser degree), but to this day their 1989 series is still regarded as the best main event program of the era & one of the best all time, great promos, great twists, and classic matches galore. They even won 1st & 3rd place in the annual Pro Wrestling Illustrated Readers Poll for Match of The Year.

This thread was about their 1994 run, which was good, although the last few encounters were more about advancing other storylines (Steamboat vs Austin, Flair vs Hogan).

Absolutely correct. The casuals who only either followed or only knew about the WWF would have cited Steamboat/Savage - and that was an amazing feud. Possibly my favorite WWF feud of the 80's.

But Steamboat/Flair in '89 was on a level I don't think has ever been matched. Anyone who followed more than just the WWF back then agreed with this too.

 

[Makaveli31]

Where are you taking this poll, New York ? Nationwide in the 1980s Steamboat's run with Flair is considered his best run in his career, his run with Savage definstely gets props, as do runs vs Rick Rude & Steve Austin and a few others (to lesser degree), but to this day their 1989 series is still regarded as the best main event program of the era & one of the best all time, great promos, great twists, and classic matches galore. They even won 1st & 3rd place in the annual Pro Wrestling Illustrated Readers Poll for Match of The Year.

Well last I checked both Saturday Night's Main Event and Superstars of Wrestling were NATIONALLY broadcast and syndicated shows so I don't know where you get "New York" from. In fact it's just the opposite, if you ask people in the Carolina's and the "South" they would say the "Flair feud" in reference to Steamboat's most memorable but if you fans in LA, Chicago, Detroit, Seattle, Phoenix, etc....I would almost guarantee they would say the "Savage feud". All I have to do is point to the numbers WrestleMania III in the Silverdome 90,000 plus vs 5,000 at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium or 8,000 at the UIC Pavilion for Steamboat/Flair. So yes if you ask NATIONWIDE fans of the era (1987-1990) MOST would say Steamboat/Savage because the WWF was a NATIONWIDE promotion. WCW, while they were on the SuperStation, just could not reach the same audience nationally as the WWF could in the late '80's. The proof is in the pudding.

Now that brings me to my ORIGINAL point in that Savage-Steamboat is revered. It is universally regarded as the match that changed the business in that money could be made using smaller wrestlers (220-230) and not just heavyweights. Savage-Steamboat transcended the business not because of match quality (it was great) but it was done in front of 90,000. If Flair-Steamboat has that kind of audience their feud would be "under rated" or a "forgotten gem" it would be thought about like Savage-Steamboat or Bret-Shawn by the MASSES and not just hardcore who traded tapes back in the day.

 

[Makaveli31]

I'm sorry would *NOT* be underrated or considered a forgotten gem.

 

[LBGetBack]

Just watched Spring Stampede '94 for the first time. I watched WCW as a kid in the 90s pretty regularly, but never saw any of the PPVs until YouTube and now the WWE Network came into play.

Flair-Steamboat main event was just phenomenal. I remember seeing their TV matches during this feud, which were also great. Nice to also finally see this one.

Also, that Nasty Boys vs. Cactus Jack and Maxx Payne brawl....wow! You didn't see those kinds of matches in WCW or WWF at that time. Rhodes- Bunkhouse had a lot of blood too, and Vader bled too. Lots of blood for a 1994 PPV.

For anyone who remembers.....why did Vader stop wrestling with his mask back then? Was there an on screen reason?

 

[Nature Boy]

I think the Flair/Steamboat feud of 1994 is very underrated.

There was some great stuff going on.

Not only were the matches awesome, but if you look at the promos from the time, you can see the slow, subtle Heel turn from Flair and even Steamboat was more edgy than usual.

While Steamboat finished his career as the US Champion, which is no bad thing at all, I always thought that he should have got another run with the Big Gold during the 1994 program with Flair.