A Guide To A Historic Rivalry

Highlights

• Sting vs Ric Flair: A legendary rivalry that spanned decades across NWA, WCW, and TNA, leaving a lasting impact on pro wrestling.
• The first match between Sting and Flair set the stage for their classic formula with memorable spots and established Sting's place in WCW.
• The final match between Sting and Flair on WCW Nitro marked the end of their historic rivalry, but they later reunited in TNA and may have one last match in AEW.

The legendary rivalry between Sting and Ric Flair is a tale of two wrestling legends who have forged their legacies together to form the ultimate wrestling rivalry that transcended time. In 1988, WCW took a chance for the first ever Clash of the Champions by booking a match between NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair and Sting, as the event ran head-to-head with WWE's WrestleMania 4. Little did many wrestling fans, spectators, and purists know that this marked the beginning of a storied rivalry which has transcended pro wrestling for the next four decades. This is the story of Sting versus Ric Flair!

Every Major Ric Flair vs. Sting Match, Ranked

Ric Flair Put Sting On The Map In WCW

First Match At Clash of the Champions

The first match between Sting and Ric Flair went down as an all-time classic. This established the Sting vs Ric Flair match formula, which saw favorable spots, such as Sting no-selling Flair's chops, Sting planting Flair with a Gorilla Press Slam either in the ring or from the top rope, sending Flair up and over the turnbuckle to the apron then clotheslined to the floor, Flair taking advantage by poking Sting in the eyes or delivering a low blow to the get the upperhand, and Sting making his comeback on Flair after the "Nature Boy" locked in the Figure Four leglock.

The basic formula Sting and Flair established at Clash of the Champions would more or less be followed throughout all their matches, in one form or another, with little tweaks and variations to keep the matches somewhat fresh and relevant while sticking to a match formula that fans expected to see and loved. Flair and Sting wrestled to a time limit draw, with the judges at ringside unable to reach a logical conclusion. Despite the odd and unfavorable finish, this match put Sting on the map and established the Sting vs. Ric Flair saga that we would grow to love for years to come.

Sting vs Ric Flair At Clash Of The Champions Was The Best Star-Making Performance Ever

Sting Defeated Ric Flair To Win His First World Heavyweight Championship

Happened At 1990 Great American Bash

This match between Sting and Flair was built at the beginning of 1990, after Flair and the Four Horsemen turned on Sting at Clash of the Champions 10. Sting injured his knee and tore his patella tendon, which required surgery, putting him out until NWA (WCW)'s Great American Bash in 1990. Sting defeated Ric Flair with his signature Scorpion Deathlock to capture his first NWA World Heavyweight Championship.

An infamous and mysterious figure known as "The Black Scorpion" began appearing. The Black Scorpion haunted Sting by sending his henchmen to jump Sting and the use of his "dark magic" to make his life a living hell. At Starrcade 1990, Sting defeated The Black Scorpion, with the Scorpion being unmasked to be Ric Flair.

The rivalry between Sting and Ric Flair would continue throughout the 90s, as the two had historic match-ups, such as their encounter on the first ever edition of WCW Monday Nitro, which featured the return of Lex Luger to WCW. The showdown between Sting and Flair at World War 3 in November 1995 is another undderrated gem that saw Sting force Flair to tap out to the Scorpion Deathlock.

The running gag would show Sting putting his trust into Flair to form an alliance against a common enemy in an honor among thieves scenario, but ended up with Flair turning on Sting and rekindling the rivalry anew.

The Final Matches Of Sting And Ric Flair

Wrestled On WCW Nitro's Last Episode

By March 2001, the unthinkable had occurred, as WCW was purchased by Vince McMahon and WWE. This marked not only the subsequent end of WCW but Sting and Ric Flair's historic rivalry that had been engrained with WCW throughout the years. The two men wrestled their last match for WCW on the final Monday Nitro telecast, with Sting going over with The Scorpion Deathlock as the two delivered their best spots throughout the short match. Both men shared an emotional embrace and hugged to conclude this chapter of their careers.

Over a decade later, the two men reunited in 2010. Sting was a huge part of TNA's early success, and Ric Flair had joined the organization in early 2010. We would see one last encounter between Sting and Flair on an episode of TNA Impact! in September 2011. Sting defeaedt Flair in a questionably bad encounter due to their performances in the ring.

How Ric Flair's Final Match With Sting In Impact Wrestling Ended In Disaster

Sting and Ric Flair reunited once again, but this time for AEW, as Sting announced his impending retirement match set to take place at Revolution (March 2024) in Greensboro, NC, the sight of their first encounter at Clash of the Champions. Could we see one last match between Sting and Ric Flair for old time's sake?