Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 13: Ric Flair vs. Randy Savage (Nitro 12/25/95)

These two put together one of my favorite all time Wrestlemania matches in 1992. This was both guys just passed their prime, but both guys still had so much talent and effort to give that you know it’s gonna be decent. This match is for the WCW Heavyweight title.

The story is simple. Savage is the champ with the deck stacked against him. He’s got a bum arm from a beating the Giant gave him the week before. He’s faced a grueling schedule. He’s in a match with a 12 time former champ and dirtiest player in the game, Ric Flair. Jimmy Hat is out at ringside helping Flair cheat or gain the advantage. All the cards are stacked against the champ.

The problem for me, and apparently most of the quiet crowd, is that the match just isn’t to compelling. There’s nothing identifiably wrong with it. Flair has solid sustained offense, cheats, and Macho Man sells well. But it has no soul. No passion. No urgency. Macho’s hope spots are dull. Flair cutting him off is formula and paint-by-numbers. The sad thing is this match was given a good amount of time. Most matches on this set are 5-8 minutes, and this match was over 15 minutes (two commercial breaks). Flair just beats him up, and Macho keeps selling. Fans do get up for the Savage double ax handle from the top to the floor, but it’s an isolated incident.

Flair begins work on the knee heavy somewhere near twenty minutes. The people want to get into it, but a long figure four kills the crowd further. The work is decent though. Savage selling the leg during the comeback really makes me smile. No heat as they both lay and sell a minute later. It definitely is picking up here at the end. Then it cements my feelings for it as Luger runs in after 20+ minutes when Luger and then Sting run in for the disqualification. This match was all, for the purpose of setting up Starrcade that year. This is me yawning. A completely average match from two of the greats. 2 ½ and 5/10.