Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 23: Ric Flair vs. The Giant (Nitro 3/25/96)

Elizabeth throws Savage’s money to the crowd as they come down the aisle. She’s won a lot in the settlement apparently. You would too if the stories about her treatment are true.

A heel vs heel match on live TV. I guess they figure Flair is the defacto face as this match is in the south. He does get chants. Meanwhile, Eric Bischoff on commentary talks over that to say that Hogan is professional wrestling. Okay then.

The Giant gimmick is just to lame for me to get into. I admittedly don’t love most big man work, but the way Paul Wight acted pre-NOW was just embarrassing to me. Flair looks old early, and tentative, but takes a lot of bumps via The Giant pressing him around. Flair tries to run away and the Giant carries him back to the ring. They really put over the Giant as this bad ass monster, though it doesn’t have the effect of other attempts (with better big men). Maybe I’m not fully buying in how over fans were. Suffice to say Giant destroys Flair for most of this match.

Flair’s hope spot is off a stupid Giant dive from the second rope to splash the ring. Then he charges Flair and goes over the top rope. That was impressive. Flair gains the advantage choking Giant with a thin rope. At least the dirtiest player in the game makes it mean something. Otherwise it’s a bit dull. Flair’s determined strikes are pretty fun to watch. You really get the sense he’s trying to beat the big man.

Flair of course gets caught on the top rope. He takes the bump and gets choke slammed. Now we get the run-ins. Liz and Woman. Then Arn Anderson with a chair. Kevin Sullivan is in to take it away, but the Giant thinks Sullivan hit him. The Giant chokeslams them all. DQ finish. It was actually pretty decent while it lasted, which was about 8 minutes. 2 ½ and 5/10.