Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 31: Ric Flair vs. Eddie Guerrero (Nitro 5/20/96)

I believe I saw this match up in the late years of Ric Flair’s WWE career. It was the ball shot watered down Flair who could still get over but was nearing sixty. Unfortunately, Guerrero was nearing the end of his run on earth. This match I don’t recall, which I always see as a gift. I look forward to seeing this with new eyes.

Lotds of headlock variation action to start. Flair really turns the initial stuff over to Eddie and lets him run with it. Flair is often seen as a ring general, but he was great at knowing when to give up control to the right opponent. Guerrero shows fire off Flair’s vicious chops and we get some great back-and-forth where Flair lets Eddie come out strong.

Flair regroups on the outside after some big drop kicks and he works in the ref shove spot out there too. Classic! The Flair formula is so simple that this guy was able to do it till he was well past his prime. Not many people can say that about their work in wrestling. Eddie chants from the crowd. I forgot how over he was as a mid to lower card guy. They go to commercial after Flair gains the advantage so some of the heat on Guerrero is cut off.

On the down side there are a few miscommunications as Flair doesn’t move as well, and some of his covers are kinda lazy, but its nit picking. Eddie gets a ton of hope spot pins and near falls as they pick up the action. Guerrero gets the figure four on Flair at one point. They change over when Guerrero dives from the top rope to the floor and hurts his knee. Odd moment where Heenan calls him the 13 time champ, and then says “well, 15 time champ, if you’re counting…” to which the Bisch says they aren’t counting those. “They aren’t wrestling championships”. O-kay.

Flair pulls out a great delayed suplex. I’m surprised this is getting so much time. Great moment where Eddie gets an advantage but goes back to selling the leg. Eddie has brought his A-game for the big match. Both guys really lay in the chops in this match. Heenan really puts over the match well on commentary. Guerrero hit the frog splash but sells the knee again. Flair goes right to work on it after selling the splash. Fiogure four and some help from the women gets this match over with in over 15 minutes. Wow. Great stuff for Nitro and maybe the first match that can be called a classic from the era. 3 ¾ and 7.5/10.