Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 125: Sting vs. Ric Flair (Nitro 4/12/99)

Flair is out with Arn Anderson. Is there ever a time they aren’t together? Why would I even ask? Sting is still the Crow, complete with dramatic music, no longer part of the Wolfpack faction. This was a great match that made Sting a decade before, and it was decent when they ran it at the onset of Monday Nitro. Today though (today being 1999), I have doubts.

Flair bumps around like a pinball for Sting early, and I’m actually impressed. One thing I’ve always loved about Flair’s style is it had a slickness and tightness to it, but it was so simple that you could perform it well into his fifties. It’s timeless, without even a drop kick to the ol’ moves. The first two minutes of this match is a testament to this match. He makes Sting look like a million bucks.

Flair, it should be noted, is not only the on-air heel WCW president, he’s also in great shape for his age. The match, unfortunately, gets dull as Sting stays on offense. All of Flair’s offense is cheating grab bag stuff. Entertaining little match that would be a period piece if it were a movie. This is almost comedy, with Flair doing no less than two “Flair flops”. He does more eye gouges too before taking the offense with a pretty bad chop block. Flair goes to his work for the heat segment, pretty much for two seconds, before Flair let’s himself get put in the Figure Four. This is all Sting plays Superman to Flair’s heel gags. On some level it’s charming.

Sting’s big contribution is committing to an over the top rope bump off a missed Stinger Splash. Even after a trademark low blow Sting is still coming back every few seconds. I’m having trouble taking this match as anything but a wink-wink legend’s exhibition, like Flair and Hogan would do every two years from 99-04. As such, it’s perfectly fine, but not to be taken too seriously. Sting no sells everything by the end. I give up. This is a bit of a timing mess by the end, but I’ll definitely admit the crowd enjoyed it. Over booked to boot. Sting wins clean. 2 ½ and 5.5/10.