Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 135: Ric Flair vs. Hulk Hogan (Nitro 2/14/00)

This I remember. Nitro was struggling and spiraling out of control. They had a big show in the shadow of New York City, out in Long Island, and went back to basics. 80s Hogan versus 80s heel Flair. I’ll make a prediction: If you’ve seen the 1994 Bash at the Beach match you’ve seen this match and all others after it. It was the template for what they would do with their molds, and I have somewhat of a bias against it.

I don’t have a big review for this match. I watched it with a friend straight through and it was well worked for the style they were going for. It’s what I expected – a typical Hogan domination of a cheating heel Flair. My problem is that I’m not a fan of this formula match. I don’t get why Flair would continually go for body blocks and get knocked down over and over. I don’t like that Hogan no sells everything, including Flair’s cheating ways half the time. I thought Flair going for the knee didn’t provide as much as I wanted out of it. But I say all this as a hypocrite because I have enjoyed the Flair half of the formula in other match ups, just not with Hogan. I don’t have much more to give to this match. It might fare better in the hands of another opinion. 2 ½ and 5/10.