Let's play guess who said this bout Flair: On a scale of 1-to-10, I'd rate Ric Flair about a 3

[Tide Run This]

HitGOAT the realist since Kumbaya

 

[Silkk]

I agree with Bret's assessment, though. Flair DID have the same match with everyone about 90% of the time. He literally had the same formula of match with Vader as he did with Sting as he did with Hogan as he did with Eddie Guerrero as he did with Brad Armstrong. And he used terrible psychology, as he'd usually spend about 80% of the match setting up the figure four by doing arm work and chops. 3/10 is low, but I wouldn't put him over 6/10 for sure.

Dude had his 3 star match formula and worked it with EVERYONE. If he wasn't an all time great promo guy, he'd have been a Terry Taylor level guy. Solid, dependable, never exceeding a certain level. It's a similar reason as to why Kurt Angle can never be on my GOAT list, because once he found his formula, he'd work the same match with Brock and Big Show as he would against Jay Lethal and Chris Daniels.

You talking like they're Brock Lesnar

 

[SteelCitySoldier]

Didn't even read the quote but my guess is HitGOAT

 

[SteelCitySoldier]

Knew is was gonna be Bret and I can't agree because I fukks with Flair (even though Bret is my GOAT), but it's ironic as fukk that he has a problem with him because Flair didn't want to drop the belt to him and Flair acted like a dikk during the match and it leaves a bad memory for his first reign, but he forgets he kinda acted the same way leading up to the whole Montreal Screwjob thing.

Flair didn't think Bret was ready so he half assed the match

Bret didn't want to lose in Canada so he refused to lose and got screwed

Funny how history kinda repeated itself...and remember that Bret is top of my list of GOAT wrestlers

 

[premier58]

Ironman match was an hour long, he had no choice but to change it up.

Seen one, seen them all dont only apply to Bret either. Same applies for Stone Cold

Gone head and name me the Bret matches that were alike then..Austin at Ss96, WM 13, IYH were all different..Bret Razor Rr93 and KOTR totally different.. Bret vs Diesel were all different matches as well..I could go on and on

 

[stro]

You talking like they're Brock Lesnar

I mean....95% of Flair matches are the same regardless of opponent after about 1984. Might as well be 2016 era Brock tbh. Flair didn't break the formula for anyone outside of Japan or in 1997 against Hall/Nash/Syxx, where he seemed completely rejuvenated and more interested than he had been in YEARS. He had some matches that his formula meshed will with his opponent and got above that normal mark. There weren't a lot of them, though, and I think anyone who is level headed and objective will be able to see that if they watch Flair's work from after his 2nd/3rd NWA title reign on all the way to TNA.

Ric Flair absolutely had some great and classic matches, and ALL TIME classic promos. But his average is a solid 3 stars (aka better than average/good, but not great) match he worked with just about everyone regardless of style or size or who was face/heel in the match. In 2016, with nearly his entire career easy to find online, I don't think it is crazy to rate Flair much lower than "greatest wrestler of all time" level.

I would 100% take Bret over Ric if I had to pick in a "one guy or the other forever" match quality.

 

[BodeineBrazy]

Bret is my favorite of all time and to me he is the GOAT but I think he's wrong on Flair. I do respect the fact that he doesn't give a fukk and says whats on his mind

if flair was around now everybody would say he sells like an idiot and wrestles the same match with the same 5 moves. Dude actually had trademark bumps.

I love flair btw.

 

[jackswstd]

The 4/10 GAWD

 

[TheGodling]

Of course it's the Hateman. :hateman:

 

[Kidd Dibiase]

Gone head and name me the Bret matches that were alike then..Austin at Ss96, WM 13, IYH were all different..Bret Razor Rr93 and KOTR totally different.. Bret vs Diesel were all different matches as well..I could go on and on

Again you're comparing regular singles matches to specialty matches.

Save for the Razor matches

 

[premier58]

Again you're comparing regular singles matches to specialty matches.

Save for the Razor matches

Diesel at KOTR and RR95 were both standard matches..WM 13 and IYH were both wild brawls which were nothing alike. Sseries 92 and Sseries 97 again not alike. Bret Benoit Owen tribute was not like the Mayhem match for the title. Sid at IYH Its time, was not the same as the Raw title match where he lost the title...the match was Dibiase on Brets DVD is nothing like the match they had in MSG. Stop moving goalposts because you cant refute my facts..

 

[puppetmaster]

There's a formula to damn near every wrestler that's mattered matches. If you've been watching long enough you can put together a general sequence of every wrestler you can think of. So what


The Flair formula talking point is tired, Bret said it and it's his opinion because he sees it from a different angle than a fan does.


Flair had the ability to get eaten up for over half the fight in most of his matches, barely win and still remain credible for 40 years.

 

[fukkyalifestyle]

This quote is old by way I think it was around time of flairs book.

 

[PremierDaTruth]

How could you think anyone else but the GOATman

 

[R=G]

has to be steiner