5 Times Ric Flair Took WWE To The Extreme
Should he perhaps be known as the 'Human Nature Boy'?
Ric Flair’s second run as an active competitor in WWE between 2002 and 2008 was a thing of beauty for long-time fans of “The Nature Boy”. Fresh match-ups, dream bouts and a welcome return to iconic status awaited the legendary 16-time world champ and his six years as an active competitor were arguably even better than his first run from ‘91 to ‘93.
A lot had changed in WWE over the nine years he had been away, including a notable shift in attitude, and an impending brand split was soon to follow shortly after his return. A true pro, Naitch took to his new surroundings like Steve Austin to a beer bash and it didn’t take long for a revitalised Ric to resurrect the “Nature Boy” of old.
His subsequent allegiance with Triple H undoubtedly helped him regain his confidence and the following formation of Evolution all but sealed his return to the top. The emotional 2003 World Heavyweight Title match against Triple H – in “Flair Country” of Greenville, South Caroline, no less – turned back the hands of time; cementing his homecoming and solidifying his already granite status as a king amongst men in the wrestling industry.
But, in the words of the man himself, “in order to stay number one, you have to BE number one”; and for “The Dirtiest Player in the Game”, that meant digging deep into his bag of tricks, venturing out of his comfort zone and generally throwing caution to the wind for the sake of the business. Essentially, he became WWE’s version of Terry Funk in mid-90s ECW.
Flair was untouchable in the eyes of the fans and his peers so had no qualms “making” younger talent in the interest of good business or going the extra mile to put over someone deserving. In the years that followed, Flair was the ultimate pro; unafraid of jobs, receptive to ideas and open to any match WWE brass would throw at him – all of which made for some tremendous bouts that made Flair’s WWE return simply epic.
Over the course of his second run in WWE, Naitch not only showed no signs of slowing down but could even be accused of taking his in-ring style into a higher gear, combatting Father Time with a healthy dose of devil-may-care fortitude.
Enough of the chit-chat – let’s get down to business and take a look at five times “The Nature Boy” took WWE to the extreme.
5. Steel Cage Vs. Randy Orton (Taboo Tuesday 2004)
Fresh off the dissolution of Evolution as we knew it, former brothers in arms – Ric Flair and Randy Orton – would find themselves in opposite corners in late 2004; as the two men squared off inside a steel cage at the inaugural Taboo Tuesday pay-per-view event.
While the bout itself is often overlooked when recounting classic Flair match-ups, the feud is notorious for inciting the infamous “virgins bleed” promo by Flair in the weeks prior, where Flair claimed Orton was “a virgin at killing legends” and how he was going to…well, I’m sure you can fill in the blanks.
Narrowly avoiding severe reprimand for the comment, Flair (and Orton) would transform the notoriety into momentum going into the pay-per-view, eventually leading to their match being booked in the main event slot to close the show. It was an unusual booking decision for the time, with the bout even overshadowing the World Heavyweight Championship match in terms of placement on the card – such was the level of anticipation for the bitter student vs. teacher grudge match.
Orton – at the height of his “Legend Killer” persona – was looking to make a statement by adding the ultimate scalp to his list of fallen legends. Meanwhile, Flair, decked out in his finest $15,000 robe, oozed legendary status from the outset and it was clear that he was intent on turning back the clock and proving that, even after all these years, he was still the man.
A veteran of the cage, Naitch immediately took advantage of the lax rules, punishing his adversary with eye pokes, fish hooks and low blows before introducing his younger foe to the mesh; busting Orton open within minutes of the opening bell.
Smelling blood, the Nature Boy would channel the merciless heel of yesteryear, lighting up Orton’s chest with enough chops to fill a butcher’s window. However, Flair’s reliance on the chop strikes would eventually revive his opponent in a fit of rage; giving the future “Viper” enough adrenaline to launch Flair into the cage and give him a taste of his own medicine – and blood – in the process.
Although the bout took place in 2004, the match was more reminiscent of a classic cage match of years gone by, with no elaborate moves and no quarter given; just fists, steel and brutality. The old school style proved beneficial for Flair who had the upper hand for the majority of the bout; however, it was Orton who would eventually walk away victorious after a trademark RKO out of nowhere.
In a rivalry that revolved around respect, there’s no doubt that respect was earned on both sides when the final bell sounded. Battered and bloodied, the two men shook hands and embraced in a gruesome eclipse of mutual admiration.