7 Classic Wrestling Storylines WWE Should Recycle

7. Ric Flair Vs. Ricky Steamboat - “Step Aside, Kid.”

When most people think of the Ric Flair-Ricky Steamboat rivalry, they think of the 1989 series of five-star classics for the NWA World Title. But in truth, the seeds were planted for that angle years before, when Ricky Steamboat was new to the business and Flair was not yet in his prime in the Mid-Atlantic Territory.

In 1977, while Steamboat was making a name for himself on Mid-Atlantic TV, Flair began interrupting Steamboat's interviews, telling him, "step aside, kid," so the Nature Boy could flaunt his NWA TV Title. He arrogantly proclaimed the audience had tuned in to see him, not the newcomer.

Eventually, Steamboat had enough and knocked Flair out during an interview segment. An incensed Flair agreed to a TV Title match, which Steamboat won, sparking a feud that would literally last decades. Flair's heel persona came across perfectly, and he put over Steamboat as a force to be reckoned with. It was a textbook case of how to get a new talent over without sacrificing an established star.

If there's one thing with which WWE has struggled of late, it's making new stars. This is a perfect template for how to do it. The heel role would perfectly suit the Miz, whose irritating movie star gimmick is equal parts annoying and entertaining. If WWE chose to give someone like Apollo Crews some wins or bring up Tye Dillinger or Roderick Strong from NXT, this angle could work just as well as it did with Steamboat.