In 2012, the legendary Four Horsemen were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, some five years after the company released "Ric Flair and the Four Horsemen," a comprehensive look at the faction and its exploits in the glory days of Jim Crockett Promotions and the height of WCW's popularity in the mid-to-late 1990s. With interviews from the incarnation that was inducted (Flair, Tully Blanchard, Arn Anderson and Barry Windham), as well as soundbites from rivals such as Dusty Rhodes, Magnum TA and Ricky Steamboat, the disc is a wonderful look at one of the most devious, devastating and diabolical groups to ever step foot inside the squared circle. Relentless in their quest for greatness, the four Superstars dedicated their careers to delivering the absolute best matches possible. As a result, Flair admits that it became difficult for him to go to the ring and have to follow Blanchard, Anderson and Windham. Unfortunately, the disc also documents the inner struggle between the performers and management as the first cracks in the group and their place atop the wrestling industry began to show. The sale of Crockett Promotions to Ted Turner, and the transformation from the National Wrestling Alliance to the independent World Championship Wrestling, led to booking changes that resulted in the destruction of the group as fans had known it previously. Backstage politics, especially during the days of the Bischoff regime in WCW, led to the Horsemen becoming a shell of the strong unit they once had been. While the documentary is a celebration of the Horsemen, it ends on somewhat of a sour note as four men once so determined to turn in the very best performances imaginable, were picked apart and left humbled and broken by the backstage environment in WCW. Still, it is a much-deserved, high-quality look at one of the elite factions in industry history. The matches included are a must for any fan of old school NWA. From the six-man tag match that triggered the formation of the group to War Games matches and tag title contests involving Anderson and Blanchard, there is a wealth of outstanding wrestling to choose from. The heavyweight title bout between Flair and Ricky Morton of the Rock and Roll Express, in particular, is an underrated gem and one that deserves your attention.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
