10 Most Anticipated Wrestling Rematches Ever
4. Sting Vs. Ric Flair (WCW Great American Bash 1990)
The ultimate case of altruism vs. avarice, Sting’s wars with Ric Flair played a huge role in putting WCW on the map heading into the 1990s. The duo’s first match came in 1988 when they wrestled a time-limit draw at the NWA’s first ever Clash of the Champions, but their first rematch ended in a Sting victory at Starrcade 1989.
All things considered, it looked as though the hero had the villain’s number. There was one major hiccup, though: their match took place as part of the Iron Man singles tournament, and Flair’s NWA World Heavyweight Title wasn’t on the line. Sting had the tournament win and pride to show for his efforts, but not the ultimate prize, and the chase began.
Having shockingly joined the Four Horsemen, Sting was kicked out of the stable by Flair when he announced his intentions to challenge for the NWA title. The reignited feud was derailed by Sting’s knee injury, but this only ramped-up the fans’ desire to see the face challenger topple the Nature Boy from his mighty perch, and at the 1990 Great American Bash, they got their wish.
The match itself was an overbooked mess, but Sting emerged with the victory and, finally, the belt. The problem with excessive hype is that it often leads to expectations that the match itself can’t possibly live up to, and that’s precisely what happened here.