10 Most Successful Outsiders In WWE History
3. Ric Flair
When you think of Ric Flair, you think of the kiss-stealing, wheelin dealin, limousine-ridin, jet-flyin son of a gun, with his blonde flowing locks, elegant robes, sunglasses, and designer suits. When Jim Herd gained control of WCW in 1989, the television executive and the long-time face of southern wrestling in Flair had a brutal clash. This culminated with an ultimatum given to Flair by Herd to change his entire look and character. When Flair heard that Herd wanted him to shave his golden do, wear an earring, carry a gladiatorial shield to the ring and go by the name Spartacus, he had enough. He knew his self-worth and got in touch with Vince McMahon.
Very few people have ever made their WWE debut as an outside force that was on par in popularity with the biggest stars that the WWE has ever produced. The list of names can be read off on one hand: Sting, Goldberg, and Ric Flair. Flair thrived in his first few months with the company, somehow superseding McMahons ego and capturing the then-WWF World Heavyweight Championship at the Royal Rumble in 1992.
Things quickly soured for Flair amidst the backstage politics with Hulk Hogan at the time; to this day, the real story behind why their WrestleMania match-up was scrapped is a mystery only known by those closely involved in it. Before Flair skipped town back to WCW, he put his tenure in the company on the line against Mr. Perfect, anointing him a budding babyface after a successful heel run. Flairs true success would come much later after the folding of WCW as a company, as he had terrific matches with the likes of the Undertaker and Shawn Michaels in his last in-ring hurrah for the WWE. He was truly a Hall of Famer for both companies, and beyond.