2. Ricky Steamboat vs. Ric Flair (WCW Chi-Town Rumble 1989)
All of the superlatives that you have heard over the years about the Nature Boy's series of NWA Championship matches with the Dragon in early 1989...well, they are all true. The consummate babyface and the consummate heel began their heralded trifecta of 5-star matches in Chicago. Reflecting back, Flair had just come off of a yearlong storyline with Lex Luger, who seemed as likely a wrestler to take the NWA title away from him as any in Naitch's rich history of title defenses. If Luger could not do it, then it seemed far-fetched that Steamboat could. Yet, a deeper dive into hindsight also showed that Steamboat had a history of taking Flair to the limit. Something had to give. Each of the three matches offered something different. The Chi-Town Rumble played host to the rapid-fire classic that would probably hold up best in the minds of the modern fan. If you can find a better wrestled 23-minute match, then please feel free to state your case.
"The Doc" Chad Matthews has written wrestling columns for over a decade. A physician by trade, Matthews began writing about wrestling as a hobby, but it became a passion. After 30 years as a wrestling fan, "The Doc" gives an unmatched analytical perspective on pro wrestling in the modern era. He is a long-time columnist for Lordsofpain.net and hosts a weekly podcast on the LOP Radio Network called "The Doc Says." His first book - The WrestleMania Era: The Book of Sports Entertainment - ranks the Top 90 wrestlers from 1983 to present day, was originally published in December 2013, and is now in its third edition.
Matthews lives in North Carolina with his wife, two kids, and two dogs.
