When the average wrestling fan thinks of the word "stable," the legendary Four Horsemen flashing their pseudo-gang sign is what typically comes to mind. Fans seem to have their own favorite incarnation of the iconic group, but when they were enshrined in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2012, it was Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Barry Windham, and manager J.J. Dillon who shared the honors. Other notable Horsemen alumni include the all-but-forgotten Ole Anderson, Lex Luger, Sting (yes Sting was a member), Sid Vicious, Chris Benoit, Dean Malenko, and Curt Hennig. While the group's dominance over the NWA and WCW waned significantly towards the end, the prestige of being a Horseman was always palpable ... just look at the otherwise forgettable career of Steve "Mongo" McMichael. No matter their composition, The Horsemen were always a reckonable force and frequently held all major NWA/WCW titles simultaneously. Their original formula was quite simple: at the top of the food chain was the flamboyant rule-breaking Heavyweight champion (Flair), the skilled ring technician (Blanchard), and the tag-team specialists (Arn and Ole Anderson). This formula would be copied many times throughout the years by similar factions like Degeneration X, Evolution, and, to a much much lesser extent, TNA's short-lived Fortune alliance. Imitation may very well be the sincerest form of flattery, but 33 combined singles and tag-team championship reigns is what will always distinguish the Four Horsemen from their mere imitators. 2014 Proposed Update - The Four Horsemen of the Shield Ric Flair seems to be itching to get back into the ring again, so now is the time for a reformation. Give Flair managerial duties and put together a Horsemen-worthy roster like Dolph Ziggler, Bad News Barrett, Roman Reigns, and Dean Ambrose. This faction could easily and believably hold all of the major WWE titles by Summerslam if given the chance to shine. Which old alliances and stables do you want to see reimagined for 2014? Share your picks below in the comments thread.
