The 90s were a strange decade for Ric Flair. Jim Herd ran him out of WCW, scarring his confidence in the process. While fondly remembered now, Flair’s WWF stint had its own weirdness, with a chip to his ear canal bringing a sudden, unsatisfying end to his second reign as the promotion’s Heavyweight Champion. Even before that though, Flair’s form was up and down, including an almost jarring performance for his second title win.
That inconsistency would follow Flair back to WCW, though he’d recapture a rhythm for his Starrcade 93 triumph and much of the reign beyond that. After being “retired” in the Hulk Hogan Cage Match though, Flair simply became a different version of himself. At 46 years old, that was understandable and he certainly still had his moments anyway, remaining an incredibly entertaining piece of the initial Nitro formula.
Speaking of such, it feels important to note that the world surrounding Flair had also changed. He wasn’t exactly out of place in this new emerging wrestling world either, it just wasn’t the one that he’d became king in. On one night in 1992 though, he was again worthy of that throne, almost going back in time with a trip to Japan.
In April 1990, Genichiro Tenryu left All Japan Pro Wrestling, forming Super World of Sports. Famously, SWS had a working relationship with WWF, hosting multiple Hulk Hogan main events as well as the electric thriller between Tenryu and Randy Savage. The promotion was short-lived though, with Tenryu then moving on to found WAR, initially Wrestling and Romance before becoming Wrestle Association R.
WAR loosely inherited the relationship with WWF, bringing us to this show on September 14th. Just two months after their debut event, WAR collaborated with the stateside powerhouse for their biggest show yet, running Yokohama Arena. The Undertaker made the trip, swiftly toppling King Haku in a rematch of their March meeting for SWS. The night’s other rematch is our focus though, as Tenryu again battled Ric Flair.
Those two had clashed in April, sharing a good match that left an awful lot on the table. They’d first wrestled over a decade prior, duelling somewhat frequently in the 80s, from tag tilts to singles encounters. This latest match had a fresh hook though, being fought for the WWF World Heavyweight Title. Flair had claimed the belt just two weeks prior, defeating Randy Savage after a disappointing bout hindered by that aforementioned Flair performance.
Either way, the result is a bizarre, alternate timeline throwback. Flair is in Japan as a touring World’s Champion, battling the promotion’s best in a 2-out-of-3 falls affair. That’s all incredibly familiar, even down to the opponent, it’s just that this time, a very different belt sits around Flair’s waist. The prize’s acronym doesn’t change the match though, which takes things back a decade or two. It’s vintage Flair, perhaps his only match of this ilk for the 90s.
That’s not to say it’s necessarily his best for the decade, to be clear, but it’s very distinct stylistically. This is the kind of match that once defined Flair’s reputation as World’s Champion, putting in time and effort against one of the sport’s best. In fact, I’d argue that Flair is even better here than in many of his prior trips to Japan, as I haven’t always loved that portion of his work. Interestingly, he supposedly could’ve made Japan his wrestling home in 1991.
Upon leaving WCW, that was an obvious option, with Jim Cornette famously offering him a part-time Smoky Mountain Wrestling deal to accompany that potential agreement. The deal was a single SMW show every month, receiving a $10,000 fee for each of them. Clearly, that scenario was always unlikely and never came to fruition, though it does become a smidge more enticing with a glance at this game tape.
Anyway, this match is great. I felt that was implied by the above ramblings, but sensed I should reiterate it after 800 words. At core, it’s a limb work match, with Flair targeting Tenryu’s leg. That’s a typical play call, but the execution here is superb. Firstly, they work towards that destination, as Flair’s initial attack is halted, instead settling for some work on the arm. Flair doesn’t make inroads on the leg until the second fall, finding an answer after falling 1-0 down.
Once he does find that route, he’s absolutely clinical, operating with palpable purpose. That work is maximised here too, as Tenryu sells with unwavering commitment, subtly staggering with an agonised grimace. It’s a very specific kind of sell also, arriving in a fashion that almost suggests shame. Tenryu truly feels as though he’s trying to hide that weakness, portraying the pain with a striking reluctance. He sells for much of this too, with Flair taking most of the bout.
Interestingly, that was the case for their April clash also, which is unusual for any Flair match of note. It’s fascinating to watch Flair navigate that extra space, even sliding a forearm in at one juncture. Flair often fires that short right hand from a headlock position, but he uses it for a virtual set piece here. Tenryu finds a way to wear the punches as though they’re shattering his nose, with Flair dismissing the referee’s orders along the way.
The match’s most memorable moment comes within Flair’s figure four leglock though, including an extended duel in the third fall. Before that, Flair levels the score by pinning Tenryu with the hold, then chasing a submission in the deciding fall. That launches a stalemate in which Tenryu finds a counter to Flair’s finish, applying his own submission to the cry of “oh god.” Flair then tricks his way back into the figure four itself, providing the third fall with an early peak.
That’s probably the match’s biggest flaw, as the length does hurt it a touch. At almost 38 minutes, this is undeniably bloated, with that third act wearing the length most. That’s exacerbated by the inconclusive finish also, arriving not long after a slightly awkward instance or two. Even still, there is so much to like here, with the immense physicality serving as a constant throughout. It’s reminiscent of the Ronnie Garvin matches, featuring those thudding chop exchanges.
If that’s not enough, the sheer novelty provides an undeniable novelty. It doesn’t just stop at WWF World’s Champion Ric Flair either, as he walks the aisle to his unsettling theme for that stint. Perhaps most bafflingly, Flair inexplicably sports a single wrist tape, to further cement this occasion’s status as a collector’s item. It’s also Flair’s last match with Tenryu, only meeting again for a brief but surreal overlap in the 1993 Royal Rumble.
Flair wouldn’t wrestle in Japan again until 1995, appearing for New Japan on behalf of WCW. At that point, he’s rocking the Macaulay Culkin haircut and very much playing the hits. That’s fine, entertaining even. This match with Tenryu though, is something very different. It’s a throwback, the classical NWA World’s Title tilt that somehow, finds itself contested for WWF gold. Glorious match, one of the Flair’s best of the decade and for Tenryu, likely his finest work since leaving All Japan.
An underrated classic.
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