Greatest heels in WWE history – Number 4
“Veni, Vidi, Vici”, better known to us as “I came, I saw, I conquered”. An emphatic statement which put forward the megalomania of Julius Caesar, but very few could gainsay the fact that he backed up his words. Caesar could boast of that claim because it was indeed true; great leaders or performers don’t inherit those traits. Instead, they work harder than anyone else and cement their legacy as the greatest among their peers. In professional wrestling, the same logic applies. “Greatness” is a word which isn’t thrown around often, and isn’t taken lightly. In the professional wrestling business, there are very few performers who are considered as a yard stick, and are seen as an inspiration to the future generations.
From the Sammartinos to the Harley Races to the Dusty Rhodes, there are very few legends who have been credited to be the flag bearers of this wonderful industry. But perhaps, there is one legend that is greater than all of them, who traveled all around the world, putting on classic wrestling matches in every continent. From Madison Square Garden to the Tokyo Dome, Ric Flair put on classic matches against the likes of Barry Windham, Ricky Steamboat and Harley Race. It isn’t entirely wrong to say that the wrestling business wouldn’t have been the same if it wasn’t for Ric Flair. To no one’s surprise, he finds himself at number 4 in our list of greatest heels in the WWE history.
A single article won’t suffice to list the accomplishments of a career that has perhaps eclipsed every other career in professional wrestling history. I could name some of the greatest matches of Ric Flair; the five star matches (And occasionally, better than five star matches), some of his greatest feuds, his greatest performances; but that wouldn’t do justice to a man that has revolutionized the wrestling business. Ric Flair shouldn’t have had a long career to begin with – He was involved in a plane crash that ended careers and even involved fatality! Ric Flair proved the doctors wrong who said he wouldn’t be able to walk again. Flair, true to his name, had unparalleled charisma and an unmistakably charming personality. Ric Flair wasn’t just any other performer, he was the man.
Ric Flair was one of the most devious, vicious villains in professional wrestling; he was everything the fans despised. Wily, cunning and garrulous, Ric Flair had a big mouth to complement his exceptional in – ring skills. Whether he was running down his opponents with his trademark tirade or beating them down with his trademark ‘cheap shots’, Ric Flair gave the fans every reason to hate him. Furthermore, his mannerisms and antics inside the squared circle earned him the reputation of being the “Dirtiest player in the game”, and for a good reason.
Ric Flair wasn’t your clichéd old – school wrestler. He wasn’t just a “grappler”; he was a well rounded mat technician who could go toe to toe with the best of wrestlers in his prime. Ric Flair earned the adulation, love and respect from fans all around the globe, and was instrumental in putting North American wrestling on the map. Along with Andre and Hogan, Flair was one of the most famous professional wrestlers back in the 80s. Ric Flair transcended wrestling and became a pop culture icon, something very few performers could do.
With Flair being the flag bearer of NWA, he had innumerable classic confrontations, and was instrumental in putting some of the younger wrestlers on the map, most notably Sting. Ric Flair’s mesmerizing personality and the ease with which he could make the fans hate him gave his opponent all the credentials in the world, or in wrestling terms, the “rub” they needed to become great names in the business. A wrestler like Bret Hart won the WWF championship from Flair, which added to the importance of his victory and his subsequent run as the WWF champion. Ric Flair was also an inspiration to the likes of Shawn Michaels and Triple H, which further exemplifies his stake in the wrestling business.
When Flair was in his element, very few could match him, either in the ring or on the mic. Flair understood the business and the psychology of the fans, which made him a true legend in the industry. This puts the ‘Nature Boy’ at number four spot in our list of the greatest heels in WWE history, and deservedly so.
Read other articles in the series here: Greatest Heels in WWE History