Chairshot Classics: WCW Starrcade ’89 – Future Shock

Match #12: NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs. Sting
Collar and elbow tie up and Sting holds a side headlock. Football tackle from Sting who then reverses a hip toss into one of his own. Flair regroups on the floor. The two have a “woo-off” with the crowd before locking up again. Flair holds a hammerlock but Sting reverses it into a drop toe hold. Sting holds Flair on the mat before coming back to their feet with an arm bar. Flair lifts Sting to the top turn buckle before a clean break. Slowly back to the middle of the ring and they tie up again. Flair works Sting down temporarily but Sting strengths him over. Flair breaks the hold on the ropes. Collar and elbow tie up and Flair holds a side headlock. Football tackle by Flair.

They leapfrog one another before Sting drops Flair with a gorilla press slam. Flair gets into a shoving match before pacing the floor. Flair re-enters the ring and they tie up again. Shoulder tackle by Sting, who then reverses a hiptoss into a backslide for 2. Flair chops Sting to the mat. He pulls Sting up for more chops but cannot hip toss him. Sting tosses him instead and hits several drop kicks. Several football tackles from Sting and he can only get a 2 count. Flair lures Sting in and kicks him to the mid section before sending him outside.

More vicious chops from Flair and Sting is sent into the railing. Back in the ring, Flair sends Sting’s neck over the top rope. He brings Sting back in with a standing vertical suplex and gets a 2 count. Flair drops his trademarked knee on Sting’s skull and gives the crowd a “Wooo”! Another chop from Flair and he cradles Sting from an abdominal stretch. He only gets a 2 count and Flair yells at the referee. Small package from Flair but it’s another 2 count. Flair picks up Sting for a standing vertical suplex but Sting kicks out once again. Irish whip to the corner and Sting drops to his knees. Another Irish whip and Sting is reeling.

Flair hooks both arms for a suplex and gets another 2 count. Flair sends him for another Irish whip but Sting comes off the turnbuckle with a clothesline. Flair rolls out of the ring and Sting gives chase. Flair tries to chop him, but Sting will have none of it. Flair rolls in the ring and tries to cheap shot him on the apron. Sting attempts a sunset flip but Flair breaks it up with a straight right hand. Flair looks to suplex Sting out to the floor but it’s reversed and Sting gets a 2 count. More frivolous chops from Flair and the crowd cheers for Stinger.

He gets up on the 2nd turnbuckle for rights. Sting lands 5, sends Flair for a hiptoss and a clothesline before a 2 count. Irish whip by Sting and he lands a Stinger Splash! The crowd is standing as Sting locks in the Scorpian Deathlock but Flair gets under the ropes. Flair is quick to get up and hits a modified atomic drop before dropping Sting for the Figure Four. Sting gets to the ropes to break the hold. Back to their feet and Flair kicks Sting’s knee. A big chop from Flair who delivers a knee drop to Sting’s. Side headlock takedown by Flair.

Sting scissors out of it and bridges up. He pulls Flair down with a backslide for a close 2 count. 1 minute is left in the match. Flair goes back to the knee and drapes it across the bottom rope. 30 seconds remain. Flair holds Sting’s leg up for the figure four, but Sting grabs Flair’s head and rolls him up in a small package for the win.
Winner: Sting (Small Package/20 Points)

• After The Bell: The Andersons rush the ring, but ultimately, The Horsemen show respect and shake Sting’s hand.
• EA’s Take: Not quite a classic between these two, but not too shabby either. Since Flair was currently over as a babyface and facing the biggest fan favorite in the company, I couldn’t tell if some of his heel behavior was situationalbased on his opponent or if there was a turn coming. They certainly teased it and trust me, it’s coming, but we’re not there yet.

EA’s Finisher: If you just like some straight ‘wrastlin’ then this PPV is for you. No backstage promos, very few elaborate entrances and it was pretty condensed in terms of in-ring talent. I liked that there were no lousy gimmick matches. I mean, technically the point system is a gimmick, but at the end of the day, we’re talking about strictly straight matches here. One match followed the other almost immediately so there was no shortage of action. As tacky or dated as it may be by today’s standards, I actually really enjoyed the staging. You’re not going to see many Starrcades or WrestleManias where zero titles are on the line and frankly, a third of your roster is just trying to figure it out. The concept though? That needs work, as I found it to be very confusing.

Top Three To Watch
1 – Sting vs. The Great Muta
2 – The Steiners vs. The Road Warriors
3 – Sting vs. Ric Flair

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