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Glenn Ruth (born June 13, 1969) is a American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Thrasher.

Career[link]

Ruth trained under Larry Sharpe and debuted in 1990 as The Spider. He later became Sharpe's assistant and trained wrestlers such as the Big Show and others at Sharpe's "Monster Factory". Among the wrestlers trained by Sharpe and Ruth was Chaz Warrington, Ruth's future tag team partner. Ruth made a number of appearances for the World Wrestling Federation in the early 90s including a losing effort against Marty Jannetty on the 2nd ever episode of Raw, competing under his given name as an enhancement talent.

Ruth is best known for his appearances with the WWF in the late 90s, where he formed a successful tag team with his old training classmate Chaz Warrington. Warrington and Ruth were best known in the WWF as The Headbangers: Ruth wrestled as Thrasher, while Warrington wrestled as Mosh. Both men debuted in the World Wrestling Federation on the November 24, 1996 episode of Superstars as the Headbangers. The Headbangers were a team that portrayed a pair of metal fans and were known for their outrageous costumes, which usually featured nose rings and kilts. They captured the vacant WWF World Tag Team Championships on September 7, 1997 by defeating three other teams in a four team tag match at Ground Zero. They lost the titles to The Godwinns on October 5 of that same year.

The Headbangers split in 1999 when Ruth suffered a leg injury and Warrington began pursuing a singles career, but reformed in late 1999 on the October 10 edition of Sunday Night Heat when Ruth came to Warrington's aid during a domestic violence angle, which saw him vilified by other wrestlers and officials alike for a number of weeks. Ruth had presented video footage of Warrington's (kayfabe) girlfriend Marianna Komlos putting on makeup to make it seem as if Warrington had been abusing her, The police officers arresting Warrington then uncuffed him and arrested Komlos for her lies. Shortly thereafter the two began appearing regularly as a team again, but were now heels and inexplicably came to the ring wearing cone brassieres which they wore while they wrestled.

In 2000, Ruth took part in the match for the Hardcore Championship at WrestleMania 2000. He held the title for 45 seconds, pinning Joey Abs and then being pinned by Pete Gas. After the Headbangers split for the second time and Warrington went on to team with D'Lo Brown, Ruth continued to wrestle in singles competition mainly on WWE Jakked and was released from the WWF later that year. After his release from the WWF, Ruth continued to wrestle until 2002 in independent promotions before retiring from professional wrestling.

In 2011, The Headbangers reformed and have been wrestling on the independent circuit once again.

In wrestling[link]

• Finishing moves
  • The Stage Dive (Diving somersault leg drop)

• Signature moves
  • Butt bump

Championships and accomplishments[link]

• Blackburn Wrestling Alliance

• BWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Greg Spitz

• Heartland Wrestling Association

• HWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Mosh^[1]

• Insane Championship Wrestling

• ICW Streetfight Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Mosh

• Main Event Championship Wrestling

• MECW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Mosh

• Maryland Championship Wrestling

• MCW Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Mosh^[2]

• NWA Southwest

• NWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Mosh

• New England Wrestling Federation

• NEWF Tag Team Championship (3 time) - with Mosh

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI ranked him # 110 of the Top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1997.

• Texas Wrestling Alliance

• TWA Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Mosh

• World Wrestling Association

• WWA Heavyweight Championship (2 times)^[3]
• WWA Tag Team Championship (1 time)^[3]

• World Wrestling Federation

• WWF Hardcore Championship (1 time)^[4]
• WWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Mosh^[5]

References[link]

External links[link]

Professional wrestling portal

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Glenn Ruth

• The Monster Factory

Marty Jannetty
Ring name(s)	Marty Jannetty[1] Marty Oates[1]
Billed height	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)[1]
Billed weight	226 lb (103 kg)[1]
Born	Columbus, Georgia[1]
Resides	Columbus, Georgia (former hometown) Tallahassee, Florida (former home)
Trained by	Jerry Oates[1] Ted Oates[2]
Debut	April 5, 1984[1]

Frederick Marty Jannetty^[1] is an American professional wrestler, best known for his time in the World Wrestling Federation as part of tag team The Rockers with partner Shawn Michaels, and later as a singles competitor. While in the WWF, he became a one time Intercontinental Champion and a one time Tag Team Champion with the 1-2-3 Kid. With Michaels, The Rockers became two time World Tag Team Champions in the American Wrestling Association.

Professional wrestling career[link]

National Wrestling Alliance (1984–1986)[link]

Jannetty began his wrestling career in April 1984, wrestling in the National Wrestling Alliance's Central States division. He wrestled in singles and tag team competition with various partners, including "Bulldog" Bob Brown and Dave Peterson and with Tommy Rogers as the Uptown Boys, until joining forces with fellow rookie Shawn Michaels in late 1985. The two teamed as The Midnight Rockers and quickly won the Central States Tag Team Championship from The Batten Twins.

American Wrestling Association (1986–1988)[link]

In 1986, the duo left the NWA for the American Wrestling Association. In the AWA, Jannetty and Michaels quickly built a reputation as a talented tag team, performing many acrobatic moves in tandem and electrifying crowds with their athleticism. The two won the World Tag Team Championship twice, first defeating Buddy Rose and Doug Somers and then Original Midnight Express for their second and final reign. They also won the Southern Tag Team Championship twice after defeating the Rock 'n' Roll RPMs on two separate occasions before jumping to the World Wrestling Federation in 1988.

World Wrestling Federation (1988–1992)[link]

Jannetty during his time in The Rockers with Shawn Michaels.

Now called simply The Rockers, Jannetty and Michaels popularity carried over from their stint in the AWA and the team was often called "tag team specialists" by commentator Gorilla Monsoon. They made their WWF debut at a television taping on June 18, 1988 and they faced tag teams such as Demolition, The Hart Foundation, and the Brain Busters for the rest of 1989.

Despite their previous success, The Rockers never officially won the Tag Team Championship during their three-year run together in the WWF. In October 1990, The Rockers were scheduled to win the titles from The Hart Foundation due to Jim Neidhart, one-half of the championship team, being in the process of negotiating his release from the company. The match was taped with The Rockers fairly winning the belts, but soon after, Neidhart came to a stop-gap agreement with management and was rehired. The belts were returned to the Harts a week later, while the change was never broadcast or even acknowledged on television. When news spread, WWF explained that the original result was void due to a collapsed turnbuckle in the ring during the bout.

Charles Austin controversy[link]

In a Rockers tag team match at the USF Sun Dome in December 1990, Jannetty executed his Rocker Dropper finishing move on jobber Charles Austin, who had been teaming with Lanny Poffo. Austin's neck was instantly broken as a result of tucking his head during the move, rather than "pancaking" flat on the mat. Austin was severely injured and sued Jannetty, Michaels, and Titan Sports. When the case finally came to court in early 1994, Charles Austin was awarded $26.7M.^[3]

End of The Rockers and departure[link]

In a 1991 angle, Michaels was "accidentally" kicked in the face during a maneuver initiated by Jannetty on one of The Nasty Boys, which clipped Shawn in the face and resulting in an elimination at Survivor Series in Detroit, Michigan. Michaels got up after being pinned and began screaming at Jannetty, blaming him for being eliminated. Attempting to help settle their differences, Brutus Beefcake invited both on his interview segment "The Barbershop". Michaels and Jannetty appeared to reconcile, but then Michaels hit Jannetty with Sweet Chin Music and soon threw him through the set's plate glass window.

Jannetty was initially meant to work the injury, thus missing the opportunity to win the vacant WWF Championship at the 1992 Royal Rumble, before returning to start a feud which would culminate at WrestleMania VIII. However, six months of house arrest after attacking a police officer would prevent this,^[4] and Jannetty was released from the company in March 1992.

Return to the WWF (1992–1994)[link]

Jannetty returned in October 1992, challenging Michaels to a match at the 1993 Royal Rumble. Jannetty lost after interference by Sensational Sherri backfired. It was planned for the two to continue their feud, but Jannetty was released again after rumors circulated stating that he had been under the influence of alcohol or drugs during the match, leading to its comparably low quality. Jannetty to this day denies having been intoxicated at the event, but explains having been rather tired because of lack of sleep, and that the rumor had been started by Shawn Michaels who supposedly was not in the best condition himself at the Royal Rumble.^[4]

Intercontinental and Tag Team Champion[link]

Jannetty returned once again in May 1993, challenging Michaels for the Intercontinental Championship after appearing out of the crowd on Monday Night Raw. Jannetty won the title that night, but lost it back to Michaels just a few weeks later due to interference from Michaels' bodyguard Diesel. According to Jannetty it was Curt Hennig who brought him back to the WWF, who was on good terms with Vince McMahon and convinced him that the bad performance at the Royal Rumble was indeed Shawn Michaels´ fault. Jannetty believes that consequently his own title win was meant as punishment for Shawn Michaels.^[4] Throughout the summer of 1993, Jannetty feuded with Doink the Clown, eventually winning the program with a final best of three falls match on Monday Night Raw. Jannetty then formed a tag team with the 1-2-3 Kid, with the two being the winners and survivors of their match at Survivor Series.

Jannetty won the Tag Team Championship with the 1-2-3 Kid from The Quebecers (Jacques and Pierre) on the January 10 episode of Monday Night Raw. However, they lost it back a week later at Madison Square Garden at a non-televised event when 1-2-3 Kid was pinned following an assisted senton. A clip of the finish of the match aired on the 1994 Royal Rumble video.

In the lead up to WrestleMania X, the court case brought forward by Charles Austin was heard. While neither the WWF or Jannetty admitted that it was the outcome of this case which resulted in Jannetty's sudden disappearance from the promotion, it has never been denied either. Jannetty then vanished from the mainstream wrestling scene until mid-1995 when he made several appearances in Extreme Championship Wrestling.

Return to the WWF (1995–1996)[link]

Later that year, just months after Michaels made a shocking face turn that got him over, Jannetty returned to the WWF in September 1995. He continued to wrestle as a face, despite bad blood between he and Michaels that had carried over in the storylines. Jannetty teamed with Razor Ramon during November and December in a feud with Sycho Sid and the now heel 1-2-3 Kid.

Following this, Jannetty turned heel in 1996 by joining Leif Cassidy to form "The New Rockers". However, The New Rockers were unsuccessful in their attempts to win the Tag Team Championship. Jannetty interfered unsuccessfully in a singles match between Michaels and Cassidy, then challenged Michaels for his WWF Championship, with Michaels emerging victorious. Jannetty left the WWF following Survivor Series after asking for his release, as he was unhappy with the team's lack of success and management's refusal to split them up.

Post–WWF (1997–2004)[link]

Jannetty (seated) with Tommy Cairo and Falcon Coperis in Ultimate Championship Wrestling in 1997

After his run with the World Wrestling Federation, Jannetty joined the New York-based independent promotion Ultimate Championship Wrestling in 1997 along with other WWF alumni. He resurfaced in World Championship Wrestling in January 1998, where he competed in its cruiserweight division before being released in March 1999 by Eric Bischoff, while Jannetty was recovering from a shoulder injury he suffered during a match with Konnan.

After wrestling one match in Extreme Championship Wrestling in 2000, Jannetty resumed working in independent promotions, including a stint in Jimmy Hart's XWF promotion.

Return to WWE (2005–2007, 2009)[link]

2005[link]

On the March 14 episode of Raw, Jannetty returned for a one-time only reunion with his former tag team partner Shawn Michaels, once again billed as The Rockers and performing their traditional entrance with their original music, against La Résistance (Sylvain Grenier and Rob Conway). Jannetty scored the win for his team after he used his signature Rocker Dropper.

This was preparation for Jannetty's match with Kurt Angle on that week's SmackDown!, as Angle had challenged Jannetty prior to his WrestleMania 21 match with Shawn Michaels. Angle claimed that since Jannetty had taught Michaels "everything he knows" while part of the Rockers, he could teach Michaels "how to tap out" by forcing Jannetty to submit on SmackDown!. Angle made good on his promise and forced Jannetty to submit to his ankle lock, but only after a nearly twenty minute match and an impressive showing for Jannetty which saw him nearly pin the Olympic champion. WWE soon signed him to a new contract, but due to a domestic incident, he was arrested and unable to meet the commitments of his WWE contract, leading to his release on July 6.

2006[link]

On the February 20 episode of Raw, Shawn Michaels was pitted against four of the five members of the Spirit Squad in their in-ring debut. After he had used Sweet Chin Music, Michaels was attacked by all five members until an unknown man came storming in to the ring to defend Michaels. During the melee, it was revealed that it was Marty Jannetty coming to defend his former tag team partner. Later on Raw, Vince McMahon came out to mention that he would offer Jannetty a full-time contract. McMahon added a stipulation, however, as Jannetty had to join Mr. McMahon's "Kiss My Ass Club" the following week on Raw.

Jannetty refused, and McMahon instead offered Jannetty the possibility of breaking Chris Masters' signature submission hold, the Master Lock. Jannetty appeared to almost break the hold, but Mr. McMahon (who was officiating) hit Jannetty with a low blow. Unable to break it, he was only released from the hold when Michaels ran in to save him. Shortly after Michaels had saved Jannetty, Shane McMahon ran in the ring with a steel chair and knocked out Michaels. The former Rockers were supposed to continue a program with the McMahons, but Jannetty was absent from the next episode of Raw and instead Triple H and Shawn Michaels reunited as D-Generation X. On March 3, WWE announced that it had severed all professional ties with Jannetty without further explanation.

On September 15, it was announced on WWE.com that Jannetty had signed a new contract and would be returning as a veteran to work with younger talent. WWE.com also stated that Jannetty, along with Brad Armstrong and Rodney Mack, could also be granted a full-time contract pending the success of this initial venture.

2007[link]

However according to Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Jannetty was rumored to have been released yet again on September 29. Jannetty himself countered this rumor on his Myspace page, stating it was untrue. The January 2007 issue of WWE Magazine, however, stated that Jannetty had indeed been fired. On December 22, Jannetty replied through his MySpace website, stating that it was The Boogeyman who had been fired and not returned WWE's phone calls and insisted that the article in WWE Magazine was false. In a blog on his website, Jim Ross stated that Marty Jannetty was no longer with WWE on December 24 due to a court order in Florida preventing him from traveling on the road.

On the December 3 episode of Raw, Mr. Kennedy, who was feuding with Shawn Michaels at the time, said that he would speak to three individuals who knew Michaels very well as part of a feud between him and Michaels. The three were imposters dressed as Razor Ramon, Diesel, and Jannetty. Along with a fake Michaels, they were all hit with Sweet Chin Music by the real Michaels.^[5] The next week on the 15th anniversary of Raw, Jannetty appeared along with Michaels in an interview. Michaels wanted to see what would happen when Kennedy fought the real Jannetty. In the end, he was defeated by Kennedy.^[6]

2009[link]

On October 19, 2009, Jannetty made an appearance on Raw and losing in a match against The Miz.^[7]

Chikara (2011–present)[link]

On October 22, 2011 it was announced that Jannetty had signed with Chikara as a trainer and as a wrestler. His debut match for the promotion was booked for October 29 against Tursas, but the show was eventually cancelled.^[8] He then made his official debut on November 13 at High Noon, Chikara's inaugural internet pay-per-view, by accompanying the Young Bucks to the ring.^[9]

In wrestling[link]

• Finishing moves
  • Rocker Dropper (WWF/E) / Showstopper (WCW) (Wrist-lock leg drop bulldog)^{[1][10][11][12]}
  • Diving fist drop^{[2][13][14][15]}

• Signature moves
  • Atomic drop^[16]
  • Diving crossbody^[1][17]
  • Dropkick,^[17][13] sometimes from the top rope^[1][16]
  • Fist drop,^[17]
  • Hangman^[17]
  • Sleeper hold^[16]
  • Snap suplex^[17]
  • Sunset flip^[18]
  • Superbomb^[1]
  • Superkick^[1][11][17]
  • Swinging neckbreaker^[13]

• Nicknames
  • "The Rocker"^[2]

Championships and accomplishments[link]

• American Wrestling Association
  • AWA World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Shawn Michaels^[19]

• Central States Wrestling
  • NWA Central States Heavyweight Championship (2 times)^[20]
  • NWA Central States Tag Team Championship (5 times) – with Tommy Rogers (2), Bob Brown (2) and Shawn Michaels (1)^[21]
  • NWA Central States Television Championship (1 time)^[22]

• Continental Wrestling Association
  • AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Shawn Michaels^[23]

• Dynamic Wrestling Alliance
  • DWA Internet Championship (1 time)^[24]

• Platinum Wrestling Worldwide
  • PWW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[25]

• Midwest Territorial Wrestling
  • MTW Heavyweight Championship^[26]

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI ranked him #13 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1993^[27]
  • PWI ranked him #33 of the Top 100 Tag Teams of the "PWI Years" with Shawn Michaels in 2003^[28]
  • PWI Match of the Year (1993)^[29] vs. Shawn Michaels on Monday Night Raw on May 17

• World Wide Wrestling Alliance
  • WWWA Intercontinental Championship (1 time)^[30]

• World Wrestling Federation
  • WWF Intercontinental Championship (1 time)^[31]
  • WWF World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with the 1-2-3 Kid^[32]

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
  • Tag Team of the Year (1989) with Shawn Michaels

References[link]

External links[link]

Professional wrestling portal

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Marty Jannetty

• Marty Jannetty on Myspace

Ric Flair
Ric Flair in 2008.
Ring name(s)	Ric Flair[1] The Black Scorpion[1] "Ramblin" Ricky Rhodes[1]
Billed height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2]
Billed weight	243 lb (110 kg)[2]
Born	(1949-02-25) February 25, 1949 (age 63)[3] Memphis, Tennessee[4]
Resides	Charlotte, North Carolina[2]
Billed from	Charlotte, North Carolina[2]
Trained by	Verne Gagne[2][5]
Debut	December 10, 1972

Richard Morgan Fliehr^[3] (born February 25, 1949)^[3] is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Ric Flair.^[6] Also known as "The Nature Boy", Flair is considered to be one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time with a professional career that spans 40 years. ^[7] He is currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), and is noted for his lengthy and highly decorated tenures with the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), World Championship Wrestling (WCW), and the World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (now known as WWE). Flair is officially recognized by WWE, TNA and PWI as a 16-time World Heavyweight Champion (seven-time NWA Champion, seven-time WCW Champion and two-time WWF Champion) although his actual tally of World Championship reigns varies by source—Flair considers himself a 21-time world champion.^[8]

In World Championship Wrestling (WCW), he also had two stints as a booker—in 1989–1990 and 1994.^[9] Flair also became the first and only man to have won the WWF Championship in a Royal Rumble match, when he accomplished this in the 1992 edition of the event. In 2012, Flair became the first ever double inductee in the WWE Hall of Fame, first inducted in 2008 for his individual career, and for a second time in 2012 as a member of the Four Horsemen. He is also an NWA Hall of Famer (class of 2008). Flair's hair styles and mannerisms are based on those of Buddy Rogers, who previously and famously used the "Nature Boy" gimmick in the 1950s and '60s. Coincidentally, Flair also followed Rogers in becoming the second man to win both the WWF and the NWA World Heavyweight Championships.

Flair was the first WCW World Champion, having been awarded the title following WCW's secession from the NWA in 1991. With that, he also became the first WCW Triple Crown Champion upon being awarded the title, having already held the United States and World Tag Team titles. In 2005, he completed WWE's version of the Triple Crown when he won the Intercontinental Championship, after already holding the WWF (now WWE) Championship, as well as the World Tag Team Championship, becoming the third man to win both the WCW and WWE Triple Crown (after Bret Hart and Chris Benoit). Using the officially recognized totals (by WWE, TNA and PWI) of 16 World Championships and a record-tying five U.S. Championship reigns, Flair has won a total of 30 different major championships between the NWA, WCW, and WWE, with numerous regional titles also to his credit.

Early life[link]

Richard Fleihr (Ric Flair) was born on February 25, 1949. In the opening chapter of his autobiography To Be the Man, he notes that his birth name is given on different documents as Fred. At the time of his adoption (arranged by the notorious Tennessee Children's Home Society, later shut down for adoption fraud), his father was completing a residency in Detroit. Shortly afterward, the family settled in Edina, Minnesota, where the young Richard Fliehr lived throughout his childhood. After grade 9, he attended Wayland Academy, a coeducational boarding school in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, for four years (five years total in high school) during which time he participated in interscholastic wrestling, football and track.^[10]

As a teen, Flair took a summer job as a lifeguard at a local pool in Minnesota, where he received his first exposure to the wrestling business when he met the legendary Vachon brothers. In both 1966 and 1968, Flair won the state private school wrestling championship and was recruited to the University of Minnesota on a football scholarship, where he played alongside Greg Gagne, the son of Verne Gagne. Flair dropped out of college before receiving his degree, and he then worked as a bouncer at a nearby club, where he met Olympic weightlifter Ken Patera, who was preparing for a ring career at Verne Gagne's wrestling school. Patera introduced Flair to Verne Gagne, who agreed to take him on as a member of his training class.

Professional wrestling career[link]

American Wrestling Association (1972–1974)[link]

Under the tutelage of Josh Klemme^[5] and Billy Robinson, Flair attended Gagne's first Wrestling camp with Greg Gagne, Jim Brunzell, Iron Sheik, and Ken Patera at Gagne's barn outside of Minneapolis in the winter of 1971. Flair met Ken Patera when he was working as a bouncer after dropping out of school at the U of M after completing his freshman year there in 1968-69. They lived together for a while in South Minneapolis. Flair made fast progress, and in December 1972, he made his debut in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, battling George "Scrap Iron" Gadaski to a 10-minute draw while adopting the ring name "Ric Flair."^[5] Then weighing nearly 300 pounds with short brown hair, Flair scarcely resembled his future "Nature Boy" image. But he drew attention with his charismatic personality and ring endurance. During his time in the American Wrestling Association, Flair had matches with Dusty Rhodes, André the Giant, Larry Hennig, and Wahoo McDaniel.^[11]

National Wrestling Alliance[link]

Becoming the Nature Boy (1974–1981)[link]

In 1974, Flair left the AWA for Jim Crockett's Mid-Atlantic region in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA);^[11] and he soon captured his first singles title when, on February 8, 1975, he beat Paul Jones for the Mid-Atlantic TV Championship. On October 4, 1975, however, Flair's career nearly ended when he was in a serious plane crash in Wilmington, North Carolina that took the life of the pilot and paralyzed Johnny Valentine (also on board were "Mr. Wrestling I" Tim Woods, Bob Bruggers, and promoter David Crockett).^[12] Flair broke his back in three places and, at age 26, was told by doctors that he would never wrestle again.^[12] Flair conducted a rigorous physical therapy schedule, however, and he returned to the ring just six months later, where he resumed his feud with Wahoo McDaniel in February 1976.^[12] The crash did force Flair to change his wrestling technique away from the power brawling style he had used early on, which led him to adopt the "Nature Boy" style he would use throughout his career.

Groomed by Jim Crockett Jr. as his future top star, Flair won the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship when he defeated Bobo Brazil on July 29, 1977; and during the next three years, he held five reigns as U.S. Champion while feuding with Ricky Steamboat, Roddy Piper, Mr. Wrestling II, Jimmy Snuka, and Greg Valentine (with whom he also formed a championship tag team). Flair, however, reached elite status when he began referring to himself as "The Nature Boy" in order to incite a 1978 feud with the original "Nature Boy", Buddy Rogers, who put Flair over in one encounter.

NWA World Heavyweight Champion (1981–1986)[link]

On September 17, 1981, Flair reached the top of the mountain when he beat Dusty Rhodes for his first NWA World Heavyweight Championship. In the following years, Flair eventually established himself as the promotion's main franchise in the midst of emerging competition from Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Federation. With his outlandish wit and entertaining interview style, Flair embodied the role of the World Champion—sporting bleached blond hair, elegant jewelry, designer suits, and elaborate custom robes while dishing out his trademark chops and figure four leglock. All the while, Flair taunted his opponents with his "Wooo!" shout while boasting that "To be 'The Man,' you gotta beat the man!".

In 1982, Jack Veneno and Flair had a series of matches. Veneno defeated Flair for the World Title, but the NWA did not recognize this change. Flair also wrestled matches with Ricky Steamboat throughout the year. Harley Race won the title from Flair in 1983, but Flair regained the title at Starrcade in Greensboro, North Carolina in a steel cage match; afterward, Race and Flair fought in many different matches in early 1984. Flair won the NWA title, officially, eight more times. As the NWA champion, he defended his belt around the world. Flair lost the title to Race and won it back in the span of three days in New Zealand in March 1984. At the first David Von Erich Memorial Parade of Champions at Texas Stadium, Flair was pinned by Kerry Von Erich. Flair regained the title eighteen days later in Japan.

He then reigned for two years, two months, and two days, losing his title to Dusty Rhodes on July 26, 1986 at The Great American Bash; Rhodes had been an ever-present foe in Flair's career after Flair helped break Rhodes's ankle on September 29, 1985. Flair regained the title two weeks later. Flair defended his titles against opponents like Harley Race, Ricky Steamboat, Roddy Piper, Kerry Von Erich, Jay Youngblood, Sting, Ronnie Garvin, Magnum T.A., and Rhodes throughout his career, as well.

The Four Horsemen[link]

In the spring of 1985, the tag team of Ole Anderson and Arn Anderson began aiding Ric Flair (whom they claimed as a "cousin") in attacks against Dusty Rhodes, Magnum T.A., and Sam Houston. A few weeks later, the Andersons interrupted Houston's match against Tully Blanchard, and the three villains combined to rough up the youngster while sending a message to the rest of the NWA. Shortly thereafter, Flair, Blanchard, and the Andersons formalized their alliance, calling themselves the Four Horsemen, with Blanchard's manager J.J. Dillon also coming on board. Upon the group's inception, it was clear that the Horsemen were unlike any villainous alliance that had ever existed. The four rule breakers immediately used their strength in numbers to decimate the NWA's top fan favorites while controlling the majority of the championship titles. Over the years, there would be various incarnations of the group, with Flair and Arn Anderson as the two permanent members, while a number of different wrestlers, including Lex Luger, Barry Windham, Sting, Sid Vicious, Paul Roma, Brian Pillman, Chris Benoit, Jeff Jarrett, Steve McMichael, Curt Hennig, and Dean Malenko, have held the other two spots in the Horsemen.

World Championship Wrestling (1986–1991)[link]

By 1986, wrestling promoter Jim Crockett had consolidated the various NWA member promotions he owned into a single entity, running under the banner of the National Wrestling Alliance. Controlling much of the traditional NWA territories in the southeast and Midwestern United States, Crockett looked to expand nationally and built his promotion around Flair as champion. During this time, Flair's bookings as champion were tightly controlled by Crockett, and a custom championship belt was created for Flair. In 1987, Flair and Barry Windham had a series of matches for the NWA World Championship. Flair defeated Windham at the Crockett Cup tournament and they fought to a time limit draw in January. Flair lost the NWA World Championship due to his flamboyant ways in Detroit to Ron Garvin on September 25, 1987. Garvin held the title for two months before losing to Flair on November 26, 1987 at WCW's first pay-per-view event, Starrcade, in Chicago.