Top 20 Series Special Edition: THE NATURE BOY!

[MGH]

That's right folks, it's finally here. The list I know many of you were waiting for since last Fall when I began putting these lists together. A man whose career has spanned decade after decade, and in every one he's given us a wealth of classic matches and moments. Today we only focus on the former. For this week, the man many feel is the greatest of all time will be honored with a Top 20 Series first. This week we aren't doing 20, we aren't doing 25. For the first time, and maybe only time ever, we're hitting THIRTY. The Top 30 matches for the one and only..

RIC FLAIR

Now, this week things are going to run a little differently than usual. We're opening the list up more than we have in the past. Below are the guidelines for voting in this week's legendary list.


1) 15 matches per list submission. Same point system as usual will be in play. 1st = 15, 2nd = 14, etc on down.

2) There are no restrictions on nominations for this week. If it happened in Japan, in the United States, in NWA, it doesn't matter. If Flair wrestled in it, it is 100% in play. We're getting the definitive look at the Nature Boy this week.

3) The deadline for this week is up in the air. If the submissions are coming in at the usual pace, Friday night will be the cut off, and this will be counted down over Saturday and maybe Sunday. If people are taking their time, I'll announce Friday that everyone has an extra week to look over things and vote. We'll see as the week goes on.


I hope this list is fun for everyone. I know it's been one many have clamored for in the last few months. Just to clear something up, this is NOT the end of the Top 20 Series. I know in the past I said I was holding off on doing Flair's list until last, but things changed and that is no longer the case. Things will continue on as usual after this list is over. Well, maybe a little differently, since Roxie and I will be introducing the Top 20 Moments/Segments series in the near future as well.

Anyway, I've said everything that needs to be said. This week is going to be one hell of a ride I'd wager. So get to voting. Assume you have a Friday deadline as usual, but know it isn't concrete just yet.











Week 1: The Rock
Week 2: John Cena
Week 3: The Undertaker
Week 4: Shawn Michaels
Week 5: Jeff Hardy
Week 6: Triple H
Week 7: Chris Jericho
Week 8: Edge
Week 9: Big Show
Week 10: Vince & Shane McMahon
Week 11: The Royal Rumble
Week 12: Bret Hart
Week 13: Randy Orton
Week 14: Chris Benoit

2008 Year In Review Wrap up Series

1) Top 20 Wrestlers
2) Top 20 Feuds
3) Top 20 Segments/Moments
4) Top 25 Matches

Week 15: Stone Cold Steve Austin
Week 16: Owen Hart
Week 17: Survivor Series
Week 18: Vengeance/Night of Champions
Week 19: Hulk Hogan
Week 20: Eddie Guerrero
Week 21: Shelton Benjamin
Week 22: No Way Out
Week 23: Randy Savage
Week 24: Kane
Week 25: Wrestlemania
Week 26: Batista
Week 27: Smackdown

"Mini"-Series

Week 28: CM Punk
Week 29: Mr. Kennedy

Week 30: Mick Foley
Week 31: Monday Night Raw
Week 32: Rey Mysterio
Week 33: JBL
Week 34: Roddy Piper
Week 35: Rob Van Dam

[Hulkshi Tanahashi]

Damn! I had my list made before this thread showed up. Anyway, here are the hints to my list:

10 from NWA/WCW, 5 from WWF/E, 6 gimmick matches, 10 title matches (4 NWA World Title, 3 WCW Title, 1 WWF Title, 1 World Heavyweight Title, 1 Intercontinental Title), 2 one-on-one matches, 11 PPV matches (8 NWA/WCW, 3 WWF/E), and 4 TV Matches (3 Clash Of The Champions and 1 RAW).

[jdsnelson]

I too had this list ready.

Only 7 matches happened from 1990 onward.
Only 2 matches have more than two competitors.

Of the remaining 13 matches, only 3 wrestlers appear more than once. One of them appears 3 times and he is considered by many to be Flair's greatest opponent. I have to agree.

[somsta]

This was hard, I probably could have come up with 10 from each year! This will be the first list I've done, and it really rekindled my love of wrestling, which has been really low lately, due to the current product out there. Gonna go pick five out of my discard list and get it in. Thanks MGH!

[Crappler El 0 M]

I put together a list of 10 a few minutes ago and nine of them were NWA and one was WWE. I honestly don't think you'll need lists of 15 to get a top 30 with many other nominations, but I'm glad I get to choose 15 matches!

One more thing....

WOOOOOOOOOO!

[Jedi-El of Tomorrow]

Mine has been sent

- 11 NWA/WCW matches, 4 WWE matches
- Only 2 matches happen after 1993
- 3 matches in which some type of cage is involved
- 12 matches are one on one
- My number 1 went against a Wrestlemania, was the premiere for a WCW event, and completely made a star who would ultimately become an icon.
- 1 WWE match makes the top 5, and a total of 2 make the top 10.
- 3 matches against a man who went into the Hall of Fame this year, and 2 of those were in the top 5.
- Hell 4 of my top 5 matches have guys that went into the WWE Hall of Fame this year.

[parder]

Had mine ready for a while.

- This video encapsulates what really should be every one's top 3: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixLX6a9lPK8
- Aside from Steamboat, the only other wrestler to make more than 2 appearances is his other old rival Sting.
- Jim Ross commentates on 12 of these matches. Some of it is his best ever announcing in my opinion, which really helps to enhance these matches.
- Nothing after 1993, with the oldest being from 1983.
- 6 matches from 1989, with 4 of those making up the top 4. 10 matches are from the 1988-1990 period.
- 11 matches are for a world title (9 NWA, 1 WCW, 1 WWF)
- NO Royal Rumbles
- 4 Starrcade main events
- 4 TV matches, with 3 of those Clash of The Champions
- Only 1 WWF match, which is at Wrestlemania
- Only 1 match is not a singles match, and only 4 matches are not standard 1 fall matches.
- 10 matches as a heel, 4 as a face, 1 kind of in a period of transition.
- Flair's record is 10-4-1
- All a pleasure to watch over and over again

[bob]

oh boy.......this will take some time to cut down to 15

looks like I'm looking at my Flair DVD


and I'm obligated to mention RICE FLAIR since he's my sig

[Crappler El 0 M]

I made a first draft, here are the notes:

'80s NWA: 9 matches
'90s WCW: 5 matches
'90s WWF: 1 match
'00s WWE: No matches
-Matches range from 1983 to 1994
-Two opponents appear four times
-Someone appears once as opponent and twice as partner (but it's not his enforcer kayfabe cousin)
-obviously no Triple H, Shawn Michaels, or Undertaker

[MGH]

Five lists in, 33 matches nominated. This is going to be awesome.

[4real]

I'm not going to sit here and lie to you I haven't seen any of Flairs NWA matches. At all. Or most of his WCW matches, so doing this list is going to be hard for me.

But I'll do a list and I already have a number 1 in mind.

[J is Justice]

My Tatanka list will be more awesome!

[Long Live the Stream]

In my defense, I haven't seen a ton of his NWA stuff. I've seen the stuff on his DVD's and 1991 WWF-present.

My list features...
-2 of his classic trilogy with a certain man. I've never seen the first one.
-4 matches each from Wrestlemania and Clash of the Champions
-1 classic team cage match (which I wish WWE would use)
-1 match against his enforcer and 1 against his protege
-1 match that launched his WWF career, outlasting nearly the entire rest of the roster
-1 underrated classic from an old WCW TV show

[ChitownKnight]

MGH, may i suggest that eventually down the road, you do repeat lists of current superstars like Cena, Jericho, Edge, Orton ect. Since its been a year, and they have had more matches.

[MGH]

Jul 18, 2009 16:36:09 GMT -5 ChitownKnight said:

MGH, may i suggest that eventually down the road, you do repeat lists of current superstars like Cena, Jericho, Edge, Orton ect. Since its been a year, and they have had more matches.

Absolutely. I actually think I mentioned something about it a few lists back. I'm waiting until each of them are at least a full year old, then re-doing some every now and again. Look for the redos in August or September to begin.

[YellowJacketY2J]

Just sent my list. I've had it ready for awhile.

[MGH]

The first 10 lists are in, and 46 matches are already nominated. Going about as expected ;D

[Gregor-2012]

Might take me a few more days. I still need four matches.

[DrizzlinShytes]

This one is real tough. With all of the Steamboat greatness I feel like even 15 is too few.

[thedavefather]

Here is the Breakdown

The all time Greatest Mr. Wrestlemania appears 4 times, Ricky Steamboat 3, Terry Funk 2, Windham 2, Sting 2

Matches Rage from 87 to 2008

All of Meltzer's 5 star's appear here

1. Meltzer " 5 Stars doesn't do this whole thing justice"
2. A Rumble from Kanye's Home Town
3. Leave the Memories alone
4. Weakest in the EPIC trilogy
5. I Quit
6. HOW TO MAKE A STAR
7. Against a future Horseman
8. War is not a game
9. One of the All time greatest lead up feuds to a WM match
10. 2008's may have come close but it couldn't top this one
11. It's Time!
12. Not I Quit
13. The Best of the Express
14. Classic match featuring a Rocker
15. Not as great as some wanted but still way underrated i would say. There is no real Badd Blood between these two.