The Story of Sting vs Ric Flair & The Inaugural Clash of the Champions
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ค. 2024
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The very first NWA Clash of the Champions took place on March 27th 1988 in the Greensboro Coliseum. The event, headlined by Sting taking on Ric Flair, went head to head with WWF WrestleMania IV as an answer to the WWF scheduling shows against previous Crockett / NWA cards during late 87 and early 88. The WWF put on the first Survivor Series to go compete with Starrcade 87, and the first televised Royal Rumble went up against Crockett's Bunkhouse Stampede show. Clash of the Champions 1 would air on TBS, for free, on the same night as WrestleMania 4 and many fans believe that Clash of the Champions was a far superior show. Financial issues later in the year would see Crockett sell the promotion to Ted Turner, ultimately leading to the company being rebranded to "World Championship Wrestling" or "WCW" for short, but the first Clash Show was still seen as a big victory for JCP. The Sting vs Flair main event was outstanding, and it's also a main event that helped put Sting on the map.
This video covers the creation of Clash of the Champions on TBS and the Ric Flair vs Sting main event from Clash 1.
00:00 - Vince McMahon vs Jim Crockett Promotions
06:23 - Clash of the Champions vs WrestleMania
09:06 - Sting's Golden Oppurtunity
12:50 - Clash 1 gets underway
14:13 - Sting vs Ric Flair at Clash of the Champions
26:34 - JCP becomes WCW
- Much More!
#WCW #Wrestling #Sting - กีฬา
One of the greatest wrestling rivalries of all time. Sting and Flair had great chemistry together. I've said it before, but Sting vs. Flair being the final WCW match just felt right.
The ultimate heel vs the ultimate white meat babyface
@@ryankeefe6222 i duuno why but white meat babyface made me laugh.
I always said my favorite rivalry of all time was Bret Vs Owen...I would love to see a better chemistry. I will admit over the years I've grown to admire Sting Vs Flair that are good together.
There's no other match that could have ended WCW. Sting and Flair were the two sides of the same coin.
I agree
Clash of the Champions has a special place in my heart. I didn’t get to see many PPVs until I was old enough to walk dogs and mow lawns for money, so WCW completely won me over by giving away these PPV-quality cards for free on TBS.
Me Too I Miss WCW
Same here!
Me too man!
Me to also those were the days.
Same
As a new fan of wrestling (started watching in 2018) i can't even begin to explain how much these videos and this channel means to me.
I've learned more from this channel alone than the entire WWE network.
Thank you for all your hard work.
Wwe is trash that hates wrestling. No respect for its past. Just trying to make the stock increase
@@pwx13 pretty biased outlook in my oppion but ofc there going to worry about there stocks, it's a publicly traded mega business after all
Wwe is trash 🗑 🤷🏾♂️
@Alex yah its hard to learn the real history of wrestling when WWE network only tells "their version of history" channels like Wrestling Bios will show you the facts.
U late. No need 2 watch now. Wrestling today sucks like every other sport
He was our Ultimate Warrior but ten times better and was a great guy on top of it - Ric Flair on his rivalry with Sting
if only drawing money didn't matter. WM 6 hogan / warrior drew more money than any event headlined by flair and sting
It’s crazy to think that Flair vs Sting was a main event in 1986. Was also the main event on the last episode of Nitro in 2001 & they had matches against each other later in TNA
1988
Just shows the old boys club kept new talent from developing which is why wcw fell... Hogan was still a headliner in 2002 wtf?!?!?
@@melvynsngltn27 Correct. In 1986 Sting was still in the UWF, before Bill Watts had to sell it to JCP.
Flair in his prime and sting coming out party. I remember watching this match as a kid and was blown away by sting athleticism. Now as an adult i really appreciate how flair helped bring out the best in sting. A true instant classic and a MUST SEE for any fan!!!
For sure
Ric Flair really sold everything and it had meaning. Not many wrestlers can do that today. Truly one of the greats.
An underrated fact that we must take into serious account is that thanks to Dusty Rhodes' gamble to have Sting be part of the main event along with Ric Flair, a friendship has been born between two legendary wrestlers. Every match between them onwards from CoC 1 will be nothing but wrestling gold.
it´s absurd that Sting is still going strong today. I mean look at this: he was a Champ at the end of the 80s! Sting is still underrated. One of the greatest, no doubt about it!
I guess he still going strong today didn't you nearly get paralyzed a few years ago
He anit going strong today lol
Underrated? I am pretty sure most people that watch wrestling know he is an all-time great. His nickname is the Icon lol.
@@Burger-urger pretty awesome for guy to work one or two matches a year for the last 15 years
@@Burger-urger you know what I find if Jim heard would have made him some kind of dead guy people would still be laughing 30 years later
This match absolutely cemented Sting as one of my all time favorites.
I liked sting but if you think about it he almost never had a truly great match. Maybe besides this one I can't think of a great match that he had,he was just forget able.
This is back when wrestling was rastlin. Every movement meant something.
Yes!!
Especially when kayfabe died
@@juggalogamer8541 that wasn’t until the internet came around.
@@juggalogamer8541 kayfabe was Santa Claus. They kept us believing and gave us great memories
Gotta drop the t bubba
I didn't get to see Wrestlemania IV, so having this card on that day felt like an awesome consolation prize. Turned out I was watching the better show.
You need to do a history of jcp wrestling as a tribute to jim crockett Jr who recently passed away
Yes!
You saying that like like him and Jim Crockett were friends or something 🤣
As a kid I couldn't wait for Ric Flair vs Sting or Sting vs The Great Muta
Definitely agree
Amen
Have you seen Muta lately? Such a shame. It’s so sad when they can’t just hang it up. I know a Stone Cold is beyond rare, just quitting and staying quit. The norm shouldn’t be 70yr olds out there flopping around, they should be the exception.
I loved muta, used to put packets of kool aid in my mouth while me and my bros wrestled while we watched it 😂😂
Sting vs Vader was great too
I am glad that I grew up watching WCW as a kid and I always enjoyed watching Flair vs. Sting for many reasons.
Long live wcw!!
Me too it wasent until the late 90s until i start watching wwe i was always a wcw guy
As A Young Man Who Missed The Golden Points Of Wrestling....This Channel Has Taught Me More Things Than School:)
Your school should have "taught" you proper sentence structure.
You are learning from one of THE BEST!!!!
@@deanhinson4095 Grammar Nazi alert
@@thomascrowley9122 that one was warranted.
@@thomascrowley9122 *grammar
I remember this Clash like it was yesterday...
@@raidernation7427 im still confused on the whole cctv deal. Was it ppv or just like a theater showing it? Never found out
@@raidernation7427 ahhh ok that makes sense now! Im 34 n only know ppv.
The Flair-Sting rivalry was born at this event and many true fans remember watching every match they’d ever have and not be bored and it’s re-watchability is definitely second to none those 2 icons definitely saved WCW/NWA from the WWE/F
U really need a “Career of Ric Flair” series!
With the amount of content that there would be in that series you'd need a 2nd TH-cam site...I propose WOOOOOOtube!
Yes for sure Flair is a legend. But so is Sting.
Is their enough space on TH-cam for that? It could be its own channel
Whoooooooo
After 1998 it would be definitely alot less
I always love it when Nature Boy goes to his trademark begging for mercy.
It's as much a part of his gimmick as his Figure Four Leglock.
This is how greatness works. Flair carries Sting to a great match and makes him a superstar.
The opening music was fire 🔥
Original tune is Stacked Actors - Foo Fighters
Check out live versions to see the best live band on earth showing you how to turn it to 11
Man, this entire card and particularly, the main event, holds a very, very special place in my heart. I remember one of my best friends and I watching COTC at his dad's house and it was awesome!! We were so pumped for that main event and cheering Sting on. There were several times in the match when we thought that Sting had Flair's number. To this day, this match is one of my all-time favorite matches. I was a huge fan of the Flair/Sting rivalry and this match had so much to do with that. My only complaint with this match was the inclusion of the judges. So, so unnecessary. Awesome, amazing video, Sir! Much, much respect for your passion for wrestling.
I was one of the ones who saw this live. I was a 13 year old wrestling mark at the time, and my younger brother and I were on our living room floor glued to the TV set. We absolutely hated Ric Flair and were screaming and cheering the whole time, thinking this might be the night Slick Ric might meet his match with no JJ Dillon to bail him out. Thank you so much for giving us the story behind this very fond memory.
I was 15 and had known since I started watching the AWA it was a work, my dad clued me in. But after the AWA started to collapse I stumbled on this and found my new home for pro wrestling.
Sting beating his chest during the figure four goosebumps
Ric Flair vs Sting in NWA JCP going head up on TBS vs Wrestlemania 4 was the match of the night and was great.
Last night I was thinking it would be great to see a Best Of or a Mini Series of WWF Saturday Night and WCW Clash of the Champions and wake up to this... Bravo! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
One of the greatest rivalries of that era. Sting and Ric Flair was always a classic.
Damn, Wrestling Bios makes things so damn interesting of stuff I haven't seen lol!
Bios is da man!
This happened before I was born, but it's my favorite match of all time. The judges are the only thing that detract from it for me. I watch it at least once a year, and I show this match to people just getting into wrestling pretty regularly.
Your wrestling videos are the best wrestling videos of all the wrestling videos
Let's not forget about Jim Ross's commentary.... 👍👍👍
I remember I chose to watch the Clash over WM IV that year and the one thing I remember vividly about the Flair- Sting match was Sting being in the Figure Four and pounding his chest and screaming and I completely lost my mind when that happened! From that point on I truly became a life long Sting fan.
I just wanna take the time to say..... I absolutely love your videos Wrestling Bios!!!!!! Greatest wrestling channel on TH-cam hands down. Not to mention reliving the war!!!!!!! Bringing back my childhood. Keep up the great work and best bet I’ll be watching!!!!!!
"You honestly forget it's 45 minutes long..."
I guess I need to stop skipping so much of each match, as they always feel too long to me. You have so much passion for it, I can't help but feel if I actually was more patient, I'd appreciate more of the slow burn too! Great video, your appreciation of the small things is infectious!
I have seen 5 minute matches that seem to take forever, so when I knew this match was 45 minutes I convinced myself to not watch it. When I finally did, the match did not seem long at all. It flew by. It's fast paced and is 100% brilliant psychology. You will not regret watching the entire match.
@@gsesquire3441 I think you're right. I used to be so much more into it when I was younger, but going back & watching these matches online I tend to skip a lot of slow moments. But in doing so, I'm noticing I'm not really getting the experience others seem to be, so clearly I need to be more patient.
Thank you so much Wrestling Bios! I’ve really been waiting for this Sting Vs. Flair vid!!!
This match is legitimately my earliest memory.
Wrestling Bios is on fire
Nobody begs off like The Nature Boy.
Man i love your videos. You really are one of the best wrestleing youtuber's on TH-cam and it's awesome. Thanks you for giving us the best contact.
The best rivalry in wrestling history. Well, at least 1 of them.
I do t know if I'd go that far but it is one of my favorite rivalrys. But Flairs best rival will always be Dusyy Rhodes cause both guys were the perfect antithesis of the other and both guys were gold on the mic
I binge watch your videos any chance I get, thank you for all the amazing content!
Thank you Wrestling bios!
The crazy thing about JCP/NWA/WCW only appealed to southern rasslin fans for a very long time. Even when it became WCW. But at the time Clash of the Champions, JCP/WCW was wrestling and WWF/E was sports entertainment. Which is why the show quality of COC and Wrestlemania 4 different significantly. But Flair vs Sting 1 was the match that not only put NWA/JCP/WCW on the map but it put Sting on the map as being the man in WCW. WWE had Hulk Hogan and WCW had Sting. Sting/Flair was WCW golden goose feud from 1988 to 2001. WCW was born from this match and the match also closed its doors. Sting and Flair went down with the ship. If you’ve seen one of their matches you’ve seen em all but something about their chemistry together was magic. They meshed together so well. It was like they were made for each other so to speak. Great story telling. Tbh WCW was Flair and Sting. Point period.
One of my favorite TH-cam channels. I watch you nearly everyday.
This was the first of many battles thank you sooo much I remember this
Thank you for this video. I was a lil kid watching the Monday night wars & I only knew the sting vs ric flair in the later years & of course on the last episode.
I love watching both your videos & Wrestlamia. The dedication, video quality, & also the different accents. It keeps it unique for me to listen too.
Thanx for the video! Great to relive my childhood through this rivalry!
I remember when i wasnt old enough to know the names of the promotions. I used to call wwf the white ring and nwa the blue ring.
That upgraded surfer sting theme song on the intro and outro is amazing
I dont know how you stay dropping all this content but damn i love it!!!
One cannot appreciate the levity of pro wrestling of these two specifically in those days unless you were there or at home watching as it was happening. It was a special time in our beloved pastime. Thank you Ryan for such nostalgic reflection 🙏🏻awesome production!
Your intro remixes are always 🔥 especially this one. Great video as always!
I know right I kind of wish this was a real song
My fav wrestling channel. Thanks for the excellent work!!
You were definitely reading my mind! I watched Clash of the Champions 1 on WWE Network this past weekend! Great stuff.
Ric Flair's greatest rival in my opinion. Never did I click so fast for this
You ain’t lying and Ric Flair loved working with Sting as did Sting loved working with Ric Flair they always brought out the best in each other, it said a lot bout Flair’s character when he said he didn’t want to drop the belt to Lex Luger, Ric Flair promised Sting the belt and he did
@@Kas58223 Facts. On the last episode of WCW Nitro Flair called Sting his greatest rival and it only felt right they ended the night with that final match of the company.
I agree.
In my opinion, THE greatest rivalry in pro wrestling history, at least as far as I'm concerned!!! Sting will forever be the goat to me, and he learned from the best, the nature boy!! WOOO!!! Ric Flair...
These two guys are the best of the best, they always worked so perfect when they faced each other. Also of course when I got a little older and came to understand the business a bit, I absolutely love the enormous amount of respect they have towards one another..
The final episode of nitro could ONLY be sting and naitch! Love these two...
Such a great video! You sir are an amazing content creator, thanks so much for all that you do!!!!
Thank ya so much I been wanting a new Sting video. I love this channel.
Loved it man!!!!! Keep em coming! Cant watch enough!
Love seeing more coverage of this time period.
I look forward to every upload man. Thanks brother
Thanks so much for your great videos. It’s like I’m getting a University level lecture in wrestling history👍😀
Ive been watching lots of old wrestling due to nostalgia and its great to hear the stories behind iconic matches/events. so many things i didnt know about as a kid
Sting said Ric Flair helped him create is persona he asked him what to do and Flair told him to beat his chest and scream.That's what Sting told in an interview.
Always so weird seeing surfer sting because I grew up with "the crow" sting
Oooh. I bet that’s pretty crazy. Such different characters!
Weirdo
@@sweetpetergeda don't be upset because I grew up in arguably the best era of wrestling in the 90s
The insane icon is the best
@@adolfgaming1761 whole he was in TNA? "Joker Sting" yeah that was pretty entertaining I mean say what you will about TNA but they had some pretty entertaining characters one of my favorites was Jay Lethal with his Black Machismo & Lethal Flair Gimmick lol
thanks 4 uploading. make more videos man
It didn't/doesn't matter how many times I've seen these two go at it, always love watching them in the ring
One of the best matches ever, great video.
Look back at WCW at all the talent they had. Amazing crusierweights and the amount of main eventers they had. Leaves you scratching your head a little thinking HOW did they screw that up???? I know it was a lot of peoples doing but still damn come one!
Me imagining flair yelling “my back is in immense pain” 🤣🤣
Great video my friend. I was a teenager back in the late 80s and I remember when wrestling wasn't called sports entertainment. 👍🏼
This is my favorite early wrestling memory. Hogan/Andre is right behind this. Two moments that still hold up to this day.
Vince McMahon hating hard back then now he's reaping what he sown. @11:07 Now that's a leg drop pure fundamental I luv it.
That Sting/Stacked Actors mashup was mint ❤️
Excellent review I never comment but I love all your content thanks for the info on this
I remember watching this a few times, TBS replayed this a few times after the initial broadcast.
Excellent as always
This match was a pure wrestling clinic. Also, this card was BETTER than mania.
I love your work.
I've become a bigger Sting fan because of you videos. Keep up the good work.
Great video
I re-watched this match a couple of months ago, you don’t realise that it is 45 minutes long, it’s probably my favourite sting match ever. Anyone that hasn’t seen it I recommend that you do you won’t be disappointed
Sting and Ric Flair have such great chemistry.
It's videos like these that make you realize you never knew how much of a good thing you had. I never really appreciated the rivalry between Sting vs Flair until recently.
The Man Called Sting/Stacked Actors Remix was perfect for the Video.
I just wanna say that your channel makes me comfy LOL
I'm from Serbia and me and my friends and the majority of youth here grew up watching wrestling since like 2005 till 10/11 where people mostly stopped watching it, some got maybe too old for that but I just continued to watch and not so much regular shows, which I stopped in like 12/13 but the history, the Attitude Era especially. I thought I knew so much but then came your channel and I am learning so much more. It's sad for me because in my country there aren't many people who still follow wrestling and are still interested (as far as I know) and I would absolutely love to create a forum or at least a FB page and discuss with my countrymen everything wrestling related but I may do it with foreigners as well, that's good too. I would really love to discuss wrestling and do it at least as a good hobby.
Right on time!!!
Great video 👍
You've done it again
I was there in Greensboro NC! The buildup for the Flair/Sting match was insane. I remember it like it was yesterday. One of the most exciting matches in pro wrestling history. The crowd was so into it and I remember the disappointment at the results.
Awesome video
I love it when you use "Stacked Actors" as a theme, long live Foo Fighters and long live wrestling bios too.
Awesome vid. You should do Lex Luger’s career in WCW next.
Anxiously waiting for a Luger career vid.
@@jedistreaming4006 yeah I think he has a vid on his career in the WWF but he definitely doesn’t have one on Luger’s WCW career. I love the idea of just a full career vid, though.
I love these videos about WCW so much cool things in their history
Woooooo! Two greatest wrestlers of all time. With two of the greatest commentators calling the action at the same time. Woooooo!
The Road Warriors and Dusty vs The Powers of Pain and Ivan Koloff was another match i couldn't wait to see that night.
I remember living in Birmingham Al when the first Clash was broadcasted It was a great show and after the first one I watched several Clash shows and each one didn't disappoint at all
Grew up a Lil Stinger , so glad I grew up in that Era .. this brings back so many game memories
I know the crow sting was the most popular but my favorite sting era was the early era blonde sting with the different color face paints. I liked crow sting don't get wrong.
This feud was my childhood
Man Vince was cutthroat back in the day. The Michael Corleone of wrestling.