On Cyber Sunday, Ric Flair emerged victorious along with “Rowdy” Roddy Piper against the Spirit Squad, which brought them the World Tag Team titles. Flair has held this honor twice in the past and in no way, shape or form needs it in order to establish his credibility. Over the past several decades in classic matches against the likes of Harley Race, Ricky Steamboat and Sting, Flair has proven his in-ring ability time and time again.
Surprisingly, Ric Flair gaining hold of one-half of the World Tag Team titles is not completely negative, but rather a mixed blessing. This comes as a result of the tag team division on Raw being practically nonexistent, Flair maintaining his in-ring talent and the short-term excitement created by nostalgia.
As is always the case whenever wrestlers well into their fifties hold any sort of championship, the danger of holding younger talent down exist. This dilemma would be no different in this case if there were any young talent in the tag division to hold down.
The Spirit Squad is the exception rather than the rule and this team has already held the titles for over seven months. While one could make the argument for Cryme Tyme to hold the straps, the two are still relatively new to Raw and need time to cement there status in the tag team division.
Less likely teams to capture the titles from the Spirit Squad likewise have similar obstacles in their paths. The Highlanders had a relatively lengthy feud with the Spirit Squad less than two months ago. Alternatively Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch are heels much like the Spirit Squad, which may have made for a clunky transition. The teams of Randy Orton and Edge as well as Degeneration-X are closer to main event status than the lowly status the World Tag Team titles have been given in recent years. The recently divided team of “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan and Eugene, like the new champions faced the problem of age and additionally had a very stale gimmick attached to the duo in the form of Eugene. Lastly, the team of Charlie Haas and Viscera seem more likely to be in the “they’re still employed here?” category of the WWE rather than being champions.
While Flair may not be destroying the careers of other wrestlers with his newest title reign, he may be damaging his own. In the past few years many have viewed Flair’s actions as tarnishing his legacy. This view became so popular that it formed the basis for the feud Flair had with long time running buddy Triple H in 2005.
In the past few weeks Flair has not done much in terms of in-ring competition to disprove these claims. Despite this stigma, unlike other wrestlers of past decades that have competed this year such as Roadwarrior Animal, Jerry Lawler and Kevin Nash, Flair has occasional proven that he can still put on great matches.
Within the last year Flair has put on respectable efforts with the likes of Edge, The Big Show and ironically enough Triple H. Though these matches may not measure up to his classic 1989 trilogy with Steamboat, one could hardly say that they would stink up any wrestling card.
Without a doubt what most qualifies Flair’s recent appearances as a mixed blessing is the smorgasbord of legends, which have appeared with him. Since October 9, 2006 such past wrestlers, who have made appearances include: Ted DiBiase, Irwin R. Schyster, Arn Anderson, “The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, Sgt. Slaughter and of course Piper.
Because of the legacies that they have built, generally speaking wrestlers of the past, who have had lengthy careers, are entertaining in brief appearances. However the reason that this sudden burst of nostalgia is not entirely enjoyable is twofold with the first matter being a minor detractor and the second matter being a major detractor.
First, the wrestlers brought back do not fully resume their characters. For example while DiBiase may have been playful enough in his later heel days to get a fan friendly reaction, IRS never came close to being a face during his initial run. Yet when IRS assisted Flair against the Spirit Squad that is exactly the role he was cast in. Likewise Rhodes must have forgotten the various lacerations he suffered at the hands of Flair over their heated rivalry, which lasted for several years and the less said about Sgt. Slaughter’s recent dancing, the better.
The second and more serious detractor of this episode of nostalgia is that the performers first brought back in cameo capacities are now wrestling. One needs to look no further than Piper’s offense at Cyber Sunday, which consisted almost exclusively of punches to see that this is a bad idea. Rather than reducing the in-ring time of said entertainers, these matches look to continue as Flair and Piper retained their titles on the Raw following Cyber Sunday. Additionally they are scheduled to compete along with Slaughter and Rhodes against the Spirit Squad at this year’s Survivor Series. Not only do these tag matches include individuals, who have long past their prime, but they also drastically cut down Flair’s ring time.
Since recovering from a broken back suffered in 1975, Ric Flair has defied the odds and participated in incredible bouts. However unlike an injury, age cannot be overcome and Flair only has so much time left in which he can carry out excellent efforts. If Flair is to have one last championship run in the spotlight, he should be holding a world heavyweight championship and competing in well developed matches, not dragging along a tag title as a minuteman.
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