Anyone who was a fan of WCW had to have been a traditionalist to a certain extent. Before Hulk Hogan, the nWo and even the beloved cruiserweights, WCW was a company based heavily on tradition. In the early 90s, the company even repackaged some of the great feuds and/or matches we all loved back in the Crockett days. Not surprisingly, Ric Flair, the perpetual World champion of not only the 80s, but the early 90s dominates this tape. First however, we get one of the best tag team feuds ever between the Rock-N-Roll Express and the Midnight Express, two teams that can't do anything below ***. Then you get three Flair matches...what's better than that? First, he takes on Lex Luger in what maybe the best match the "Total Package" ever partook in and they had some good ones in the 80s (GAB `88 being my favorite). Next up is 2 of Flair's best programs of the late 80s brought to `94. In two back-to-back months with Hulk Hogan's looming introduction, Flair fought Barry Windham and Ricky Steamboat. The Windham match is interesting, while the Steamboat match is a classic for sure.

1. Rock-N-Roll Express vs. Midnight Express (Wrestle War `90)
One of the best tag feuds ever and many would argue it's the best. I don't believe I've ever seen these two teams have a bad match and this match goes into the 90s on NWA/WCW's first pay-per-view of the decade. Cornette goes into classic manager comedy that livens the crowd up early. Everything here: babyfaces' offense, heels' bumping, Cornette's comedy and JR and Terry Funk are hilarious on commentary. Sure enough, Ricky Morton finds himself and trouble and the Midnights take him apart as he sells like a million bucks. Morton keeps getting hope spots in, but is cut off just as quickly. Ross and Funk convert the commentary to being insightful as Morton does his thing. The Rocket Launcher misses and Morton makes the rolling tag to Robert Gibson. Cornette's interference and the Midnights doubleteaming isn't enough as Gibson applies a strange cradle for the win. A classic for sure and it has to make you appreciate the longevity of this feud and just how great it was.
Rating: ****

2. Ric Flair vs. Lex Luger (Wrestle War `90)
Luger was perhaps at his peak here, very carriable and energetic, but with the experience he lacked in the 80s that eventually turned him into a waste. Flair was coming off perhaps the best year of his career with back-to-back feuds with Ricky Steamboat and Terry Funk. Luger's initial offense is short-lived before Flair takes him to school. The champion pulls everything out of his bag of tricks: attacking a body part, illegal leverage, interference from Woman and running away. Luger's offense is very strategically placed with the challenger playing to the crowd well and his mistakes being covered well. The fans totally get into the nearfalls and Luger's late hope spots, which makes this match that much better. Flair seems to have everything in order and has the Figure-Four locked on, when the injured Sting comes and gives Lex a wake-up call. This goes into one of the best screwjob finishes ever as Luger has Flair in the Torture Rack, but the Andersons go after the injured Sting. Luger scarifices his title, which appeared in the bag to save Sting and gets counted out. One hell of a main event and remember this was about a month before Hogan-Warrior, which was one of the biggest matches ever, but doesn't stand up at all. This match was two great wrestlers having a damn good match and kicking off the new decade in a big way. I've seen this be named one of WCW's greatest matches and I'd say it is certainly deserving of that toating.
Rating: ****1/2

3. Ric Flair vs. Barry Windham (Slamboree `94)
This was built as a masked man, whose identity would be revealed only before the match... though we all knew it was Windham. They tried to build it as Windham being Hogan under a hood because he's about Hogan's size and is former World champ. He's past his best years here, but he knows what to do. They have a pretty good match, but it's obviously not on par with my favorite (Crockett Cup `87). Windham works a smart style and certainly looks like a veteran rather than the hungry youngster we all loved. He plays the big man and Flair bumps around for him and gets all his spots in and even a few unusual ones. Finally Flair sneaks in a Flying Body Press for the quick win. Not a classic on the level of the others on this tape, but a fun match to an extent.
Rating: **3/4

4. Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat (Spring Stampede `94)
In Chicago, where Steamboat won the title five years ago, these two meet yet again in another classic battle. The early work is sound, but not the perfection you might expect. They have a slow build with some intense brawling when necessary and lots of basic wrestling psychology that has the fans intrigued. Flair comes back in classic fashion, roughing it up and changing the complexion of things. The action picks up as they head to the floor. Flair picks up his bumping as "The Dragon" takes back over. The crowd is worked into a frenzy as Steamboat catches the champ in the Figure-Four for a tense minute or so. Then they go into the nearfalls and momentum changes that keeps the fans going. Flair turns it around and they slow things down before the Steamer comes back again. After missing a Flying Splash, Flair (who has the fans behind him big time) locks on the Figure-Four! More nearfalls and this works totally different because Flair's the bigger face here. Then out of nowhere Ricky Steamboat locks on the double chickenwing (which he used to win the belt in `89), this time he turns into a Tiger Suplex-well-cradle and the ref counts three. They do the double pinfall controversy, but that makes it a draw, so Flair keeps the belt. Now I haven't watched any of their old matches (I have like 10 from `84 and `89) for some time. This however is a true classic and an addition to that great series. They built things well and though the headlock stuff didn't have the same effect in `94, it was not received overtly negatively. Everything from move execution to getting heat when needed to a sound finish was right there. Only negatives: a finish like that is okay, but not ideal (IMO) and the early stuff was sound, but nothing riveting. Those qualms aside, I don't understand how anyone can say this match is unworthy of its praise, it is two veterans working their tails off to add a classic closing chapter to their legendary feud.
Rating: ****1/2