2. Ricky Steamboat vs. Ric Flair – Clash of the Champions – 4.2.89
The middle chapter of the universally acclaimed Flair-Steamboat trilogy took place on free television at Clash of the Champions VI, which aired head-to-head with WrestleMania V.
This 2/3 Falls match went almost the full sixty minutes and featured a more gritty, personal side to this rivalry, as the two technical masters adopted a more aggressive mindset. Flair took the first fall with an inside cradle, Steamboat made Flair submit in the second with a double chickenwing, and at about the 56-minute mark Steamboat attempted the chickenwing again but this time his knee buckled, sending both men to the mat long enough for Flair’s shoulders to be counted down.
Steamboat was declared the winner and still Champion, but a review of the tape showed Flair’s leg in the ropes, necessitating another rematch at WrestleWar ’89. While I consider the 2/3 Falls match the least of the trilogy, it’s still a pretty amazing bout that further displayed the abilities of both future Hall of Famers.
