WWE FLASHBACK: A Flair For The Gold!

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When Ric Flair remerged in WCW in early 1993, he had some time to kill before he could physically wrestle again because of a clause in his contract with the WWF.  It was a non-compete, which meant he could walk, talk, style and profile, but couldn’t get into the ring until mid-June of 93.  Thus, the WCW came up with his own talk show entitled, “A Flair for the Gold” with Flair as the host, and Arn Anderson as his Ed McMahon second.

While Eric Bischoff had several tremendous ideas to help launch WCW into the stratosphere in the late 1990’s, including Monday Night Nitro and the nWo, this idea, was not one of them.  Even when you take a fantastic promo guy like Flair, it doesn’t always mean it can translate into having the ability to carry its own segment each week, on live tv no less!

Part of the problem, was that it was filmed live and despite being mic’ed up, the only people who could truly hear them were the listeners at home.  Flair couldn’t seem to grasp this concept that the boom microphones were so weak, no one could hear him, and even at home it was tough, so by the end of this miserable show, he began yelling during every segment and it just got more and more bizarre.

Perhaps the worst and best segment in show history came in August of 1993 at Clash of the Champions XXIV, when in preparation for their Fall Brawl War Games Match, Sting, The British Bulldog and Dustin Rhodes revealed their Tag Team Partner to be Tugboat, errr, The Shockmaster as he stumbled through the fake wall, and the entire thing was live as his mystery helmet came off.  The moment has been replayed on social media and YouTube about 2 billion times since.  That was the death nail of the show!

For all intents and purposes, they should have never let it get that far, as the first 5 episodes were bad enough to cancel the show before it even got to that point.  Here are just some points that came out of the first five.  These should be enough for you to look them up on YouTube the second you are done watching this.

This was the epitome of, “It was so bad, it was good”

Episode 1 – Vader and Race arrive.

WCW World Champion Vader is the guest and does nothing but yell and scream, “who’s the man?” while Flair cowers in fear and tries to cool the situation.  It goes nowhere fast, and you can tell quickly that this show is not scripted and like Pipers Pit, will try to ad lib most of it.  It bombs and Vader storms off.

Episode 2 – Barry Windham doesn’t show up

The entire premise here is that Arn Anderson will get a chance to go face to face with the NWA Champion Barry Windham only weeks before their big showdown at Slamboree.  To no one’s surprise, Windham doesn’t show up, and actually calls Flair to tell him off over the phone. Pointless!

Episode 3 – Missy Hyatt attacks them and Hollywood Blondes insult them.

If the purpose of this show is to “get Flair and Anderson over again”, this episode submarines those chances quickly.  It starts off with Missy Hyatt storming the set to let Ric Flair know he has no sex drive left and needs to remove the moniker, “60 Minute Man”, and replace it with “60 second man” because he is old with a small unit.  This is just pure crash tv.

It gets funny however, when Steve Austin and Brian Pillman show up and do nothing but rip on Flair and Arn Anderson for 5 minutes straight about their age.  Austin calls Anderson a relic, and it is just hilarious the verbal beating the elder statesmen take.  Eventually, the common theme of the show remains as intact as Austin and Pillman storm off the set.

Episode 4 – Rude in a Kimona & Flair Announces the 4 Horsemen reunion

Through the first 3 episodes, the common theme is Arn Anderson and Ric Flair getting embarrassed by the guest.  Alas, that trend stays fully intact this week as for some reason, Flair and Anderson are draped in Kimona’s and surrounded by random Asian women.

Ric Rude shows up in a three-piece suit and is told he needs to change, so when he goes to change his outfit, Flair announces that this coming weekend at Slamboree, the Original Four Horsemen will reunite. They don’t, more on that later….

When Rude does return, he unveils a prostitute as his gift for Flair, and then hits on Fifi the maid while Flair is distracted.  Another riveting episode in the books.

Episode 5 – Slamboree 1993  Episode as the Horsemen try to reform and fail miserably.

Clearly, Flair is now well aware that no one in the crowd can hear him, and even the people at home have to struggle because WCW never kills the crowd microphone, making this show an even bigger mess. He yells the entire episode, from start to finish which makes it even more awkward.

The big unveil is supposed to be the return of Tully Blanchard out of nowhere for the first time in 6 plus years.  To no one’s shock he doesn’t show up, and instead, they replace him with Paul Roma as the crowd goes further mild.

The entire episode only has one worthwhile moment in it, and that is when Ric Flair tells the hookers on set, to keep Arn Anderson dry.  Meaning, keep him sober and not loaded for his NWA Championship match that night vs Barry Windham.  You know, the Horseman that actually would have made sense to bring back in the first place.

Episode 6 – Sting leads kids in a workout.

This should have been cannot miss as the guest was Sting, the most popular man in wrestling at the time.  Sadly, this was another debacle as Flair and Sting tried to have a deep conversation about inspiring little kids, but no one could hear them as one again WCW had the genius idea of keeping the arena mic live, and all your heard was rumblings from the crowd.  It got worse from there as Fifi jumped her cue and sent the little kids in early to stretch with Sting.

This was combined with Flair and Anderson wearing jogging suits fresh from Morty Seinfield.  The segment was cut early and rumor has it that Sting got pissed off backstage, going on a tirade and getting the producer fired, all in front of the children.  NEXT!

Episode 7- Jonny B Badd arrives

This one begins with Ric Flair in jeans and a T-shirt, for perhaps the first time in his entire life as this looks incredibly out of place.  He is sporting a Johnny B Badd T-shirt. He does the traditional introduction and spin around of FiFi as the men act like she is somewhat attractive.  Arn Anderson is there too, sitting at the bar fresh off of getting his ass handed to him by Barry Windham at Slamboree.

Badd Shows up, like a clown at a kids birthday party and instantly goes into full gimmick and into business for himself by talking over everyone, and calling Flair “Ricky”.  They then debate about how is prettier between the two before Johnny B Badd proceeds to explain to everyone how important his “Master Blaster” gimmick was that Maxx Payne took.

It should be noted that Badd has on more makeup then some of the ladies of the night that also frequent the set.  Badd then tricks Fifi into letting him give her a kiss on the cheek. It ends “thank God” with Arn Anderson jitter bugging wearing a leather jacket like the fonz while trying to stay with a girl in a 50’s Poodle skirt.  It just keeps getting worse by the week.

Episode 8 Col Robert Parker announces the formation of The Masters of the Powerbomb

This episode was pretty much straight forward as it was really nothing more than a long promo from Parker.  All of this leads to hyping up their upcoming match with Sting & British Bulldog at Beach Blast.  The entire segment is maybe 3 minutes as the producers didn’t want to play with fate.  Interesting note about this one, no Fifi, no whiney trumpet and no Arn Anderson.

Episode 9 – The Infamous Shockmaster Episode 

Things start off with Sting and The British Bulldog visiting the show. Once again, there is no Fifi the maid, or sidekick Arn Anderson.  Considering neither added anything being on the show, there is no less entertainment without them.  Bulldog goes off on a random rant talking about how everyone is “cooking”.  It makes zero sense and luckily Sid with the Harlem Heat barge in to end the senseless tirade.

They demand to know who the mystery partner is of Sting, the British Bulldog and Dusting Rhodes at that years’ War Games.  The rest is infamous history as Sting introduces “The Shockmaster” who proceeds to literally fall though the wall when his helmet goes flying revealing who he is, Tugboat from the WWF.

It’s a stunned silence as the fans cannot believe what they just saw.  Meanwhile, Ole Anderson talks over the crows microphone trying to pretend it is the voice of The Shockmaster.  Sensing how nuts this entire thing is, all the good guys and Flair walk off set as Sid Vicous stands there screaming and the show fades to dark. Thank God!

Episode 10 – Ric Rude Attacks Ric Flair

This is not a long episode and for good reason.  It appears that Arn Anderson is gone for good from the show, and this was a week Flair badly needed him there.  Rude comes out, and within minutes is screaming at Fifi, grabs her for a kiss, she slaps him, and then he attacks Flair.  All of this, sets up their upcoming match for the NWA title at Fall Brawl 1993.

As the year went on, the episodes just gets worse so I won’t bore you with the utter details.  Again, YouTube can get you through the rest of this.