Tony Schiovane is backstage, he takes us to a clip of the match at WrestleWar before his interview with Luger. For once Lex Luger has what Ric Flair wants and he's going to defend the title and go on to face Sting for the world championship, he hasn't prepared any differently. Jim Ross and Bob Caudle are on commentary for this match. Ric Flair makes his way out first, looking very strange with no championship around his waist. As Lex Luger enters his reaction actually eclipses Flair's. Flair talks shit to Luger as they confer with the referee for a good clean match. Luger: “take your shot” that must be an early runner for the worst comeback of the 90's.
LEX LUGER © VS. RIC FLAIR (NWA United States Championship)
Clash of the Champions 12 (5th September 1990)
The crowd is hyped up before they even touch, they lock up and Luger gets a headlock, Flair sends him off the ropes but gets run over with a shoulder tackle, but with Luger's background and JR commentating it's clearly a “football tackle” whatever it is, the crowd explodes as Flair hits the mat. Ric Flair kicks his way out of the test of strength and sends Luger into the corner. Luger no sells the knife-edge chop. The second one just pisses Luger off so Flair backs into the opposite corner. Flair kicks Luger but is sent across the ring, he bounces back out of the corner into a military press slam and rolls out of the ring to the walkway. Lex Luger waits for him to get back in the ring, which turns out to be a mistake as Flair cuts him off, Bob Caudle says he remembers the plane crash Flair had that broke his back, it's weird hearing them call Flair a 6-time world champion at this point. Ric Flair sends Luger across the ring but he just runs through a chop. Lex Luger sends Ric Flair into the ropes and hits another military press slam. Ric Flair gets to his feet by the ropes and Luger grazes him with a running clothesline, but it's enough to send Flair over the top rope.
Lex Luger follows Flair to the floor and clotheslines him down, properly this time. Ric Flair fights back on the floor and takes it back into the ring, he celebrates in the ring but turns around to be confronted by Luger. Lex Luger hits a third military press slam but misses the jumping elbow drop. They get to their feet and Flair chops Luger in the corner again. Lex Luger is sent across the ring but explodes back out with a running clothesline. Ric Flair feins a shoulder injury and sucker punches Luger, then dumps him through the ropes. Ric Flair follows and sends Luger into the guardrail, which moves about a foot back as he collides with it. Ric Flair breaks the count and sends Luger into the railing again, this time event staff are there to stop it hitting any fans. Ric Flair has a shoving match with the referee before getting back in the ring, waiting for Luger. Of course, champions' advantage means Flair needs to win this in the ring, Luger could stay out there and retain. He decides not to and Ric Flair cuts him off as he gets on the apron. Flair decks Luger and he slides back in the ring under the bottom rope. Ric Flair lays in the boots around the ring to Luger, who takes a rest against the middle rope.
Ric Flair takes Luger to the corner and chops him again, this time it drops him. He gave a shout out to Ted Turner and Jim Herd during that too. Luger is thrown out of the ring and into the guardrail again. The commentary team is behind the guardrail that Luger takes a bite out of, courtesy of Flair, Ric Flair gets into another spat with the referee as Jim Ross warns him not to be disqualified. Ric Flair's back in the ring, waiting for Luger and this time lets him all the way back in the ring before attacking him with a boot to the knee. Ric Flair slams the knee against the ring apron before getting back into the ring. Ric Flair alternates chops and kicks to the knee in the corner, seemingly 5 seconds of legwork is enough for Luger's knee to buckle. They work their way across the ring and Luger is able to start fighting back. He gets the best of Flair until Flair pokes him in the eye. Luger drops to the mat. Seriously. Lex Luger blocks a hip toss and counters into a backslide, he struggles to bring Flair down but does, only getting a nearfall.
Ric Flair chops Luger as they get to their feet, takes him to the corner and continues. Lex Luger switches positions and climbs on the middle rope for punches to Flair's head, Ric Flair carries Luger out of the corner and drops him, Luger lands on his feet and clotheslines Flair down. Lex Luger covers for a nearfall. Ric Flair is first to his feet, snapmaring Luger over and covers for three consecutive nearfalls, forcing Luger to exert energy to kick out. Ric Flair climbs to the top rope but obviously, Luger is able to cut him off, sending him across the ring. Ric Flair gets sent into the corner, flipping over to the apron. Lex Luger clotheslines Flair down again and brings him in the ring. Ric Flair is sent off the ropes and would you believe it, it's another military press slam! Jim Ross reads ahead of the action calling it a powerslam, which is the next thing Luger does before signaling for the Torture Rack. Ric Flair has gone out to the apron and he pokes Luger in the eye. Ric Flair is sent off the ropes from a headlock and gets caught in the bearhug. Lex Luger perches Flair on the top turnbuckle and brings him back down with a superplex. Lex Luger covers but Flair gets his foot on the rope at 2 ½. Lex Luger thinks he's won and celebrates but the referee brings him up to speed. Ric Flair begs off in the corner but Luger hits him with rights. The referee counts, not wanting to disqualify Luger, so Flair uses the opportunity to poke Luger in the eye. Lex Luger reverses the irish whip but Flair ducks the clothesline. Ric Flair flies into Luger with a cross body which eventually sends them both to the arena floor. Lex Luger has the advantage, mounting Flair with right hands. Flair pokes Luger in the eye as they get to their feet and sends him off into the barricade. Lex Luger just casually walks back to Flair and drags him down from the apron. Luger gets in the ring and Stan Hansen appears out of nowhere to attack the champion, causing the disqualification.
WINNER: RIC FLAIR (Lex Luger retains the Championship)
I don't know how this made the cut for a “best of” set. The match didn't seem to go anywhere like they were going through the motions waiting for the DQ for the whole time. Although I blasted Luger for overselling the knee at the beginning, before too long it just stopped bothering him and he carried on with the match, which made it seem pointless in this case. However the live crowd lapped it up, so there is that. – WORKRATE: 2/5 PERSONAL ENJOYMENT 1.75/5 OVERALL 3.75/10
After the bell rings Stan Hansen continues attacking Luger, choking him with the bullrope.
This match is available on the WWE DVD & BluRay release “Best of Clash of the Champions”
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