Ric Flair vs. Bret Hart

[Tickle Fiend]

RIC FLAIR has launched an astonishing attack on fellow WWE Hall of Famer Bret Hart — labelling him a mid-card wrestler.
The pair have been embroiled in a bitter war of words, but The Nature Boy's latest verbal volley has left wrestling fans stunned.

Speaking on the LAW radio show in Canada, Flair blasted: "He is a p***-ant in the history of wrestling.

"He has the nerve to compare himself to me! Let's get realistic. If you put Bret Hart in your left hand and me in your right hand, compare the career...who is he?

"I wrestled everybody in the business, for an hour each night. Harley Race, Dory Funk, Jack and Jerry Brisco, who is Bret Hart?

"He is a legend in his own mind. He lives in his own little world...he screws his own family around. Who is Bret Hart?

"In my world he is a nobody!"

While it's true that the 16-time World Champion faced some of the greatest competitors of all-time, The Hitman, himself a 7-time world champion, had his fair share of memorable matches.

He endured classic encounters against the likes of Shawn Michaels, Davey Boy Smith, The Undertaker, Steve Austin and Curt Hennig.

During a 2005 interview with SunSport Bret shared his thoughts on the Nature Boy.

He said: "If you ask me who the most overrated guy in the history of the business is, then it would be Ric Flair.

"I guess that maybe somewhere in his career he was good, but even when I won the world title from him in the WWE I thought he wasn't that hot.

"He never impressed me after that and he definitely doesn't impress me now.

"I think that, like Hogan, if you've seen one Ric Flair match then you've seen them all."

But whoever's side you're on, there's no denying that Bret and Ric are two of the most gifted performers in the history of professional wrestling.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepag...hes-a-new-attack-on-Bret-The-Hitman-Hart.html

 

[Rectangle]

Fedor Emelianenko vs. both of them.

 

[FlockOfSeagulls]

Ah, the irony of it all . The Hitman`s biggest groupie quit the forum a few weeks ago

 

[The Fallen Angel]

Bret is a better wrestler than flair ever was, and its nothing new flair always shit talks hart

 

[Goodieluver]

Didn't hart like have a stroke a year ago?

I dont think he's anywhere near wrestling shape

They been shit talking for years, just like foley and flair and its all in the media and never in person. Yeah foley\flair had a matchup in WWE but its all just talk to keep their names out there. Plus Flair prob needs the money(Sadly)

Also both guys are complete opposites. Hart is by far the superior wrestler but he lacks charisma and the only heat he could ever draw is stupid Anti america stuff. Which even backfired sometimes(i laff when i watch hart vs yokozuna and the crowd starts chanting USA for hart)

Flair didn't need to wrestle to get over, he could cut a promo and could just show up to get over

 

[InspectorJapp]

Ah, the irony of it all . The Hitman`s biggest groupie quit the forum a few weeks ago

Slaver quit? Why?

Anyway, Ric should stop stirring this particular pot now. Ric is the greatest ever, and Bret is easily top ten.

 

[The Fallen Angel]

Didn't hart like have a stroke a year ago?

I dont think he's anywhere near wrestling shape

They been shit talking for years, just like foley and flair and its all in the media and never in person. Yeah foley\flair had a matchup in WWE but its all just talk to keep their names out there. Plus Flair prob needs the money(Sadly)

Also both guys are complete opposites. Hart is by far the superior wrestler but he lacks charisma and the only heat he could ever draw is stupid Anti america stuff. Which even backfired sometimes(i laff when i watch hart vs yokozuna and the crowd starts chanting USA for hart)

Flair didn't need to wrestle to get over, he could cut a promo and could just show up to get over

yeah hart has had 2 strokes now, no way he could/should wrestle and it wouldnt ever happen.. and like i said in my post that bret was the far supperior wrestler, but you are right about flair being able to cut the better promo

 

[Goodieluver]

Slaver quit? Why?

Anyway, Ric should stop stirring this particular pot now. Ric is the greatest ever, and Bret is easily top ten.

He couldn't stand a board that had tribute threads to Michael Jackson

 

[C.K. Storyteller]

Both were rather formulaic in their matches, but I'd say that Flair was the better entertainer, and Bret the better technician.

 

[magic fingers]

Bret is a better wrestler than flair ever was, and its nothing new flair always shit talks hart

No way. Harts extremely overrated. He wasn't even the best wrestler in his own family. Owen was much better. On his best day, Hart couldn't lace Flairs boots. IMO Shawn Michaels was also a lot better than the "Hitman"

 

[InspectorJapp]

Hart couldn't lace Flairs boots.

(ok, even I think that's exaggerating)

 

[Fangz]

Hart defended his title against guys like Skinner, Razor Ramon and Nailz while Ric Flair had matches against Ricky Steamboat that were the very definition of pro-wrestling, along with brutal bouts with the likes of Bruiser Brody, Harley Race, Dusty Rhodes, Terry Funk, Stan Hansen, etc. Hart has the nerve to insult Flair and for god's sake...HOGAN??? Those 2 guys had matches that Bret never could! Flair and Hogan are known as the big two when it comes to being the best while Bret's legacy is him getting his title taken from him by Mr. McMahon and crying like a child about it for going on 12 years now! Here's an interview where he talks extensively about Bret and makes a lot those and a bunch of other good points.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCcVtMbFZKo

 

[Goodieluver]

Both were rather formulaic in their matches, but I'd say that Flair was the better entertainer, and Bret the better technician.

All matches were formulaic back in their prime days. Its even worse so now but back then it was the same story(if not against a jobber)

Face gets offense in the start, heel somehow gets a big hit, works on face, face somehow turns tables, does his 3-4 signature moves then does his finisher.

Hart pretty much had some of his best non formula matches against Austin

 

[Goodieluver]

Hart defended his title against guys like Skinner, Razor Ramon and Nailz while Ric Flair had matches against Ricky Steamboat that were the very definition of pro-wrestling, along with brutal bouts with the likes of Bruiser Brody, Harley Race, Dusty Rhodes, Terry Funk, Stan Hansen, etc. Hart has the nerve to insult Flair and for god's sake...HOGAN??? Those 2 guys had matches that Bret never could! Flair and Hogan are known as the big two when it comes to being the best while Bret's legacy is him getting his title taken from him by Mr. McMahon and crying like a child about it for going on 12 years now! Here's an interview where he talks extensively about Bret and makes a lot those and a bunch of other good points.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCcVtMbFZKo

Its unfair to compare competition because they lived in different era's and there was a different breed of wrestlers during both of their haydays. You could just as easily say Flair had to deal with guys like Lex Luger and Sid Vicious and even that horrible feud that had the four horsemen against El Gigante. Hart had many memorable matches against the likes of Michaels, Undertaker, Owen, Jacques Rougeau, his tag matches against the British Bulldogs, and some good matches\feud with Diesel.

Hogan was garbage wrestling wise, this is coming from a hulkamaniac. He was garbage but he knew how to work a crowd. Him and Andre in WM III is considered one of the worst matches in wrestling history. The feud and match itself was legendary for the story, but not the action

edit-so i watched the clip

If hart wasn't a drawing power then Vince would have never signed Hart to a 20 year contract in the first place. Vince signed hart and the height of his popularity

 

[ramjet637]

Ric Flair wrestled around the world against guys from all the territories in the U.S.A., Canada, Japan, Puerto Rico, Europe etc. Bret Hart only wrestled other WWF guys. He was good, but he couldn't hold a candle to the Nature Boy.

 

[Fangz]

Hogan was garbage wrestling wise, this is coming from a hulkamaniac. He was garbage but he knew how to work a crowd. Him and Andre in WM III is considered one of the worst matches in wrestling history. The feud and match itself was legendary for the story, but not the action

The Hogan/Andre match was garbage because Andre wrestled with a serious back injury not to mention he was becoming very immobile as he aged. When Hogan slams Andre you can clearly see the pain on the Giant's face. Although that was a bad match Hogan has wrestled plenty of great ones. The match against the Ultimate Warrior was one of the best ever and that was against a guy who everyone says has zero wrestling ability. I also remember buying a PPV with the Hogan/Flair steel cage match that lasted 45 thrilling minutes with Hogan as the victor. Hogan was a power wrestler. He was not a dropkick, small package technician but that doesn't mean his matches were boring. Plenty of guys were and continue to be brawlers who had sensational matches on a regular basis. Terry Funk, Jake Roberts, Dusty Rhodes, Steve Austin, Batista, Sgt. Slaughter to name a few so just make sure you got the prayers, vitamins and training down fellow Hulkamaniac because the big man is #1, Flair #2 and Hart the best of a bad bunch.

 

[Goodieluver]

The Hogan/Andre match was garbage because Andre wrestled with a serious back injury not to mention he was becoming very immobile as he aged. When Hogan slams Andre you can clearly see the pain on the Giant's face. Although that was a bad match Hogan has wrestled plenty of great ones. The match against the Ultimate Warrior was one of the best ever and that was against a guy who everyone says has zero wrestling ability. I also remember buying a PPV with the Hogan/Flair steel cage match that lasted 45 thrilling minutes with Hogan as the victor. Hogan was a power wrestler. He was not a dropkick, small package technician but that doesn't mean his matches were boring. Plenty of guys were and continue to be brawlers who had sensational matches on a regular basis. Terry Funk, Jake Roberts, Dusty Rhodes, Steve Austin, Batista, Sgt. Slaughter to name a few so just make sure you got the prayers, vitamins and training down fellow Hulkamaniac because the big man is #1, Flair #2 and Hart the best of a bad bunch.

Im well aware of Andre's declining health and hence it was why he dropped the belt and the torch to hogan

But nonetheless, watch his younger stuff, he wrestled typical giant style. Slaps, chops, a slam, etc.Not entertaining unless you like to see squash matches. Nothing comparable to a Rick Rude match or even the early on Martel\Santana fued(delib not naming mainstay matches\feuds like savage\steamboat)

That Hogan\Warrior match was terrible. Like with Andre, OTHER than the massive story and heat because you had 2 faces going with each other, it was a terrible worked match, mainly because Warrior doesn't know a wrist lock from a wrist watch. Most guys hated to work with him. Speaking of Andre, search for a Bobby Heenan shoot video on 'tube where he tells a Andre\Warrior story. After Andre decks warrior in the face, "He's learning"
Watch any Warrior match, its 99% clotheslines

Im not arguing styles cuz Hogan was a different style but Hogan needed other skilled wrestlers to put him over, esp in his later years. Hell one of the best matches i ever saw worked with Hogan was Hogan\Perfect and Hogan\Muta. Christ in the Muta match, he even did a small package and i wanna say a drop kick.

 

[The Fallen Angel]

Im well aware of Andre's declining health and hence it was why he dropped the belt and the torch to hogan

But nonetheless, watch his younger stuff, he wrestled typical giant style. Slaps, chops, a slam, etc.Not entertaining unless you like to see squash matches. Nothing comparable to a Rick Rude match or even the early on Martel\Santana fued(delib not naming mainstay matches\feuds like savage\steamboat)

That Hogan\Warrior match was terrible. Like with Andre, OTHER than the massive story and heat because you had 2 faces going with each other, it was a terrible worked match, mainly because Warrior doesn't know a wrist lock from a wrist watch. Most guys hated to work with him. Speaking of Andre, search for a Bobby Heenan shoot video on 'tube where he tells a Andre\Warrior story. After Andre decks warrior in the face, "He's learning"
Watch any Warrior match, its 99% clotheslines

Im not arguing styles cuz Hogan was a different style but Hogan needed other skilled wrestlers to put him over, esp in his later years. Hell one of the best matches i ever saw worked with Hogan was Hogan\Perfect and Hogan\Muta. Christ in the Muta match, he even did a small package and i wanna say a drop kick.

agree with this whole post hogan is one of the worse wrestlers ever in terms of actually putting on a match.

However like goodie said in japan hogan actually put on good matches using real wrestling skills, and even did a few clean jobs.. something he has never done in the states

 

[Goodieluver]

agree with this whole post hogan is one of the worse wrestlers ever in terms of actually putting on a match.

However like goodie said in japan hogan actually put on good matches using real wrestling skills, and even did a few clean jobs.. something he has never done in the states

Hell it caused a somewhat controversy when Jacques Rougeau got a clean win over him in Canada, the only time someone clean pinned Hogan during the NWO days. I gained respect for Hogan again that he did the job to him

 

[The Fallen Angel]

Hell it caused a somewhat controversy when Jacques Rougeau got a clean win over him in Canada, the only time someone clean pinned Hogan during the NWO days. I gained respect for Hogan again that he did the job to him

even that wasnt so much a clean job he kicked out right after 3

 

[Fangz]

Yet Warrior, Hogan and power wrestlers are wildly popular while the Benoit and Harts of the world are thought to be lacking in charisma. That's the way it is now. It's more what you can do behind a mike than in the ring. Personally I get more enjoyment watching Mr. McMahon walk to the ring with that inimitable stride than any wrestler... but that's just me! 😉

 

[Fangz]

Like Flair said in the interview from the clip I provided, technical wrestling is only one part of being a wrestler. He said plenty of guys could do what Bret did but few what Hogan can. Also for his matches being technically boring his working of the crowd always made his bouts exciting. I saw Hulk wrestle Big John Studd in a great match at MSG here and Studd made Hogan look like Kurt Angle technically but the match was still thrilling.

 

[Coup de Grace]

Bret Hart was the better in-ring technical wrestler while Flair had the charisma, natural charm and mic skills that got him over... and let's be "fair to Flair" (Heenan). He was no slouch in the ring either. Hart could have been higher on the list as one of the best ever if he had a more dynamic personality. That's how in-ring slouches like Hogan and Ultimate Warrior were able to gain their pushes.

 

[Goodieluver]

Bret Hart was the better in-ring technical wrestler while Flair had the charisma, natural charm and mic skills that got him over... and let's be "fair to Flair" (Heenan). He was no slouch in the ring either. Hart could have been higher on the list as one of the best ever if he had a more dynamic personality. That's how in-ring slouches like Hogan and Ultimate Warrior were able to gain their pushes.

THATS NOT FAIR TO FLAIR!

As for a post above about power wrestlers being over, its cuz McMahon has a hardon for bigger guys and he pumps the company into them to make them profitable

Look at worthless sacks like the Great Kali or even Kurrigan. Those matches were not even laughable watchable.

 

[Coup de Grace]

Don't forget about Batista. That guy sucks in the ring UNLESS it's against the Undertaker. Vince single-handedly killed the Cruiserweight division by putting the frakking belt on Hornswaggle. From then on, most of the smaller guys with legitimate wrestling talent like Jimmy Wang Yang and Shannon Moore were stepping-stones for meatheads like Khali, Vladimir Kozlov and Zeke Jackson.