Diamonds Are Forever: Great Feud #1

1: Sting

The Ric Flair-Sting feud took place on and off throughout the late '80s and early '90s. At the inaugural Clash of Champions, Sting challenged Flair for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. The two wrestled to a 45 minute draw in an instant classic. Flair and Sting were given the chance to shine in the TBS telecast that ran head to head against WrestleMania IV. That Clash of the Champions telecast beat Vince McMahon's WrestleMania in the ratings battle that evening. Sting lost to Flair in several non-televised rematches following the Clash and later that year continued to battle against other members of the Four Horsemen. The two kicked off 1989, wrestling to a one hour draw on New Year's Day in Atlanta's Omni.

At several times during their history together, Ric and Sting ended up as allies. On July 23 at the Great American Bash, Ric Flair faced Terry Funk in the main event. After Flair got the victory, he was attacked by the Great Muta (who faced Sting earlier in the evening), who like Funk was also managed by Gary Hart, only to have Sting come to his rescue. Sting and Flair feuded with Muta and Funk for the rest summer and fall, culminating in a Thunderdome Cage Match between the two sides at Halloween Havoc '89, which Flair and Sting won. The alliance with Flair resulted in Sting joining the Four Horsemen along with Ole and Arn Anderson. Sting finished out the year winning the four-man round robin Ironman tournament at Starrcade 1989. The night ended when he defeated Flair in the final match to accumulate the necessary amount of points needed to win. It also made Sting the number one contender for Flair's NWA World Title, which was the catalyst for the events that immediately followed.

Sting is kicked out of the Four Horsemen
Uploaded by jeffmartin48

Sting was summarily dismissed from the Horsemen on February 6, 1990 at Clash of the Champions X: Texas Shootout, after refusing to relinquish an upcoming title shot at Flair, thus restarting their rivalry. Later that evening, Sting suffered a legitimate knee injury while interfering in a steel cage match featuring the Four Horsemen. Sting's injury allowed Lex Luger to get a title shot at the forthcoming Wrestle War pay-per-view. Sting played a part in the finish of the match at WrestleWar, as Luger relinquished his chance to win the title in favor of helping Sting at ringside, who was in great peril at the hands of the other Horsemen.

WCW - Sting vs. Ric Flair(Sting's First Title Win)
Uploaded by kas09

Upon his return, Sting and his allies, the Dudes With Attitudes, continued to feud with the Four Horsemen, and Sting finally defeated Flair for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship on July 7, 1990 at the Great American Bash. His reign ended on January 11, 1991 when he was defeated by Flair. Flair took off to the WWF for a couple of years but the two met again in 1994. Flair had defeated Big Van Vader to win the WCW Championship and Sting received the vacated NWA World Title from Rick Rude. Soon afterwards, Flair turned heel and defeated Sting in a title unification match at Clash of the Champions XXVII. In October 1995, Flair convinced Sting to team with him in a tag match against Arn Anderson and Brian Pillman at Halloween Havoc, as Anderson and Pillman had attacked Flair earlier in the night. Flair was unable to come out for the first part of the match and Sting fended off both Anderson and Pillman alone. Finally, Flair came out, but eventually turned on Sting and reformed the Four Horsemen with Anderson, Pillman, and later Chris Benoit. Sting closed out 1995 by feuding with the Horsemen. After this they met a few more times in various matches.

Sting was "injured" byScott Steiner in 2000, leaving WCW TV for good. However, he returned for the last episode of WCW Monday Nitro, on March 26, 2001 and defeated his long time rival Flair, embracing in a sportsmanlike fashion at the end of the contest. Fittingly, this was the last WCW match ever. (The two also wrestled each other on the very first Monday Night Nitro back in September of '95).