I never thought that reaching this second recap would take so long, but it won’t take this long again.
Part of the reason why I was sad I dropped the ball on the retro diary for so long was because I wanted to continue analyzing and earmarking the history of the business, sport and artform that I love. These Flairiods, conducted every 16 PPVs in an homage to Grantland’s Birdmesters, serve as a way to see where we’ve been and where we are going. At some point, I will probably need to change the concept because 16 PPVs won’t even tackle an entire year’s worth of shows for all companies. For now, we stick with it.
This edition will feature some new segments, some others retired and a different flavor to try and recap the last 16 shows in a different way. Without any further ado, let’s get to it!
Here are my Top 5 Overall MVPs in the Second Flairiod
1. Mr. Perfect- Nobody has had more MVP cases in this stretch and nobody has personified athleticism, selling, charisma, cockiness and ability than Curt Hennig.
2. Jesse Ventura- He moves up from third in the first Flairiod and he’s the only three-time MVP in the diary’s overall history. He continues to make the case as the best color commentator of all time. His WCW tenure will be interesting to judge.
3. Sting- He moves up from fifth in the first Flairiod and, in the moment, he looks to be on track to become the biggest star of all time. He commands his character and backs it up in the ring.
4. Ted DiBiase- Another untouchable heel presence that gets it done in between the ropes and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down yet. If anything, we are getting even more camp and evil soon!
5. Lex Luger- It’s unfortunate how he’s viewed nowadays because his booking was poor and his latter years are viewed too prominently. In this time period, Lex Luger was a superstar that did his job and did it very, very well.
Here are my Top 5 Overall LVPs in the Second Flairiod
1. Jim Duggan- HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO boy is he bad. The matches are sloppy, his character is absurd and his popularity drives me crazy.
2. Bob Caudle- He moves up from third in the first Flairiod and he’s the only three-time LVP in the diary’s overall history. Why does the NWA insist on putting this befuddled old goon on commentary to add absolutely nothing?
3. Johnny Ace- Dynamic is the wrong word and “Dude” is what you say watching one of his matches before finishing the sentence with “this guy sucks ass!”
4. The Z-Man- An athletic musclehead with the charisma of a pea who has made good wrestlers look boring just by being involved with him.
5. Iron Sheik- Along with Lex Luger and Dusty Rhodes, the only man who has an MVP and LVP on his resume, but Sheiky Baby’s trajectory isn’t going upwards. He is already a bloated, immobile shell.
Here are my Top 5 Uncrowned MVPs in the Second Flairiod
1. Rick Rude- The man has made the Ultimate Warrior look like a competent beast and oozes so much confidence and star power. His body is only matched by his ability.
2. Bobby Eaton- If he was around nowadays, he would be an internet darling that eventually earns his shot from the groundswell. He looks like a schlub, but he wrestles like a master.
3. Earthquake- It’s early, but nobody has made an impression so quickly and dominantly as a monster heel than John Tenta. He’s forgotten as an all-time big man.
4. Jacques Rougeau- It’s hard to stand out in a mid-card brother tag team, but the future Mountie has done so with his wonderful bumping, irritating persona and underrated ring work.
5. Great Muta- I was excited in the first Flairiod about his forthcoming arrival and he didn’t disappoint. Talk about someone who was revolutionary and different in all the best ways.
Here are my Top 5 Uncrowned LVPs in the Second Flairiod
1. Mike Rotunda- It is appropriate that he will be IRS within the next year because I’d rather do my taxes that watch his matches.
2. Bad News Brown- I’m starting to think that judo doesn’t translate to wrestling ability particularly when you won’t lose cleanly or get in shape.
3. Michael Hayes- All he’s got is flamboyant outfits, a decent punch and the third best DDT in the business out of three.
4. Tommy Rich- For a former world champion, I’m pretty sure Tommy Lee or Richie Rich would elicit better crowd reactions and put on more entertaining affairs.
5. Junkyard Dog- Two companies, zero impressive matches and a whole lot of bad mugging.
Here are my Top 5 Surprises in the Second Flairiod
1. Scott Steiner- I know it’s been my gimmick for almost 10 years, but he is legitimately one of the best wrestlers on the planet during this time period and that’s not hyperbole. That might be underselling it.
2. Butch Reed- I always figured him to be a substantial Jannetty to Ron Simmons, but he is impactful and impressive in the NWA. The blonde hair in WWF must have hurt him.
3. Buzz Sawyer- Nobody in this diary’s history has made 1 appearance in an opening match, won MVP and left me wanting so much more. He was such a unique character and it’s a shame we lost him so young.
4. Tracy Smothers- After one match, he’s already entered a short list of best wrestlers in the world for 1990. I can’t wait to see him underutilized for years and years!
5. Sid Vicious- We all know that I am half the man that he is, but I’m starting to think you have half the brain that he does to think that he isn’t important in the history of pro wrestling than he already is.
Here are my Top 5 Disappointments in the Second Flairiod
1. Jim Ross- If you want your announcer giving spouting off the same facts over and over again and not tell the story of the match, then don’t look forward to JR in a cowboy hat and take him from this time period. Controversial, but I’m saying it: Vince McMahon was right about him.
2. Woman- Another take that pains me, but…she doesn’t do anything! She’s not a good promo, she’s not a good character, she’s unnecessary. Get her out of the business for so many future reasons.
3. Road Warrior Animal- Hawk is always on point and bringing something unique to interviews. Animal is just loud and botches at least 3 times in every match.
4. The Genius- Lanny Poffo has a job because of his brother. If not for him, he’d be at home with his mother. He’s not a good manager nor a good promo. His character’s a dud and kind of a…dud.
5. Teddy Long- Let me tell you all something, playas: Teddy Long is wildly inconsistent as an on-screen personality. When I want to give him props, he just talks and talks. When he makes a funny face, he throws a shitty strike. I was expecting more.
Here are the Top 5 Favorite Matches in the Second Flairiod
1. Ricky Steamboat vs Ric Flair at Chi-Town Rumble
2. The 1990 Royal Rumble
3. Ricky Steamboat vs Ric Flair at WrestleWar 1989
4. The Midnight Express vs The Southern Boys at Great American Bash 1990
5. The Ultimate Warrior vs Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania VI
Here are the Top 5 Least Favorite Matches in the Second Flairiod
1. Mike Rotunda and Tommy Rich vs The Samoan Swat Team at Capital Combat
2. The King of the Hill Double Ring Battle Royal at Great American Bash 1989
3. Michael Hayes vs Russian Assassin #2 at Chi-Town Rumble
4. Bad News Brown vs Jim Duggan at WrestleMania V
5. The Road Warriors vs The Samoan Swat Team at Starrcade 1989
Here are the Top 5 Win Totals in Retro Diary History
1. Randy Savage- 13
2. Hulk Hogan- 12
3. Hawk- 11
4. Animal and Ric Flair (tie)- 10
5. Ricky Steamboat- 9
Here are the Top 5 Loss Totals in Retro Diary History
1. Tito Santana- 11
2. Hercules and Greg Valentine (tie)- 10
3. Honky Tonk Man- 9
4. Nikolai Volkoff, Andre the Giant, The Barbarian, Mike Rotunda and Bret Hart (tie)- 8
5. Akeem, Haku, Jake Roberts, Jim Neidhart and Randy Savage (tie)- 7
I didn’t want to make a list of other records, but I felt it was notable to mention that nobody with more than matches is undefeated. The best 1 loss record is the Rock N Roll Express at 5-1 and Sting at 9-1-2.
The three worst performers with zero wins are Ken Patera and Jimmy Snuka at 0-4 and Boris Zhukov at 0-6.
This second Flairiod definitely upped the in-ring quality, began to show modern wrestling for its positives and definitely for its negatives and allowed me to relive some of the earliest memories of my childhood. It’s only going to get more vibrant and nostalgic from here.
The next Flairiod will see our namesake’s jump to WWF, the essential end of the Hulkamania we grew up with, bloody ass War Games, the debuts of the Undertaker and Steve Austin and the infamy of The Gobbledy Gooker and Oz.
I’ll see you at SummerSlam 1990!
CURRENT PPV RANKINGS (BOLD is recommended, * is from this Flairiod)
1. WrestleMania 3
2. Survivor Series 1987
3. Great American Bash 1989*
4. Survivor Series 1988*
5. Starrcade 1986
6. Royal Rumble 1990*
7. Chi-Town Rumble*
8. WrestleMania VI*
9. Starrcade 1983
10. WrestleWar 90*
11. Starrcade 1988*
12. Great American Bash 1990*
13. WrestleMania 2
14. Great American Bash 88
15. WrestleWar 89*
16. The Wrestling Classic
17. Starrcade 1987
18. SummerSlam 1988
19. SummerSlam 1989*
20. Starrcade 1989*
21. Survivor Series 1989*
22. Halloween Havoc 1989*
23. Starrcade 1985
24. Bunkhouse Stampede
25. The Big Event
26. Royal Rumble 1989*
27. WrestleMania V*
28. Royal Rumble 1988
29. WrestleMania 1
30. WrestleMania IV
31. Capitol Combat*
32. Starrcade 1984