WWHHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!
Back in the late nineties, when there still were a few videotapes being used, there was one fabled VHS tape in particular that bounced around Austin, TX for a solid three years and it continues to make history. Every once in a while when the stars were aligned, it would turn up at a party and some unwitting guest would pop it in the player and within two minutes the television would capture the attention of any discerning partygoer within earshot of the boobtube. The tape would eventually be known simply as "The Flair Tape". Only God knows how many copies of this fabled tape have been duplicated and how much joy and/or fear has been felt by those who have witnessed it. Stylin' and profilin' from beginning to end, the Nature Boy proves legendary.
The notorious videotape was made by a misguided UT student named Lance who was a legend in his own right. He drove a classic Mustang coupe with chrome Cragars and was known for his house parties. By some stroke of genius he had recorded nearly an entire season of WCW's classic wrestling show called Monday Night Nitro. He then edited it down to just scenes featuring the wrestler Ric Flair basically going off between bouts. It was the same show which showcased many early 90's classics like Hulk Hogan, the Giant, Machoman Randy Savage, Sting, the list goes on... However, what stands out above all the rest is the documented mania of a one, Ric Flair.
During a few of his episodes, it looks as though Flair's face is just going to explode. Beet red with veins popping out of his neck in a manner that would make Henry Rollins look a docile altar boy, no one in the history of television has ever made eye contact with the camera like Ric Flair. He's focused on the viewer and on kicking some ass. Ric Flair's in-between match rantings and ravings are played out in sequence throughout the entire year and with each rough cut, the fervor and intensity displayed by Flair are absolutely invigorating. Anyone who has seen this tape will attest that Ric Flair was beyond genius on this Monday Nitro program. He was inspirational. And poor Mean Gene had to suffer through all of it, sometimes almost getting his head taken off in the process.
I'm not sure what gave Lance the idea to create this furious montage, but bless his soul for unearthing some of the finest American drama I have ever seen unfold on screen. I believe it was taped around '94 or '95. It spanned the entire year and included all of the classic characters and The Nature Boy's moments of pure genius. Included are: Brian Pillman with his dungeon of doom, the constant calling out of Hulk Hogan, the 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse, Double A, Ben Wa, the girls, the figure 4, Elizabeth, grabbing Mean Gene's headset, etc etc.. And you know what that means... Classic quotes like (Flair to Double A) "You brought the behind the scenes family to the front, and a stranger into the forbidden land, baaaaaadddd idea!" or (Double A to Sting) "Do not hang your head in shame for you did the unthinkable. You stayed in the ring for one minute with four Horsemen and just by the sheer laws of nature this seemed impossible." They go on like this for hours.
Anyway, so I'm in a Walmart and I see a sign for an in-store book signing featuring the one and only Ric Flair! I freaked out. He was promoting a new wrestling book in which he is featured. Finally, there was some reward for patronizing such an evil establishment. I had no time to think of what I would say to the legend, but I knew I couldn't pass up this chance. I wanted to recite back to him all of his best lines. I haven't actually watched the tape in years, but Flair's words are deeply ingrained in my psyche.
I followed the masking tape arrows on the floor which led us around the entire store and into a little nook where the Nature Boy sat behind a little table. He didn't look very excited, and by the looks of the other nerds standing around, I got the impression that this wasn't a high energy gig. I decided to chill and not upset the Walmart shoppers. We shook hands and I told him how awesome I thought he was, but after leaving I'd wished I would have mentioned the tape. His cell phone had gone off and he had to take a call. I imagined him being driven off to some party somewhere where he'd take some chick to Space Mountain or something.
Some time later I heard that he was arrested in a road rage incident. see link.
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/1129051ric1.html
and this is an awesome related link
http://www.areavoices.com/wrestling/?blog=947
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