Post by #HEEL Dark Lord on Oct 11, 2006 14:09:31 GMT -5
October 11, 2006 - For six consecutive years IGN and THQ have teamed up to bring our readers an ongoing exclusive look at the superstars of the WWE, and this season is no exception. Famous the world over, our "SmackDown Countdown" chronicles each wrestler, diva, and legend that will appear in WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007, and comes complete with never-before-seen screenshots and direct-feed movies of every last one of them. Every day for the next nine weeks, we'll profile more than 60 different personalities (including two each on Mondays and Fridays as a special homage to Raw and SmackDown fans), and for the first time ever, will cover two different platforms with images and video from both the PlayStation 2 and Xbox 360 versions. Hot stuff? You bet.
But enough with the formalities it's time to throw down with today's Countdown superstar, Ric Flair!
HEIGHT:
6'1"
WEIGHT:
243 lbs
HOMETOWN:
Charlotte, NC
The bitterness between Mick Foley and Ric Flair goes back to their tenure at WCW in the early 1990's, where Foley claims that Flair tried to bury his career. At Vengeance, Foley used his 2 Out of 3 Falls Match with Flair to embarrass the 16-time World Champion. He pledged to beat the "Nature Boy" using technical skills, but mid-match he abandoned that method and diverted to his hardcore roots. The match ended in a disqualification for Foley -- and a bloodbath for Flair. Since then, Natche has been obsessed with feuding with the Hardcore Legend... arguing with the bearded one every single week and by participating in a brutal "I Quit" bout at SummerSlam.
But regardless of who Flair is feuding with, in a sport with legendary names, no one still competing garners as much respect as that of the 16-time world champion. He's the master of the Figure-Four Leglock and the marathon match. He's a cornerstone of the two most influential factions in the history of sports-entertainment. And when given a microphone, Flair's spontaneity and enthusiasm elevate him into a class unto itself. All you have to do is listen to the crowd return his signature "Wooo!" call at the top of their lungs.
Indeed, Flair has made a name for himself by being "the man" in and away from the ring. He's known for dressing in tailor-made suits, seducing gorgeous women and flying (after main events) to parties in trendy hotspots around the world. Despite his age, Flair has shown remarkable resiliency. In a match now called "The Great Escape," he defeated Triple H in a Steel Cage Match at Taboo Tuesday. Then, Flair nearly won an unprecedented 17th world championship battling Edge in a memorable "Tables, Ladders and Chairs" Match that left "The Nature Boy" broken and bloodied. Still, Flair bounced back to win a "Money in the Bank" Qualifying Match on RAW, earning him a spot in the WrestleMania 22 Ladder contest. "The Nature Boy" didn't win at WrestleMania, but he still believes he has a 17th world championship run in him.
Flair made his AWA debut in 1972, and two years later moved on to the National Wrestling Alliance. On September 17, 1981, Flair defeated Dusty Rhodes in Kansas City to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship for the first time. In 1985, Ric Flair teamed with Tully Blanchard, Ole & Arn Anderson, and manager J.J. Dillon to form the Four Horsemen, one of the most famous and dominant factions in sport-entertainment history. In his storied career, Flair went on to trade the NWA Championship with greats such as Ricky Steamboat, Harley Race and Kerry Von Erich throughout the '80s. On January 11, 1991, Flair defeated Sting in East Rutherford, N.J., to become the first WCW Champion. By the end of the year, Flair had jumped to WWE.
In January 1992, Flair survived the Royal Rumble, entering at No. 3, to win his first WWE Championship. It was the only time that the WWE Championship was awarded in a Rumble-style match. After a successful stint in WWE, Flair returned to WCW the following year and recaptured the WCW strap. The legendary Nature Boy defended his championship against the likes of Vader, Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan. After WCW was purchased by WWE in March 2001, Flair took a brief hiatus. During his time off, Flair was able to reassess his priorities. It was at this time, he realized he belonged in no other place than in the ring. He made his long-awaited WWE return to a standing ovation in November 2001. There, he informed Mr. McMahon that in a stock-trading coup, he had acquired 50 percent of the company. McMahon had no choice but to take him on as co-owner of WWE.
The two continually butted heads, leading to a Street Fight at Royal Rumble 2002, which Flair won. The animosity between the two grew intolerable, forcing WWE CEO Linda McMahon to declare a brand split so that the co-owners could independently control separate properties. Flair took control of RAW and drafted its roster. He remained a powerful WWE stockholder until June 2002.
Source: WWE.com
Stats
Strength: 6.5
Submission: 9.5
Durability: 7.5
Technique: 9
Speed: 6
Charisma: 10
Hardcore: 7.5
Stamina: 6.5
Overall: 87
FINISHERS
Figure-4 Leglock
Figure-4 Leglock
But enough with the formalities it's time to throw down with today's Countdown superstar, Ric Flair!
HEIGHT:
6'1"
WEIGHT:
243 lbs
HOMETOWN:
Charlotte, NC
The bitterness between Mick Foley and Ric Flair goes back to their tenure at WCW in the early 1990's, where Foley claims that Flair tried to bury his career. At Vengeance, Foley used his 2 Out of 3 Falls Match with Flair to embarrass the 16-time World Champion. He pledged to beat the "Nature Boy" using technical skills, but mid-match he abandoned that method and diverted to his hardcore roots. The match ended in a disqualification for Foley -- and a bloodbath for Flair. Since then, Natche has been obsessed with feuding with the Hardcore Legend... arguing with the bearded one every single week and by participating in a brutal "I Quit" bout at SummerSlam.
But regardless of who Flair is feuding with, in a sport with legendary names, no one still competing garners as much respect as that of the 16-time world champion. He's the master of the Figure-Four Leglock and the marathon match. He's a cornerstone of the two most influential factions in the history of sports-entertainment. And when given a microphone, Flair's spontaneity and enthusiasm elevate him into a class unto itself. All you have to do is listen to the crowd return his signature "Wooo!" call at the top of their lungs.
Indeed, Flair has made a name for himself by being "the man" in and away from the ring. He's known for dressing in tailor-made suits, seducing gorgeous women and flying (after main events) to parties in trendy hotspots around the world. Despite his age, Flair has shown remarkable resiliency. In a match now called "The Great Escape," he defeated Triple H in a Steel Cage Match at Taboo Tuesday. Then, Flair nearly won an unprecedented 17th world championship battling Edge in a memorable "Tables, Ladders and Chairs" Match that left "The Nature Boy" broken and bloodied. Still, Flair bounced back to win a "Money in the Bank" Qualifying Match on RAW, earning him a spot in the WrestleMania 22 Ladder contest. "The Nature Boy" didn't win at WrestleMania, but he still believes he has a 17th world championship run in him.
Flair made his AWA debut in 1972, and two years later moved on to the National Wrestling Alliance. On September 17, 1981, Flair defeated Dusty Rhodes in Kansas City to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship for the first time. In 1985, Ric Flair teamed with Tully Blanchard, Ole & Arn Anderson, and manager J.J. Dillon to form the Four Horsemen, one of the most famous and dominant factions in sport-entertainment history. In his storied career, Flair went on to trade the NWA Championship with greats such as Ricky Steamboat, Harley Race and Kerry Von Erich throughout the '80s. On January 11, 1991, Flair defeated Sting in East Rutherford, N.J., to become the first WCW Champion. By the end of the year, Flair had jumped to WWE.
In January 1992, Flair survived the Royal Rumble, entering at No. 3, to win his first WWE Championship. It was the only time that the WWE Championship was awarded in a Rumble-style match. After a successful stint in WWE, Flair returned to WCW the following year and recaptured the WCW strap. The legendary Nature Boy defended his championship against the likes of Vader, Randy Savage and Hulk Hogan. After WCW was purchased by WWE in March 2001, Flair took a brief hiatus. During his time off, Flair was able to reassess his priorities. It was at this time, he realized he belonged in no other place than in the ring. He made his long-awaited WWE return to a standing ovation in November 2001. There, he informed Mr. McMahon that in a stock-trading coup, he had acquired 50 percent of the company. McMahon had no choice but to take him on as co-owner of WWE.
The two continually butted heads, leading to a Street Fight at Royal Rumble 2002, which Flair won. The animosity between the two grew intolerable, forcing WWE CEO Linda McMahon to declare a brand split so that the co-owners could independently control separate properties. Flair took control of RAW and drafted its roster. He remained a powerful WWE stockholder until June 2002.
Source: WWE.com
Stats
Strength: 6.5
Submission: 9.5
Durability: 7.5
Technique: 9
Speed: 6
Charisma: 10
Hardcore: 7.5
Stamina: 6.5
Overall: 87
FINISHERS
Figure-4 Leglock
Figure-4 Leglock
