Ric Flair's Triumphant Return To WCW In 1993, Explained

After a short stint in WWE, Ric Flair returned to WCW, a decision he would soon regret.

In 1993, one of the most iconic figures in professional wrestling made a triumphant return to World Championship Wrestling (WCW). Ric Flair left WCW in 1991 and found himself in the rival promotion, WWE. However, his return to WCW in 1993 marked a monumental moment in both his career and the wrestling industry.

In February 1993, the stage was set for Flair's comeback. Ric Flair experienced a huge return to WCW, receiving a hero's welcome. Initially, he was unable to wrestle due to a "no-compete" clause, so he took on the role of a talk show host in WCW's short-lived program, "A Flair for the Gold." On the show, Flair interacted with Arn Anderson at the bar, while his maid Fifi performed cleaning tasks and presented gifts.

When Flair was finally cleared to compete, he briefly held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship for the tenth time by defeating Barry Windham at Beach Blast. However, WCW later ended its association with the NWA in September 1993. Flair then faced "Ravishing Rick" Rude at Fall Brawl and lost the title, which had been rebranded as the WCW International World Heavyweight Championship.

RELATED: How Vince McMahon Saved Ric Flair From Being Financially Broke

In a stunning turn of events, Flair defeated Vader to reclaim the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. The crowd erupted in jubilation as Flair held the coveted title above his head. The emotional victory solidified his status as one of wrestling's all-time greats and cemented his place in WCW history. However, in the spring of 1994, Flair underwent a character transition and reignited his long-standing rivalry with Ricky Steamboat, which delivered classic matches.

At Clash of the Champions in June 1994, Ric Flair achieved a significant victory by defeating Sting in a match that unified the WCW International World Heavyweight Championship with the WCW World Heavyweight Championship. This outcome marked a turning point in Flair's character, as he solidified his heel persona. His alliance with Sherri became public during the match, as she assisted him in securing the win while pretending to be on Sting's side.

As the unified and undisputed WCW Champion, Flair found himself embroiled in a heated feud with Hulk Hogan, who had recently joined WCW in June 1994. In July, at Bash at the Beach, Flair lost the WCW World Heavyweight Championship to Hogan. Despite the defeat, the rivalry between Flair and Hogan persisted.

Their animosity culminated in a steel cage retirement match at Halloween Havoc. Flair ultimately came up short against Hogan, bringing an end to their feud and leading to Flair's retirement from in-ring competition for a while.

RELATED: Ric Flair Says WWE & AEW Won't Hire Him Because "I'm Too Good At What I Do"

During an appearance on the Ariel Helwani MMA Podcast, Ric Flair reflected on his tenure in WWE in 1993. Following his memorable victory in the Royal Rumble match the previous year, Flair found himself in a challenging situation. He participated in a "Loser Leaves Town" match against Mr. Perfect, Curt Henning, on an early episode of Monday Night RAW, which he ultimately lost. This loss compelled Flair to make the decision to return to WCW, a choice he now admits he regrets. He said, "I had another year and a half, the greatest time of my life, and the worst mistake I ever made was leaving." It was actually Vince McMahon who suggested that Flair leave WWE. "Vince McMahon said to me ‘We’re going to go younger,’ and he said ‘if you want to go back, they’ve been calling me every day, so I’m sure they’ve been calling you, go in and go’"

In a recent episode of To Be The Man podcast, Ric Flair discussed his decision to return to WCW after WrestleMania 9 and expressed his regret over that choice. Flair mentioned that he intentionally did not appear at WrestleMania9 because he anticipated having a less significant role compared to the previous year. Flair explained "I would’ve been in a demoted role. Vince came up to me and said, ‘Watch your back.’ I almost wish I’d stayed because [WCW] was such a disaster when I got back." Despite some regrets and decisions that Ric Flair may reflect upon, there is no denying that he went on to have a legendary career in professional wrestling. Flair's contributions to the sport are unparalleled, and his impact on the industry is undeniable.

Tony Parker is a lifelong WWE fan. He has worked as a writer, producer, and content strategist in the wrestling industry.