Ric Flair misses Japan match due to injury

Injured Flair forced to miss Japanese Match

By Phil Allely

Two time WWE Hall of Famer and former 16 time World Champion Ric Flair was forced to miss his scheduled in-ring return in Japan this past week

The living legend (of NWA, WCW, TNA and WWE fame)  was lined up to tag with Japan's own icon The Great Muta against the formidable duo of Seiya Sanada and Tatsumi Fujinami for All Japan Pro Wrestling. 

Flair however developed a health issue that warranted a visit to the local emergency room, which subsequently saw him removed from the match. Sources say that many fans were unhappy to hear that they would not see the veteran US star once more step into the ring for a match. 

This health scare is rumoured to be a blood clot in his leg, which caused severe swelling and had the possibility of becoming far more serious if untreated. 

Flair's son Reid took his place in the scrap and joined Muta in a pretty decent encounter. Flair senior (against hospital wishes) made an appearance at the show and threw a few of his trademark chops at Fujinami and Sanada. His interference proved to be futile however, as Muta and Reid fell to the superior might of their foes.

Ric is now back in the US and said to be fulfilling his indy obligations and forthcoming ones with the WWE in the lead up to WrestlMania as well.

I hope Ric learns from this medical fright and re-addresses any future in-ring plans. Flair has the potential to be everything from a manager, mentor and even an on-screen  authority figure in the WWE if he so wished. There will always be a place for men like him in the business and we sincerely hope to see 'slick' Ric on our screens for many more years. 

I met Ric two years ago at The TNA live show in Dublin. He was warm, friendly and everything you hope your hero will be. I'd hate to see him come to harm by trying to enter the ring as a grappler again. 

WWE Wrestling's Highest Flyers DVD Review

WWE Wrestling’s Highest Flyers - DVD Review




By Phil Allely



In each and every wrestling promotion across the globe there are sections of the roster who work harder than the rest and yet they remain on the under-mid-card for most of their careers. Very few of these men and women make it to main event status or achieve the pinnacle of their chosen career and raise a world title, but without them the industry would be a dull place indeed. They are the high flyers and at long last the WWE has decided to dedicate a 3 disc set to the many pioneers of this fast-moving and light-footed section of the roster.



The people focused on here are what I’d describe as the cream of the crop in the light-heavyweight division, for want of abetter term. The featured performers also represent some of the industries much missed companies and in some cases a bygone era that for many years has been neglected by DVD releases.



Rather than list the entire selection of wonderful matches on offer from ECW, WCW, WWE and Japan I’ll focus on the people that are showcased here in this set. Each segment houses a short show reel on the selected wrestler and then we get a specially selected and well presented match featuring them in their prime.



What is nice here is that whilst embracing the guys and girls who made the flyers popular and paved the way, we also get to see some of the younger stars of today here too. So from Evan Bourne to Jimmy ‘Superfly’ Snuka, the choice is yours, pick a person and watch a classic bout. Former WWE Women’s Champion Lita gets a special mention for being the only lady profiled, but her opponent Trish Stratus deserves credit too.



Some of the matches on offer are genuine classics, examples being Brian Pillman Versus Ricky Steamboat match from WCW Halloween Havoc 1992, the WCW Cruiserweight AAA influenced six-man highlight reel from WCW Bash at the Beach 1997, Shawn Michaels facing Shelton Benjamin in the 2005 Gold Rush Tournament, ECW’s One Night Stand 2005 triple threat classic, Great Muta taking on Sting at 1991’s Japan Supershow and many more frenzied encounters, each one warranting a repeat viewing or two and a healthy does of ‘how did they do that and not injure themselves’.



Whether you are a fan of ECW, WCW, modern day or classic WWE, this set has it all, the match selections are superbly put together and work well I the context of the release, the format works well and you really do see why these guys are the people who deserve your recognition when they step into the ring, some of the set-pieces are crazy and unbelievably entertaining to see again. If you wonder just where the high flyers of today got their ideas and how they came up with the things they do this is for you.



WWE Wrestling’s Highest Flyers is available now from www.silvervision.co.uk and all good retailers.



Coming soon from Silvervision are:

WWE Night of the Champions

WWE Smackdown - The Best of 2009-2010

WWE Hell in a Cell

The John Cena Experience