Ric Flair has heard Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay being compared to his legendary matches with Ricky Steamboat, and he isn’t buying it. Flair has plenty of respect for both AEW stars, but when it comes to putting them on the same level as Flair-Steamboat, he thinks everyone needs to “get serious.”
The whole thing started after Dave Meltzer compared Omega and Ospreay’s AEW All In main event to the famous Flair-Steamboat matches. Meltzer went even further and argued that Omega vs. Ospreay had more emotion than any match he ever saw between Flair and Steamboat.
“I saw countless Flair-Steamboat matches. Seriously, Ospreay vs. Omega had more emotion than any Flair-Steamboat match and Flair-Steamboat was state of the art from 1977 to 1989.”
Flair saw that comparison and decided to answer it himself. He started by making it clear this wasn’t about disrespecting Omega or Ospreay. Flair actually has a ton of respect for both men, but he thinks comparing their rivalry to what he and Steamboat accomplished is a completely different conversation.
“No One Has More Respect For @KennyOmegamanX And @WillOspreay Than Me! But To Compare Them To Steamboat And I Is Like Comparing The Mississippi River To The Pacific Ocean!”
Then Flair really went for it. The Nature Boy pointed to the sheer number of matches he and Steamboat had together, including the hour-long matches they worked during their careers. In Flair’s mind, Omega and Ospreay need a whole lot more history before anyone starts putting the two rivalries side-by-side.
“When They Have A Great Match 300 Times A Year And 200 Hour Broadways, Get Back To Me!”
Flair wasn’t finished either. He told Omega and Ospreay there’s nothing wrong with being “number two” before reminding them that people are still discussing his matches with Steamboat nearly four decades later.
“Until Then, There Is No Problem With Being Number Two. You Are Great Young Talent, But Let’s Get Serious Kids! You Should Only Hope That You Have People Talking About Your Matches 37 Years Later! WOOOOO!”
Not everyone came away putting it in the all-time classic category. Eric Bischoff recently ripped the match on 83 Weeks, comparing its hardcore style to a Nasty Boys match and saying he expected much more from both men.
Flair clearly isn’t going that far. He thinks Omega and Ospreay are great, but just doesn’t think a great match at Wembley suddenly puts their rivalry next to something wrestling fans are still talking about 37 years later. Omega and Ospreay might have plenty of time to build their own legacy, but Flair isn’t handing them his and Steamboat’s spot just yet. According to the Nature Boy, number two will have to do for now.
Do you agree with Ric Flair that Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay haven’t reached Flair-Steamboat territory yet? Let us know in the comments.
