Suppiler: www.Silvervision.co.uk
Release Date: August 2008
Certificate: 15
Number of Discs: 3
Price: £17.99
Product ID: WWE1203
To Purchase: Click Here
Reviewed by: Andy Evans

“To be the man, you gotta beat the man!” – Ric Flair

He’s been called the Golden Stallion, The Sixty-Minute Man, The Man, and many consider him to be The Dirtiest Player in the Game. Beautiful women around the globe label him as the orgasmic Space Mountain, but the perfect nickname for the Nature Boy, Ric Flair, has to be The Limousine Ridin’, Jet Flyin’, Kiss Stealin’, Wheelin’ Dealin’, Son of a Gun. It’s no wonder that the sixteen-time World Champion is arguably the most popular wrestler of all-time with a handle like that stenciled on his locker. “WWE: Nature Boy Ric Flair – The Definitive Collection” is a three-disc set which details not only the life but also the career of the legendary athlete that was inducted into the Hall of Fame on March 29 of this year and entered retirement a day later. When you take a moment to think about it, it’s quite the feat that Naitch has entertained millions of wrestling fans for well over thirty years with his outspoken antics, cheap shots, and flamboyant wardrobe. It’s even more amazing that the 59- year-old can still scrap with the best of them without breaking a hip. I’m kidding Ric, please don’t add me to the long list of victims of your Testicular Claw. The primary feature of this release is a two-hour biographical documentary covering Flair’s wrestling career and personal life. The film is packed with highlights from Flair’s wrestling days, interviews with his family and friends (including many wrestling superstars from the past and present), but most of his story is told straight from the Stallion’s mouth. Flair completely sets aside his electric stage persona to take a personable stroll with us down memory lane. One of Flair’s most compelling stories took place in 1976 where a devastating plane crash broke his back in three places and nearly ended his career. Despite doctors informing him that he would never wrestle again, Flair put himself through intensive physical therapy to overcome the odds and returned to the ring six months later. It is truly is a remarkable and makes you believe he is the man. You never expected Flair to actually shed light on some of the backstage politics going on behind-the-scenes. Most people should have the basic understanding that the world of wrestling is all a setup. Every single match is choreographed and the winners are predetermined well in advance. But it is still a shock to see confirmation of this in an actual World Wrestling Entertainment product, never mind hearing about how certain plans result in major feuds and even firings. Obviously, the set is well worth it for the documentary alone, but of course a definitive collection about a professional wrestler just wouldn’t be complete without a few classic full-length matches. “Nature Boy” certainly doesn’t disappoint by including ten of Ric Flair’s most historic encounters from 1982 to 2008. Relive Flair taking on legends like Jack Brisco, Kerry Von Erich, Harley Race, Sting, Terry Funk, Rowdy Roddy Piper, Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, and even Triple H (inside a steel cage). Also included is the triple tag-team match where Flair partnered with fellow “Horsemen” Arn and Ole Anderson against Dusty Rhodes, Magnum TA, and Manny Fernandez. The most explosive bout of the set is easily Flair’s final Career Threatening Match versus Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania XXIV. It all came about back in 2007, when Flair made a public statement that he would never retire. This in turn prompted the owner of WWE, Vince McMahon, to retaliate with an ultimatum warning that the next time Flair lost he would have to forcibly quit the sport. Flair kept his winning streak going for a time, tagging and bagging the likes of Triple H, Umaga, MVP, Mr. Kennedy, and even Vince McMahon himself. All good things came to a fitting end against the Heartbreak Kid, where Flair pulled out all the stops securing two of his signature figure four leglocks and surviving Michaels’ Sweet Chin Music before finally going down in a blaze of glory. Some of the Best in the Business – Whoooooooo