At the 1992 Royal Rumble, the “Nature Boy” Ric Flair would outlast 29 other men in the Royal Rumble match and win the WWF Championship. He would deliver a classic promo backstage after the match saying “With a tear in my eye, this is the happiest moment in my life.” He would go on to defend the WWF Championship at WrestleMania VIII against Randy Savage, and not Hulk Hogan as many fans had anticipated and hoped for. It was definitely a failure on the WWF‘s part to not have booked that match at all during Flair’s run, but it makes sense why it wasn’t booked for WrestleMania. Simply put, their styles didn’t mesh well together. Hogan was a great character and his gimmick was gold, but he couldn’t have the type of match with Flair that the likes of Sting and Steamboat could. Sure the build would’ve had some pretty good promos by both men, but the match itself would have horribly under delivered. If you need proof, go watch their WCW matches and tell me which one is ‘Mania worthy, there isn’t any. Booking Flair and Savage was the best option Vince McMahon had at the time. His mistake was not fulling committing to it and letting Hogan vs. Sid Justice close the show. Flair’s first run with the WWF would end in 1993. and when it was all said and done, he had been a two time WWF Champion, and had put Bret Hart over, dropping the title to him a few months before departing. It was a short run, but it was successful and proved he was a top draw no matter where he wrestled. Flair would say it was the best year and a half of his career apart from the run with the Four Horsemen. After conquering the WWF, Flair would be on his way back to his old stomping grounds.
