Shane "The Franchise" Douglas VS. "Nature Boy" Ric Flair: A Long Time Coming
Pt. 3 - The Interviews


Arn Anderson

In the following two weeks, the wrestlers had a lot to say about the Antonio Inoki Wrestling Festival coming from Baltimore, MD.

BRET HART:  Antonio Inoki Wrestling Festival.  An event created by the japanese legend.  A great wrestler from the Orient.  Well, it is only fitting that he should have the greatest wrestler on earth in this modern era to compete on the card, defending the ECW World Television Title. Yes, I call it a world title because I hold it. Any title that I hold will always be held in high regard and you Sabu, will find that out first hand.  Sure, you are crazy.  You are "suicidal, homicidal, and genocidal" but that won't mean jack when you face "the excellence of execution."  All that high flying, extreme wrestling that you do won't mean anything because I can take anything you can dish out. Sabu, get ready to go down to Bret "The Hitman" Hart, the best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be.

THE ROCK:  At The Antonio Inoki Wrestling Festival, the most electrifying man in sports entertainment today will "rock" the Baltimore Arena and you, Ricky Steamboat, better be ready for the beating of your life.  Every one knows that at ECW Uncensored, The Rock had your roody pooh candy ass beat for the three cout but the dumbass referee rang the bell and tried to declare the match a draw.  The Rock gave him "what for" but this time, it is a 30 minute IronMan match in which the man with the most falls will win the match.  There will be no draws this time and the bookers have mandated that if there is a tie or if there hasn't been a fall in the 30 minutes, then there will be an overtime.  This time, there will be a winner and a loser.  The loser will be Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat and the winner will be The Rock if you smeeeelllll, what The Rock is cookin'!!

"RAVISHING" RICK RUDE:  Fujinami, former IWGP Champion, former IWGP Tag Team Champion, you've done it all in New Japan Pro Wrestling but now, you face the NWA World TV Champion.  Get ready for a "Rude Awakening."

The next interview has both Scott Hall and Kevin Nash of DX.

HALL:  Hey Nash, coming up in Baltimore, we have the New Age Dumblaws in a number one contenders match for those Extreme tag team belts.  Hey Outlaws, remember when you burnt "The Ravishing One" chico?  DX hasn't forgotten and The Outsiders are here to collect payment out of your ass.

NASH:  That's right boys.  You guys have had it easy up until now but now the measuring stick has changed. After we get done with you, Bigelow & Vader are next.  See you in Baltimore. Oh, one other thing.......SUCK IT!!

HUNTER HEARST HEMSLEY:  Benoit, here is a rare opportunity for me to bring some gold into DX.  With "HBK" on the shelf, he has given me the okay to take you on.  You are an impressive athelete but Triple H will bring you down DX style.  So, shine up the belt and get ready to "SUCK IT" when I drive your face into the mat with the "Pedigree".  See you in Maryland.

TAZ:  Arn Anderson, "The Enforcer" of the Four Horsemen.  I will give you this, you come from one of the most brutal families ever in pro wrestling.  "The Minnesota Wrecking Crew" left a trail of bodies from city to city, state to state, county to county.  I grew up watching The Andersons and admired the way that Ole, Gene, and you went about business.  Well Arn, the same brutal fire that burns in you burns in me.  You don't give a f*ck about your opponents and will do anything to them to win a match.  I come from the same mentality.  This will be a "man's man" match up but rest assured, I can match you hold for hold and you will either tap out or be choked out with the katahijimi.  Anderson, "BEAT ME IF YOU CAN, SURVIVE IF I LET YOU!!"

ARN ANDERSON:  TAZ, coming up at the Antonio Inoki Wrestling Festival, you and me will have a match for the WWF Intercontental Title.  I'll give you credit, you take it to your opponents, you do have impressive moves and that "TAZ-mission" hold that you have is lethal and can put anyone away.  But, the key is, can you put it on me?  Can you put it on when one or maybe both of your arms are useless!!  Remember, we Andersons know how to break down a body part until it is useless.  If you only have one arm, what good are those suplexes or your finisher will be to you?  TAZ, prepare for a wrestling lesson.

ROB VAN DAM:  Well, well, well. Up coming at the Antonio Inoki Wrestling Festival, I take on the veteran "Superbrat" Tully Blanchard for the WCW World TV Champion. Tully, I understand that you hold the record for the longest reigning TV Champion in the history of the NWA. That's.....eh......respectable since your competion wasn't quite up on your level back then. Now you have RVD, the wrestler of the modern era. Blanchard, "Superbrat", you are about to learn what Bret Hart, Owen Hart and others have found out, that I am "The Whole F*cking Show."

TULLY BLANCHARD:  RVD, I must admit, it has been a long time since anyone has called me "Superbrat".  Let me explain to you what you are facing. Former NWA World TV Champion, former NWA United States Tag Team Champion, former World Tag Team Champion, former NWA United States Champion. My record speaks for itself. RVD, you make the mistake of underestimating me, you'll leave Baltimore a little light because that WCW World TV Title won't be around your waist. See you there.

RICKY STEAMBOAT:  Rock!!  Coming up in Baltimore, you and I will clash in a match that was made by guys like me, Ric Flair, Bret Hart, Owen Hart, and Shawn Michaels.  It is the IronMan match.  I used to go sixty minutes with Ric Flair on several occassions. I helped made this style of match popular with a clash with "Ravishing" Rick Rude.  Rude isn't my favorite wrestler but he and I wrestled for 30 minutes tired and injured but we kept going!!  It was about desire and heart Rock, something that you have yet to understand. In Baltimore, we will see how much of a "rock" you really are as I will test you like you've never been tested in your life.  Ricky Steamboat VS. The Rock, 30 minute IronMan, let's see who is the better man!!

SHANE DOUGLAS:  Flair!!  Before Buffalo, NY, it was already going to be an intense battle but now, after what you and the Horsemen did, it is going to be a f*cking war!!  I'll give you this, you have been one of the top men for the past 20 years or so.  You've nearly done it all in this business but let's make one thing clear, this is the moment that I have been waiting for. ECW VS. WWF.  The New Revolution VS. one of the Big Two!!  Flair VS. Douglas. Come what may, only one man will walk out with both belts!!

RIC FLAIR:  Whoooo!!  Baltimore, MD!!  "The Nature Boy" is coming home one more time to take on the upstart punk Shane Douglas.  A man that wants to be where I've been for 20 years and that's on top of the wrestling world!! In that very city in which we will do battle, I have taken on the best in the wrestling world from Dusty Rhodes, Ricky Steamboat, Harley Race, Sting, Terry Funk, Lex Luger and a host of others.  Many had tried to unseat Ric Flair in that city, only one (making reference to Sting in 1990) ever succeeded and that one man had to fight for his life for the win!!  Douglas, understand one thing, to be the man you have to beat the man and I am the man!!  WHOOOO!!!

During this time, another match was added to the card that pits Horseman Barry Windham with nWo's "Buff" Bagwell VS. the reunited Elimiators (Saturn/Kronus).

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