#3. Tully Blanchard
Blanchard spent his glory years in the Horsemen yet he could have spent many more.
Blanchard joined the Horsemen in 1986, bringing manager J.J. Dillon. Although he had just lost the US belt, he went on to even more acclaim and success with Arn Anderson, with the duo eventually winning the tag belts in 1987 by defeating the Rock’n’Roll Express before regaining them again for a second time after the aforementioned Windham heel turn. He too saw solo success, capturing the National Heavyweight championship (unrelated to the NWA world title). He only left to join the WWF.
Blanchard was a top worker and a great promo with his run taking place at his peak. Lasting over two years, he proved himself as a brilliant solo and tag worker, solidifying a strong legacy he still has today. At the time, his joining was a momentous occasion as Blanchard was one of the biggest heels in the world at that point. A traditional tights-and-boots worker, the showman proved his worth in his mid-card slot.
Blanchard later failed to join the faction in both 1989 and 1993. Whilst you may presume this would stall and hinder his positioning on this list, it actually raises him. His absence forced slapdash members and storylines that created much worse members than himself, thus forcing him higher in the ranking. What a smart guy!
#2. Ric Flair
Yes, number two.
Flair was obviously the man in the Four Horsemen, with the whole faction built to consolidate the heels’ power whilst Ric was the world champion. He was thus the permanent face of the group, the charismatic leader who would cut a “Woo!” filled promo to David Crockett, Tony Schiavone, or “Mean” Gene Okerlund.
“Naitch”’s achievements speak for themselves. Flair won about a dozen world titles (NWA/WCW), 1985-1993 Reader’s Favourite Wrestling Observer winner, and years as a titleholder over his time in the group.
Also, and this should be a surprise to no one, he put on some absolutely stonking matches. This includes brilliant feuds with Lex Luger, Ricky Steamboat, Dusty Rhodes, Barry Windham, Randy Savage, and Sting to name just a few.
Simply put, what would the Horsemen be without Flair?
Leave a Reply