The Four Horsemen had a bit of a split in 1988 when two of the long time members of the faction jumped to the then-WWF. Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard moved to the rival company from the NWA, finding themselves branded as The Brainbusters. According to Ric Flair, he could’ve joined his fellow Horsemen.
Flair talked to Wrestling Inc. and revealed that Vince McMahon wanted to bring him in back in 1988 to have a match against Randy Savage, but Flair had chosen to stay with the rival NWA because of the pride he had as their champion. He actually compared the enthusiasm Matt Riddle had when winning the United States Title at Elimination Chamber as to why he didn’t sign.
“No. I just talked to Vince [McMahon]. They wanted me to come and wrestle Randy Savage, but I was just too loyal to the NWA. When you’ve been the NWA World Heavyweight Champion, how do you just skip out? Everything is a work in pro wrestling except when you are the NWA Champion. And it should be that way for anybody.” “If you watched Matt Riddle, he looked so excited to become the U.S. Champion, And that [reaction] was as much a part of the match. Those are the moments that matter. I know people say it’s a work, but people who perceive it [wrestling] that way will never be successful. You’ve got to have your heart into it, and moments like that, when you become a champion, should be huge.”
Flair eventually made his way to the WWE and eventually Vince got to book his match against Savage for WrestleMania VIII, and Flair’s name remains synonymous with the NWA. Perhaps that’s not the case if Flair decides to jump ship in 1988.
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