The 11 faces of Sting

#4 Sting says Ric Flair made him at Clash of the Champions

Sting vs. Flair, one of the industry's great rivalries

Sting was such a sensation that JC Productions wanted him pushed to the main event level quickly. Ric Flair cautioned against such a move, saying Sting was still too green and needed refinement.

The two worked out a compromise, where Sting would make a run for the NWA Heavyweight title held by Flair, but not quite pull off the upset win. Sting and Flair main evented the first Clash of the Champions, which was a free show meant to compete with Wrestlemania.

Clash was a huge hit, and Sting became a household name. Though it would be years before Sting would actually beat Flair for the title, the match cemented his status as a main event talent.