The Four Horsemen (professional wrestling)

Professional wrestling stable

Professional wrestling stable

The Four Horsemen

Logo of the Four Horsemen

Stable
Leader(s)| Ric Flair
Members| Arn Anderson
Ole Anderson
Tully Blanchard
Name(s)| The Four Horsemen
The Horsemen
Yamazaki Corporation
The Three Horsemen
Debut| 1985[1]
Years active| 1985–1989
1989–1991
1993
1995–1997
1998–1999
2022

The Four Horsemen is an American professional wrestling stable who originally consisted of Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Ole Anderson, and Tully Blanchard.

The stable originated in Jim Crockett Promotions as part of Mid Atlantic Championship Wrestling and later World Championship Wrestling for much of the 1980s and 1990s. Flair and Arn Anderson were members of each incarnation of the group until Anderson's retirement after a neck injury. As of 2022[update], Arn Anderson has the ownership of the stable's trademark and other intellectual properties.[2]

## History

[edit]

Ric Flair, throwing up the Horsemen's signature hand gesture, in November 2019

Ric Flair was introduced to the storylines in Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling in the 1970s as a cousin of the Minnesota Wrecking Crew (Gene Anderson and Ole Anderson). After leaving the Crew he took on Blackjack Mulligan and Greg Valentine as his partners to feud with them. By 1981, when he became NWA World Heavyweight Champion, he and the Crew had reconciled, having their blessing to team with them as well as with Mulligan and Valentine to feud with top NWA man Harley Race and his Mid-Atlantic hitmen, Bob Orton Jr. and Dick Slater. When Mulligan retired and Valentine jumped to the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), Flair started looking for a new entourage.

### Original Four Horsemen (1985–1987)

[edit]

The Four Horsemen formed in 1985 with Ric Flair, Ole and Arn Anderson (the latter brought in from Continental Championship Wrestling), and Tully Blanchard from Southwest Championship Wrestling, with J. J. Dillon as their manager (Dillon was originally serving as manager of Blanchard).[3] They feuded with Dusty Rhodes (breaking his ankle and hand), Magnum T. A., Barry Windham, The Rock 'n' Roll Express (breaking Ricky Morton's nose), Nikita Koloff (injuring his neck), and The Road Warriors. Animal, Hawk, Ronnie Garvin and many others fought Ric Flair for the NWA World Heavyweight Title during that time period. They usually had most of the titles in the NWA, and they often bragged about their success (in the ring and with women) in their interviews.

The Four Horsemen moniker was not planned from the start. The origin of the stable dates to a Jim Crockett Promotions taping which was held in The Omni in Atlanta, Georgia in September 1985. During the event, Ric Flair turned on Dusty Rhodes after Rhodes saved him from a beatdown at the hands of the Koloffs and Krusher Kruschev, with Ole and Arn Anderson then entering the ring and assisting Flair in breaking Dusty Rhodes' ankle and putting him out of action.[4][5] During a promo where Rhodes was attempting to surrender his vacated NWA Television Title, Arn, who desired the title, would recruit Tully Blanchard, with the two then kicking Dusty's crutches away.[6] Due to time constraints at a television taping, production threw together an impromptu tag team interview of Flair, The Andersons, Tully Blanchard and his manager JJ. Dillon. In his autobiography To Be The Man, Flair claimed that it was during this interview that Arn commented: "The only time this much havoc had been wreaked by this few a number of people, you need to go all the way back to the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse!"[7] Alternatively, Dillon and Blanchard stated during a Four Horsemen discussion panel, which took place at the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame on July 24, 2016, that the interview where Arn had actually said the phrase, and also debuted the group's trademark four finger pose, was after the original four members wrestled in an eight tag team match and that the group's formation was centered around the original four members holding championships at the time.[3] The comparison and the name stuck. However, during a pair of television interviews before Starrcade 85, Arn Anderson came out and called them "The Four Horses". Then Tully did came out right after with Baby Doll and called the group the Four Horsemen, crediting Anderson for the name, though it was not the same one.[8] Arn Anderson has said in an RF Video shoot interview that he, Flair and Blanchard were as close as anybody could be away from the ring while they were together. They lived the gimmick outside of the arena, as they took limos and jets to the cities in which they wrestled. Baby Doll was Flair's valet for a couple of months in 1986, after previously managing Tully Blanchard during 1985.

### Lex Luger and Barry Windham (1987–1989)

[edit]

In February 1987, JCP newcomer Lex Luger, who had come from Florida, was made an associate member of the group after he expressed his desire to become a Horseman. The others started to leave Ole out of things after he cost him and Arn Anderson the NWA Tag Team Titles at Starrcade in 1986. Eventually he was kicked out in favor of Luger that March. The fact that Ole missed a show to watch his son Bryant wrestle in high school was used against Ole in the split as Blanchard and Dillon questioned Ole's commitment and Blanchard called Bryant a "snot-nosed kid".

During this time, they wrestled Rhodes, Nikita Koloff, the Road Warriors and Paul Ellering in a series of WarGames matches. These matches were brutal and ended up with all five members of each team in the cage at the end trying to make somebody submit. During the first match in the Omni, Dillon suffered a separated shoulder from a botched attempt at the Warriors' finishing move, the Doomsday Device. Dillon landed directly on his right arm and shoulder, and was replaced for the series of matches by the masked War Machine, later known as the Big Boss Man.

Luger was later kicked out of the Four Horsemen. First, he blamed Horseman manager J.J. Dillon for costing him the U.S. Title when Dillon's attempt to help Luger win the match, by cheating, backfired. Lex subsequently did not allow Dillon to win a Bunkhouse Stampede match as the Horsemen had agreed to among themselves. In January 1988, he teamed with Barry Windham to feud with the Horsemen. The pair even defeated Anderson and Tully Blanchard for the NWA World Tag Team Championship at Clash of the Champions I. In April 1988, Windham turned on Luger during a title defense against Anderson and Tully Blanchard. Windham then took his spot in the Horsemen. This particular lineup of Horsemen has been called the greatest faction as far as a group of technical wrestlers goes. It was at that time every major title was held by members of the faction: with Flair, as the World Heavyweight Champion; Windham, as the United States Heavyweight Champion; and Arn and Tully, as the World Tag Team Champions.

In September 1988, Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard left to join the WWF. This forced them to drop the Tag Team Titles at the last minute to the Midnight Express (Stan Lane and Bobby Eaton). Anderson and Blanchard were known as "The Brain Busters", in the WWF, and were managed by Bobby "The Brain" Heenan.

Flair, Windham, and Dillon continued to refer to themselves as "the Horsemen" and the NWA even flirted with the idea of bringing in new members. Butch Reed was signed to wrestle solo matches with Dillon as his manager. Then, in February 1989, Barry's brother Kendall Windham appeared to have joined them and even held up the four fingers after turning on Eddie Gilbert during a tag team match. Early in 1989, Flair and Windham lost a televised tag match to Gilbert and a surprise partner, Flair's long-time rival Ricky Steamboat.[9] An enraged and humiliated Flair immediately fired Dillon, who then left to take a front office job with the WWF, while Flair and Windham dropped the Horsemen name. Hiro Matsuda was hired as their new manager. For a short stint in JCP in 1987, Matsuda was managed by Dillon and considered an associate of the Horsemen. As a result of hiring Matsuda as their new manager the Horsemen changed their name to Yamazaki Corporation. Their major feuds were with Lex Luger, Eddie Gilbert, Ricky Steamboat, and Sting. After losing the United States Heavyweight Championship to Luger, Barry Windham left the group due to an injury. Windham suffered a broken hand which occurred in his match against Luger at Chi-Town Rumble and required surgery. This enabled Windham to leave the promotion and show up in the WWF as "The Widowmaker." Kendall was not used as much more than a jobber and the group seemed like a shell of the unit it looked like on paper when it formed. They added Michael Hayes after Barry's injury, who feuded with Luger, but the group disbanded when Hayes reformed The Fabulous Freebirds in May and Matsuda left the promotion.

The Horsemen concept helped define the NWA in the mid to late 1980s. The departure of Anderson and Blanchard was huge at the time, Dillon and Windham's departure made it worse, and despite numerous revivals over the coming decade, things were never quite the same.

### Sting and Sid Vicious (1989–1991)

[edit]

The Horsemen reformed in December 1989 in the NWA/WCW.[10] Flair, Arn and Ole Anderson, and long-standing rival Sting formed the group in a shocker. Tully Blanchard was set to return as well, but failed a drug test while still with the WWF. WCW heard of this, and decided not to rehire him. They were faces and feuded with Gary Hart's J-Tex Corporation of Terry Funk, Great Muta, Buzz Sawyer and The Dragonmaster. At the culmination of this feud the group returned to being heels, kicking Sting out for daring to challenge Ric Flair for the World Title. "Sting, you never were a Horseman" Ric Flair would say afterwards in a TV spot, according to Arn Anderson, Sting actually requested to be taken out of the group because he wanted to be on his own. Woman soon became Flair's valet. They feuded with Luger, Sting, Rick Steiner, Scott Steiner and El Gigante during this time.

In May 1990, Ole retired from active competition and served as the group's manager, Barry Windham returned to WCW and the Horsemen on the May 5th NWA World Wide Wrestling, and Sid Vicious was added to fill out the group on the May 11th NWA Power Hour. They feuded with the Dudes With Attitudes which consisted of Sting, Luger, the Steiner Brothers, Paul Orndorff and Junkyard Dog. By the end of 1990, Ole and Woman left the NWA.

In October 1990, NWA World Champion Sting defended his title against the Horsemen's Sid Vicious at the Halloween Havoc pay-per-view. During the match, Sting and Vicious brawled backstage. A few moments later, they returned to the ring. Sting attempted to slam Sid, but lost his balance and fell to the mat with Sid on top of him. Vicious got the pin and was declared the new World Heavyweight Champion. However, it was revealed that Barry Windham (in matching Sting gear and face paint) had inserted himself into the match and let Vicious pin him. When the real Sting showed up, the match was restarted and the real Sting defeated Sid to retain the title.

The Horsemen line-up of Flair, Anderson, Windham, and Vicious eventually broke up and went their own ways. In May 1991, Sid left for the WWF. Flair was fired from WCW in early July and was in the WWF by August. Windham was part of a double turn at The Great American Bash shortly after Flair's firing, where he lost to Lex Luger in a match for the vacant WCW world championship (Windham became a face, Luger a heel). Anderson went on to form a tag team with Larry Zbyszko called The Enforcers and later became part of the Paul E. Dangerously-led Dangerous Alliance with Zbyszko, Rick Rude, Madusa, Bobby Eaton, and Steve Austin. Anderson and Windham feuded during this time, beginning with an incident at Halloween Havoc where Arn and Zbyszko slammed a car door on Windham's hand.

### Three Horsemen (May 1993 – December 1993)

[edit]

The next incarnation of the Horsemen, containing only three active members, was around for fewer than seven months in 1993. Flair returned from the WWF to WCW to rejoin Arn and they promised a Horsemen reunion at the Slamboree pay-per-view. Paul Roma became the third horseman after Tully Blanchard and WCW could not come to terms on a deal for him to return. Ole Anderson was on hand as the adviser but made only one appearance on A Flair for the Gold. This group of Horsemen is considered by many wrestling fans to be the weakest incarnation of the group. They were faces again and feuded with Barry Windham and the Hollywood Blondes (Steve Austin and Brian Pillman). This group ended, due to Arn Anderson's stabbing incident with Sid Vicious during a tour of England in October, and Paul Roma turning on Erik Watts during a tag team match to join Paul Orndorff as the tag team of Pretty Wonderful. Flair went on to feud with WCW World Heavyweight Champion Big Van Vader.

### Reformation and feud with the nWo (1995–1997)

[edit]

In 1995, Flair and Arn (back to being heels) were teaming with Flair's former foe Vader to torment Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage. After Vader lost to Hogan in a steel cage match at Bash at the Beach, Flair entered the cage and lambasted him. Vader snapped and attacked Flair, and Arn came to his rescue. This led to a handicap match at Clash of the Champions XXXI in which Vader defeated the team of Flair and Arn. Flair and Arn began to bicker, as Flair blamed Arn for the loss and Arn always felt he was doing Flair's dirty work; a feud developed that led to a match at Fall Brawl on September 17, 1995, in Asheville, North Carolina. Arn defeated Flair with the help of Brian Pillman. Flair begged Sting to help him against them and though Sting did not trust Flair he eventually agreed. Flair ended up turning on him at Halloween Havoc to reform the Horsemen with Arn and Pillman. They added Chris Benoit to complete the group. This version of the Horsemen feuded with Hogan, Savage, Sting, and Lex Luger. Flair eventually brought back Woman and Miss Elizabeth joined the group at Superbrawl VI when she turned on Randy Savage. Miss Elizabeth left the group in October 1996 to join the nWo and Woman left the group and WCW in July 1997.

In early 1996, Pillman started his infamous "Loose Cannon" storyline and started a feud with Kevin Sullivan, the leader of the Dungeon of Doom. Pillman ended up leaving WCW, going to ECW, and eventually the WWF in February. Leading towards Uncensored the Horsemen briefly joined forces with the Dungeon of Doom as the Alliance to End Hulkamania to battle mutual rivals Hulk Hogan and Randy Savage. The two stables were unable to coexist and lost the Tower of Doom Steel Cage.[11] The Horsemen then engaged in a brief feud with the Dungeon of Doom, including a feud between Sullivan and Benoit, which became one of the most talked about feuds of all time. In this feud, Woman, who was really married to Sullivan, left him for Benoit. However, life imitated art, and Woman actually left Sullivan for Benoit. This feud got heated and some of the matches were shoot-style with the performers using stiff or even full contact moves, rather than the typical North American style of softening maneuvers.

In June 1996 at the Great American Bash, Flair and Arn Anderson wrestled former football players Steve "Mongo" McMichael and Kevin Greene. During the match, McMichael's then-wife Debra was chased to the back by Woman and Miss Elizabeth, but later came back with them and a steel briefcase, which she handed to her husband. Mongo opened it to reveal a Horsemen T-shirt and money; after thinking it over, he closed the Haliburton briefcase and hit Greene with it, allowing Flair to score the pin on Greene. McMichael was officially inducted as the fourth Horseman, and in the process gave the group another ringside valet in Debra. The rumors said that Debra and Woman did not get along behind the scenes. This played out on TV, as they constantly bickered, and Benoit and Mongo had to step in.

When the New World Order (nWo) was founded the next month, the Horsemen became babyfaces along with the rest of the WCW roster. In September, Flair and Anderson teamed with their bitter rivals, Sting and Lex Luger, to lose to the nWo (Hogan, Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, and an impostor Sting) in the WarGames match at Fall Brawl when Luger submitted to the impostor Sting's Scorpion Deathlock. This angered Anderson, and he feuded with Luger for the next month. In October, two developments occurred that affected the group. First, Jeff Jarrett came over to WCW from the WWF, and expressed his desire to join the Horsemen. He immediately gained a fan in Ric Flair, much to the chagrin of the other Horsemen. The next week, Miss Elizabeth joined the nWo.

Flair finally let Jarrett join the group in February 1997 but the others did not want him. Jarrett began bickering with Mongo over Debra's attention, and in June won the U.S. Title from Dean Malenko, with the help of Eddie Guerrero; on the June 30, 1997 edition of Nitro he was kicked out of the stable by Flair, due to the instability Jarrett's presence caused the Horsemen. In a move uncharacteristic of the Horsemen, however, Jarrett was allowed to literally walk away, instead of receiving a beatdown as was expected. He eventually took Debra from Mongo, but Mongo took Jarrett's U.S. Title. To this date, amongst fans and members of the Four Horsemen, there is still debate whether to include Jarrett as a Horseman. In his biography, Arn Anderson states that "Jeff Jarrett was never a Horseman". His "membership" and his easy departure leave the situation ambiguous. The Four Horsemen usually picked their own members, but at the time, WCW held extreme control over storylines and this may have forced them to accept a member for those purposes only and not by choice.

In August 1997, Arn Anderson retired due to a neck/back injury that did not allow him to wrestle. Curt Hennig took his spot as "The Enforcer". The next month, Hennig turned on the Horsemen and joined the nWo. Flair disbanded the group on September 29, 1997, and they went their separate ways.

### Final incarnation (1998–1999)

[edit]

The last incarnation came in September 1998. On the September 14 edition of WCW Monday Nitro in Greenville, South Carolina when Ric Flair returned from a hiatus from the ring after a disagreement with WCW president Eric Bischoff. Dean Malenko and Chris Benoit kept going to Arn about reforming the Horsemen. He kept saying no. James J. Dillon, back in WCW's front office, even made a request. Arn eventually gave in and reformed the Horsemen with McMichael, Benoit and Malenko being presented to the ring before Flair finally being unveiled as the fourth Horseman, with Arn serving as its manager. They feuded with the nWo and Eric Bischoff.

In early 1999, the Horsemen turned heel again. Mongo had recently departed the wrestling world and they were down to Benoit, Malenko, Flair and Arn as the manager. They also had a referee biased to them, Charles Robinson, whom members of the Horsemen even referred to as "Little Nature Boy" (due to his resemblance to Flair). Flair's personal nurse, Double D (aka Asya), acted as an enforcer for the group and Ric Flair's son David Flair, who wrestled with them and wore Horsemen shirts though never an official member. Ric Flair, the (onscreen) President of WCW at this time, had awarded him with the U.S. Title and had the Horsemen help David to keep it. Eventually, Benoit and Malenko left him in May in protest over Flair's selfishness, and joined Shane Douglas and Perry Saturn to form the Revolution, thereby effectively ending the Four Horsemen.

### Reunions (2022–present)

[edit]

At Starrcast 2022, The Four Horsemen reunited. That July, Arn Anderson secured the copyrights to The Four Horsemen name and images. A tag team consisting of his son Brock Anderson and Brian Pillman Jr., son of late Horseman Brian Pillman, "representing The Four Horsemen" was announced to wrestle at the Jim Crockett Promotions event "Ric Flair's Last Match" with Arn Anderson managing, signaling a possible full-time return of the faction.[12]

## Legacy

[edit]

The original Four Horsemen, widely regarded as the greatest pro wrestling stable of all time,[13] were innovative in developing and popularizing the concept of heel stables. On the 2007 Four Horsemen DVD, commentator Jim Ross stated "without the Horsemen there would damn sure be no nWo or no DX".

### Evolution

[edit]

Main article: Evolution

In 2003, rumors began circulating that Ric Flair (at the time working for the World Wrestling Entertainment) was going to reform the Four Horsemen with Triple H, Randy Orton, and Batista. This group was eventually formed, but under the name Evolution instead of the Four Horsemen, and with Triple H as the leader instead of Flair. They served much the same function as the original heel Horsemen had, dominating the titles on Raw and feuding with that brand's top faces. The group slowly died between August 2004 and October 2005. Orton was kicked out of the group after he won the World Heavyweight Championship, which Triple H coveted. In February 2005, Batista left the group after winning the Royal Rumble, in a storyline where Triple H tried to protect his title from Batista. During a Triple H hiatus, Flair turned face, and at Raw Homecoming, Triple H returned as a face, but turned heel by the end of the night, hitting Flair in the face with a sledgehammer and officially ending Evolution. At Raw 15th Anniversary, an Evolution reunion as faces took place, though then-heel Randy Orton refused to participate and instead challenged the face versions of Flair, Batista, and Triple H to a match in which he partnered with then-heel, Edge and Umaga, and at the same time reforming Rated-RKO for one night. On the March 31, 2008 episode of Raw, Flair delivered his farewell address. Afterward, Triple H brought out many current and retired superstars to thank Flair for all he has done, including Four Horsemen members, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Barry Windham, J. J. Dillon, and Dean Malenko. Also, it was the night in which Evolution got back together in the ring, except for Randy Orton (who was outside the ring). This would mark the last time both groups would be in the ring together.

On the April 14, 2014 episode of Raw, Triple H, Orton, and Batista reunited Evolution full-time, once again heels, to feud with The Shield. However, on the April 28, 2014 episode of Raw, Flair showed his endorsement for The Shield, effectively turning his back on his old teammates, thus not turning heel.

### The Xtreme Horsemen

[edit]

The Xtreme Horsemen was a professional wrestling stable in Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling, and later Major League Wrestling, who disbanded in 2004. The group's name was in homage to the Four Horsemen, who in the 1980s were one of professional wrestling's top draws worldwide. The group came together in Dusty Rhodes' Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling promotion, but the group later left Rhodes' promotion to join Major League Wrestling where Steve Corino and "The Enforcer" C.W. Anderson were joined by former ECW superstars Justin Credible and Simon Diamond. This incarnation was briefly managed by former Four Horsemen manager J. J. Dillon before Major League Wrestling ceased operations. Barry Windham also joined the group for a single War Games match. Corino has used the group name several other times with various teammates in other promotions.

### Fortune

[edit]

Main article: Fortune

Fortune (originally spelled Fourtune) was a professional wrestling stable in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, started by Ric Flair on June 17, 2010, as a "reformed" version of the Four Horsemen. Flair had been loosely associated with A.J. Styles, Desmond Wolfe, Beer Money, Inc. (James Storm and Robert Roode) and Kazarian since April 5, 2010. Flair stated that whoever wanted to join Fortune would have to earn their place in the stable.[14] On July 11 at Victory Road, Styles and Kazarian became the first official members of Fortune by defeating Samoa Joe and Rob Terry in a tag team match.[15] On the July 29 edition of Impact!, Flair made James Storm and Robert Roode the final two members of Fortune.[16] However, on the August 12 edition of Impact! Douglas Williams, who had helped Flair defeat his nemesis Jay Lethal the previous week, and Matt Morgan were added to Fortune as the stable assaulted EV 2.0, a stable consisting of former Extreme Championship Wrestling performers.[17] Fortune later merged with Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff's Immortal stable, but turned on them months later, splitting them into two feuding factions. Ric Flair would turn on Fortune and remain associated with Immortal.

### The Four Horsewomen

[edit]

The stable was invoked by mixed martial artists Ronda Rousey, Shayna Baszler, Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir (Invicta Fighter), who named themselves "The Four Horsewomen" in 2013, with the blessing of Anderson and Flair.[18] After Bethe Correia defeated Duke, she held up four fingers and symbolically put one down. She did this again after beating Baszler. As Shafir is not in the UFC, these two wins set the stage for a bantamweight title fight between her and Rousey at UFC 190.[19] Rousey knocked Correia out in 34 seconds.[20]

The group was shown at ringside during WrestleMania 31, where Rousey was later involved in an in-ring segment with The Rock, Triple H and Stephanie McMahon.[21] Baszler and Rousey first signed with WWE, where the former quickly became the NXT Women's champion, and the latter had a high-profile debut match at Wrestlemania 34 before pursuing and winning the WWE Raw Women's Championship. Duke and Shafir eventually joined the WWE Performance Center, completing the foursome's transition to professional wrestling.

The WWE female wrestlers Charlotte Flair (Ric Flair's daughter), Sasha Banks, Bayley and Becky Lynch have referred to themselves as "The Four Horsewomen" (originally "The Four Horsewomen of NXT" when the four had only been a part of that brand), and posed in ring at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn, following a match between Bayley and Banks, each with four fingers held up.[22] The WWE's Four Horsewomen were partly responsible for changing the WWE's Women Division from sex appeal to true athleticism. Banks and Bayley would later form a tag team known as the Boss 'n' Hug Connection.[23]

Both Four Horsewomen groups were at the Mae Young Classic tapings on July 14, 2017, where Baszler defeated Zeda, Mia Yim, Candice LeRae and Mercedes Martinez to advance into the finals, losing to Kairi Sane.

All four of the Four Horsewomen of UFC would reappear on WWE Evolution where Duke and Shafir interfered on Baszler's behalf to win the NXT Women's Championship from Kairi Sane and Rousey defended her WWE Raw Women's Championship against Nikki Bella. All four of the WWE Four Horsewomen would be involved at the event as well: Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch competed in a Last Woman Standing Match while Sasha Banks and Bayley teamed with Natalya to take on The Riott Squad.

The WWE Four Horsewomen would compete against each other with Banks and Bayley (as heels) taking on Lynch and Flair in a tag team match on the September 9, 2019 edition of Raw from the Madison Square Garden, in which the latter team emerged victorious.[24]

## Members

[edit]

### Main

[edit]

#### Original members

[edit]

The Four Horsemen being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2012

* Ric Flair (leader) (1985–1991, 1993, 1995–1997, 1998–1999)
* Arn Anderson (1985–1991, 1993, 1995–1997, 1998–1999)
* Ole Anderson (1985–1987, 1989–1990, 1993)
* Tully Blanchard (1985–1988)

#### Later members

[edit]

* Lex Luger (1987)
* Barry Windham (1988–1989, 1990–1991)
* Sting (1989–1990)
* Sid Vicious (1990–1991)
* Paul Roma (May 23, 1993 – December 11, 1993)
* Brian Pillman (1995–1996)
* Chris Benoit (1995–1997, 1998–1999)
* Steve McMichael (1996–1997, 1998–1999)
* Jeff Jarrett (February 23, 1997 – June 23, 1997)
* Curt Hennig (August 25, 1997 – September 14, 1997)
* Dean Malenko (September 14, 1998 – May 24, 1999)

### Associates

[edit]

* War Machine (1987)
* Hiro Matsuda (1987)
* Kendall Windham (1989)
* Butch Reed (1989)
* Michael Hayes (1989)
* David Flair (1999)
* Brock Anderson (2022)
* Brian Pillman Jr. (2022)

### Managers and valets

[edit]

* J. J. Dillon (1985–1989, manager)
* Baby Doll (Blanchard's valet)
* Dark Journey (Blanchard's valet)
* Patty Mullen (biased judge at Clash of the Champions)
* Hiro Matsuda (manager)
* Woman (Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, and Chris Benoit's valet)
* Miss Elizabeth (Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, and Chris Benoit's valet)
* Fifi (Ric Flair's maid during the A Flair for the Gold segment, portrayed by Wendy Barlow, who would marry Flair in September 2018)
* Debra McMichael (Steve McMichael's wife and later Jeff Jarrett's valet)
* Bobby Heenan (coach, The Great American Bash (1996) only)
* Charles Robinson (biased referee, 1999)
* Double D (Ric Flair's nurse and later valet)
* Samantha/Torrie (David Flair's valet)

### Honorary members

[edit]

* Dusty Rhodes (2007)
* Harley Race (2007)[25]

### Timeline

[edit]

## Championships and accomplishments

[edit]

* Jim Crockett Promotions / World Championship Wrestling
* NWA National Heavyweight Championship (1 time) – Tully Blanchard
* NWA National Tag Team Championship (1 time) – Ole and Arn Anderson
* NWA (Mid-Atlantic)/WCW United States Heavyweight Championship (5 times) – Tully Blanchard (1), Lex Luger (1), Barry Windham (1), Ric Flair (1), Steve McMichael (1)
* NWA World Heavyweight Championship (6 times) – Ric Flair
* NWA (Mid-Atlantic)/WCW World Tag Team Championship (4 times) – Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard (2), Arn Anderson and Paul Roma (1), Chris Benoit and Dean Malenko (1)
* NWA/WCW World Television Championship (10 times) – Arn Anderson (4), Tully Blanchard (3), Ric Flair (2), Barry Windham (1)
* WCW World Heavyweight Championship (8 times) – Ric Flair
* Pro Wrestling Illustrated
* Feud of the Year – Four Horsemen vs. The Super Powers and The Road Warriors (1987), Ric Flair vs. Lex Luger (1988), Ric Flair vs. Terry Funk (1989), Ric Flair vs. Lex Luger (1990)
* Manager of the Year – J. J. Dillon (1988)
* Match of the Year – Ric Flair vs. Dusty Rhodes (1986), Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat (1989)
* Most Hated Wrestler of the Year – Ric Flair (1987)
* Wrestler of the Year – Ric Flair (1985, 1986, 1989)
* Ric Flair was ranked No. 2 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI Years in 2003
* WWE
* WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2012) – Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Barry Windham, and J. J. Dillon[26]
* Wrestling Observer Newsletter
* Best Heel – Ric Flair (1990)
* Best on Interviews – Arn Anderson (1990), Ric Flair (1991, 1994)
* Feud of the Year – Ric Flair vs. Terry Funk (1989)
* Match of the Year – Ric Flair vs. Barry Windham (1986), Ric Flair vs. Sting (1988), Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat (1989)
* Most Charismatic – Ric Flair (1993)
* Most Outstanding Wrestler – Ric Flair (1986, 1987, 1989)
* Readers' Favorite Wrestler – Ric Flair (1985–1993)
* Wrestler of the Year – Ric Flair (1985, 1986, 1989, 1990)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "4 Horsemen The Elite". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-22. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
2. ^ "Arn Anderson Now Owns Infamous Wrestling Trademark". 3 June 2022. Archived from the original on 4 June 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
3. ^ a b Hannibal TV. "JJ Dillon & Tully Blanchard on 4 Horsemen Origin!". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-22. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
4. ^ "JCP – 1985 Results". The History of WWE. Archived from the original on February 29, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
5. ^ "The Forgotten Prelude to Starrcade '85". Mid Atlantic Gateway Archive. November 23, 2015. Archived from the original on February 29, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
6. ^ "Arn Anderson's Career History". DDT Digest. Archived from the original on February 29, 2024. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
7. ^ Flair, Ric (2005). Ric Flair: To Be the Man. World Wrestling Entertainment. p. 142. ISBN 0-7434-9181-5.
8. ^ "National Wrestling Alliance Birth of The Four Horsemen 1985; By Chuckie's Art of Wrestling; Facebook". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on 2024-05-26. Retrieved 2023-02-14.
9. ^ "WCW 1989". thehistoryofwwe.com. Archived from the original on 2022-05-13. Retrieved 2018-04-28.
10. ^ In 1988, Ted Turner had bought Jim Crockett Promotions, the largest territory in the NWA, and turned it into World Championship Wrestling.
11. ^ prowrestlinghistory.com (March 24, 1996). "WCW Uncensored Results (1996)". Archived from the original on March 24, 2008. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
12. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2023-03-24. Retrieved 2023-03-24.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
13. ^ "One37pm: The 16 Best Stables in Wrestling History". Archived from the original on 2023-01-25. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
14. ^ Martin, Adam (2010-06-15). "Spoilers: TNA Impact TV tapings for June 17". WrestleView. Archived from the original on 2012-08-13. Retrieved 2010-06-15.
15. ^ Caldwell, James (2010-07-11). "Caldwell's TNA Victory Road PPV results 7/11: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage live on-site from Orlando – four-way TNA Title match, Flair vs. Lethal". Pro Wrestling Torch. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2010-07-11.
16. ^ Keller, Wade (2010-07-29). "Keller's TNA Impact report 7/29: Tommy Dreamer announces new name for ECW faction, Hulk Hogan addresses situation". Pro Wrestling Torch. Archived from the original on 2016-04-10. Retrieved 2010-07-30.
17. ^ Bishop, Matt (2010-08-12). "TNA's 'The Whole F'n Show': Beer Money, Machine Guns put on match of year candidate; Fortune makes statement". Slam! Sports. Canadian Online Explorer. Archived from the original on June 29, 2012. Retrieved 2010-08-13.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
18. ^ "Shayna Baszler on 'Four Horsewomen' Haters: Ric Flair and Arn Anderson gave their blessing – MMA Fighting". 28 August 2014. Archived from the original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
19. ^ ""Year in the making, Rousey to face Correia at UFC 190", by Dave Deibert, PostMedia News". Archived from the original on 2015-11-17. Retrieved 2015-03-21.
20. ^ "Ronda Rousey Face-Plant KOs Bethe Correia, Retains UFC Women's Bantamweight Title". Sherdog. Archived from the original on 2019-08-13. Retrieved 2019-09-16.
21. ^ "Ronda Rousey lays smack down at Wrestlemania 31". 29 March 2015. Archived from the original on 31 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
22. ^ "On the Line with Bayley". September 11, 2015. Archived from the original on November 28, 2022. Retrieved September 16, 2019.
23. ^ "WWE's 'Four Horsewomen' reflect on past, present and future". Espn.com. 9 September 2019. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
24. ^ ""The Four Horsewomen" battle each other in NYC blockbuster". WWE. Archived from the original on 2020-04-15. Retrieved 2019-09-16.
25. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fmSeWttt1A Archived 2022-04-10 at the Wayback Machine At the 23:20 mark of his Hall of Fame speech, Dusty asked Flair and Anderson to induct he and Race into the Horsemen, and they agreed, by holding up the four fingers
26. ^ "The Four Horsemen". World Wrestling Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 13, 2012. Retrieved January 9, 2012.

## Further reading

[edit]

Biographies

* Anderson, Arn (June 2000). Arn Anderson 4 Ever A Look Behind the Curtain. Ardmore, PA: Dreamcatchers Group. ISBN 0-9663246-0-9. OCLC 42269116.
* Scott Teal; Ole Anderson (2003). Inside Out: How corporate America destroyed professional wrestling. Hendersonville, TN: Crowbar Press. ISBN 0-9745545-0-2. OCLC 54615885.
* Borden, Steve "Sting"; George King (2004). Sting Moment of Truth. Nashville, Tenn: J. Countryman. ISBN 1-4041-0211-6. OCLC 57342709.
* James J. Dillon; Scott Teal; Philip Varriale (2005). Wrestlers are like seagulls: From McMahon to McMahon. Hendersonville, TN: Crowbar Press. ISBN 0-9745545-2-9. OCLC 62596130.
* Ric Flair; Keith Elliot Greenberg (2005). Mark Madden (ed.). Ric Flair: To Be the Man. New York: Pocket Books. ISBN 0-7434-9181-5. OCLC 60523429.

Video

* Ric Flair & The Four Horseman. Stamford, Conn: WWE Home Video. 2007. OCLC 144971907.
* The Ultimate Ric Flair Collection. WWE Home Video. 2003.
* Hard Knocks: The Chris Benoit Story. WWE Home Video. 2004.
* Brian Pillman: Loose Cannon. WWE Home Video. 2006.
* The Greatest Wrestling Stars of the 80's. WWE Home Video. 2006.

## External links

[edit]

* Profile at OWW
* TheRealSting.com (Official Website of Sting)
* Sting's TNA Profile

* v
* t
* e

The Four Horsemen

Originals|

* Arn Anderson
* Ole Anderson
* Tully Blanchard
* Ric Flair
* J. J. Dillon

Other members|

* Lex Luger
* Barry Windham
* Sting
* Sid Vicious
* Paul Roma
* Brian Pillman
* Chris Benoit
* Steve McMichael
* Curt Hennig
* Dean Malenko

Managers and valets|

* Hiro Matsuda
* Baby Doll
* Dark Journey
* Woman
* Miss Elizabeth
* Debra McMichael

Links to related articles

* v
* t
* e

Anderson family

Storyline brothers|

* Gene Anderson
* Lars Anderson
* Ole Anderson
* Arn Anderson

Storyline cousins|

* Ric Flair
* C. W. Anderson

Other storyline relatives|

* Rip Hawk
* Rocky Anderson
* Andrew Anderson
* Brock Anderson

Related articles|

* Minnesota Wrecking Crew
* The Four Horsemen

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Brian Pillman

Career|

* The Four Horsemen
* The Hollywood Blonds
* The Hart Foundation

Media|

* Brian Pillman: Loose Cannon
* Crazy Like a Fox: The Definitive Chronicle of Brian Pillman 20 Years Later

Other|

* Brian Pillman Jr.
* Brian Pillman Memorial Show
* Hart wrestling family

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Chris Benoit

Career|

* The Triple Threat
* The Four Horsemen
* The Revolution
* The Radicalz

Murder|

* Nancy Benoit
* Benoit
* Chris Benoit (song)

* v
* t
* e

Jeff Jarrett

Career|

* The Four Hoursemen
* NWA (WWF stable)
* New World Order
* members
* New Blood
* The Magnificent Seven
* Planet Jarrett
* Immortal
* La Legión Extranjera
* Bullet Club
* MAD

Promotions founded|

* Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
* Global Force Wrestling

Family|

* Jerry Jarrett
* Eddie Marlin
* Karen Jarrett

* v
* t
* e

NWA World Tag Team Champions

1990s|

* Rock 'n' Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson)
* Mr. Gannosuke and Tarzan Goto
* C. W. Anderson and Pat Anderson
* Border Patrol (Agent Gunn and Agent Maxx)
* Barry Windham and Tully Blanchard
* The Brotherhood (Eric Sbraccia and Knuckles Nelson)
* The Brotherhood (Knuckles Nelson and Rick Fuller)
* Public Enemy (Johnny Grunge and Rocco Rock)
* The Brotherhood (Dukes Dalton and Knuckles Nelson)
* Team Extreme (Khris Germany and Kit Carson)
* Murder, Inc. (Jimmy James and Kevin Northcutt)

2000s|

* xXx (Curtis Thompson and Drake Dawson)
* The Main Event (Reno Riggins and Steven Dunn)
* Bad Attitude (David Young and Rick Michaels)
* Bad Street Boys (Christian York and Joey Matthews)
* Dan Factor and David Flair
* New Heavenly Bodies (Chris Nelson and Vito DeNucci)
* Glacier and Jason Sugarman
* Disturbing Behavior (Jeff Daniels and Tim Renesto)
* Shane Twins (Mike Shane and Todd Shane)
* Real American Heroes (Joey Ryan and Karl Anderson)
* Los Luchas (Phoenix Star and Zokre)
* Skullkrushers (Keith Walker and Rasche Brown)

2010s|

* Dark City Fight Club (Jon Davis and Kory Chavis)
* The Usual Suspects (A.J. Steele and Murder One)
* Kingz of the Underground (Ryan Genesis and Scot Summers)
* Killer Elite Squad (Davey Boy Smith Jr. and Lance Archer)
* IronGodz (Jax Dane and Rob Conway)
* Tencozy (Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Satoshi Kojima)
* Heatseekers (Elliot Russell and Sigmon)
* Iron Empire (Matt Riviera and Rob Conway)
* Kazushi Miyamoto and Rob Terry
* Villain Enterprises (Brody King and PCO)
* Wild Cards (Royce Isaacs and Thomas Latimer)

2020s|

* Eli Drake and James Storm
* Aron Stevens and J. R. Kratos
* La Rebelión (Bestia 666 and Mecha Wolf 450)
* Commonwealth Connection (Doug Williams and Harry Smith)
* Blunt Force Trauma (Carnage and Damage)
* Knox and Murdoch (Mike Knox and Trevor Murdoch) (current)

Recognized champions in other promotions

WWF|

* Rock 'n' Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson)
* The Headbangers (Mosh and Thrasher)
* New Midnight Express (Bodacious Bart and Bombastic Bob)

TNA|

* A.J. Styles and Jerry Lynn
* America's Most Wanted (Chris Harris and James Storm)
* Disciples of the New Church (Brian Lee and Slash)
* Triple X (Christopher Daniels, Elix Skipper and Low Ki)
* Amazing Red and Jerry Lynn
* Simon and Swinger
* 3 Live Kru (B.G. James, Konnan and Ron Killings)
* Red Shirt Security (Joe Legend and Kevin Northcutt)
* Abyss and A.J. Styles
* Dallas and Kid Kash
* D-Lo Brown and Apolo
* The Naturals (Andy Douglas and Chase Stevens)
* Chris Harris and Elix Skipper
* Christopher Daniels and James Storm
* Team Canada (Bobby Roode and Eric Young)
* A.J. Styles and Christopher Daniels
* Latin American Xchange (Hernandez and Homicide)
* Team 3D (Brother Devon and Brother Ray)

Unrecognized champions in other promotions

WCW|

* Miracle Violence Connection (Steve Williams and Terry Gordy)
* Barry Windham and Dustin Rhodes
* Ricky Steamboat and Shane Douglas
* Hollywood Blonds (Brian Pillman and Steve Austin)
* The Four Horsemen (Arn Anderson and Paul Roma)

* v
* t
* e

Ric Flair

Career|

* Anderson family
* Big Gold Belt
* The Four Horsemen
* The Black Scorpion
* The Millionaire's Club
* The Magnificent Seven
* Evolution
* Fortune
* Immortal
* Ric Flair's Last Match

Family|

* Reid Flair (son)
* David Flair (son)
* Charlotte Flair (daughter)
* Conrad Thompson (son-in-law)
* Andrade El Idolo (son-in-law)

Other media|

* Ric Flair Drip
* Rick Flair (song)
* To Be the Man

* v
* t
* e

WWE Hall of Fame inductees

1990s

| 1993|

* André the Giant

|

1994|

* Arnold Skaaland
* Bobo Brazil
* Buddy Rogers
* Chief Jay Strongbow
* Freddie Blassie
* Gorilla Monsoon
* James Dudley

1995|

* Antonino Rocca
* Ernie Ladd
* The Fabulous Moolah
* George Steele
* Ernie Roth
* Ivan Putski
* Pedro Morales

1996|

* Jimmy Snuka
* Johnny Rodz
* Killer Kowalski
* Lou Albano
* Mikel Scicluna
* Pat Patterson
* Valiant Brothers
* Jimmy Valiant
* Johnny Valiant
* Vince McMahon Sr.

2000s

| 2004|

* Big John Studd
* "Superstar" Billy Graham
* Bobby Heenan
* Don Muraco
* Greg Valentine
* Harley Race
* Jesse Ventura
* Junkyard Dog
* Sgt. Slaughter
* Tito Santana

| Celebrity|

* Pete Rose

|

2005|

* Bob Orton Jr.
* Hulk Hogan
* The Iron Sheik
* Jimmy Hart
* Nikolai Volkoff
* Paul Orndorff
* Roddy Piper

2006|

* The Blackjacks
* Blackjack Mulligan
* Blackjack Lanza
* Bret Hart
* Eddie Guerrero
* Gene Okerlund
* Sherri Martel
* Tony Atlas
* Verne Gagne

| Celebrity|

* William Perry

|

2007|

* Dusty Rhodes
* Jerry Lawler
* Jim Ross
* Mr. Fuji
* Curt Hennig
* Nick Bockwinkel
* The Sheik
* Wild Samoans
* Afa Anoa'i
* Sika Anoa'i

2008|

* The Brisco Brothers
* Gerald Brisco
* Jack Brisco
* Eddie Graham
* Gordon Solie
* Mae Young
* Peter Maivia
* Ric Flair
* See also: 2012
* Rocky Johnson

2009|

* Bill Watts
* The Funk Brothers
* Terry Funk
* Dory Funk Jr.
* Howard Finkel
* Koko B. Ware
* Ricky Steamboat
* Stone Cold Steve Austin
* Von Erich family
* Chris Von Erich
* David Von Erich
* Fritz Von Erich
* Kerry Von Erich
* Kevin Von Erich
* Mike Von Erich

2010s

| 2010|

* Antonio Inoki
* Gorgeous George
* Maurice Vachon
* Stu Hart
* Ted DiBiase
* Wendi Richter

| Celebrity|

* Bob Uecker

|

2011|

* Abdullah the Butcher
* Bob Armstrong
* Jim Duggan
* Road Warriors
* Road Warrior Hawk
* Road Warrior Animal
* Paul Ellering
* Shawn Michaels
* Sunny

| Celebrity|

* Drew Carey

|

2012|

* Edge
* The Four Horsemen
* Arn Anderson
* Barry Windham
* J. J. Dillon
* Ric Flair
* Tully Blanchard
* Mil Máscaras
* Ron Simmons
* Yokozuna

| Celebrity|

* Mike Tyson

|

2013|

* Bob Backlund
* Booker T
* Bruno Sammartino
* Mick Foley
* Trish Stratus

| Celebrity|

* Donald Trump

|

2014|

* Carlos Colón
* Jake Roberts
* Lita
* Paul Bearer
* Scott Hall
* The Ultimate Warrior

| Celebrity|

* Mr. T

|

2015|

* Alundra Blayze
* The Bushwhackers
* Bushwhacker Butch
* Bushwhacker Luke
* Kevin Nash
* Larry Zbyszko
* Randy Savage
* Rikishi
* Tatsumi Fujinami

| Celebrity|

* Arnold Schwarzenegger

|

Warrior|

* Connor Michalek

2016|

* Big Boss Man
* Fabulous Freebirds
* Michael Hayes
* Buddy Roberts
* Jimmy Garvin
* Terry Gordy
* The Godfather
* Jacqueline
* Stan Hansen
* Sting

| Celebrity|

* Snoop Dogg

|

Warrior|

* Joan Lunden

Legacy|

* Ed Lewis
* Frank Gotch
* George Hackenschmidt
* Lou Thesz
* Mildred Burke
* Pat O'Connor
* Sailor Art Thomas

2017|

* Beth Phoenix
* Diamond Dallas Page
* Kurt Angle
* Rick Rude
* Rock 'n' Roll Express
* Ricky Morton
* Robert Gibson
* Theodore Long

| Warrior|

* Eric LeGrand

|

Legacy|

* Bearcat Wright
* Dr. Jerry Graham
* Haystacks Calhoun
* Judy Grable
* June Byers
* Luther Lindsay
* Martin Burns
* Rikidōzan
* Toots Mondt

2018|

* Dudley Boyz
* Bubba Ray Dudley
* D-Von Dudley
* Goldberg
* Hillbilly Jim
* Ivory
* Jeff Jarrett
* Mark Henry

| Celebrity|

* Kid Rock

|

Warrior|

* Jarrius "JJ" Robertson

Legacy|

* Boris Malenko
* Cora Combs
* Dara Singh
* Hiro Matsuda
* Jim Londos
* Lord Alfred Hayes
* Rufus R. Jones
* El Santo
* Sputnik Monroe
* Stan Stasiak

2019|

* Brutus Beefcake
* D-Generation X
* Shawn Michaels
* Triple H
* Chyna
* Road Dogg
* Billy Gunn
* Sean Waltman
* Harlem Heat
* Booker T
* Stevie Ray
* Hart Foundation
* Bret Hart
* Jim Neidhart
* The Honky Tonk Man
* Torrie Wilson

| Warrior|

* Sue Aitchison

|

Legacy|

* Bruiser Brody
* Buddy Rose
* Hisashi Shinma
* Jim Barnett
* Joseph Cohen
* Luna Vachon
* Primo Carnera
* Professor Tanaka
* S. D. Jones
* Wahoo McDaniel

2020s

| 2020|

* The Bella Twins
* Nikki Bella
* Brie Bella
* Davey Boy Smith
* John "Bradshaw" Layfield
* Jushin Liger
* New World Order
* Hulk Hogan
* Kevin Nash
* Scott Hall
* Sean Waltman

| Celebrity|

* William Shatner

|

Warrior|

* Titus O'Neil

Legacy|

* Baron Michele Leone
* Brickhouse Brown
* Gary Hart
* Ray Stevens
* Steve Williams

2021|

* Eric Bischoff
* The Great Khali
* Kane
* Molly Holly
* Rob Van Dam

| Celebrity|

* Ozzy Osbourne

|

Warrior|

* Rich Hering

Legacy|

* Buzz Sawyer
* Dick the Bruiser
* Ethel Johnson
* Paul Boesch
* Pez Whatley

2022|

* Sharmell
* Steiner Brothers
* Rick Steiner
* Scott Steiner
* The Undertaker
* Vader

| Warrior|

* Shad Gaspard

|

2023|

* The Great Muta
* Rey Mysterio
* Stacy Keibler

| Celebrity|

* Andy Kaufman

|

Warrior|

* Tim White

2024|

* Bull Nakano
* Paul Heyman
* Thunderbolt Patterson
* Lia Maivia
* U.S. Express
* Barry Windham
* Mike Rotunda

| Celebrity|

* Muhammad Ali

|

* Category

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