Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 52: Kerry Von Erich vs Ric Flair 4/28/85

This would have been a little under a year and a half since the famous feud the two had in World Class led to the cage match at the end of 1983 that popped that territory. Flair comes out to no music, a spotlight, and some good crowd heat. Kerry Von Erich comes out to “Born in the USA” (a Watts favorite), a big babyface reaction, and a stupid look on his face. No shocks so far.

Stips are announced as no DQ and no time limit. For some reason as this is announced the ref is giving the wrestlers instructions/rules. Force of habit I guess.

Flair has to work his way out of a headlock at first. He tries a hammerlock but ends up needing to pull Kerry’s hair. He backs off quick. Essentially Flair tries several early ways to beat Kerry and allows Kerry to counter him. Early highlights also include Kerry doing the world’s crappiest Flair strut, and Flair gouging at the eyes a lot. His advantage off constant heel tactics. He knows how to present the face to the fans in a sympathetic manner while being arrogant himself. Then he shows ass for Kerry’s very quick punches. Lots of cowering.

A lot of stuff from earlier in the day (The Terry Taylor match is also marked 4/28/85) like Kerry’s closed fist being caught by the ref, Flair’s low knee, and a shoving match with the SAME ref. Flair tosses him to the outside, so this will be very similar by comparison.

So your early story is the heel champ not being able to gain the advantage, cowering and cheating until he does have control. A simple but cerebral Flair match. This one cut out a lot of the early hold work Taylor did, which is the right choice for Von Erich, and a lot of people will enjoy a more straight forward approach.

Great spot after Flair chokes Kerry on the ropes. Kerry tries to come back with a dropkick, and Flair just steps back. That-a-boy, Slick Ric. Kerry selling the mid section. Flair goes to a sleeper. Very good panic struggle from Von Erich. We all know it’s not the finish, but they pop for his arm staying up. They pop for him slamming Flair into the top turnbuckle. They really go nuts for the comeback.

Flair is really leading this match. Kerry only ever had his athleticism, but man did I love Kerry and hate Flair in the late 80s/early90s. I was also around ten, but they did their job. Iron Claw – on Flair’s belly. So lame. Work has definitely slowed down a bit. Kerry seems confused at times, and it makes Flair tentative I think. Kerry wasn’t totally lost here, but Flair is definitely making the big decisions in there.
Flair gains back control by actually landing a tomahawk chop from the top. Wow, not expecting thsat, especially because Kerry had gotten there for the press slam. Match falls apart slightly, though it’s been losing some steam for a few minutes. I think Flair just tries to bump big or take control at these moments.

Out of nowhere Von Erich throws Flair in a Figure Four. A lot of times I seem psychology others don’t in movements and flow. Still others, it needs to be explained to me, as I see no flow and wrestlers just doing whatever comes into their heads. We’re 15 minutes in, and I’ll need someone to explain the thinking here.

Flair escapes, and it almost seems like he’s the babyface fighting back, though again it’s just a feel thing. Looks like a second heat segment. Flair is just doing moves (they look fine), so I guess it’s just wearing Kerry down, not working a body part. Kerry sells nothing in particular, comes back again, and Flair eventually ends up in the Iron Claw. The match is decent, but if it ends now it’s pretty much run of the mill, and calling it paint by numbers isn’t accurate because it felt like 1,2,5,7,4,2,8 – just doing stuff without regard until they hit a time to switch.

Flair gets out of the Iron Claw in a cool manor. He tosses Kerry over the top rope then drops down to the mat to sell. No DQ means he’s in the clears. Flair back in control. He puts on the figure four. Christ, could Kerry struggle any worse. He looked so pretend as Flair put it on with ease. I guess the iron claw as a hope spot was a good tease. Kerry acts like he might be pinned, then reverses the hold. Fans are into it. Flairs chops and cutting off Kerry’s comeback attempts are great. You know the “…work with a broomstick” quote they use all the time. This is very close at times, though I know Kerry’s been A LOT worse.

Stupid Von Erich put a sleeper on Flair to NO crowd reaction just as the match was hitting a point where it should reach its faster-paced end. I’m official tapping out. I’m not into this match at all. Has its good points, as all but 1/15 of the set will, but this is low end stuff. Flair’s very good, but not great here, and Kerry is wasting everyone’s time 21 minutes in. Flair puts the deadman’s leg on the ropes when they go to count him down.

And it gets worse. A ref bump in a poorly worked finish segment. Kerry gets a visual fall. Kerry then AGAIN puts the sleeper on. Flair cheats. Flair covers him. Kerry gets his foot on the rope at three but the ref doesn’t see it. It gets heat, and I’m not opposed to a finish in a different setting, but a ref bump AND the ref missing the leg came off as a lot of window dressing to cover up a crappy finish. Totally lost me after a good first twelve minutes or so. This is not top 50. 3 stars and 6/10

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