Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match #100: Koko Ware vs. Ric Flair (11/18/85)

Hell yes! Flair in Memphis. This is an arena match from Memphis. Dusty Rhodes, fresh off his win in the bunkhouse match, is at ringside as an adviser to Koko Ware. Flair is bother, of course.
It starts basic and slow paced. They trade hard headlocks for a few minutes and back each other into corners for clean breaks. Ware hangs with Flair, as you’d expect. Them Flair bumps a bit to make Koko look like a hero. That’s probably going to be the story of the match.

I dig the excitement with which Hales and Russell announce the match with. It’s not over the top, just personalized, as they seem genuinely happy that Koko might be a world champion. Dusty riles up Ware when Flair/Ware get into a shoving match. This really heats up after Flair takes a moment to step outside the ring ropes. We get a series of heated exchanges where Flair ends up doing two face first Flair Flops. Ware is running over trying to get the pin as quick as possible. The fans are going crazy. Flair gets his foot on the rope the second time. Russell is calling the match of his life. Early going, but this is the best and most productive Flair formula match I’ve seen in a while (and I’m a huge Flair mark).

Flair gets bounced around one to many times and take a walk down the aisle. He tries to mat wrestle Ware but can’t keep him down. Now Flair’s pissed. He gets back in and chops Kok with some misdirection. Flair’s offense takes over and he’s in charge. We get a slower pace while Flair does little things to heel it up (foot on ropes for leverage). Did I mention we got the Flair-ref shoving spot? We did.

Flair cuts off the Koko come backs as soon as they gain some steam with the fans. The timing in this match is great. Koko comes back, throws punches, and the ref stops his fist so Flair knees him low. Just as good as when I saw that with Terry Taylor or Kerry Von Erich. Ware’s got a sleeper. Flair gets his foot on the rope. Flair makes a comeback of his own. He knows just when to milk the double KO to rest while fans go crazy without anyone working.

Now I’ve seen everything. Ric Flair did a double stomp to Ware’s stomach. It was Low Ki-esque. Flair puts the figure four on for a minute or two. Ware gets out, but man is it dramatic. Ware with the back slide. Two count. Flair throws Ware out of the ring. 20 minutes in to a brilliant match.

Ware puts Flair in the figure four. They milk that for a minute or two. Ware chops Flair a bunch. Bill Dundee runs to the ring and throws powder in Dusty’s eyes. He posts him for good measure. Ware gets distracted. Flair throws a Harley Race high knee at him from behind. He pins Ware, and though Ware gets his foot on the rope, the ref never sees it. Flair wins in 23 minutes. 4 and 8/10.

Match Discussion Here