Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Ric Flair vs Kerry Von Erich (Hawaii 10.12.85)

Flair and Von Erich in Hawaii? Bad Ass. I’ve never even gone through the classic World Class days with a fine eye to see these two, it was the Mid South matches that clued me in that I wasn’t wrong in my childhood. Flair was an awesome heel. I hated him, but secretly loved him, accordingly. And he could raise any opponent’s talent three fold. Kerry was the Modern Day Warrior. He was on a level with Hogan, much like Flair himself. This match up was classic, and it worked that same year in Mid South, so why can’t this be great? No, why WOULDN’T this be great? Oh, Kerry and drugs. I push the thought far from my mind.

Flair is the NWA champ and gets booed heavy just for having his name announced. The Rock’s mom puts leis (sp?) on each guy to ceremonially welcome them to the island for this title fight. I wonder if the Rock was there as a teen to see this match.

I dig the announcers of this match. They put over the prestige of the NWA title, and some of the history/background of each man right early. They do the Flair unable to outwrestle Kerry bit. If your being a perfectionist, it could be a tighter sequence, but it looks fine and the crowd is into it. They sell it with their personas.

Kerry’s working pretty hard in the holds portion. He turns a typical arm bar into a power move wrenching Flair up by the arm/shoulder. I liked it. He’s doing quicker counters than Flair (that’s the point as a babyface) and his knees during the hammer lock are BOSS. Kerry is rulin’ it.

I stopped at ten minutes in and later lost this file, so if anyone has this match feel free to send a link my way in the comments section, or write your ow thoughts on the match there.