Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 7: Ric Flair vs. Kerry Von Erich (Cage Match) (12/25/82)

This match is well-known enough I won’t give any hype or go over anything until after the jump. Just know this match is famous for a lot of reasons.

To get ready I watched the rest of the buildup. When last we left the saga Kerry has lost his 2/3 falls title shot on a crappy decision. The family and office were hot. Later we know that David got his shot in October because Kerry’s leg was taken out thanks to a bounty Flair put on him. Now we get the highlights to sort through the rest of the story.

The same night Michael Hayes debuts (10.12.84)for the Freebirds, David gets interviewed at ringside by Mercer. David says they have proof that Flair put the bounty on Kerry’s head, which was paid to Gary Hart and his man, The Great Kabuki . Next we see a sit down interview with Flair where he talks about Kerry being out for six weeks after surgery. He denies offering a bounty on all of the Von Erich heads, specifically Kerry. He says Fritz is jealous and wants Kerry to be the champ. It won’t happen.
Awesome promo talking about being filthy rich and the world champ, saying he’ll give Kerry a match if Kerry can get one.

Next Dr. John Anderson talks about Kerry’s surgery. It’s dry, but realistic, and it gets over the injury angle. Then Kerry, knee wrapped up, is interviewed from the doctor’s office. He says he knows Flair put a bounty on him. Kerry sounds dopey, but fans in Texas (and a young me) loved him. Another Kerry interview in a suit comes from a studio. Kerry again brings up the proof of the bounty, but the Von Erich’s keep saying they don’t need to show that proof for now. They show him Flair’s comments from the earlier interview. Kerry just says it’s a war, he’s representing all of Texas, and he’s coming for Flair.

The following portion is the best part. Bill Mercer meets a chicken wing eating King Kong Bundy at “the docks” where he’s now working. Bundy cuts a believable promo about being sent by Gary Hart to Atlanta to pick up a $12,500 check from “Ricky” Flair. He made a copy of it and sent it to Fritz Von Erich. Fritz bought it from him for $5000. Bundy was on strike (he’s got a problem with former manager Gary Hart) so he took the money and gave up the proof.

Finally we get to November 9th, the big showdown from the studios, where a scared Gary Hart is shown the proof, on copied paper, of the hit put out on Kerry. Fritz is awful proud as he gives the promo exposing Hart. The check is dated Oct. 7th and Ric Flair is spelled “Rick”. Whoops. Hart is great at how subtle he is here. Fritz says there will be a rematch between the two.

The next segment is from December 7th, refs Bronco Lubich and David Manning, the referees, talking about the special ref stipulation for the big rematch. Manning reveals he got put on probation and Fritz was fined $5,000 for their actions at the August 15th match (Diaries match #2). He says the NWA wanted a special ref, Neely (the ref that took the heat for the last match) was tossed out, and Fritz, local promoters, and the NWA had a meeting. They came up with four names, none of which are interesting (by design) accept for Michael Hayes. Mantell announces Hayes has won (I believe from fan voting), mentioning the match is a cage match with no disqualification. After that we get a studio interview from the same Dec. 7th show with Flair and Fritz Von Erich in different locations. Flair acts arrogant, denies he paid the bounty, and cuts a promo on Fritz. It’s hard to find Fritz likable, but he makes his case by putting over the NWA organization and title. He says after this match Kerry will be the world champ. Flair starts cracking, upset with the stipulations of the match. Fritz cuts him off and they go back and forth. Flair really shines putting it all over at the end.

Now comes the match. Hayes come out after Flair and Kerry, the announcers putting him over, and says on the mic that because this match is so important he’s brought big brother Gordy to watch the cage door on the outside. The start is good, especially going back and forth with Kerry escaping and gaining the advantage. Kerry’s punches look good, and there’s a great spot where Flair goes for a suplex and Kerry falls out, clasping on a sleeper. There’s several really nice subtle moments where Hayes gets involved, making Flair break and argue with him.

Kerry starts a wave that sends him into control, the fans going nuts as Flair is bloodied going into the cage. A few good Iron Claw teases, and this match really flows with great transitions. They are forming the emotional roller coaster that is needed for a great match. Flair is ruling it for his part as the deranged desperate champ on offense and the fearful pretty rich boy when selling.

It gets to a new level when Flair starts working on the knee. The crowd is on fire, and it’s deserved, as Kerry escapes Figure Four attempts and tries to fire back. Flair finally gets the figure four. Odd note is both Hayes and David Manning are counting falls on the mat. Kerry escapes at the 15 minute mark, he goes after Flairs knee. Flair sells it well, trying to climb out of the cage. Kerry gets emotional, trying to go at Flair in the ropes and Hayes pulls him out, tossing him to the mat. No blow up there, but it plants a seed. Hayes is staying “fair,” but being aggressive in his authority. Flair jumps into the Iron Claw, and while Manning is counting, Hayes is talking to Gordy on the outside. He comes up, trying violently to break Kerry from the hold (claiming a rope break), ending up wrenching Kerry off onto the mat. An argument ensues to huge boos from the crowd, and Flair takes the opportunity to flying knee Kerry in the back, right into Hayes. Flair starts cheating and Hayes gets physical, clocking Flair and trying to force Kerry to pin him, dragging him by the hair. Kerry won’t. Hayes is pissed. He goes to leave to cage, Kerry trying to talk to him, and Flair again knocks Kerry into Hayes, who falls out of the ring through the door to the floor. Hayes didn’t see who hit him, and he’s pissed, and in that time Gordy slams the cage door shut on Kerry’s head. The Freebird walk out and the match picks up when Kerry kicks out of the expected pin. Great false finish, though I half wish it ended there for effect.

They brawl back and forth, both aggressive and intense, but the finish is Kerry hitting the discus punch, then collapsing. Manning stops the match, and they put over that Kerry might have a concussion. Flair wins because Kerry is “unable to continue.” I did not like this finish as it should have come from the Freebird cage shot, not this accumulated damage. The Von Erich brothers come out, all fired up, to check on Kerry and put down the Freebirds on the mic.

Great match, but I didn’t feel the finish. This was so close to being almost perfect in it’s own time and context, but just short is still pretty great. I actually liked their 8/15/82 match a little more, but both stories are similar and compelling, this match having more historical significance, but maybe not being as good in the ring as the prior match. To be honest, I’m not sure. 4 ¼ stars and 8.3/10.