Pro Wrestling Chronicle

Match # 9: Ric Flair vs. Terry Gordy (2/4/83)

We start where we always should, with Ric Flair cutting an arrogant, controlled promo to Bill Mercer about his match, his life, and being the champ. Gordy and Hayes cut promos on Flair that are pretty impressive. An odd, but interesting heel versus heel dynamic.

Kerry is out before the match, clearing the Freebirds with punches. Flair attacks soon after, and Gordy take a bump to the floor. This is so weird, because Gordy’s doing babyface comebacks to the heel champion. The work is tight and I really like the way Flair works with a big man. Abdominal stretch by Gordy, and Flair sells it like death. Flair is in trouble, and Manning points this out on commentary. Gordy does his own version of the flip into the buckle bump, and given it’s versus Flair, I love the wink. A rare high angle Boston crab (Walls of Jericho). I’m impressed. This match isn’t blow away, and the crowd is confused about what they are rooting for–some people are actually rooting for Gordy–but it is solid work. Just shows you what could have been with Gordy, because these guys would have gotten better with a program together. Bronko Lubich is still counting some pins slowly, kneeling on one knee. Horrible old ref.

Flair comes back working the knee-drop right into the figure four. Gordy comes back, but Flair leaps right onto his back for a sleeper (awesome quick sequence). It’s really picking up. There’s an obvious whispered spot, Flair lets a hold go early, and little piece of this match falls apart for me.

The finish comes next with Gordy missing a crossbody, going right into the ropes and bouncing off, and Flair gets the clean pin. Not my favorite finish, as the “unclean” ones on this set actually elicited more emotion and acceptance from me. Gene (still watching with me) isn’t into the finish either. The heel vs heel hurt this for me so close after the big angle (shouldn’t Gordy AND Flair be the epitome of evil), but the crowd did pop for the Flair win. Good match, but not what it could have been (and obviously they didn’t want them to steal the show). 3 ¼ stars and 6.5/10.