This is a very rare occasion where the NWA World Heavyweight champion (Flair) takes on the AWA World Heavyweight Champion (Martel). This has a lot of potential and we’ll assume nothing near a clean finish. Let’s see if they can still pull it off.

Great stare down by Flair just before the bell. Flair tries takedowns but can’t keep Martel on the mat. Shoulderblock sends Flair on his butt and he’s slightly more tentative, strutting and rethinking. Martel outwrestles him on the mat after a trade of holds. Short spell of Martel staying on the arm, and then Martel overpowers Flair and they back off. The first five minutes is the classic “Flair gets outwrestled, becomes frustrated” story.

Martel does a few flying leg scissors and controls Flair on the mat with the leg scissors. Flair struggles in his attempts to get out, keeping it interesting. They stand and square off again, a real tentative pace to this one. Martel really grinds a headlock, Flair picks him up for a suplex, but Martel switches weight to get the headlock takeover. The headlock continues as we’re at ten minutes.

They create some needed movement and Flair feeds and bumps for Martel. Martel can feel the momentum and Flair is on his butt, begging off. Of course, then the dirtiest player in the game hits an inverted atomic drop and calmly walks to Martel, tossing him to the outside where he sends Martel’s shoulder into the ring post. Back inside, Flair takes to the mat to work on that shoulder he’s just posted. His swagger and cockiness are on display as he meticulously, if unspectacularly, works over the shoulder with holds. Martel shows decent facial selling and poise, and his punching comeback is fun thanks in part to Flair’s selling. Fifteen minutes gone.

Flair goes low to try and stop the comeback, but he’s marginalized every time he tries to stop Martel. Flair does take control again, throwing Martel in a wild double arm suplex. He switches to the abdominal stretch; both men making the move look effective. Martel switches and grabs Flair in the hold. Flair’s yelling in pain is soooo what pro wrestling is to me. Martel gets a suplex, but Flair sends him through the ropes. Martel gets a roll up nearfall when being brought back in at the twenty minute mark.

It picks up as Flair flips to the outside, the brawl for a moment, and Martel hits a crossbody when they get back in. Flair takes over, but Martel steals a Flair spot when he blocks a kneedrop, holds on, and then puts Flair in his own figure four. Flair struggles and screams, almost being pinned several times in the process. Flair makes the ropes, but Martel tries for the move again and gets kicked off, Flair taking Martel’s knee out. Now they are both kicking at each other’s knees, but it’s Flair who capitalizes and begins his leg work. Figure four from Flair, who himself limped into the move. 25 minutes gone.

Martel turns the hold to get out, but Flair goes for it again. Martel rolls him up for a great near fall. Every time Martel comes back a desperate Flair takes out Martel’s knee. They go back and forth, neither able to consistently put together a string of offense. Martel grabs a sleeper on Flair. And Flair sells it by wandering around, hands moving until he and they fall. He pops up for a back drop suplex and they both sell fatigue on the mat. They go outside, Martel blocking a ring post shot and giving it to Flair. Flair is bleeding when he gets back in, fires up, and they throw punches at each other. Flair takes a beating. Thirty minutes gone.

Martel gets a near fall with a power slam, and then Flair goes over the top rope on a punch. Martel suplexes him back in for another near fall. Then another. Martel seems close to winning. He goes for a second rope splash and Flair gets his knees up. They run through a routine of near falls, then a Flair crossbody that sends them both over the ropes. Ref Higuchi counts fast and this is the expected double count out at 34 minutes.

The first ten minutes was capable stuff, and both guys showed poise, but this was mostly the classic “Flair gets outwrestled, becomes frustrated” story in the longer, match must be going long sort of way. Eleven minutes in you get the turn as Flair begs off, then gets the inverted atomic drop on Martel. The swagger is back and Ric works over the shoulder of Martel. Again, this is basic Flair storytelling and nothing crazy as far as what they are doing in the ring. Just solid, if at times unspectacular, storytelling that again plays well if they are going longer.

I like the middle with Martel constantly coming back on Flair, Flair having to beg off or go low, always staying audible and heelish. I felt like they meandered at times, but got focused when Martel blocks the knee drop and puts Flair in his own figure four. This leads to Flair going for the knee, and two guys selling at the same time (which I love). There is a great moment where Flair goes to his expected knee work but crumbles in pain after crashing down on Martel’s knee. I liked how much Flair was selling his own leg in this stretch, and desperately going back to Martel’s knee whenever Martel came back. Again, it went back and forth, and at times felt like they were maybe filling more time (though everything looked good), until Flair bleeds. I love fired up Flair getting in and then getting his ass handed to him in a fist fight. The final stretch had good near falls, but the double count out was expected. A very good match that I liked, but felt meandered somewhat. 3 ½ stars and 7.05/10

Flair, again the world heavyweight champion, takes on the native #2 in another 2/3 falls NWA title match.

A simple start to this one, with tentative exchanges of holds. Flair takes a few bumps to get over Tenryu as a threat, then tries to work out of Tenryu’s holds. Flair uses his tricks to lock a hold on Tenryu’s arm, then he starts working it over with knees. Flair shows off chops, get’s chopped back, and ends up on the bad end of a deep headlock on the ground. Flair shows off some quickness in taking control back, and we’re definitely not doing the Flair gets completely outclassed opening here. Flair gets a pin attempt after a double arm suplex, then remains in control for the All Japan prerequisite abdominal stretch. Tenryu gets two hopespots close together, so Flair tosses him out of the ring, annoyed. Back in, Flair loses control and Tenryu takes over with chops. Flair does the Flair flip over the turnbuckle to the floor. Ten minutes gone.

Flair is slowly losing the battle now, and he gives Tenryu a hard look as he circles him. Tenryu refuses to get whipped to the ropes. They engage in a chop battle, and a moment later Tenru grabs a sleeper on Flair. Flair has a great struggle, almost makes the ropes, then goes down for a pin, before putting his leg on the ropes. Tenryu hits two of his big enzugiris, followed by a piledriver for the pin in 13:44.

Flair is tentative to start the second, and Tenryu goes right for him. I like that Flair doesn’t back down, he chops away, before taking a back drop and being put in the abdominal stretch. Flair powers out, but he’s quickly Saito suplexed. Flair gets a moment, but he’s dashed by going to the top rope. Tenryu throws him in the Boston crab, then stays on Flair’s back with a Texas cloverleaf. Flair misses a punch and gets a back drop driver on that back of his. Near fall attempt from Tenryu that the crowd bought. As Flair struggles with a chop while back on his feet, Tenryu grabs a headlock, and Flair picks him up for a kneebreaker. Flair teases going for the figure four right away, but Tenryu hits the enzuigiri. Now they’re both down. Crowd really hopeful for Tenryu, but when he pins Flair he can’t keep him down. Flair backdrop suplexes Tenryu off a headlock, then goes right for the figure four. Long figure four as they roll in and out of the move. Pretty great stuff from both, especially when Tenryu finally has to give up at 8:16 of the second fall. (22 minutes total)

Tenryu tries to walk it off at the start of the third fall, but Flair goes right for the legs. Tenryu hits his enzuigiri, but he’s still got knee trouble. Flair turns a miscue into a small package, and then a back suplex. He’s going for pins, wants this to end. Flair goes for the figure four, but gets small packaged for a near fall. Another enzuigiri from Tenryu, then a crossbody. He can’t seem to get it together. Flair goes right for the leg again, smashing it on the ring apron. Back inside the ring, Flair goes for the figure four but Tenryu rolls out. Flair responds by destroying the leg with stomps, shoving ref Higuchi off. The second time Higuchi calls for the bell, but Flair retains on a DQ. 5:38 the time of the finish, so roughly 27 minute match.

In Mid South it was BIG back body drops. In All Japan the prerequisite seems to be the abdominal stretch. Anyway, this is a slightly different opening for a Flair traveling champ match as he isn’t outwrestled or outclassed, and Tenryu seems tentative again early. Around the ten minute mark that changes and Tenryu is definitely beginning to give Flair a run for his money. I liked the sleeper spot, and him hitting the two enzugiris, but what sold me was a piledriver resulting in the first fall finish. In Japan, ladies and gentleman. Pretty cool, as it had been a mildly effective nearfall device to this point in the set. Decent, workmanlike, first fall.

As much as I was neutral to the first fall, I LOVED the second fall. Tenryu got to show off, gain confidence and momentum, control the situation, and Flair had to fight, be quick, reactionary, and wily to stay in this one. He didn’t look weak, but Tenryu rightful looked like he might take the title from this tired, beatdown champion. I liked the section where he worked on Flair’s back, as well as Flair’s attempts to get out of the situations he was put in. Really good counter wrestling in this one. Loved how Flair smelled blood, and skipped the initial legwork to go right for the figure four. The right finish to the second fall too with Flair keeping the figure four on until Tenryu had to submit, setting the stage for third fall drama and selling.

I feel like the first half of the third fall exposed that Tenryu wasn’t quite ready, at least on this night. Other than the constant enzugiris and crossbodies, he didn’t seem to know where to go, be it persona, moves, or story. It wasn’t bad, but it seemed like he didn’t quite know where to take the match—like Flair had to reign him in, save it–and then they went right back to the leg work and finish. I didn’t love the end, and I wanted more out of Tenryu, but there were a lot of bright spots, especially in that second fall. Flair looked tuned in and you can tell Tenryu would be more than this, but here I didn’t feel like this was designed to make him look great. I feel like the screwy finish AWA title match with Funk vs Bockwinkel was just as good a mid-level title match with a junk finish, so I’ll probably have this slightly above that one on my ballot, both definitely in the top half. 3 ¼ stars and 6.6/10

This is only weeks after Kerry won the NWA title from Flair in an emotional Texas Stadium match from World Class. Flair came to Japan to get his belt back.

This is a basic Kerry/Flair match the first five minutes. Neither man is projecting too much emotion one way or the other. Kerry mostly controls with holds like an arm wringer or a hammerlock. Kerry also shows off his great dropkicks and Flair crawls to the corner to recuperate. Something about Kerry seems a bit unfocused during his control. Flair decides to make an effort on the mat, and Kerry reverses back to a hold on the ground. Not the most interesting first five minutes, and I’ve seen them do the same routine but make it interesting.

Flair opens up with chops and then lets Kerry come back with punches, before going back to the ground. For a tactical match they sure aren’t doing much with the holds. They create some needed movement before Kerry catches Flair in a sleeper. The crowd isn’t up for most of this. Flair suplexes to escape, but he’s weary and doesn’t immediately take over. Kerry press slams Flair and Kerry’s control goes on. Ten minutes gone.

Flair tosses Kerry to the outside, then takes over from there. We see a good standing delayed suplex and the abdominal stretch, but there’s very little fire and passion to this match. They’re both so talented that going through the motions, or a level above that, is still good, but these guys have done so much more. Flair cuts off a Kerrry comeback with an atomic drop. , then starts opening up with punches to the head and a pile driver. Small cut on Kerry’s head and Flair brings out the “whooo”. They go back and forth, missing moves, a Kerry teases the iron claw. Struggle, and Flair goes low to stop it. Fifteen minutes gone.
Flair does his flip in the turnbuckle spot, runs to the other turnbuckle, and leaps right into the iron claw. It looked really telegraphed. Kerry keeps the claw on and then covers Flair for the pin and first fall at the sixteen minute mark.

Kerry won’t release the claw for some time, and Flair is hesitant at the start of the second fall. They create movement with rope runs, Kerry momentarily grabs the claw again, but Flair is ready for it. Kerry still manages the upper hand for a minute, and this is fall is thankfully a lot more active. Flair continues to crowd Kerry, whose bumps look silly to me tonight. Flair goes for the knee with a kneebreaker, then settles in to his typical great focused legwork. He puts on the figure four, and both of them sell the well. To my surprise the ref calls for the bell. Flair has won the second fall in three minutes.

Kerry sells the hell out of the knee in between falls, and this is the Kerry I’d like to see in the third fall. The guy that might give a shit. Flair stalks him at the start, going right after the knee. Kerry struggles with Flair doing the spinning toe hold, Kerry grabbing the iron claw to gain the advantage. Flair makes the ropes. Kerry gets a crucifix pin for a two. The collide mid-ring and Flair recovers first, going to the top before being caught for the signature flip. Kerry even sacrifices his knee with a knee drop for a two count. They get confused on two spots where it seems like Kerry got lost, and after an abdominal stretch Kerry again remains in control. Flair sells the heck out of a suplex and five minutes in the third fall passes.

Kerry’s knee is now fine. He does a dropkick. He tries it again and misses. Flair can’t capitalize and Kerry is gaining nearfalls. Kerry falls outside the ring and walks off his injures, before Flair tries to suplex him back in. Kerry shakes him, landing on his feet behind Flair, waistlocks him and a roll up pin, but Flair rolls through for the pin and NWA title win in seven minutes of the third fall, 23 minutes total. Flair is excited, and they show his wife before giving him the belt. Kerry is shown being escorted out of the arena, the pouting kid who says nothing to Flair.

The first fall just didn’t do it for me, and I was actually glad there would be two more falls. They’ve had much better matches in World Class and most of the Mid South matches sans one or two, than the first fall. It felt like a passionless walk through and the crowd received it much the same way. I’ve seen these guys do their first five-ten minutes many times and do it much better. The finish to the fall was kind of telegraphed, but at least it was a decent finish.

The second fall wasn’t much, but what was there was good. I thought Kerry’s selling and overall demeanor throughout the match was a bit lost, but this fall was focused on Flair anyway. Kerry went for the claw again, they went back and forth a few times, and then Flair does an abbreviated version of his leg work and wins with the figure four. A nice three minute stretch, but I’d need a great third fall to see this as something really special—not just passable—because these men have done a lot better stateside.

Kerry looked lost or there was a miscommunication for some spots in the third fall. Felt like Flair was doing his part to sell for Kerry, but they almost seemed jet lagged or something. Kerry just forgot about selling the knee. Still, the action was good at times. A lot of back and forth stuff and the story progressed in some way. The finish was a fine sequence but low on drama and came out of nowhere. I’d say this in total was about as good as the Texas Stadium match physically, but without the emotion or story or fire. It can’t touch the August ’82 2/3 falls match or the Christmas ’82 match (or the two Kevin and one David matches from the World Class set). It was probably at the level of the match they had on 5/11/84, which was a little over a week and a half before this, with Flair challenging. As far as the Mid South matches, this wouldn’t touch their 5/4/85 match (I really liked that match more than most), but was more in line with their 4/28/85 match (which I wasn’t a huge fan of). 3 stars and 6.2/10

I’m excited for a Flair match and apprehensive of Race as the opponent. This could end with my low expectations being pleasantly surprised, or me very sick of Race.

No title on the line between these two, which just seems odd. Also you put out there that this is American vs American in Japan, and neither are full All Japan regulars, and they have some work to do to keep this crowd. They start out hot with a lot of movement, and Flair bumps for Race. Flair gives Race the opportunity to appear rougher, almost a badass, and not have to sell as much. And when Race does have to sell, he’s doing it for Flair’s offense, which is pretty much accepted stuff by all. Also, Flair will provide most of the tone and personality for the match, so this is optimal Race viewing for someone like me who semi-loathes Race.
Race roughs Flair up with punches in the corner, and gets a good reaction for it. His knee drops look very good too. Flair tries to smother Race with a front facelock, so the match really slows pretty early. Race counters with a roll up pin, but Flair maintains the facelock. Flair gives a WHOOO to the crowd, and then gets caught in a neckbreaker for a near fall. So far the first five minutes have been capable, but plodding.

Race takes over, Flair selling his knee drops. They reverse the Flair on the top rope spot for Harley to take the bump, and then Flair knee drops him. Fun stuff. Then they go to an uninspired abdominal stretch that feels more on the resthold side of things. Flair sends Race to the outside and we get a count. I just don’t buy Race’s selling during the period Flair dominates here. They blow a bodyslam into a Race pin spot, but the crowd is relatively forgiving of the two. Race goes low to take the control back. People liked the falling headbutt. Ten minutes gone.

Flair hits a great standing suplex/brainbuster to gain control, but this is back and forth in a very casual “guys miss moves and we sell” sort of way. Not much immediacy or desperation to the work. It does feel relatively even though. Flair wins a battle at ringside and Race slowly gets back into the ring, then pulls Flair out. Flair is pretty good at verbally selling being posted on the outside. Race has a solid jumping elbow, and uses this for a few pin attempts. Flair comes back and clamps the figure four on Race. 15 minutes in.

Race takes over and Flair bumps like a champ for him. Race looks more inspired too at this point. Flair takes his flip bump into the corner, runs to the other buckle, and actually hits a crossbody off the top rope. This NEVER happens. I love it. Flair hitd the kneebreaker, teases the figure four, but gets kicked off to the turnbuckle, shoulder first on the post. Suplex by Race, then he hits a diving headbutt for the pin in about 18 minutes.

My headline coming out of this was “just when it looked like they cared, I started to, and then it was over.” I feel a little bipolar with this match, or maybe that the match had two personalities. I liked short sections or a move here and there, but as a whole I thought this was the worst of the Flair matches we’ve seen on this set. I did however like, even love, the stretch run, which made the first 15 minutes all the more annoying to me. The first five minutes was capable, but plodding, and I never felt like they hit a high level or even tried to hit something bigger. The holds felt more like restholds than most of the inspired holds on the high end matches at the time, or even with the midcarders. Race, to me, sinks or swims on being a tough guy, and I wasn’t buying it until the stretch run because everything before that felt like a practice run without passion for their art or even a “real fight”. It needed more immediacy or desperation early to the work. Once Race took over a bit, and Flair actually hit a crossbody off the top (Really?!) for the near fall, I felt they hit a point where they cared, and so did I. But within a minute this one was over. I loved the clean pin, but man did I want more out of this one early. 3 stars and 6/10

Edit: I rewatched this one because I took crap for being so hard on it. It’s not as bad as I may have made it out to be. It’s probably Race’s best match on the set. Flair is never bad in it. I think it’s the pace of the match that gets me. I was bored, and I just wanted it to be over because there wasn’t a tangible story that I felt I could hold onto and connect with. So I’m bumping it up a few spots on my ballot, but there are very few matches on this set that I feel confident in putting it ahead because I enjoyed so many others more than this match. 3 ¼ stars and 6.6/10

The third match on the set from these two, who have produced two great matches so far. A brilliant 2/3 falls NWA title match coming up after the jump.

They start out working tight and determined, with lock ups and struggles for holds. It isn’t the most exciting stuff, but the effort and energy is there to build something that will obviously be going long. The crowd is behind Tsuruta. Even the shoulder blocks look next level. In classic Flair traveling champion style Jumbo gets to shine early, flair bumping hard and being outwrestled. Jumbo makes the most of it, working over the back of Flair to the point Flair is begging off, and eventually leaving the ring. Ten minutes gone.

Flair, as always, goes to the gut to turn the match, then targets Jumbo’s ribs and right arm. A few pin attempts result in Flair holding a short arm scissors, then Jumbo counters but rolling Fliar up off the move a few times. I definitely feel the tactical struggle here. Flair stays on the arm, and Jumbo has to leave the ring and reset. Back in, Flair stays on the arm with strikes and holds, gaining a few small pin attempts. Jumbo counters, then struggles with Flair until he grabs a Boston crab. Back to Flair’s back. Back breaker, pin, kickout. Flair hammerlocks the arm. Jumbo counters back to the Boston crab. Back versus arm work battle. Jumbo looks fresh and Flair looks ragged, and that’s the image they show. Twenty minutes gone.

Jumbo gets a suplex for a two. Jumbo creates movement, and a desperate Flair tosses a running Jumbo through the ropes to buy time. Jumbo sunset flips back in for a pin attempt, and Flair manages a backdrop driver a moment later to grab control. The fans right away take to chanting for their downed hero, as Flair gets his confidence back. Flair is even yelling at Jumbo now, daring him to quit while in a hold. Jumbo tries to power out of the hold, and Flair traps him again. Seems like Flair has switched his focus to Jumbo’s back. No matter, Jumbo Thesz presses his way back in charge, and then hits a running crossbody for a near fall. They have an awesome strike battle in the middle of the ring, and Jumbo drops Flair with an Enziguri. Flair’s back hurts, and Jumbo’s does too, but it’s Flair who is in trouble. There’s a great turn where Flair gets chopped over the top rope, but then smartly pulls Jumbo’s leg out and starts work on the knee. Jumbo gets a great flash pin attempt out of Flair going for the figure four. Jumbo thwarts the legwork attempts and hits a running high knee. The crowd is vocal here, totally with the match. He goes right the backdrop driver and pins Flair clean at the 40 minute mark. Wow, great first fall.

Second fall starts with Flair hesitant and tired, while Jumbo is inspired and fresh. Echoing chants of “Tsur-u-ta” ring out. They go heavy as soon as they engage, Jumbo winning with clubbing strikes. Each men tease big moves (Jumbo’s backdrop driver), but Flair takes control and gets some low-level pin attempts. Flair executes a few piledrivers, and seems annoyed at the ref’s count. No focused body work for now, just total control from Flair, trying to wear Jumbo down. Jumbo pulls Flair to the floor with him, posting Flair. Flair is bleeding heavy as they get back in the ring, and Jumbo smashes him with punches to open the cut. The crowd senses a title change. High knee and Flair is out. GREAT near fall. Suplex and another near fall, Flair audibly yelling in pain. Ten minutes gone in the second fall.

Slugfest in the middle of the ring, but Flair misses his punches. Flair fights, but then goes over the top turnbuckle on a whip. Jumbo is dominating him. The crowd can sense the end for Flair. Flair desperately headbutts Jumbo min the balls. The work is quick here, and Flair can’t keep Jumbo underneath. Jumbo switches and they tease the back drop driver for the second time before Jumbo grabs a sleeper and almost takes a still bloody Flair out for good. He can’t, and Flair stems the tide. They fall on the floor in exhaustion, Flair then tossing Jumbo out to buy rest. Jumbo rushes to the top, flying dropkick, and a great false finish. Several great false finishes in fact, with Jumbo a hair away from winning the match. Flair tries to open up Jumbo’s head with punches and a knee. Jumbo blocks a suplex, rolling Flair up for a near fall. He goes for the high knee again, Flair ducks, and Jumbo goes sailing to the floor. Now Flair has him. He goes right to work on the knee, slowing it down, looking for the figure four. Flair clamps on the figure four after a struggle and the place goes nuts. More so when he flips it, but Flair flips it back. Twenty minutes gone in the second fall.

A mighty struggle in the figure four, Jumbo almost passing out, leads to him making the ropes. Flair drags him by the leg to the post and smashes the leg again. Jumbo is almost unconscious, but manages to kick out of a pin. Flair goes back to the figure four. Jumbo is shaking trying to power out. Flair release the hold, frustrated Jumbo won’t pass out or give up. Jumbo kicks out of another pin. Flair slams the leg with knees and goes back to the figure four a third time. The bell rings with a delirious Jumbo still refusing to give up. Flair retains the NWA title in an hour draw that only officially went 56 minutes bell to bell, but it’s no big deal.

Right from the start this felt tight and determined. Jumbo has upped his game as the set goes on, and Flair doing his usual traveling champ opening by being outclassed is great. The shoulderblock bumps and overall movement is next level when they decide to turn it up. Flair selling back in subtle ways, arrogantly refusing to be denied, is what I love about the details of matches. Flair’s work on Jumbo’s arm also impressed me, even if at times it was understated or slower. This one has the ebb and flow that I love from a Flair match, with the back work versus arm work story in this fall. Even when it moves out of that into back and forth strikes, it builds in intensity and the near falls are hot. Flair stayed desperate when he had to, and the transition between everything flowed, especially late in the fall when Flair decided he had to go for Jumbo’s leg, and Jumbo just wouldn’t let him get any work done. Great clean finish to the first fall that established the backdrop driver for the match, and reminds us all that this is Jumbo’s big move. The first fall, all 30 minutes, really drew myself and the crowd in.

Second fall begins appropriately, Jumbo fired up and Flair looking tired and worried. Once they tease some stuff Flair settles into control and slows the pace. Flair has enough presence and effective offense that even without a focus on a body part, it’s still clear he’s pulling out a lot to wear Jumbo down. Even when spots don’t go as planned the stuff still looks like a legit struggle. Once Jumbo opens the cut on Flair’s head, it takes the match to another level again. Bloody Flair gets beat pillar to post and you can sense the crowd thinking Jumbo is winning. He’s dominating Flair, and we’re finally seeing the Jumbo that would go on to be a legend. The tease of the backdrop driver (twice) is great storytelling too, because we know if he finally does hit it this is over. He’s already done it in the first fall. The move is established. The false finishes and crowd reaction as the second fall hits its stride are phenomenal. And I loved that Flair didn’t turn the tide himself that led to the leg work/figure four, it was Jumbo going to take him out with the high knee and missing. And man do you feel the struggle and pain in Jumbo during those figure fours. The ending is sad poetry, as Jumbo won’t give up no matter what, has already won the only fall, but because of the rules will not go home with the title. This is fighting spirit right here. Jumbo was just as much the star as Flair was here, probably more. 4 ¾ stars and 9.5/10

Huge Tsuruta chant before the opening bell. Jumbo picks Flair up early and places him on the top turnbuckle, and pretty much wins all the early exchanges, controls the match. Flair never looks bad though.

There’s a lot of good movement and exchanges in the feeling out period, and you can tell Jumbo has grown as a performer. Flair tries to work the arm, so Jumbo turns around and works Flair’s arm. In typical Flair fashion, it becomes clear he can’t win hold for hold with Jumbo. Jumbo grabs a good sleeper (Flair works to make it look even better) and the fans chant his name again. They tease a German suplex, and when Flair gets out he’s motivated to have a chop battle. He ends up eating Jumbo’s big knee off the ropes. Flair is in trouble as we hit the ten minute mark.

Flair goes low to the stomach and then slows the match down with a headlock, subtly pulling on the hair whenever Jumbo managed to stand. Jumbo has some comebacks and they circle each other, reassessing the situation. Both men’s chops and aggression get better as the match goes on. Jumbo hits a double underhook suplex for a near fall. Flair survives a Boston crab. Fifteen minutes gone.

They wheel around for a abdominal stretch and Jumbo catches Flair with the move. Jumbo catches Flair in a really fantastic high crossbody for an effective near fall, and Flair bails to the floor. Flair then suckers in Jumbo and goes to work. Flair’s control segment is fine, but I sense he’s a step off his game, just slightly. Jumbo comes back with dropkicks and a near fall. Brainbuster by Jumbo for a near fall, and Flair is in trouble. Flair teases the figure four, and Jumbo rolls him up. Great dramatic near fall. Twenty minutes in.

Flair stems the tide with a desperate kneebreaker, then goes to work Jumbo’s knees as the fans chant for Tsuruta. Figure four by Flair. Jumbo really sells this before turning it over and letting Flair scream in pain. Back drop by Flair, but he can’t get the pin. Jumbo tries to go to the top rope, but Flair stops him. Flair goes to the top, but you know that story. Great near fall off a Jumbo crossbody from the top. Then Jumbo takes the master to school with a figure four of his own. Really vocal crowd. Twenty five minutes gone.

These guys are both selling the damage and time elapses well. Flair sends Jumbo to the floor to get a rest. Flair suplexes Jumbo back in, near fall, Jumbo kicks out. Flair gets a few near falls, then tries a sleeper. Both guys end up on the ground, but it’s Flair who ends up bumping around for Jumbo when they get up. A running Jumbo high knee sends Flair over the top rope. Jumbo hits Flair with an enziguri, they fight on the floor, and then they beat the ref count in. Good finish tease their that the fans (an I) bought. German suplex from Jumbo, but both men’s shoulders are down for the count. We have a double pin at the 29:11 mark.

The finish could have been slightly cleaner, but it was pretty good. Fans, for whatever reason, didn’t fully buy into it like they did for a lot of other near falls, and man were there some good near falls in this. A good story and progression throughout. This had a more inspired, progressive Jumbo than some of the earlier Jumbo matches. He’d grown and you could see it here, both as a wrestler and as a persona. Good to great Flair match, though at times Flair seemed a little flat (he just looked legit tired to me at moments), but he turned it on in important spots. I really felt the fatigue and struggle by the end of this one. Totally drew me in after the first half, which was solid but not as crisp. This might be my new working #1, but I should probably go back and watch their first match again for comparison. 4 ¼ stars and 8.3/10

This amounts to a mid level Flair/Steamboat dance, even with the NWA title, and I felt like they were on cruise control. Don’t get me wrong, it was still quick and crip and felt so modern. They are so scary good that it’s still a hell of a match, but it’s not anything at the level of their top matches. It’s definitely top half material though, and could go as high as the top 30. 3 ½ stars and 7/10

The great Ric Flair takes the NWA title to Japan for a defense against Jumbo.

“Tsu-ru-ta” chants at the start and they smartly milk the crowd. Jumbo gets the better of Flair right away and Flair bails to the apron. Flair feeds Jumbo and bumps around for him early, and otherwise it’s grinding headlocks from Jumbo that Flair cannot escape. It’s so simple, but the truth is if you grab a headlock at the right times in a match, and you make it look good, it’s the BEST base to work out of for a match as far as eb and flow go. They create movement, running the ropes, shoulder blocks, and Jumbo grabs the headlock again. Ebs and flows, my friends.

Flair takes control at moments, but Jumbo is firing back, cause the crowd noise to build and Flair to beg off. As always, Flair goes to the mid-section to gain control for a few moments, but Jumbo comes back on him every time. Ten minutes gone.

Flair locks in a chin lock and sits down on Jumbo for a minute or two. The crowd gets a little more vocal for Jumbo, but this isn’t the hottest crowd by far. Jumbo no-sells this when he gets up and puts Flair in an Indian Deathlock. Flair sells the hell out of this. Harley Race is at ringside yelling at the ref, pleading Flair’s case, while Jumbo works over Flair’s leg with holds. Jumbo hits the high knee, a suplex, and a flying drop kick to get the clean pin on Flair in 17:30. But that’s just the first fall.

Second fall Jumbo has all the momentum. Flair backs off and stalls, collecting himself. Jumbo gets a near fall pretty quick and Flair is in a panic. Jumbo puts Flair on the ground and traps him in a hold, rolling him into pins and working on Flair’s arm. In desperation, Flair attacks Jumbo’s knee, turning the tide. Great delayed suplex from Flair. He’s strutting a bit while in control. They tease the figure four, Jumbo rolls him up, and then a Flair suplex later Jumbo is riving in a figure four. Jumbo seems to pass out from the pain and Flair is the winner of the second fall in 24:00.

Third fall starts with Jumbo limping around, Flair smelling blood. Flair goes right for the leg, before working over the rest of Jumbo. He’s really arrogant and cocky, “Whooo”-ing and yelling in Jumbo’s face. Jumbo’s face is bloody. He comes back with no selling and the high knee. Flair bumps around, selling for Jumbo’s comeback. Boston crab from Jumbo, but Flair makes the ropes. Bloody Jumbo clamps on an abdominal stretch, and Flair flips Jumbo into the ref. Jumbo gets a visual pin, yet Flair in technical in the ropes. Ref revived, Jumbo gets a two count on Flair. Jumbo misses a running drop kick in the corner, crotches himself, and Flair makes the cover for the pinfall and match in 31 minutes.

I know some have accused the voting base of Flair-ism, and surely that is true. Flair is one of my all time favorites. I’m more likely to be bias to Flair’s matches and stories. That said, Flair tells the best dramatic stories, has great swagger when he’s in control, and sells like all hell when he’s losing. This match had the pacing, ebs and flows, twists and turns, emotional involvement, and nuts and bolts of what I want from a match. That’s why this match and many other Flair matches have done so well on my ballots.

Now all that said, I was in love with this until midway through the third fall. I felt like Jumbo didn’t quite capture the crowd the way he should have when he stopped selling the figure four damage, and then got the visual pin with Flair still in the ropes. The drama and blood were there, and either the crowd didn’t quite bite or Jumbo just wasn’t at the charismatic level he would be. There were times I felt Jumbo didn’t make the best decisions for the match. I wish 1990 Jumbo wrestled this final fall. The match was really good, well worked, and dramatic, but it felt just off, and I can’t place it. Still, towards the top of my ballot for now as I loved Flair’s performance here, and nine-tenths of the match. 4 stars and 7.8/10

Flair has yet another World Title defense against a Von Erich at Texas Stadium.

In a fit of humor (for what is to come) Mark Lawrence puts over the NWA title, saying that you’ve heard of other promotions making world title claims, but the NWA title is the one true title. World Class would pull out of the NWA the next year. Also there is a stip that if Flair get disqualified he loses the NWA World Title.

Kevin wins early with a headlock, Flair growing slowly more aggravated. Great nearfall by Kevin using a roll up after Flair ran the ropes. Good movement, which I’m always a sucker for. Kevin is just outpowering Flair here, with a test of strength leading to Flair needing a rope break. Flair gets chops in, but they do the suplex escape to sleeper spot where Kevin gets Flair in trouble. Flair makes the ropes, and that’s your first five minutes: Little battles where Flair gives in the Kevin’s quickness and power. Everything meant something. Nice slow build.

Kevin gets more aggressive with punches and kicks, and Flair as always goes to the lower abdominals. Flair ends up doing the face first bump, but avoids the Iron Claw off the top rope. No idea why Kevin felt he had to jump for the air to do the claw. Flair uses A LOT of chops, tosses the ref down, then sends Kevin over the top rope (should be a DQ and title change). Kevin catches himself and goes to the top rope, and presses Flair for a nearfall that sends Flair on his heels to the outside.

The next few minutes are Flair on offense taking over, and this begins to look more and more like a classic Flair formula match (in a good way), just not as “clean” because of Kevin’s style, which is fine. Flair strings together moves and then pin attempts. Flair cheats while emplying the abdominal stretch, and Kevin turns it around on him. Little by little Kevin gets his hope spots as they go back and forth, Kevin actually seeming like this force that will have to win the title tonight. Ten minutes gone.

Flair takes over for another stretch of offense. Kevin comes back with punches, Flair does the flip when whipped into the corner, and in one of the best spots I’ve seen Kevin leaps up to the top rope and flying body presses Flair for a nearfall in the second ring (There are two for the stadium show next to each other. See W.C. Diaries Match #85.) The crowd goes ape over it. Now Kevin goes for the Iron claw. Flair catches it, then suplexes Kevin back. Great flow here. Flair sells, then regains control. Flair ends up slapping on the sleeper after some chops to kill the momentum. Kevin fights, finally shooting Flair’s face into the turnbuckle. Flair’s chops are AWESOME in this match. Kevin reverses a suplex. Two count, Flair takes a chop of him own and falls face first, and we get another tease of the Iron Claw from Kevin. Kevin sends Flair to the turnbuckle and he flips over it, falling to the floor.

Kevin is feeling it, so he takes the fight out onto the floor. Flair shortcuts back in, then throws Kevin to the outside. Sunset flip back in for a heated nearfall. Flair, even on offense, is selling the desperation and damage. Funny spot where Flair goes to the top rope, and Kevin doesn’t get there to flip him off, so he jumps down. Kevin beats Flair from one ring back to the original ring, which is a great touch. Flair begs off, but Kevin won’t give ground. Flair gives a low blow, but fails going up to the top (there it is). Iron Claw on Flair, so he takes Kevin to the ground. They move through reversals to the backslide pin, and the place goes crazy knowing this is how Kerry Von Erich won the title from Flair the year before at Texas Stadium. Great nearfall as Flair gets his leg in the ropes. A moment later Kevin clamps on the Iron Claw. Flair can break it, the ref doesn’t insist on it even in the ropes, so Flair flips them both over the top rope to the floor.

The fight rages on the floor once they recover, Kevin hearing the refs 20 count. He tries to get back in the ring, but Flair keeps pulling him off the apron. The ref makes it to twenty and counts both men out. Bummer of a finish to a great 20 minute match. Back in the ring Kevin puts the Iron Claw on Flair after tossing the ref and then shoving overly involved, self-important ref David Manning. Mike and Kerry, Kevin’s brothers, come out to try to get Kevin to release the claw. Finally Fritz gets in the ring and convinces Kevin to let him go.

A really good stadium-appropriate match that lacks very little and gave a lot in terms of story and action. It had the Flair traveling champion formula, complete with a slow build and storytelling moments. Flair can’t out wrestle, power, or quick Kevin, so he goes for the shortcuts. Kevin is a freight train that won’t be stopped. I loved that they utilized both rings (especially for Kevin’s diving body press that resulted in a near fall. Even miscommunications like Flair going to the top and Kevin not remembering and waiting for a Flair dive felt real and new. I’m not sure this was as good as the first Kevin vs Flair match from ’83, but the only thing it lacked was a solid finish. Even then, the post match where the brothers and Fritz came in sort of had me. I liked this match quality-wise a ton more than Kerry title win the year before, so it will be just south of the first Kevin/Flair. 4 ¼ stars and 8.6/10

The rematch from the February ’83 match, with a much more experienced Gordy against the real world’s champion.

“Terry Gordy.” Pause. “Friend…” then “Friend of the small boy.” Another pause. “He knows Bad Street.” This is an actual quote from commentator Bill Mercer. I have no idea what he is talking about. Gordy seems unusually calm or nervous. Flair is Flair, in a silver sequent and pink feather robe. Gordy seems to be the fan favorite in this one. Billy Jack Haynes comes in with valet Sunshine to challenge the winner. Gordy shakes his hand, but Flair refuses. Flair takes the mic to flirt with Sunshine, ask for a kiss. She lets him do it, then slaps him.

Flair starts the match off as the aggressor, only to bump around for Gordy. Gordy’s charisma comes out, and he shines here with his big offense. Flair tries to come back, but Gordy is too strong. Gordy gets a sleeper. Flair has to go to the eyes to break it, but he sells after the break (which I love). He’s on offense when they resume. A lot of chops, as you’d expect. Flair sends Gordy to the floor for a break, then continues to work on him when he’s back in. Flair pulls the hair to take Gordy down, and this ends up firing up Gordy, who stalks Flair to the corner. Gordy boxes Flair, and wins the exchange. Nearfall on Flair. Five minutes gone.

Flair attempts a piledriver, but gets back body dropped. He ends up gaining more control from a front face lock, using some chat tactic with his right hand, then using his feet on the rope for leverage during a pin attempt. Flair hits a piledriver on Gordy, then grabs his leg for a fig four. Gordy gets a flash pin attempt, then a moment later puts Flair in the figure four. Gordy’s comeback includes a big suplex and near falls. After a press slam Gordy puts Flair in the Oriental Spike, then releases it to hammer down punches. Flair is begging off. The finish is a little sloppy at points, as there is miscommunication on the whip to the buckle, and reversal, Gordy’s step off the top turnbuckle doesn’t result in a good fall back, and Flair’s out of position for the leverage of the ropes to look convincing. Flair wins in 14 minutes.

A reasonably good title defense that I think I liked more for Flair and Gordy being the participants than anything in the actual match. It was fine, really good in some parts, but lacked flow in others. The whole finishin g sequence fell flat for me, which is a bummer, because I loved the first two minutes of the match and would gladly switch out a great opening for a killer finish. The finish was a good idea though, the execution was just a bit dicey. I judging this against 1.) Flair matches on the set, and 2.) The Flair/Gordy match from Feb. ’83. I think the body of this match is better than their first match because Gordy is a full on fan favorite and wrestles the match that way. That said, I think it’s a dead heat between the two, but as a Flair defense this was on the lower rung for me. Still, an enjoyable display that will probably lean into the favorable side of the middle on my ballot. 3 ¼ stars and 6.5/10