Posted February 16, 201411 yr comment_5588244 "Nature Boy" Ric Flair vs. Pat O'Connor (5/10/81) Now this is a cool fucking matchup. O'Connor strutting like Flair at the start of the match was great. The early part of this was really good as O'Connor was schooling Flair on the mat and had Flair very frustrated. Flair would catch Pat flush with a back elbow and chopped him twice very hard to give him his first shot at some offensive momentum. I loved Mickey Garagiola talking about Pat's grip being great especially on his wallet. Flair & O'Connor would both tumble over the top rope to the floor after both men were grappling for the advantage and Flair would wrap Pat's left leg around the ringpost a few times before going for the figure-four but Pat would cradle him for a nearfall. Pat then just started punching the shit out of Flair opening up an old wound and Flair become a bloody mess which added a ton to this match. Pat would grab a sleeper with Flair taking them both over the top rope to the floor again where Pat would lock it on again carrying the bloody Flair around before Flair ran him backwards into the ringpost. Flair then decided to put the figure-four on Pat on the floor while the referee counted with Flair breaking the hold then coming back in to win by countout. Flair then cuts a fun bloody promo afterwards. This was a blast to watch and I think it's a fairly solid nomination.
