No DQ Match for the NWA World Heavyweight Title: Ric Flair © vs. Butch Reed (8/10/85)

 

This one is going 50+ so a long feeling out process is expected here and delivers as the first 15 minutes of this match is nothing but Reed wrenching on Flair’s head with headlocks and Flair trying to rollover for nearfalls. Reed gets tired of that shit and starts using the soupbones to take care of business and the match truly gets started with Flair selling the soupbones like he is getting shot. Flair eventually has enough and rolls to the floor to gather himself before going back into the ring for a greco-roman knuckle lock that Flair sells like his hands are going to fall off. Reed soon enough goes back to working on Flair’s neck with the headlock then a front chancery at the 20 minute mark. Flair tries to suplex Reed to get out of the front chancery but Reed just rolls over back into it as there are actually some boos heard from the fans. Flair breaks out at the 25 minute mark and starts chopping Reed taking him down but misses a knee and Reed immediately goes to the figure-four with Flair trying to throw the referee down in the process. Flair tries to break the hold by grabbing the ropes but there is no DQ so of course the referee starts counting and then remembers that he can’t do that. Flair finally gets free but Reed goes to the floor and wraps his leg around the ringpost. Reed works on the leg some more before Flair throws him through the ropes to the floor but Reed comes back on the apron and Flair tries to suplex him but Reed counters into an O’Connor Roll for a nearfall. Reed gives Flair the big press slam at the 30 minute mark for another nearfall. Reed is going wild on Flair here choking him around the neck before Flair gets a cradle on Reed with his foot on the ropes for a nearfall until the referee pulls him off. Reed recovers and goes back to work with the soupbones but Flair keeps on fighting through it. Reed gets Flair on the mat and starts choking him again this time with the bottom ringrope but once again Flair keeps fighting through it and even tries a piledriver but Reed backdrops him over the top rope to the floor at the 35 minute mark. Reed goes to the floor and slams Flair neckfirst on the security railing before rolling back into the ring. They get back in the ring where Reed just keeps delivering the soupbones but Flair still fights through it before being sent over the top rope again with a soupbone.

 

Reed suplexes Flair from the apron to the ring for another nearfall but Flair gets back up and crotches Reed over the top rope with an atomic drop giving Flair his first real advantage in the match nearly 40 minutes in. Flair chops on Reed for a bit before going to work on the leg using the usual Flair offense at the 50 minute mark with the figure-four coming soon thereafter. Reed reverses it not long after the execution pissing off Flair who starts punching Reed in the head before going back to the figure-four but Reed counters with an inside cradle for another nearfall. Flair throws Reed over the top rope but Reed is the one that throws him into the ringpost. Flair is now busted open and Reed goes to work on the cut by grinding his head into the turnbuckle. Reed throws the bones again and throws Flair to the corner with Flair doing the Flair bump to the floor. Flair gets on the apron and tries a sunset flip but Reed just punches him in the head to break that. Reed hits a bulldog headlock at the 56 minute mark for a nearfall and follows with a swinging neckbreaker for yet another. Reed goes back to work on the cut before putting Flair in a sleeper hold at the 57 minute mark but Flair throws Reed in the ropes where he hits the referee knocking him to the floor and Flair chunks Reed over the top rope at the 58 minute mark. Reed gets back in the ring on the top rope and hits his diving shoulderblock for a nearfall before going into the Flair chain of moves leading into a backslide for yet another nearfall at the 59 minute mark. Reed hits a sunset flip for another nearfall and Flair goes up to the top rope where he gets a press slam with 30 seconds left. Reed gives Flair another press slam as time runs out to a chorus of boos from the crowd. It was great listening to them give the time over the loud speaker and adding 10 extra minutes to the match around the 40 minute mark. The true length of this match was like 51 minutes or something. This was a great match and both men really worked their ass off here but the only thing that urked me about this match was Flair only had about 5 minutes of offense if even that much in a 51 minute match. Definite DVD pick for sure though.

This was a pretty great match. Flair took this bump off a punch or a clothesline over the ropes and then hit his throat on the guard rail. Plus it fit in the story of the work done by Reed on Flair's neck. I wish Flair got some more offense in. Overall, a great match that deserves a nomination.

I have to disagree with you in Flair getting more offense in. His offense wasn't really his strong suit. What I loved about Flair overall was that he would take on these big muscle heads like Luger, Nikita, Butch Reed, Magnum, etc. and just outsmart them and win by cheating or by capitalizing off of their mistakes. It had nothing to do with his offense. I this match in particular, Flair didn't win but he survived with belt intact. THAT is what Flair is... the champion regarless of the circumstances.

This goes on for sure.

Yes. No doubt.

This is one of those no brainer matches, I was loving all of the headlocks at the beginning and the all of Flairs counters at the begining. Flair didn't have a ton of offense, but man did he come off looking tough as he eats a huge asskicking. I also loved them being too tired to work their counters cleanly in the last couple of minutes. I don't think this is as good as the super long Reed v. Murdoch but this makes a set.