National Heavyweight Title: Terry Taylor © vs. “Dr. Death” Steve Williams (11/24/85)

 

Terry is on his way back to Mid-South and makes probably the only defense of this title in the area and he would go on to lose the title 4 days later at Starrcade 85. No love lost between these two men so this should be a fun match. Some really good matwork early in the match with both men looking sharp until Doc starts laying the shots in at the 5 minute mark. Doc doing the suicide drill headbutting Taylor in the chest was awesome. The match had a cool finish as Doc tried for the Oklahoma Stampede but Taylor rolled over when he hit the mat and got the 3 count. This was a really good technical match and a maybe nomination from me.

 

Hacksaw Duggan vs. Buzz Sawyer (11/24/85)

 

This is JIP about 5 minutes into the match and that sucks because these two have some really solid matches against each other. This one had double juice and looked great ending in a double countout in a wild brawl that kept on going after the bell. I think that we need to throw this on as an extra.

 

Butch Reed vs. Dick Slater (11/24/85)

 

Once again another fucking JIP match that looked really good.

 

NWA World Heavyweight Title: “Nature Boy” Ric Flair © vs. Jake “The Snake” Roberts (11/24/85)

 

This is from the Myriad in OKC. What a great start to this match with Flair berating Jake on his ring attire and Jake just grabs him and plants him with a DDT with the crowd going apeshit. Flair sells it like he died and they treat it like he is unable to continue as Carl Fergie keeps Jake off him while Flair rolls to the floor. Flair gathers himself and tells Fergie that he is out of here and walks away. Fergie gets on the mic and tells Flair that he must come back and wrestle or he will be stripped of his title. Jake then rallies the crowd with a DDT chant and the bell is rung with the fans counting but Flair walks back to the ring whining at Fergie then climbs back in. The crowd is completely bonkers as Jake starts firing punches at Flair but Flair keeps the pace at his level no matter what. Jake works on Flair’s neck during the early part of the match as it was already weakened with the DDT earlier. Flair would soon turn the tide though with a punch to the balls and started his offensive attack with a fucking double foot stomp, which he hardly ever used. Flair then used the sleeper to weaken Jake down but Jake would soon regroup and would put Flair in his own figure-four leglock that Flair would use the ropes to get out of. Jake would soon hit his high kneelift for a nearfall and started going to work on Flair’s right leg with Flair begging off but Flair would cradle Jake with help from the ropes for a couple of nearfalls with Jake getting his shoulder up. Jake then started pounding on Flair but Flair picked him up and dropped him on his left knee. Flair then tried to drop on Jake’s leg while draped on the bottom rope but Jake moved and Flair hit ass first on the mat, which he sold like death. Flair regrouped and started chopping Jake but Jake was getting his shit together and started firing his quick left jabs before locking in his own sleeper that Flair would get out of using a backdrop suplex. Flair climbed up top but of course Jake would press slam him off and followed with another high kneelift but missed with the second one. Jake then reversed a Flair figure-four attempt into an inside cradle but Flair rolled over into one of his one for the 3 count. Butch Reed comes down protesting after the match saying that Flair used Jake’s apants and pounds on Flair before he ducks out. Tremendous match with Flair once again getting a clean win and a definite nomination.

 

Dick Slater vs. Hacksaw Duggan (12/31/85)

 

Big time grudge match in OKC and Duggan has his girlfriend/future wife in his corner to offset Dark Journey. Going into this match I expected great punches by Duggan and great selling/bumping/stooging by Slater and did I get it, yes I did. Man did this crowd hate Dark Journey as anytime she tried to cheer on Slater she would get booed. Slater was great in this as he could sell a beating like few others. DJ tried to give Slater some brass knux and there was catfight as this was happening with Duggan’s GF and DJ which led to Duggan getting the knux and using it on Slater to win the match. Or so it seemed as the referee found the knux and declared Slater the winner by DQ with the OKC crowd getting pissed off. Fine match but there were better between these two.

 

Terry Taylor vs. Rob Rechsteiner (12/31/85)

 

Rechsteiner is a green rookie but shows the potential and Taylor is the kind of guy that made him look good. Taylor gets the win with the five-arm.

NWA World Heavyweight Title: “Nature Boy” Ric Flair © vs. Jake “The Snake” Roberts (11/24/85)

 

This was totally spectacular. I loved the start with Jake getting the DDT before the bell and all of the Flair stalling. Then you get totally vicious Flair when he takes over, nasty punches, Garvin match level stiff chops, a fucking double stomp. Then all the really great counter wrestling, Flair taking insane bumps on the knee lifts, Jakes crazy missed knee lift bump. This will be the second highest Flair match on my ballot behind Flair v. Reed no DQ. Slam dunk, Will you are nuts.