Posted February 17, 200817 yr comment_5428205 All Japan Classics 68 Dory Funk Jr. vs. Butch Reed (02/20/82 in Florida) - This might be the best match for Bix to point to when he makes the case that Reed was good in Florida. I am on the fence on actually nominating it but it was fine for what it was. Still, nothing really stood out except for the bullshit finish where Reed reverses a piledriver, sending Dory over the top rope for the DQ. Ric Flair vs. Mike Graham (NWA Title in St. Pet, Florida on 02/20/82) - Flair by numbers with a bad opponent. The big thing here is a battle of sleepers early on and Graham working on Flair’s leg throughout the match. Still, this is Graham’s territory and Flair bumps, blade and makes him look like a million dollars. Too bad Graham wasn’t worth it. Ric Flair vs. Harley Race (NWA Title in Atlanta, GA on 02/28/82) (20:39) - Another Flair-Race match I enjoy much more than the Starrcade match. Big bump early on as Race tries a falling headbutt on Flair on the concrete but Flair moves and SPLAT. After that, Flair pounds on the head, rams Race into the ringpost, gives some vicious elbows and punches the cut. To counter, Race stops Flair’s momentum with a headbutt that knocks both guys out. Great sequence! Even with the earlier headbutt damaging him, Race relies on it for the rest of the match punishing Flair. Still, Harley’s selling after every one of them is great. Both guys end up bleeding buckets. The ending is great and shitty at the same time. It is a screwjob double DQ but it worked out great. Flair swings, Harley ducks and he pops the ref. They go outside and Harley tries to grab Flair to ram him intothe ringpost but grabs the ref and rams him instead. Another great sequence. I really have to watch all the Flair-Race matches back-to-back on the set but this is a definite nomination.
