Posted February 29, 200817 yr comment_5428816 Harley Race vs. Ric Flair (5/22/84) - Another awesome Flair-Race matchup. I think this might do better on the All Japan set due to it not being compared to a couple of the NWA nominations. A lot of great back and forth action here as each man takes advantage of the other’s arrogance. This is the theme of the match when the other guy grabs control. You see it when Race goes to the top rope only to have Flair throw him off in a nice display of poetic justice. You see it when Flair tries to overpower Race only for Race to pick him up for a huge press slam. It was there when Race was posing while Fair ran the ropes and successfully executed the rare body press. Then, only seconds later, setting up the Figure-4, it was more important for Flair to shout out his “Wooo”, allowing Race to kick him off sending Flair’s shoulder into the ringpost. This allowed Race to hit that diving headbutt off the top rope onto the shoulder for the pin. Great stuff and a slam dunk nomination. (AJC 108)
February 29, 200817 yr comment_5428853 I'm assuming this isn't the Race v Flair match from AJ classics that starts with the two exchanging piledrivers.
March 1, 200817 yr Author comment_5428865 I haven't rewatched this match but I want to make a reference to the piledriver. I always thought of the piledriver as a finisher and crippling move that put people out. However, when watching all of these classics, it really isn't worked that way. If you want to say it is bad wrestling, that is your perogative but I have seen nearly all of the big guns (Lawler, Terry Funk, Jumbo, Race, Slater, Gordy) all use the piledriver as a move no more damaging than a swinging neckbreaker or belly to back suplex. Maybe we should view the piledriver as something more dangerous but it really isn't the way it was.
April 11, 201015 yr comment_5449325 I loved the plot of each guy taking advantage of the other's cocky inattention. I don't have much to add to Will's comments. I was surprised that Harley won so cleanly, but Ric had just dropped the belt to Kerry so I guess the time was right. Anyway, this should go on the set.
July 2, 201015 yr comment_5452650 Harley Race vs. "Nature Boy" Ric Flair (5/22/84) This is an odd version of this matchup as neither are the NWA World Heavyweight Champion so that makes this one different in the way it is worked. I love Joe Higuchi's ode to the 1970's Oakland A's in his ref attire wearing the yellow shirt and green pants combo. Flair was doing his Whoo's here and the fans were giving it back to him which was always fun in Japan. This was just great back and forth action with both men having great chemistry against each other of course and playing off each other very well. Harley is all about the headbutt here and it makes me want a Harley vs. Fujiwara match with an epic headbutt battle. This was a hot crowd that was popping for all the nearfalls and was really into Flair period. The end sequence with Flair getting ran into the ringpost followed up by the diving headbutt was great stuff. This is an easy nomination.
