Kevin Von Erich vs Ric Flair - 5/5/1985 (NWA Title)

 

The near fall from KVE's Flying body press was tight. It was a super believeable. The double ring set up gave us some neat spots. Kevin's dive from ring to ring was another super nearfall. Kevin's chops were cool. That backslide was another great nearfall, and since 84 in Texas has been over as a finish. The finish was flat though. Overall, this was good stuff. Flair called a good match mixing in Kevin's brawling and high flying. I wish we could have mixed in Kevin's mat wrestling though. We even get Flair prostituting himself post match. This gets a nomination from me.

NWA World Heavyweight Title: "Nature Boy" Ric Flair © vs. Kevin Von Erich (5/5/85)

 

Kevin got Flair early with a sleeper forcing Flair to act desperate and tried to throw Kevin over the top rope for the DQ but Kevin stuck on the apron and hit a flying cross body block for a nearfall forcing Flair to go to the floor to regroup. Flair would get the advantage but would never hold it long as Kevin would fight back fairly quickly after Flair would get control. Kevin would send Flair flying over to the second ring and followed with another flying cross body block but it took Rick Hazzard time to get there so Flair kicked out at 2. Kevin continued to work over Flair both inside and outside of the rings countering almost everything he tried while trying to get the iron claw. Kevin would get the backslide that Kerry used to win the title a year eariler but Flair got his foot on the rope for 2 before finally getting the claw. The battle would go to the floor where Flair would keep Kevin out there for the double countout. Flair would then get his ass kicked after the match of course. This was a damn solid match and a fairly easy nomination.

Kevin Von Erich vs. Ric Flair - 5/5/1985 (NWA Title) WCCW Digest: 5/85 - 7/85

- Feeling out process to begin with and Flair gets flustered early and goes outside to regroup. With the big time atmosphere, it really feels like an important match. Kevin works the sleeper for a loooong time. I don’t mind working the sleeper or headlock but they have to mix it up. It is this type of match where Kevin Von Erich is a breath of fresh air. They can incorporate the Flair formula spots but Kevin just attacks him with reckless abandon. Admittedly, some of the spots look sloppy including Kevin’s weird flying body press that looked like a Thesz press from the top rope. Flair turns the tide with an inverted atomic drop and starts going through his offense before the two battle over the abdominal stretch. AT this point in the match, both guys battle back and forth. Nice spot as Kevin tries to attach the claw but Flair position him and hits the back suplex. Eventually, they move to the 2nd ring and everything in the 2nd ring was on the money including Kevin finally getting the claw on and Flair escaping when both men tumble to the ring. I have the volume low so I assume that they got counted out, Kevin is pissed he didn’t get the belt so he throws out the ref and hooks on the claw anyway. 1st half was flair by the numbers with some awkward shit. 2nd half was on fire. Still, this should be on the set.

This was more of your classic Flair formula match than their 4/1/83 bout was, but there ain't nothing wrong with a great Flair formula match, and this was a great one with a big match feel. Both guys weren't afraid to lay into one another, which will always score points with me. This moves forward.