Match #18 Aug. 24, 1982, World Class Championship Wrestling, Kerry Von Erich vs. Ric Flair, NWA World Heavyweight Championship (2/3 Falls)

As Jim Ross once said, 'you want to talk about controversy', I would say is an appropriate way to describe this encounter. Ric Flair defends the NWA Title against Kerry Von Erich in WCCW. Von Erich is pretty much the 'man' in Texas at this time and these two go to war for the ten pounds of gold.

A pretty back and forth match here as it take about twenty-five minutes to decide the first fall. A ref bump would occur as Von Erich accidentally strikes the referee. A WCCW ref would come down to fill in while the ref was down and Von Erich would get a sleeper hold on Flair. Flair was pretty much out as the ref went to check on him and the bell rings. The original referee had disqualified Von Erich for striking him and crowd goes nuts. They believed that Von Erich should have won the first fall and be up 1-0, but it is Flair who is wins the first fall.


The second fall sees Ric Flair work over Kerry Von Erich's knee. Flair would use every trick he had to try and destroy the knee of Von Erich to snap in the figure-four and try to win this fall. Flair would get the hold, but Von Erich had the where with all to reverse it. Von Erich would gain the advantage by applying the Iron Claw to Flair. Flair would get busted open as a result of the hold and be pinned as well giving fall two to Von Erich.

The third fall would get underway and see both men just laying into each other. Von Erich would get the advantage and just start pummeling Flair. The ref would try to get Von Erich off of Flair but was unable to. As a result, the referee would disqualify both men and making Flair retain the title. Once again the crowd is livid feeling as though Von Erich was screwed out of two falls here. Fritz Von Erich would come down to ringside, Kerry's father, and get into the face of the referee. This would be after Flair and Von Erich would continue brawling after the match was over. Fritz even tried to choke out the ref and fight him as he felt his son had been screwed out of the title as well. A controversial end to a great title match you could definitely say.

My Grade: A+
Great drama and great action here by two of the best.

Match #17 Aug. 18, 1982, Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, Jack Brisco vs. Ric Flair

Ric Flair is in the midst of his first reign as NWA World Champion here as he takes on former champ, Jack Brisco. This was not the intended match, as Flair refused to wrestle his intended opponent, whose name I did not catch, but due to Wahoo McDaniel coming out and forcing Ric to wrestle or else he would fight him there, Flair wrestles Brisco.

Brisco dominates most of the match here, with Flair not being prepared for this match. Flair tries to cheat, but those efforts are thwarted and to no avail. Flair is able to get in the figure-four late in the match, but it is quickly reversed by Brisco. Brisco would try a figure-four of his own, but Flair was able to get out of it quickly. They exchange a series of near falls, but Brisco is able to execute the backslide on Flair for a three count and the victory.

My Grade: B
A solid match here from two hall of famers.

Match #16 Jan. 16, 1982, Bob Backland vs. Greg 'The Hammer' Valentine, WWF Championship (Steel Cage)

World Wrestling Federation Champion, Bob Backland is back with another title defense inside the steel cage. The hard hitting, Greg Valentine is his opponent tonight, but in unfortunately, another clipped match. I would've like to see this match, as Backland has been really good in his title defenses thus far, proving why he held the title for five years. Backland would end up beating a bloodied Valentine after a piledriver to walk out of the cage and retain the WWF Championship.

My Grade: N/A
Not enough footage.