Match #26 Nov. 24, 1983, Starrcade, Harley Race vs. Ric Flair, NWA World Heavyweight Championship (Steel Cage)

I'm probably going to ruffle some feathers here, but even though this is a historical match, in terms of history, I just cannot get into this match. I mean, it's not a bad match, but every time I watch it, I just can't find a way to really enjoy it. I really do not even know why.

You've probably seen numerous highlights of this match, but in case you have not, here is the low down. Race takes the title in controversial fashion, Race then puts a $25,000 bounty on Flair so he will not have to face him again. None of that works and we get this rematch inside a steel cage at Starrcade '83, with Gene Kininski as the special referee.

The match is more of a fight than a wrestling match. They just lay into one another, with both wrestlers getting bloodied. Of course if you've seen this before, you know the finish comes with a crossbody off the top rope by Flair to get the pinfall.

My Grade: C
Just something about this match is off for me.

Match #25 Nov. 24, 1983, Starrcade, Greg Valentine vs. Roddy Piper (Dog Collar Match)

This match is just violent. Even by 1983 standards, it is just plain violent. Valentine and Piper just whip each other, beat each other, and just use that chain senselessly on one another. Both men get bloodied in this match, Valentine at first, and then Piper later, with his ear actually taking the most damage. There is a few wrestling moves thrown into this match here and there, though most of the match is just using the chain as a weapon. Piper would get the win here by basically tying up Valentine with the chain and using the leverage to pin him. Afterwards, Valentine tries to hang Piper, but Piper eventually fights back and fights off Valentine.

My Grade: B
A solid and violent brawl.

Match #24 Nov. 24, 1983, Starrcade, Brisco Bros. vs. Jay Youngblood & Ricky Steamboat, NWA World Tag Team Championships

Starrcade '83 was a revolutionary event for it's time. It is considered to be the first pay per view event and launched the wrestling business towards pay per views. Three matches from Starrcade on on the list, so this is part one, with the NWA Tag Team titles on the line.

This was a rather good match here for tag team wrestling. A good story was told here and you could feel the drama within the match. In the beginning of the match, it's Steamboat and Youngblood gaining the advantage over the veteran Brisco Brothers. The Brisco's would finally cut them off and take advantage of Steamboat and beat on him. Steamboat would get the hot tag from Youngblood, but the Brisco's cut him off as well. Steamboat and Youngblood would gain the advantage again, and with a Steamboat assisted press slam with Youngblood, they would get the pinfall and win the belts.

My Grade: A-
A very enjoyable match for the tag straps.

Match #23 Oct. 17, 1983, Don Muraco vs. Jimmy Snuka, WWF Intercontinental Championship (Steel Cage)

This is the steel cage match I am sure every wrestling fan has seen a clip of. The Intercontinental title is on the line here as Don Muraco defends against 'Superfly' Jimmy Snuka. This is a very short match compared to past cage matches on the list thus far. Both men get busted open before ten minutes have even elapsed in the match. They both brawl throughout the contest until Snuka starts to gain the upper hand.

Snuka hits a cross body that knocks Muraco backwards into the cage and he manages to fall out of the door to retain the title. That doesn't end things in the ring as Snuka comes out and pulls Muraco back into the ring. Snuka hits a suplex on Muraco and then climbs the cage, all the way to the top, and hits the infamous dive off the cage.

My Grade: C-
A mediocre cage match, but the spot at the end is always going to be something shown for years to come.

Match #22 Oct. 1983, WCCW, Fabulous Freebirds vs. Kerry & Kevin Von Erich (Country Whipping Match)

The Fabulous Freebirds of Michael Hayes and Terry Gordy taking on the Von Erich's here in a 'Country Whipping' match. The premise of the match is basically both teams have straps and are able to use them inside the ring. That is pretty much the whole match as both teams just whip each other and there are pretty much no wrestling moves used in this contest.

A brawl, pretty much here until Kevin Von Erich is thrown over the top rope causing a disqualification. Both teams keep brawling until the Von Erich's are able to get the advantage and fight off the Freebirds as they scramble to the back.

My Grade: C
A good match if you're wanting to see a brawl, but other than that, not really a match.

Match #21 Aug. 31, 1983, Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, Harley Race vs. Ric Flair, NWA World Heavyweight Championship

A year after Ric Flair's controversial title win over Kerry Von Erich, Harley Race has won the title also in controversial fashion, and this is the rematch for the ten pounds of gold. This match is more of angle progression due to the finish of the match, but it's a good match here put on by the two, but nothing real special.

Flair had by this time become a babyface after losing the title in shady circumstances, and had the crowd behind him to win back the NWA title. Race had the bounty on Flair as well so he would not have to defend the title against Flair again. These two go back and forth with both men trying to get that slight advantage to get the victory. Flair would almost have the win, having Race in the figure-four, but Bob Orton Jr. and Dick Slater would come out and break it up and try to break Flair's neck. They give him a spiked piledriver as Race looks on in delight. Roddy Piper and Wahoo McDaniel would come out to chase them off and check on Flair.

My Grade: B
A good match, but more used to advance the Flair/Race rivalry.

Match #20 May 23, 1983, Bob Backland vs. Sgt. Slaughter, WWF Championship

Bob Backland is back with his fourth WWF Championship defense on the list against Sgt. Slaughter. The back story to this match, is that Slaughter viciously beat Backland with his riding stick causing this title match.

Backland starts off the match just laying into Slaughter. He throws him into all four corners of the ring, repeatedly. Backland has control for about seven minutes into the match until Slaughter is able to take over. After that the match slows down tremendously and gets sloppy. The fans seem to lose interest as well after being really hot for the first few minutes. The finish would come when Backland would have the crossface chickenwing applied and Slaughter would finally get to the ropes. His manager, The Grand Wizard, would hand him the riding stick and Slaughter would hit Backland in the head with it causing the disqualification. Slaughter would toss the ref out and look to beat Backland again with the stick, but Backland would outsmart Slaughter and get the stick himself. Slaughter would run for the back as the crowd finally comes back for this as Backland tried to get his revenge for the earlier beating.

My Grade: D+
Just not a good match from these two. The drama was there, but they seemed to not capitalize on it.

Match #19 Apr. 12, 1983, Nick Bockwinkel vs. Hulk Hogan, AWA World Heavyweight Championship

'The Incredible' Hulk Hogan takes on AWA Champion, Nick Bockwinkel in another match marred with controversy. A very slow paced match here, as it takes about four minutes just to have a lock up. Hogan pretty much controls the pace of the match, hitting lots of offensive maneuvers that take Bockwinkel down. I would say Hogan is more fluid here in the ring then he would be later on in his career.

Bockwinkel would take back control with a sleeper hold as Hogan has to carry him on his back. Hogan would try to drive Bockwinkel into the corner but the referee would be there as well causing a ref bump. Hogan would dump Bockwinkel over the top rope to get out of the sleeper and wake up the ref. When Bockwinkel would get back into the ring, Hogan would take back control of the match, hitting the leg drop to win the AWA Championship.

Unfortunately, if you look at title histories, you will see that Hulk Hogan did not win the AWA Championship on this date. As a matter of fact, after the match, the AWA President would rule since Hogan dumped Bockwinkel over the top rope, that Hogan would be disqualified, meaning Bockwinkel would retain the title. The fans would be very upset, pelting the ring with garbage. Hogan would then beat up both Bockwinkel and his manager Bobby Heenan and then proclaim that the AWA Championship was the fans title and that he was their champion. A definite precursor to Hulkamania.

My Grade: C+
Not the greatest match, but an interesting finish to say the least.