Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat Wrestlewar 7.5.89
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00:00Wrestling fans, the following contest, it is for the World Heavyweight Championship.
00:12It is set for one fall, with a one hour time limit.
00:17Now ladies and gentlemen, in the event of a time limit draw, our three distinguished
00:23judges at ringside will decide the winner.
00:27Now ladies and gentlemen, let me take the opportunity to introduce our judges to you,
00:32as there are no other three individuals better qualified to judge a match of this importance.
00:42Ladies and gentlemen, first originally from St. Louis, he is a six time World Heavyweight
00:48Champion, Lou Hayes.
00:57And ladies and gentlemen, the only man from New Zealand to be crowned the World Heavyweight
01:02Champion, Pat O'Connor.
01:08And ladies and gentlemen, only one time in history have two brothers held the World Heavyweight
01:14Championship.
01:15Ladies and gentlemen, one of those brothers, the distinguished Terry Fung.
01:24And now ladies and gentlemen, the participants.
01:28Introducing first the challenger, from Charlotte, North Carolina, weighing 242 pounds, he is
01:37five time World Heavyweight Champion, Nature Boy, Ric Flair.
01:52And ladies and gentlemen, his opponent, from Hawaii, weighing 237 pounds, he is the World
02:01Heavyweight Champion, Ricky, the Dragon, Steambo.
02:13All right fans, this is what we came to see.
02:18Many say it's Flair's last chance.
02:20I don't know about that, but that's really an academic point.
02:23It's really irrelevant.
02:24The chance is now.
02:25That's right.
02:26It's right now, but I think he does have to do it.
02:29Has Ricky, the Dragon, Steamboat got Ric Flair's number?
02:33Can Ric Flair come back and win that championship for an unprecedented six time?
02:37Jim, I got to believe that Steamboat does have his number.
02:40And in my corner, I think I would have to say at this point, the advantage is to Ric
02:45Steamboat.
02:47Collar and elbow tie up, Flair pushing Steamboat back into the ropes.
02:51Clean break, surprisingly.
02:54Another collar and elbow tie up.
02:58Lightning quick moves there.
02:59Each time that these two have met, they've been monumental matches, there's no doubt
03:04about that.
03:05Just, both of them terrific athletes, both of them great competitors, each one of them
03:10refusing to give an inch, and they've just been fantastic, monumental matches.
03:14This one has got to be the same.
03:17Each man very cautious as they circle each other.
03:21Another collar and elbow tie up.
03:24Side headlock by the Nature Boy.
03:25Dragon shoots him off.
03:26A football tackle by Flair.
03:27High hip flop takeover by the champion.
03:28And a deep arm drag takeover to the arm bar, Flair very quickly sets out away from the
03:38pressure.
03:39Pushes Steamboat back into the corner.
03:40Slap.
03:41Uh-oh.
03:42Oh, it's going to be tip to ten in that corner with that.
03:43I understand the judges are going to keep us abreast of their tally in 15-minute intervals
03:52in this 60-minute time limit event.
03:55In the case, as you heard in the ring announcement, it goes 60 minutes with no falls.
04:01The judges will render the decision.
04:04There's going to be a winner, and I think already you can tell the difference that the
04:07judges are making in this match.
04:09Both of them know that there's going to be a winner.
04:11Somebody's got to come out there and win.
04:13They're going to go all out from the opening bell, and Flair, I think, is wrestling a different
04:16type match just because of that.
04:18It should be a very offensive match, indeed, with the judging system as it is.
04:23Flair on the outside.
04:25Referee Tommy Young calling for the break.
04:28Flair downstairs with a cheap shot.
04:30Ooh.
04:31Boy, can he jump.
04:32Oh, hell.
04:35Man, that just sends chills up your spine.
04:38Wow.
04:39Another big chop.
04:41Flair likes to punish his opponents.
04:44Right hand, straight right, right to the jaw.
04:47The dragon who retaliates.
04:49Flair downstairs.
04:50Steamboat upstairs.
04:52You can hear the flash smacking.
04:54This is indeed the NWA.
04:57Ooh, what a chop.
04:59Steamboat misses with that shot.
05:02But not that one.
05:05Flair to the corner in the Irish whip.
05:08He's elevated up the clock.
05:11And neither man giving an inch, and Flair falls right out on his back.
05:16Both of them possessing unbelievable stamina to take those chops, deliver them, and to
05:21keep coming back.
05:24Flair falling right on his back.
05:27Flair falling right on his back out here at ringside.
05:30You know, if Flair has any weakness, it might be his back.
05:34The cause of the airplane crash he was in in the mid-1970s, as the judges look on.
05:40The severity of that injury is a, it's a mark in his favor to even come back and compete.
05:47Remarkable recovery on his part there, Jim.
05:49Not many athletes can come back and compete at the caliber and the class that he has to
05:54go on to be the champion and to be champion for so many times.
05:56Talking about that, I might mention right here, Jim, something that the fans may not
05:59be aware of.
06:00This man, Rick Steamboat, only man to ever make Rick Flair submit.
06:04That's exactly right, with the double-armed chicken wing.
06:07That was April 2nd in New Orleans in the magnificent Superdome.
06:12All right, Flair back in the ring now.
06:15And again, both men are somewhat cautious, and I can understand that.
06:20Side headlock.
06:21Steamboat trying to turn away from the pressure.
06:24Reverse the, reverse into an overhand wrist lock, it would seem.
06:29Steamboat and Flair both in magnificent condition.
06:32Both men rely tremendously on cardiovascular conditioning.
06:36Overhand wrist lock, test of strength.
06:38The determination etched across the faces of both men.
06:42Talking about conditioning, I talked to Flair earlier, and he said that he had taken this
06:46match very serious, that he had undertaken for him an extremely demanding training regimen.
06:51He says he's in the best condition of his life.
06:54Steamboat with the advantage there, taking Flair off his feet.
06:58Arm bar, applied by the Dragon.
07:00Drops a knee right into the shoulder.
07:03Does it one more time, and Steamboat punishing the champion, or the challenger.
07:08Five times champion.
07:10You know, we've seen Flair for the bulk of, since I have known him, as the world's
07:15champion for so long, and without that championship belt, it was certainly strange.
07:19Steamboat, though, has carried the belt even to a great level, with a great deal of
07:23esteem and class and professionalism, as he drops the elbow on the arm of Rick Flair.
07:28And Steamboat now, working on the arm of Flair.
07:31Jim, I've been trying to do like the judges.
07:33I've been keeping a little scorecard of my own over here, trying to break it out
07:37in three, and I'm going to try to keep three and five minute segments if I can,
07:40to see who has the most offense, who seems to be punishing the other one more so far.
07:45Who?
07:46It's been Steamboat.
07:48Great tackle and a deep arm drag takeover.
07:50I don't think anybody executes an arm drag any better than the dragon.
07:53He gets so deep with it, and now you look, utilizing the leverage,
07:57as he works on the arm bar.
07:59Look at the position of Flair's elbows in the very painful, painful position,
08:04as he rolls away from the pressure once again.
08:11Steamboat with the hammerlock on the challenger.
08:15Tommy Young, five times NWA Referee of the Year.
08:21Signed this all-important contest.
08:24Nice reversal.
08:26Dropped toehold by Flair.
08:28Steamboat reverses, goes behind Flair, comes back with a hammerlock.
08:32Steamboat, I think more than any other wrestler in professional wrestling,
08:36he just seems to match up better with Flair, Jim.
08:40He knows him very well.
08:42You see him, Steamboat? Yeah, there it is.
08:44I was gonna say, looks like he's trying to get him in a half-Nelson position.
08:47That's exactly what he's got him in.
08:49Trying to turn Flair on Flair's back.
08:52If it was amateur wrestling, it'd be over right now, but it's not.
08:54This is the NWA, where we wrestle.
08:56And it takes a three-count.
09:00Flair reversing up.
09:02Steamboat back into the arm bar.
09:06Pulls on the arm.
09:08Big shot by Flair.
09:10Oh, he got it all that time.
09:13Man, you can hear the flesh just...
09:15It's just so physical.
09:17You can hear the intensity.
09:19It rings all the way around the arena.
09:21That's how hard it blows off.
09:23What a move.
09:25Nice move by Steamboat going between Flair's legs.
09:27Double-leg pick-up back into the hammerlock.
09:29Almost in a chicken-wing-type position.
09:31Steamboat really has the arm in a painful position for Flair.
09:36And Steamboat over Flair.
09:40Got that leverage advantage.
09:43I don't think you'll ever see any more two evenly-matched great athletes like this
09:47going at each other tooth and nail.
09:49They can do it.
09:51They do it every time they meet.
09:53This is the way they go at each other.
09:55The stamina that they both possess
09:57and the conditioning that they're in.
09:59It's almost to the point of being unbelievable.
10:01Great athlete.
10:03Flair grabbing a handful of hair.
10:05And Steamboat in the corner right above us here.
10:08Referee calling for the break.
10:10Steamboat will give you a clean break.
10:14Is Flair going to let him?
10:16That's debatable.
10:18Flair with a big forearm.
10:20Right to Steamboat's head.
10:22That was a cheap shot.
10:24And Flair with another one.
10:26New move in the corner for Flair
10:28that we haven't seen him utilize in quite some time.
10:30And another big forearm.
10:32That's the third one.
10:34The look on Ricky Steamboat's face
10:36will tell the story.
10:38You better believe with the experience
10:40that this man right here has
10:42when he sees an opening,
10:44he's going to take it.
10:46Those chops are as physical
10:48as any singular weapon in the sport.
10:50And Steamboat retaliates.
10:52Flair with a straight right hand.
10:54Steamboat almost down.
10:56Flair right to the downstairs
10:58in the abdomen.
11:00That's the third one.
11:02A little bit of punching.
11:04Boy, he's working upstairs and downstairs.
11:06He's flailing away at him.
11:08Really with power blows.
11:13Good chops.
11:15And Flair is in trouble here.
11:17The challenger falling face first
11:19on the canvas.
11:21And Steamboat right back
11:23to that arm bar.
11:25And remember, the arm bar
11:27can lead right into the chicken wing.
11:29You work on the shoulders,
11:31as the judges.
11:33There you see Luthez
11:35jotting down some notes.
11:37But from the arm bar,
11:39it's a natural progression.
11:41A hammerlock, the arm bar,
11:43whatever it may be, Bob,
11:45to go right into the chicken wing.
11:47And I think that Ric Flair
11:49has got to be very fearful of that
11:51because he knows what Steamboat
11:53can do with it.
11:55If Steamboat gets that chicken wing
11:57on him, a double chicken wing,
11:59as he is the expert,
12:01the foremost authority with a figure-four leg lock,
12:03thus far he has
12:05not had that opportunity.
12:07Steamboat holds on
12:09to the hammerlock.
12:11Working on Flair's arm and shoulder.
12:13Flair's got Steamboat up in an airplane spin position.
12:15What's he gonna do with him?
12:17Flair takes him, sets him
12:19on the top turnbuckle.
12:21And will
12:23unpredictable
12:25Flair here
12:27very cautiously moves away.
12:29He's covering up.
12:31He wanted to get out of there.
12:33Steamboat saw it coming. Big chop by Steamboat.
12:35Flying mare
12:37is a challenger out. Nails him with a
12:39dropkick all the way over.
12:41And Natureboy
12:43was dropkicked
12:45all the way outside the ring.
12:47Steamboat now
12:49ascending to the top rope.
12:51Referee's
12:53over got hold of him, trying to hold
12:55Steamboat and pull him back down.
12:57It's Flair now, very groggy,
12:59on his knees, down out of the ring.
13:03The challenger
13:05has not been able to
13:07mount the offense that he likes
13:09to do, Bob.
13:11Steamboat just pulls
13:13the referee away.
13:15Steamboat has controlled this match from
13:17the last several moments.
13:19I haven't been keeping any kind of
13:21tab on this thing, but I would
13:23guess that right now Steamboat's gotta be
13:25ahead on points. I've been keeping one over here
13:27and every way I look at it,
13:29Steamboat so far, in my opinion,
13:31is ahead, Jim. There's no doubt in my
13:33mind about that. He's taken the action
13:35to the challenger. He stayed on top of him.
13:37I think, really at this point, he's delivered
13:39the harder blows. And right now
13:41I think it's Flair that's gotta dig down
13:43and he's gotta get it and come back.
13:45Flair catching Steamboat
13:47coming in.
13:49Straight kicks to the abdomen.
13:52And now back Steamboat
13:54to the ropes. Nice reversal by the Dragon.
13:56Oh, and a deep arm drag takeover!
13:58And he's gone right back to work on the arm.
14:00And I did not have
14:02the opportunity to talk to the Dragon before
14:04we went on the air. But you gotta think
14:06that you're gonna
14:08not deviate from what
14:10brought you to the dance, so to speak. And the double
14:12chicken wing worked in New Orleans. It'll
14:14work in Nashville. And
14:16Steamboat is using, I think,
14:18basically a setup
14:20for the chicken wing, Bob, by working on the arm
14:22of Ric Flair. He works on the arm
14:24and the shoulder. And that's a very important
14:26point. Both points of
14:28pressure being applied.
14:30The elbow and the shoulder
14:32on Flair. And Flair
14:34now sends Steamboat for the ride. Big football
14:36tackle by the Dragon.
14:38He shows great agility. Oh, and a high
14:40hip hop takeover
14:42by the man originally from Minneapolis,
14:44Minnesota, now living in Charlotte, North
14:46Carolina. Never
14:48sell this man short, Jim. He's done
14:50it so many times.
14:52When he looks like he's on the edge, he comes back
14:54and comes back strong.
14:56Somewhat deliberate. He missed with the elbow.
14:58But Steamboat
15:00again getting deep
15:02in with the arm drag,
15:04taking Flair over.
15:06Great strategy applied
15:08here by the Dragon, as he
15:10has kept Flair off balance
15:12and also
15:14working on the arm.
15:16Flair definitely. He's had that arm. He's got that arm
15:18weakened. It looks like that's going to be his plan
15:20throughout the match to stay with that point
15:22and work on it. And if he gets one arm
15:24weakened, gets him in a position with that chicken wing
15:26you know. And you
15:28gotta believe and you gotta think what this
15:30means to each one of these men.
15:32This is a championship match. It's all
15:34on the line. And they're gonna
15:36give it 110%. You know that.
15:40And we have our first
15:4215 minutes.
15:46Of our judging
15:48referee Byron Scott bringing their
15:50scorecards over.
15:52And Bob,
15:54just as you said,
15:56Paddle Potter, Lou Fez
15:58and Terry Funk. All
16:00unanimous. Ricky Dragon
16:02Steamboat. Alright, Steamboat
16:04according to the judges at this point
16:06fans, is ahead. He's ahead
16:08on points. And that could be very
16:10important as the match continues and we get
16:12further into it.
16:14So the first 15 minutes of scorecard
16:16all for
16:18Steamboat unanimously.
16:20And right now though, Flair perhaps
16:22changing
16:24the tide. Changing
16:26the momentum.
16:28Excuse me Jim
16:30but this man has been in so many great matches
16:32he's gotta know. He's gotta believe
16:34that the tide is so far favoring
16:36Steamboat and that he's gotta turn it loose.
16:38Steamboat fighting
16:40back though. The champion of the world
16:42showing what he's made of.
16:44And they are sacrificing
16:46their bodies for the richest prize
16:48in the sport.
16:50Football tackle by Flair
16:52did not go to the ropes.
16:54Throw Steamboat outside
16:56but Steamboat jumps right back in the ring.
16:58And Steamboat
17:00showing phenomenal concentration
17:02and tenacity
17:04with those chops right on the head
17:06of the Nature Boy on the far
17:08side of the ring from us.
17:12He's determined he's gonna carry it
17:14to the Nature Boy
17:16and he's done it since the opening bell
17:18and he's not gonna be denied.
17:20Flair upside down
17:22and his leg caught in the
17:24top turnbuckle.
17:26Steamboat now taking advantage
17:28of the situation.
17:30Flair may have stretched a knee ligament there
17:32hanging upside down for the moment.
17:38Football tackle by Steamboat
17:40and Flair catches him all the way over
17:44and a judgment call by Tommy Young
17:46saying that it was not deliberate.
17:50That was momentum he's telling us Bob
17:52and I think it was a good call.
17:54It was momentum and he did not sling him over the ropes
17:56so the match is gonna continue now.
17:58There's your champion and he's groggy down on his hands
18:00and knees out of the ring.
18:02These athletes do not
18:04know the results of the scoring
18:06of the judges
18:08but it seemingly
18:10is as if Flair
18:12heard us say
18:14he was behind on points
18:16and now he's really turning it on
18:18and that big right kick
18:20as the judges observed the situation
18:22Flair and Steamboat now on the outside of the ring
18:24Big chop by Flair
18:26he's got Steamboat all the way over
18:28to the front row of ringside
18:30and now Flair's grabbing a chair
18:32one of these heavy
18:34folding chairs
18:36Referee Tommy Young
18:38getting the chair away from the challenger
18:40what a chop
18:42It just cut him a flip right over
18:44that metal fencing around the ring
18:46he's got him set for another one
18:48he's gonna knock him back to the crown again
18:50Steamboat
18:52nailed by Flair the elbow right into
18:54the throat of the Nature Boy
18:56and Flair very quickly re-enters
18:58the ring
19:00dragging out there with the fans in the first row of ringside
19:02Jim Ross and Bob Cottle
19:04coming to you
19:06for Turner Home Entertainment
19:08we're broadcasting live from Nashville, Tennessee
19:10from the Municipal Auditorium
19:12this is Wrestle War 89
19:14and Steamboat
19:16is waiting on Flair
19:18they're exchanging those chops
19:20ooh gosh
19:22and now the Dragon has the advantage
19:24knocking Flair down
19:26here they come right around us
19:28Flair comes back into the ring
19:30the quicker
19:32and the Dragon up on top
19:34and the challenger is down
19:36and perhaps the momentum is changing
19:38once again
19:40just when it looked like it had moved to the corner
19:42of the challenger
19:44Nature Boy Rick Flair
19:46it looks like it turns again
19:48he went upside down into the corner
19:50came down the apron
19:52and was nailed with a thunderous
19:54judo chop
19:56and the challenger is in deep jeopardy here
19:58the Dragon sensing
20:00that he has Flair weakened
20:02a snapmare
20:04taking the challenger over
20:06back into the arm bar
20:08he is relentless in his attack
20:10it is sound strategy
20:12well thought out by the Dragon
20:14he's gonna stay with that arm if possible
20:16and I'm sure that he's got chicken wing
20:18double chicken wing in the back of his mind here
20:20and the Nature Boy I think
20:22realizing, and who knows
20:24it may have been his plan all along
20:26at the beginning of the match, the first portion of it
20:28that he was gonna try to save a little back
20:30then it looked like he turned it loose
20:32now all of that may have backfired on him
20:34Steamboat with his shinbone right on the
20:36bicep and tricep area of the Nature Boy
20:40great responsibility
20:42for the three judges
20:44I'm glad it's them and not me
20:46I don't think you can come up with three greater people to do that
20:48who know more about wrestling than him
20:50Steamboat on! He went for the high wrist
20:53player dropped down
20:55Steamboat ricocheted
20:57off the top rope
20:59all the way face first to the
21:01to the floor here
21:05and Steamboat
21:07was going for the high cross body press
21:11and he just ricocheted five off the top rope
21:13nothing between him and the mat
21:15but imagination
21:17what a blow he took as he landed
21:19and now again a tight about the neck
21:21as it can very quickly
21:23when you got two great competitors like this
21:25going at it Jim I was thinking
21:27we've seen a lot of matches
21:29I don't think you'll ever see a greater match
21:31than what's in progress right now
21:33Flair brings Steamboat back in
21:35and now the Nature Boy
21:39going for a six
21:41world championship
21:43and uh
21:45another man that has held it six times
21:47as that ringside as a judge
21:49the legendary Luth is
21:52Steamboat
21:54brought out to the middle of the ring
21:56dropped right on the back of his head
21:58and is back by Flair
22:00Steamboat ooh quickly
22:02watch Steamboat get up
22:04man he's taking everything
22:06Flair can dish out
22:08than it is physical fans
22:10and the dragon will continue to fight
22:12until there is no breath left in his body
22:14you'll never see greater determination
22:16than he's showing now
22:18he has brought tremendous class
22:20and character
22:22for the heavyweight championship
22:24of the world indeed
22:26and he and Flair exchanging thunderous
22:28blows once again
22:30as the fans beginning to talk
22:32the Nature Boy
22:34who always has something to say to them
22:38Flair with that
22:40belly to back suplex
22:42Steamboat up on his shoulder
22:44and oh that's how far it was
22:46that's how far it was
22:48we're looking six inches
22:5440 minutes to go the time limit
22:58what a pace these men have set for this match
23:00and Flair trying to hold
23:02Steamboat's shoulders down
23:04you see Steamboat's right shoulder
23:06Flair needs to extend
23:08his hand down to Steamboat's wrist
23:10perhaps to hold it down
23:12he knows that was not going to work
23:14another offensive move
23:16he's going to back off
23:18and he's going to do something else here
23:20that may be wise I think he should
23:22knee drop right to the head
23:24one of the most vicious maneuvers in this sport
23:29are you looking now
23:31at the man that's going to be world champion
23:33for the sixth time
23:35well not if Ricky Steamboat has anything
23:37to say about it
23:40Flair had a handful of hair there for just a moment
23:42good officiating there by Tommy Young
23:44that great officiating all night
23:46should I say all day
23:48today here at WrestleWar 89
23:50Flair
23:52double arm suplex
23:54nailed him with it
23:56he's on top now the legs great
23:58by one two
24:00again about the fourth or fifth time
24:02he's been just that close
24:04boy you got to hand it to Flair
24:06never never have I seen him in better shape
24:08and condition than he's in for this match
24:10it's true he has trained that hard for it
24:13Flair drops the elbow
24:15on the dragon
24:17lateral press but Steamboat
24:19you saw Flair did not quite get the pinning predicament
24:23as executed as he wanted
24:25he's conversing with Tommy Young regarding the count
24:27I thought the count was just fine
24:29another chop
24:31and these guys are just beating the hide off each other
24:33Flair misses with a chop there
24:35the dragon
24:37caught him
24:39he had him Flair
24:41dropped Steamboat over the top rope
24:43broke first
24:45Steamboat is out
24:47he's under the rope there
24:49and the ropes may have saved the championship
24:51for the dragon
24:59Bob at this point in time in the match
25:01with this much time gone by
25:03as referee Byron Scott gets the next
25:05version from the judges
25:07the few oh what a chop
25:09it's so important
25:13and we got to
25:15get to the results of the judges decisions
25:17thus far in just a moment
25:19Flair's got Steamboat here on the outside
25:21he's got him up
25:23he suplexes him
25:25right out here on the floor
25:27Flair has just suplexed
25:29the champion on the floor
25:34Terry Fox voted for Flair
25:36because of the near fall
25:38O'Connor's got Flair
25:42and Theus has gone with Steamboat
25:44so we had
25:46the first round of voting was unanimous
25:48for Steamboat this time it's a split
25:50decision for Flair
25:52we have had 4 votes for Steamboat
25:54thus far and 2 for Flair
25:56if you're keeping score
25:58so the dragon theoretically
26:00and technically more specifically
26:02at this point in time is ahead
26:04our next judging
26:06could certainly change though Bob
26:08because right now it's all nature boy
26:10Ric Flair as we say fans
26:12evidently has really trained hard for this
26:14in great condition and he's been coming on
26:16strong in the last minutes of the match
26:18Steamboat up and over
26:20great move by the dragon
26:221, 2
26:24and the strength of Flair kicks out
26:26Steamboat and Flair both up very quickly
26:28it's Steamboat with the chops
26:30persisting Flair to the center of the ropes
26:33Steamboat misses with a chop
26:35Flair nails him
26:37they both went over the top
26:39and both men
26:41laying virtually motionless
26:43on the mat here
26:45right outside the ring
26:47they could both be seriously hurt here
26:49that was a long fall the way they both
26:51went out of that ring
26:53well I tell you now
26:55if there's a count out right here
26:57we will still go to the judges decision
26:59and right now it's Steamboat 4-2
27:01Flair
27:03trying to get back in the ring
27:05no he's going to come back out
27:07and throw Steamboat in
27:11the nature boy
27:13trying to shake it loose here
27:15works his way around
27:17comes up the steps
27:21yes indeed
27:23he is in great condition
27:25Flair goes up to the top
27:27and the dragon knows this man
27:29the back of his hand
27:31almost like he was sensing
27:33that Flair was going to go to the top
27:35and he brings him up
27:37right off the top
27:39what a move by the dragon
27:41so now
27:43the momentum again has turned
27:45it is Ricky the dragon
27:47Steamboat the oppressor
27:49it is Steamboat on the offense
27:51and you can say right there again
27:53that Flair should have quickly got into the ring
27:55he was a little slow
27:57Steamboat now opening up on the challenger
27:59and those karate chops right to the head
28:01each man has
28:03taken the best that the other can dish out
28:05Flair set for the ride
28:07high elevation
28:09down on his back
28:11comes the nature boy
28:13and the dragon perhaps sensing
28:15that the end is near
28:17for the challenger
28:19Flair backs into the corner
28:21he wants Steamboat to slow it down
28:23oh I caught
28:25Steamboat coming in
28:27Flair, Steamboat goes over
28:29Flair was going for the suplex
28:31nice cradle move by Steamboat
28:33and we got two and a half again
28:37karate chop by Steamboat
28:39Flair just poking him in the eye
28:41front face locking him
28:43and it's Steamboat though
28:45Steamboat sets Flair up
28:49big chop
28:51Flair setting up straddle in the top turnbuckle
28:53it could be the superplex
28:55coming here
28:57if it is I think he can count Flair out of it
29:01a superplex
29:03Flair
29:05is this Achilles heel
29:07his back
29:09if it is he is a beaten man right here
29:11Steamboat up very quickly
29:15look at the pain etched on Flair's face
29:17and here it comes
29:19it's a double chicken wing Jim
29:21he's got his feet in the ropes
29:23he did not get set in
29:25we knew he was preparing for it earlier in the match
29:27but Flair got to the ropes
29:31Flair's head rammed into the top turnbuckle
29:33Steamboat now
29:35perhaps preparing to fly
29:37the dragon
29:39on the top rope
29:41it's a long way to go
29:45Steamboat comes off the top
29:49and the dragon has things
29:51going his way
29:53Flair is in deep trouble
29:55Steamboat once again
29:57will ascend to the top
29:59here comes Steamboat
30:01and oh
30:03Flair jerked the ropes
30:05I think inadvertently and Steamboat fell
30:07all the way from the top rope
30:09to the floor
30:11Steamboat fell
30:13from the top rope to the floor
30:15Flair was out of it
30:17he grabbed the ropes
30:19that shook the top rope
30:21and Steamboat
30:23I've never seen anybody fall from the top like that
30:25and his leg buckled underneath him
30:27as he hid out here
30:29Steamboat again
30:31if we're counted out
30:33we go back to the judges decision
30:35and right now one has to think
30:37perhaps
30:39right now technically
30:41because of our last tally
30:43it's still Steamboat 4-2
30:45Steamboat really hurt that leg
30:47see him limping
30:49he's not putting any weight down on that leg at all
30:51as he gets up on the apron of the ring
30:53he's got to try to walk it off
30:55and shake it off if possible
30:57but we don't know what he's done
30:59and he may not be able to do it
31:01but Flair's going to work on it
31:03of course he's going to work on it
31:05of course he is
31:07the master of the figure 4
31:09and now Flair
31:11I'll tell you something else
31:13Steamboat up the vertical suplex
31:15and he drops it
31:17it's a fact that's going to obviously
31:19hamper Steamboat's mobility
31:21and that's one of his great weapons
31:23his agility and mobility
31:25and as Steamboat holds that left knee
31:27the judges
31:29very very astutely are observing
31:31this contest
31:33this is another thing that knee may do
31:35it may set him up for that figure 4
31:37and could he stand the pain of that figure 4
31:39on that knee that's already injured
31:41I never would have dreamed that Flair
31:43would have ever submitted in a match
31:45it's not beyond the realm of comprehension
31:47to think that Steamboat
31:49here it comes
31:51the crowd is standing
31:53they know exactly what this means
31:55Flair is a master of this maneuver
31:57he has won the world title
31:59with this maneuver
32:01on more than one occasion
32:03and now perhaps Bob as Steamboat
32:05is perfectly positioned
32:07in the center of the ring
32:09it's only a matter of time
32:11until we see a new champion of the world
32:13and with that injured leg
32:15can he turn it
32:17does he have the strength in that leg
32:19to turn it on Flair
32:21as Flair has got it locked in
32:23and this man can put pressure on you
32:25like nobody else in that figure 4
32:27man the pain has got to be
32:29just riveting through Steamboat's body
32:31his shoulders on the mat
32:33and we had two and a half there
32:35Steamboat's either got to turn Flair over
32:37or he's got to get to the ropes
32:39it's that simple
32:4330 minutes gone by
32:4530 minutes left in the time limit
32:47and they've been at this
32:49they've been at it tooth and nail
32:51it's been 30 minutes of non-stop action
32:53all the way
32:55boy you've got to have two men
32:57in outstanding physical condition to do that
32:59I want to tell you something Bob
33:01when fans tune in and they see a championship match
33:03and they hear 30 minutes gone by
33:06they know it's the NWA
33:08they're not out here posing
33:10they're not out here to rock and roll music
33:12these are two great conditioned athletes
33:14for the richest prize in this sport
33:16and they are putting it all
33:18on the line
33:20and Flair, he says he's the dirtiest player in the game
33:22he's going to try to dissect
33:24the leg of the dragon right here
33:26and what a chop
33:28and you can hear that one down
33:30Printers Alley
33:32not too far from the building here in Nashville
33:34now Steamboat knows exactly
33:36what Flair's going to do with that leg
33:38and he's trying to protect it at every opportunity
33:40but there's no way he can continue to fight
33:42and do that
33:44Steamboat fights back
33:46what a heart the champion has
33:48what character
33:50ooh what a chop by
33:52Steamboat and a karate kick
33:54perhaps it was out of desperation
33:56but what a move by the champion
33:58whose left leg is virtually useless
34:00in the ring
34:02Steamboat's got him up
34:04a slam
34:06but Flair inside
34:08he's got it
34:10Steamboat's leg buckled
34:12and Flair has done it
34:14Ladies and gentlemen
34:16the winner
34:18and for the 6th time
34:20world heavyweight champion
34:22meet your boy
34:24Rick Flair
34:32Steamboat
34:48Something you don't see very often
34:50fans
34:52two great competitors like this
34:54out in the center of the ring
34:56both with tremendous respect for each other
34:58as you saw the champion
35:00Ricky the Dragon Steamboat
35:02shake the hand and hold the hand
35:04of Rick Flair High
35:06and my colleague Jim Ross in the ring
35:08Ladies and gentlemen
35:10we have seen
35:12history in the making
35:14here this afternoon
35:16in Nashville
35:18for the 6th time
35:20I want to present ladies and gentlemen
35:22number 6
35:24the heavyweight champion of the world
35:26Nature Boy Rick Flair
35:30I think
35:32also
35:34we have to give credit
35:36where credit is due
35:38Ricky the Dragon Steamboat and Rick Flair
35:40both competed in one of the
35:42greatest matches that any of us
35:44I think have ever witnessed
35:48Champ congratulations
35:50Thank you very much
35:52not in character for Rick Flair
35:54but Rick Steamboat
35:56is the greatest champion
35:58I've ever faced
36:00and I'm proud to be here for the 6th time
36:02Hey Rick
36:04I want to be the first
36:06to congratulate you
36:08on being the new world's
36:10champion. Terry thank you very much
36:12we do appreciate the judges being here
36:14Hey Rick I also want
36:16to say that if it would have gone
36:1860 minutes that I would have liked to
36:20I would have voted for Rick Flair
36:22because I think that you're
36:24the greatest wrestler
36:26in the world today
36:28very nice thank you very much Terry
36:30thank you very much
36:32you know Champ
36:34it went past 35-40 minutes
36:36it was nip and tuck both
36:38you know I would also like to go ahead
36:40and I'd also like to go ahead
36:42and be the first one
36:44to challenge
36:46Rick Flair to that new championship
36:52Terry I'm honored
36:54I don't know what you'd like to get in the picture
36:56but as the wrestling fans know
36:58you've been a Hollywood Sylvester Stallone
37:00while I've been being the world champion
37:02and we got a top 10
37:04we got a top 10 that the world champion
37:06is obligated to wrestle
37:08and that's why
37:10we are number 1
37:12wait a minute
37:14are you
37:16really saying that
37:18I'm not a contender
37:20no what I'm saying Terry
37:22is that you are a great wrestler
37:24but right now you're rubbing shoulders
37:26with Sylvester Stallone and not the world champion
37:28no no no no I was just asking
37:30you think that
37:32I'm not good enough
37:34you're saying that I'm not good enough aren't you Rick
37:36I'm not saying that at all Terry
37:38if you want me to look you in the eye
37:40and tell you that I got a problem
37:42with wrestling a guy that's been out in Hollywood
37:44for 5 years it's the bottom line
37:46but I'm looking at the top 10
37:48and you're not in the top 10
37:50no Rick Rick Rick
37:52let me conclude this by saying
37:54thank you I'm honored everybody
37:56win, lose or draw Rick Flair
37:58Rick please
38:00please let me just say one more thing
38:02I was just kidding you
38:04about going ahead and
38:06wanting to challenge you
38:08I didn't want to really challenge you
38:10I was just kidding you so
38:12Ed Gummett let's go ahead
38:16yeah thanks guys
38:20come on
38:30Terry Funk
38:32attacking Nature Boy Rick Flair
38:34this is totally untoward
38:36he's taking him outside the rail
38:40Terry Funk is a man
38:42enraged
38:44hammering Flair on the outside
38:46out there in the front row
38:48the power of ringside
38:50Flair in his moment of glory
38:52winning the championship for the first time
38:56I cannot believe what we're witnessing here
39:00I cannot believe
39:02what we are witnessing here
39:04as Terry Funk smacks
39:06Gummett after the champion had already
39:08wrestled a match and had already won
39:10he's attacked like this
39:12a stinking time by Funk
39:14he just slammed his face first
39:16into the table that the judges
39:18were using
39:20Flair has just wrestled almost 40 minutes
39:22he's fatigued
39:24and look at Funk slap him in the face
39:26this was Flair's moment
39:28oh my god
39:30he's not going to pound around him
39:32on the table
39:34he's got him up
39:36oh god
39:38Flair
39:40his neck just jammed
39:42out of his spine
39:44Funk
39:46Terry Funk has gone crazy
39:48Funk has gone crazy
39:54he's piledriving right on the table
39:56he's turning the table over on him
40:00Ric Flair's got to be seriously injured here
40:06oh, he hit him right in the neck
40:08and the head of that chair
40:11Funk has gone
40:13past the line
40:15he has gone crazy
40:17I can't believe
40:19what I'm seeing
40:21I cannot believe this
40:25he has gone nuts
40:27Ric Flair is seriously injured
40:29this is ridiculous
40:33get in
40:35get in Funk
40:38oh my god
40:40he said that I wasn't good enough
40:42I better get injured
40:44look at him
40:46look at the horse tooth
40:48banana nose jerk