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00:00Let's go now, ladies and gentlemen, to Gary Capeta and the introductions of the main event.
00:09For wrestling fans, the following contest, it is for the World Heavyweight Championship.
00:16It is set for the best two of three falls with a one-hour time limit.
00:23Introducing first the challenger to my left, from Charlotte, North Carolina, weighing 245 pounds,
00:33he has held the World Heavyweight Championship on five different occasions,
00:39Nature Boy, Ric Flair!
00:44And ladies and gentlemen, the champion, from Hawaii, weighing 238 pounds,
00:56he is the World Heavyweight Champion, Ricky the Dragon Steamboat!
01:04Well, ladies and gentlemen, we're back here at ringside, and I'm very honored and privileged to have a man
01:12that I've admired for quite some time, the man, the first NWA world champion to defend his title here at the Superdome.
01:20I want to welcome Terry Funk to our broadcast, and Terry, this is a long way from West Texas.
01:26This is a long way from, I remember officiating one of your championship matches years ago, but we do appreciate you to be here.
01:32Well, it's a pleasure being here, and to be here for a match like this, with this kind of importance to it,
01:38I wouldn't be anywhere else in the world, because this is the premier wrestling championship, the NWA World's Heavyweight Championship.
01:46Lou Fez was here today, all of the greats from the past, Gene Koniski, Buddy Rogers,
01:52and now we're seeing the two finest wrestlers in the country today, out there right now, Steamboat and Flair.
01:57All right, Fez, the collar-and-elbow tie-up, and Steamboat pushes Flair back into the ring.
02:03Steamboat will not be intimidated by the Nature Boy.
02:07And I want to add that my colleague, who we have not seen a great deal of here, we hope to be seeing more of him,
02:15is not retired from active competition, so I know that, boy, you're in great shape.
02:21Well, whenever you see a slap like that by Steamboat there, it makes you wonder if you should retire or not, Ross.
02:28Flair and Steamboat sizing each other up.
02:32Two out of three falls is this World's Heavyweight Championship event.
02:36Sixty-minute time limit.
02:39Two out of three falls is an important determining factor there.
02:42Flair, if he can catch that first fall, you know that he will no longer be the contender.
02:46He will be the champion once again.
02:48I know that, Mr. Ross.
02:49In theory, you're exactly right. There's no doubt.
02:51Flair behind Steamboat, trying to ride him. Steamboat steps out.
02:54Flair steps out.
02:55Goes behind.
02:57Exchanging amateur moves here.
02:59Flair reaches for the ropes and gets to the corner, where Tommy Young will call for the break and...
03:05Oh, yeah!
03:07Flair puts Steamboat back, and Steamboat popped him.
03:10Just retire me now, if you're watching that one.
03:15You know, I mentioned that if Flair defeats Steamboat today,
03:19he'll become a six-time champion, Terry,
03:21and he will tie Luthez, who is here, as the six-time champion.
03:26Hardy Race is here, watching on with all the other dignitaries.
03:30Race a seven-times champion.
03:32So, Flair has really put himself in fast company through his efforts over the years,
03:37and this is going to be a great test.
03:39He feels like the title is still his.
03:41Yes, he does.
03:42And, you know, he's got to carry the fight to Steamboat at the start of this match.
03:45He really does.
03:46He has to establish himself early.
03:50Overhand wrist lock by Nature Boy, Ric Flair.
03:53Steamboat trying to turn away from the pressure, but Flair not allowing him to do that.
03:57And Flair using a nice wrestling move right in the back of the leg to take him down, Terry.
04:03Nice move to gain the advantage right there.
04:05Overhead wrist lock.
04:06You can see Flair is trying to get that left arm working,
04:11and he wants to work on it and continue working on it.
04:14If I was in that ring right now, that's what I would try to do.
04:17I'd try to establish a weak point.
04:19I think that's what Ric Flair is doing right now.
04:21Select a body part and continue to attempt to work on it.
04:24I know that was one of your great forte's.
04:28Flair trying to maintain his position,
04:31but Steamboat has got a little underneath there, got some leverage,
04:35and Flair about to go down.
04:37Steamboat with the advantage, but Flair very quickly goes to the ropes,
04:42which will necessitate a break.
04:50Flair challenging Steamboat.
04:52He was.
04:53He was challenging.
04:54He was just trying to intimidate him.
04:55Now he's trying to intimidate Flair.
04:57He might have grabbed that hair.
04:58I couldn't see the other side like that.
05:00Not a good eye from this position.
05:02Both these guys, Terry, are in phenomenal condition.
05:05I don't know any other athletes competing for a major championship
05:09that are in better condition than Ric Flair
05:11and Ricky the Dragon Steamboat on April 2nd.
05:14Well, they realize the importance of the match.
05:16There couldn't be a better match.
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10:17He's trying to take my hand
10:18so yes it's my hand.
10:21Elbow right to the ribs.
10:28Oooh.
10:29Another one right back.
10:31And retaliation by the champion.
10:34Tremendous chops by both men.
10:42Steamboat sends him for the ride.
10:44and high elevation.
10:46Beautiful backdrop by Steamboat there.
10:49Steamboat needs to get on him right now.
10:51He needs to be more aggressive, Jim.
10:55Nice drop kick by Steamboat, lateral press.
10:57He's got the leg, grapevine,
10:58and Tommy Young with a near fall.
11:01He was coming down for number three there.
11:03He was.
11:09Blair trying to stop the momentum here.
11:12This may be a mistake by Steamboat.
11:14What do you think?
11:15That's exactly what it is.
11:15He's trying to stop the momentum right now.
11:18And that's exactly what he's doing.
11:20He's succeeding.
11:21And what he set out to do.
11:23He has succeeded.
11:25Blair back up to his feet.
11:38Blair is really doing the right thing here.
11:40He's calling Steamboat in to him.
11:44Nice move by Ric Flair right there.
11:47That was a legal kick that time.
11:49Doubled Steamboat right over, Jim.
11:54Now that was a fist, Jim Ross.
11:56Sure was.
11:57That was a close fist.
11:59Straight right hand.
11:59Fans, we realize that our television championship
12:02and our United States Heavyweight Championship matches,
12:07they will be in standby situations.
12:11There you go.
12:12That was a hit.
12:13One, two.
12:16That's a close line by Steamboat.
12:19Man, this is non-stop action.
12:21High headlock takes him over.
12:28This is about the third time
12:29that he's come within a half a count
12:30of pinning Flair with a headlock.
12:32And who would have thought that?
12:33I can't understand it.
12:34Blair better watch that count.
12:38Steamboat's got the side headlock.
12:40Look at those legs.
12:41He's got his legs spread for great leverage.
12:44Great distribution of his weight there
12:46down on Flair's neck and shoulders.
12:49Driving back into that front face lock.
12:52A lot of fans don't realize
12:53that's one of the most painful holes in wrestling.
12:57Watch this now.
12:58Steamboat will probably, probably,
13:00whenever he gets him more down a little bit more,
13:02he'll chicken wing him
13:04and try to take him over to his back.
13:06Start getting that pinning count.
13:09The fans are chanting right now.
13:13Front face lock and they lock this Steamboat.
13:15Steamboat drops a knee.
13:17He's methodical.
13:18He's picked out a body part.
13:19Seem to be on his neck.
13:21Waking up here in the Super Bowl.
13:25Certainly an honor to be with the former champions,
13:27including my colleague, Terry Funk, his brother,
13:31and so many of the others
13:32mentioned and talked about last night.
13:36Drop by Steamboat on Flair.
13:38Flair's in big trouble.
13:42He's pushing him back.
13:44Flair's got Moxie.
13:46Boy, he's with his men.
13:47Oh, look at him.
13:48Whoa.
13:50Steamboat in there for a pin again.
13:54Close lateral press got him a two count.
13:57And Steamboat down on both knees,
13:58just looking Flair in the eye for a moment.
14:00Comes right back to a side headlock.
14:02This has got to take Flair off balance.
14:04Steamboat's known for his aerial tactics off the top rope.
14:07Coming in with his headlock.
14:09Inverted atomic drop.
14:12That'll send you to the chiropractor in a hurry.
14:14You better hear it.
14:15Double Steamboat right over.
14:21Takes away the momentum.
14:26Right up to this point, Jim,
14:28I'm going to have to give my nod to Ricky Flair.
14:30I'm going to have to give my nod to Ricky Steamboat.
14:33I think he's dominated this match.
14:35Caught Flair with another big chop.
14:37There's a two count.
14:42Back into that headlock, Jim.
14:44He's hanging on to it.
14:48Nice tackle.
14:49Cover, he's in there again.
14:51Got that Lake Grapevine.
14:53Not quite long enough though.
14:54Another tackle.
14:56One, two, and almost.
14:58He's coming at him again.
14:59He's got the momentum now on his side.
15:01He sends Flair for the ride and a big double chop.
15:03One, two, and kicked out again, near fall.
15:09Fans, as we mentioned, due to our commercial commitments,
15:13the Television Championship and the United States
15:17Heavyweight Championship,
15:18of course featuring Sting and Lex Luger respectively,
15:23will be standby matches.
15:24And if we have time,
15:26we will certainly bring those to you.
15:28However, obviously this match is the utmost
15:30and the most important.
15:32It's the most important match in wrestling today
15:34or any other time.
15:35In wrestling.
15:37I'm glad you mentioned that, Jim,
15:38because that's exactly what it is.
15:39The most important match in wrestling
15:42for the most important title,
15:44the NWA World Championship.
15:47And you people out there, don't forget it.
15:51Also, fans, I do want to remind our television viewers
15:54Also, fans, I do want to remind our television audience
15:57that if time permitting,
15:59we are not able to bring those two matches to you,
16:02we will be bringing them to you in the very near future,
16:06perhaps as early as this weekend
16:08on World Championship Wrestling.
16:10So we knew that you wanted to see this match.
16:13Forgive us, it's due in 60 minutes.
16:16They had to have their time limit.
16:17They had to have the opportunity.
16:19And if we do not have time next Saturday
16:22at 7.05 Eastern time,
16:24we will bring you Lex Luger's match with Jack Victory
16:26for the U.S. title
16:28and the Stingers' first television title defense as well.
16:31Well, I'll tune in at 7.05.
16:35Big shot by a player, put Steamboat on his backside.
16:40This one has been real physical.
16:42I thought, I didn't know it would,
16:44I thought it would maybe in the second fall
16:46before it really broke loose.
16:48But it is, I mean, a very physical situation already.
16:52Very, very physical.
16:53I don't think that they can keep this pace up
16:55for a real long time.
16:56Oh, oh.
17:03Bad gummit, Jim.
17:05Big right hand.
17:06Cobble, bob, chops.
17:08Whoa, another one.
17:11Steamboat's on the rope again, the rope, two down.
17:14Referee, that was great officiating there by Tommy Young.
17:16He got in the best position he could to see it,
17:19but he had to leave the ring to do it.
17:20Great officiating there.
17:22And Flair now out on the ring apron.
17:25Can you feel those chops?
17:27You've been in the ring with this guy.
17:28Can you feel those hitting you?
17:31I know exactly how they feel.
17:33Believe me, they'll believe it.
17:35Five or six of those, it'll take it right out of you.
17:37You wonder why in the world you decided
17:40to get into the ring, to become a professional wrestler.
17:44High vertical suplex followed by a big splash,
17:47but Flair pulled the knees up.
17:49Desperation move by Flair,
17:51and a very smart one at that time, Jim Ross.
17:54Both men are down.
17:56Let's see if Flair can come up
17:57and take some advantage of the situation.
18:01Flair's coming to his feet first, Jim Ross.
18:04Steamboat's pulling up by the ropes.
18:06Both of them are back to their feet.
18:08Flair goes in, another chop.
18:12I mean, the people here are in awe
18:13of the physical nature of this event.
18:16We certainly appreciate you being with us here
18:18Superstation TVS, just both feet right into the stomach.
18:24Steamboat, remember, came down on Flair's knees.
18:27That started the downslide for Steamboat,
18:29and now the momentum has swung back
18:32into the favor of the challenger.
18:36That sounds so funny saying challenger Rick Flair.
18:40It just doesn't sound right to me, Jim.
18:44He's been such a great champion for so many years,
18:47and Steamboat has been such a great challenger,
18:50and now the thing is totally switched.
18:53Flair is the challenger and Steamboat the champion.
18:56Double arm suplex into the lateral press.
18:58Flair's got the leg grapevine,
19:00trying to hold Steamboat down.
19:01Steamboat's left shoulder keeps coming up.
19:03Flair's having a hard time keeping it on the canvas.
19:09He's got great technique, does Flair.
19:11Now, another pinning predicament,
19:14almost an amateur-like move.
19:16Almost like a three-quarters house in there.
19:19Very close to it.
19:21You know, I just absolutely love wrestling of this caliber.
19:25Now, this is professional wrestling right here
19:29at its greatest.
19:30This is the best that you can see.
19:33This is the National Wrestling Alliance,
19:35and as the legends of the game look on,
19:38two modern-day legends are competing
19:41for all they've got for the richest prize in this sport,
19:44and Flair is doing all he can to hold Steamboat down.
19:48He has just been unable to do that.
19:50The champion is so resilient,
19:53just refusing to be pinned.
19:56Determination and attitude, Jim.
19:58That's what that is, determination and attitude.
20:02It's amazing what you can withstand
20:05when your body really gets hot,
20:06your mind starts going, your heart starts pumping,
20:10and your desire enters into the thing.
20:14Of accomplishing something
20:16that you've always wanted to do.
20:18You're right, Terry.
20:19Nice kip-up by Ricky the Dragon Steamboat.
20:24Test of strength here,
20:25and as Terry Funk mentioned, fans,
20:27both these men are very, very even,
20:30very comparable in regarding strength.
20:32It's gonna be a game of leverage and opportunity.
20:36Gosh, look at this exchange-up.
20:39What, what can you say except ouch?
20:42Is that right or no?
20:45Flair, brought out of the corner by Steamboat.
20:48Missed the drop kick.
20:50First big mistake that Steamboat has made in this contest.
20:54Now we'll see if Flair can capitalize on it.
20:57Looks like he's gonna-
20:58There's a great hold right there in the spinning toe.
21:00Small package, but who can?
21:03Flair's got him on his back.
21:05That's it, that's it.
21:07Flair reversed the inside cradle.
21:11Ladies and gentlemen,
21:12in 19 minutes and 33 seconds,
21:15the winner of the first fall,
21:18Nature Boy,
21:19Bill Flair.
21:24Fans, we will be back with the second fall
21:28of the Heavyweight Championship of the World in 60 seconds.
21:34Well, we're back, Jim Ross and Terry Funk,
21:36here at ringside in the Superdome in New Orleans,
21:38coming to you live.
21:40This is the second fall
21:41of the Heavyweight Championship of the World,
21:43and the challenger, the Nature Boy,
21:46has won the first fall,
21:47and that has got to change the strategy immensely.
21:50We talked a lot about that, Terry, earlier.
21:52That's right, you know, I watched between falls, too,
21:55where Ricky Steamboat was a bit disgusted with himself.
21:58He was kicking the bottom rope.
22:00He can't let that happen, Jim.
22:02He can't get disgusted with himself at this point.
22:04He's got to keep his mind clear,
22:07not forget what he came to do,
22:09is to retain that NWA Championship,
22:13and he's got to be aggressive now.
22:15When you beat one of my fellow Oklahomans,
22:17Jack Briscoe, for the world's title,
22:19did you do it in two out of three falls,
22:20or was it one fall?
22:22It was a one-fall match.
22:23But you have wrestled him, many of the,
22:25all the top challengers,
22:27on a two-out-of-three-fall situation
22:28as many times as a champion.
22:30Yes, I have, Jim.
22:31I've wrestled as a champion in two-out-of-three,
22:33one-hour time limit matches,
22:34and the thing that you've got to remember there
22:36is an hour is a long time.
22:38You somewhat try to pace yourself,
22:41try to take advantage of mistakes,
22:42but these guys are going so fast and so hard,
22:45there is no pacing.
22:47It's just very, very physical.
22:49Steamboat up on the top rope.
22:51He's going to try to even it up right here
22:53as quickly as he can.
22:55Big chop right on the head.
22:56Steamboat has got Blair, and I thought he had him.
22:59I thought he had him, and we had two and a half there.
23:02Steamboat starting out very quickly,
23:04and as Terry Funk so adeptly mentioned,
23:07Steamboat was very frustrated
23:09during the one-minute break that we had,
23:11and starting out very aggressively here,
23:14left front facelock.
23:15He's got plenty of time.
23:17He has to remember that.
23:19Don't get too aggressive.
23:20You push yourself too hard, and you'll make a mistake,
23:23and it might seem too straight for your foot.
23:26Beautiful back suplex by Ric Flair.
23:28Certainly was great counter-wrestling
23:30by the five-times champion of the world.
23:33I'm sure that all of the ladies that are here,
23:36I know my colleague here is enjoying this.
23:39This is the best seat in the house, isn't it?
23:41But your brother, Sam Munchnick, also,
23:44and Lutez, Buddy Rogers, Pat O'Connor,
23:47Big Thunder, Gene Kandinsky,
23:48everybody's having a great time,
23:50and this is the kind of match that made the NWA what it is.
23:54This match reminds me of the great matches
23:57with Dory Funk Jr. against Jack Briscoe,
24:00the matches like Lutez against Pat O'Connor,
24:04Pat O'Connor against Buddy Rogers.
24:06These were classic matches,
24:08and this match right here is that same caliber match.
24:13He went to the well, and it was dry, as they say.
24:17Flair punishing that knee,
24:19and Steamboat going right to work now on the other leg,
24:23dropping the elbows in there.
24:25Relentless effort.
24:27Man, he's dropped six or eight elbows right to the knee
24:30and to the thigh muscle.
24:32Take.
24:39I wanna say this is gonna lessen Flair's mobility.
24:42It'd be a drastic understatement.
24:43He may not even be able to stand.
24:51He just won't stop.
24:52He just keeps on going and going and going,
24:55working on that knee.
24:58Figure four, he's gonna use Flair's own hold
25:00and hooked him with his own hold.
25:04He's got him hooked in the figure four.
25:08He has this one set and set good.
25:11Jim, it's gonna be a fall right here.
25:15He's too far from the ropes.
25:16He's in the center of the ring.
25:18He can't withstand that pain for a long time.
25:20Flair better remember, he's one up.
25:23He loses one, they're just even.
25:26Flair's shoulders are down.
25:27He's in a great deal of pain.
25:28He's gonna knock him back on his back.
25:33The Kluck brothers were legendary with a spinning toe.
25:36But this puts a little different pressure.
25:38I've been told it puts pressure
25:40on five different points of the legs.
25:43I've never had it applied to me,
25:44so I don't really wanna know that badly,
25:46but I'd like to take your word for it.
25:47Well, I don't know if I want to show it to you either.
25:51Flair, Rick Regis for the ropes.
25:54That's his salvation right there, Terry.
25:56I'll tell you something.
25:58He's hurting right now.
26:00I can hear it right now.
26:01He sure can, that's a big turning point in this match.
26:04Brings him down very gingerly.
26:07And Steamboat trying to go again with a figure four.
26:10Now it turns him over to Boston Crab.
26:13Nice, nice move on Steamboat's part there.
26:17Flair thought he was gonna kick him off,
26:18but Steamboat grabbed both those legs
26:20and bursted into a Boston Crab,
26:22putting the pressure back on those legs again, Terry.
26:24I've often wondered since Flair's time
26:26was about 10 years ago or so,
26:28if his back may not be one of his weak links
26:30because he did suffer a broken back in that airplane crash.
26:34I wonder, I don't know that conclusively, obviously,
26:36but this whole strong back or weak back is deadly, deadly.
26:41Strong or weak back.
26:49Flair seems to be trying to get to those ropes again
26:52and wisely so.
26:53He's got his head out from underneath those ropes.
26:55That referee should call him.
26:57Sounds good, he's underneath the ropes.
26:59He's calling for it.
27:00Oh, God!
27:02Oh, oh, oh!
27:04The challenger, with one fall to his credit,
27:09is in tremendous pain here.
27:14If Flair was smart, he would roll up on that floor,
27:17take that 15, 18 count,
27:19come on back in the ring and do it again.
27:22He made his middle, his middle capabilities
27:26may be really limited right now.
27:29That pain's gonna be shooting through his body.
27:31Steamboat comes back in with a vengeance.
27:34The heavyweight champion of the world, down one fall.
27:39In this two out of three fall event,
27:41if you just joined us,
27:42we are coming to you live from the Superdome.
27:45This is the class of champion six,
27:47with Jim Ross and Terry Funk at ringside.
27:50Think, Steamboat, think.
27:52How did you get to where you are now?
27:54Go back to that leg.
27:55You understand that, Jim?
27:57Go back to that leg.
27:58He needs to think late.
28:00Very good point.
28:01Flair trying to fight back.
28:03That chop has been a tremendous weapon for him
28:05as he shoves Steamboat down to one of the knees.
28:09Upstairs and downstairs, there.
28:13They have no regard for their own bodies
28:15and even less for their opponents.
28:20Steamboat trying to reverse that up with a head scissor.
28:22Well, you know, if I was gonna be a millionaire overnight,
28:25I guess I wouldn't have too much concern
28:26for my body either, Jim.
28:30Flair's got him in a fitting predicament.
28:32I think he got a point there.
28:36Steamboat, look at the strength of Steamboat,
28:39bridging up with Flair on top of him.
28:42Oh, oh, oh, watch out.
28:45Here comes a backslide.
28:47If Steamboat can overpower Flair,
28:49if he can pull him down into a backslide,
28:52and if he can keep him down there for that three count,
28:55we'll have it evened up.
28:57He's got him down.
28:59Wow, I thought he had it.
29:00Here, we're looking again at a two and a half,
29:02and Flair rolls outside,
29:04which may be the safest place for him,
29:07but now he's got Steamboat out there with him.
29:12Oh, he sends Steamboat into the metal railing.
29:15That steel railing around the ring, the security railing,
29:20and now slams him out here.
29:24Flair's pulling out all the stops.
29:27What a, I don't want to say it'd be an upset,
29:30but it would certainly be a major shock
29:33for Flair to win two straight balls here.
29:35It could very easily happen right now.
29:38Very easily happen.
29:40Referee Tommy Young trying to maintain law and order here,
29:43which is extremely difficult to do.
29:46Flair sends Steamboat to the railing again,
29:49and the dragon holding on,
29:52literally, to the title by one arm.
29:56Flair limps back to the ring.
30:00I don't know what the ruling,
30:01what's the ruling if Steamboat's counted out here?
30:03What would that be?
30:04Two straight, two straight.
30:06New champion?
30:07New champion.
30:09New champion right there.
30:11Here comes a count right now.
30:14Steamboat's back up to his feet though.
30:15I think he can go ahead and come back in the ring.
30:17Not think, I know that he can.
30:18He's standing now,
30:20he's trying to get a little bit rested,
30:21but he's in pain.
30:22It looks as if that shoulder's in pain.
30:25He drove him into that railing about twice
30:27while he was on the floor there.
30:29I felt that Tommy Young should have been
30:30a little bit more aggressive there,
30:31although I feel that the referee is doing an excellent job.
30:35As do I,
30:36just we've had a little controversy
30:38regarding the officiating today.
30:41New World Tag Team Champions crown,
30:43I think perhaps because of a bad call,
30:45but it was the same Flair.
30:47Great Steamboat coming in.
30:48He jerks his neck down across the top rope.
30:56These guys have competed so hard.
31:00Steamboat on the apron right now.
31:03Boom, boom!
31:04That is a very dangerous place to be.
31:07You've got about a five foot drop right behind you.
31:10One foot, I've seen a lot of wrestlers
31:12injured right at this point.
31:15By going off that apron right there backwards.
31:17It's a bad position for Steamboat to be in right now,
31:20and Flair's coming back on top of him again.
31:2230 minutes have elapsed, 30 minutes.
31:26Get off of that apron.
31:2830 minutes have elapsed on this one,
31:30we're halfway there.
31:32Seems like they've been going at it
31:33about five minutes, doesn't it?
31:35Doesn't seem like we've been out here very long.
31:37Vertical suplex, Flair's got him high in the air.
31:41Nice move, this could be all.
31:42New Championship of the World!
31:44That weren't that far, you saw the hand.
31:46It was coming down.
31:49Landing vertical suplex, and we were just so, so close.
31:56Flair's gotta be one of the most mentally tough athletes
31:58I've ever been around in any sport.
32:02Needless to say, his physical toughness.
32:04Come on the stretch.
32:05Right here, he's got him in that stretch.
32:10Going for the pinning position now,
32:12Oklahoma cross-body ride.
32:16Very difficult to get that shoulder up.
32:18Look how close, Steamboat is just barely able
32:22to get that left shoulder up.
32:28Referee, the two count.
32:31Gosh, I'll tell you something.
32:32This is...
32:34Flair's stretching him out there.
32:39Great amateur move.
32:42Switches way around, going for that pin again.
32:46Also using the ropes right there, too, as a penalty.
32:50Flair taking a shortcut here,
32:52and you can probably count that he's gonna take
32:54any shortcut that he can.
32:56He wins this fall.
32:56He's the new world's heavyweight champion.
33:01Not too cordial to the fans here at ringside.
33:03No, he isn't.
33:08Straight fist.
33:10Another right hand.
33:14Flair can afford to push the rules right now.
33:16You know that, he's got a one-fall advantage.
33:20Here in the state of Louisiana,
33:23the athletic commission, in their rule book,
33:24the winner of one fall, a two-out-three-fall match,
33:27wins the title.
33:28It was a beautiful roll-up, one.
33:32Flair kicks out.
33:32Steamboat, almost out to the floor,
33:35holding himself up by the leg, reaching back,
33:38trying to get the bottom rope, and he does so.
33:41Goes back into the ring.
33:43Single-leg pickup.
33:45Back heel trip by Steamboat.
33:48On top, one, two, and Flair kicks out.
33:52Steamboat catches him coming in,
33:55sends Flair for the ride, but Flair just punted him.
33:58He punted him about 35 yards there
34:01and chopped him another 10,
34:02so we've got a 55-yard gainer right there.
34:05Lateral press.
34:07Steamboat is inches away from losing the world's title.
34:13Flair has got things going his way.
34:16Steamboat, Steamboat, Steamboat, Steamboat,
34:19Steamboat, Steamboat, Steamboat, Steamboat.
34:21And the crowd, it's like a six-minute basketball.
34:24They've got to get involved.
34:27As far as Steamboat is concerned,
34:29Flair going up top.
34:30On that bad leg, may not be the smartest thing to do.
34:34Oh, gosh.
34:36That'll put you in a tenor section.
34:39Big chop there, right to the chest,
34:41and now Steamboat up on top.
34:44Superplex, superplex.
34:47This is gonna be it, Jim.
34:50Flair won't get up from that one.
34:52Superplex by the Dragon,
34:54and momentum has changed once again,
34:58as Steamboat comes down on the small of the back
35:00of Ric Flair.
35:02Remember, I mentioned about the airplane crash years ago,
35:06but when you have a severely broken back,
35:08how much can it heal in this sport?
35:11We're not talking about a CPA here.
35:13Oh, my God.
35:18Steamboat working on the lower back.
35:21Man, he's focused now, as they say, Wall Street.
35:24Boy, he is focused in on it, driving forearms.
35:28Here's a double chicken wing,
35:30picks him up into the air right there.
35:32That is a double chicken wing there.
35:34Let me tell you something.
35:35You're talking about the figure four leg lock, Ernie.
35:37That right there hurts.
35:40Dislocates your shoulders, pulls on your back
35:43at the same time, and that's it.
35:44He gave it up.
35:45He gave it up.
35:46A double chicken wing.
35:48Flair has submitted to the Dragon,
35:51and now we will go to the climactic third and final ball.
35:58Ladies and gentlemen, in 34 minutes,
36:0014 seconds of total match time,
36:03the winner of the second ball,
36:05Ricky, the Dragon, Steamboat.
36:09Ladies and gentlemen, we'll be back.
36:13And we're back here, ladies and gentlemen,
36:15and this is the third indeciding fall
36:17from the Superdome.
36:18Flair barely able to make his way up to his feet.
36:23He laid on that mat between the entire fall,
36:25finally made it back up to his feet,
36:27and he's back down again now.
36:28His back's in a great deal of pain.
36:33That's how you take a knee out right there.
36:35That's 15 yards.
36:36That last 15 yards.
36:3915 yards, 35.
36:44Steamboat with a chop.
36:45He's fighting back.
36:47I'll tell you what, it's anybody's ball game now.
36:51Each man with one fall each.
36:55And they're still chopping.
36:57How much time is left in this match?
36:59How much time is left in this match?
37:01And there's a two count, had that leg break,
37:03find again.
37:0725 minutes left.
37:0925 left in the match, we're in four by our timekeeper.
37:13Flair's got plenty of time there.
37:15Both men have plenty of time,
37:18but I think perhaps Flair, I don't know,
37:21I thought he would be at a disadvantage
37:23after that chicken wing suplex.
37:24He had a hard time getting up.
37:26The dragon really dominated the second fall.
37:29He did.
37:30He came out really, mentally,
37:32just like he was not gonna be denied.
37:35Thriving forearms and a turnbuckle.
37:38Beautiful black backdrop by the dragon right there.
37:42That hurt his back again.
37:43Watch Flair now, he's down on that mat again with that back.
37:47Steamboat chopping at the back.
37:51Flair with another thunderous chop.
37:52Flair's having his mobility
37:54is extremely limited at this point.
37:56Steamboat with a side headlock.
37:57And Flair will come down.
37:59Steamboat's shin right across Flair's leg.
38:03And indeed, the master of the figure four
38:06may have that on his mind now, Terry.
38:11We've seen him win several matches with a figure four.
38:14Smundridge, as a matter of fact.
38:16Smart move on Ric Flair's part.
38:18I've seen him use that move time and time again.
38:22Here he goes right here.
38:23He's going for the figure four.
38:24Jim, he's got it hooked.
38:27He's got it locked in there.
38:29Steamboat quickly goes to the back.
38:31Steamboat quickly goes to the ropes.
38:33That will call an assist and a break.
38:36And the referee, he untangled the legs,
38:38which is a good part of the officiating.
38:41Flair up right in the referee's face.
38:44Flair, he better not touch that referee
38:46because if he does, he won't be the new world champion.
38:49That's right, that's exactly right.
38:51As he kicks Steamboat right in the leg.
38:54Flair has said many times that he could be
38:57what he wants to be, the dirtiest player in the game.
38:59And right now, he's going to try to take the knee
39:01out of Ricky Steamboat.
39:03And Steamboat, he's just dragging his leg.
39:05Look at Steamboat's left leg, fans at home.
39:07It was just dragging it behind him.
39:15Tremendous chop, and Steamboat fights back.
39:18Flair goes downstairs.
39:19Steamboat chops him back again.
39:21Flair from behind.
39:23Double chop.
39:24Double chop.
39:26Every one of those are legal punches right there
39:29are legal chops.
39:31With the flat of the hand.
39:34Big right hand by Steamboat.
39:36Now he's going to send Flair for the right up and down.
39:38Whoa, whoa, here he comes.
39:39That's going to, oh, and he got met with a clothesline.
39:43Flair, his back just,
39:45the impact in the corner was horrendous.
39:48And he went down the apron and was nailed with a clothesline.
39:51Nailed right there.
39:52Steamboat was waiting for him that time.
39:54Flair's down.
39:56Now Flair's counted out.
39:57Steamboat's going to retain the title.
39:59As Flair trying to roll back into the ring.
40:04Oh, you can see the desire.
40:10The determination in his face.
40:13As these men have competed with all the fervor.
40:16He says, hold on.
40:18It's like calling a timeout.
40:20Steamboat, get on top of him right now.
40:25Flair, Flair's got his feet on the ropes.
40:28He's got his feet on the ropes there, ref.
40:33Everybody in the free world can see it,
40:35but the guy in the blue shirt.
40:38Tony Young had better get around there.
40:42Oh, gosh, he almost knocked him over the ropes.
40:44You can see it in both of their eyes.
40:46That look that says, I am not going to quit.
40:51I am going to keep on going.
40:53I am better than this man.
40:55Both of them think it.
40:57High risk, missed that one.
40:58Flair caught him coming down to the face,
41:00or kicked right to the face.
41:03I'll tell you something.
41:05These guys have got like, I'm not exactly sure.
41:07I think like 20 minutes remaining in this time limit,
41:10if I'm not mistaken.
41:13Double forearm to the back of Steamboat.
41:16Mangyville just joined us.
41:18How many times has it switched back and forth
41:21to one man's advantage?
41:23Time after time.
41:24More times than we can count.
41:25Flair won the first ball.
41:27There are 20 minutes remaining in the time limit.
41:3020 minutes remain.
41:3240 minutes have elapsed.
41:34Flair took the first ball.
41:35Reversing the inside cradle.
41:37Steamboat won the second ball with a double chicken wing.
41:41Oh, the dragon upstairs.
41:43His leg is hung there.
41:44He's going to tear his knee right there.
41:47Steamboat's leg was caught under the top turnbuckle.
41:50He's going to tear his knee out right there.
41:52And now Flair doesn't take advantage of this opportunity.
41:56I'm going to be very surprised.
41:57With all that happens to that knee
41:59and then that miss right there,
42:00now Flair's on top of it again.
42:03Flair can smell it.
42:05You know, he's like a dog right there.
42:07He can smell it.
42:08He can smell a kill right now.
42:10He's on the trail.
42:12The title trail.
42:12He's on the trail.
42:13The title trail.
42:14I like that.
42:16Brings him out.
42:18And now let's see if Flair will go to work on that leg.
42:24All great champions, contenders,
42:28great, talented performers like a Ric Flair know
42:31they can sense when their opponent is in big trouble.
42:35He may not go back upstairs the rest of the match.
42:37I think he's going to stay on the legs
42:39for as long as he possibly can, Terry.
42:42That's exactly where he'll be.
42:43It looks like that.
42:44He's got the advantage right now.
42:45He's going to continue with it.
42:47You see that step into that spinning toe
42:49and into the figure four.
42:50I am telling you, Tim, they are in the middle of the ring.
42:53I said it once before that there was no way
42:55that they could ever possibly make the ropes.
42:58And I truly believe that again right now.
43:00I think that this is it.
43:02This is a crowd.
43:03They're getting behind the dragon.
43:05Channing Steamboat, Steamboat stomping their feet,
43:08clapping their hands.
43:11Steamboat said Friday night here on our program,
43:13the best preparation for the figure four was mental.
43:16No matter how many steps he took,
43:18no matter how much weight you could do,
43:20when someone got it on you, it became mental.
43:22How much pain could you take?
43:24And we're going to see, we're going to check Ricky,
43:26the dragon Steamboat's hold card right here.
43:30We're checking him right now.
43:31He showed me a whole lot of machi,
43:33a whole lot of guts so far in this match.
43:36They're slapping each other.
43:38Steamboat would love to go ahead
43:40and get out of this thing right now.
43:42He's not going to give up.
43:43I'll tell you what, he will not give up.
43:46Former champion Buddy Rogers used that maneuver
43:48for many, many years, very successfully.
43:51I'm sure he's pleased to see Rick Flair
43:53has perpetrated that legacy.
43:58Whenever you say you give up, you know,
43:59in this particular match, it's like saying,
44:02I give you the world's championship.
44:04That's very hard to do.
44:06That's very hard to say.
44:09Especially when you're on top like Steamboat.
44:12You're not going to give up.
44:14Especially when you're on top like Steamboat is right now.
44:17You're right, Terry.
44:17I'll tell you something.
44:19I've seen guys pass out from it.
44:21I'm sure you have too.
44:22Absolutely black out due to the pain.
44:28Fans, as we mentioned, if you just joined us,
44:31if time permits, we will bring you
44:33the U.S. Championship match with Lex Luger and Jack Victory
44:37and the television title match featuring The Stinger.
44:40If we do not have that time,
44:43we will bring you those matches this Saturday
44:46on Superstation TBS at 7 o'clock Eastern time.
44:50Steamboat's trying to roll him over.
44:53He's rolling him over.
44:57That puts pressure on Flair's leg as well.
45:01They're under the ropes.
45:02Referee's trying to untangle their legs.
45:04Well, they can, they roll all the way off the floor.
45:06They got him broke, thank goodness.
45:09Flair continues to work on Steamboat's leg.
45:13We ought to caution him right here.
45:14He's wanting him time after time there.
45:17Get off of him while he's on that floor.
45:20Steamboat is on that apron.
45:22Flair takes it right to the limits, right to the edge.
45:24He doesn't want to get disqualified, obviously.
45:27Steamboat has to start thinking time.
45:30He has to start thinking time.
45:31How much time is left in this match?
45:34Can I continue?
45:35His leg is hurt now.
45:38Look at him, he's chopping him,
45:39but he's hanging on with just one leg.
45:41He's chopping off of one leg right now.
45:45Big chop by Steamboat.
45:46Time is in the favor of the champion
45:49in this type situation.
45:51They both have one fall each,
45:53and Flair up and down, all above us.
45:56This time he goes down the apron to the top rope
45:59and comes off high cross body.
46:01Can he hold him down?
46:02One, two, and two and three quarters.
46:04Was that three or two?
46:05That was two and three quarters.
46:07I'm talking a few inches.
46:08Oh, I thought that was it that time, Jim.
46:10I thought that was it.
46:12It was an awful, awful close.
46:14Flair went for it all right there.
46:15We talk about high risk type wrestling.
46:18He went for it all, but Steamboat can't hold him.
46:20The leg buckle, Flair's on top,
46:22and he got a two count out of it.
46:2515 minutes remaining in time.
46:28They've wrestled 45 minutes, 15 minutes remain.
46:32Flair misses with the elbow.
46:33Steamboat does a big headbutt.
46:36Flying headbutt right there.
46:39Chops him right in the head.
46:42Steamboat trying to shake it loose.
46:45His leg's not going to be the same for a few days.
46:47He's got to worry.
46:48He's got to be 15 minutes.
46:50A guts ride here, a gut check for the champion.
46:53He goes on top.
46:53Going up that top rope with that bad leg.
46:57Here he comes off that top rope, high body press.
47:00He beat him last before, and Flair barely got
47:03that shoulder out.
47:04That left shoulder was up by inches.
47:06That was so, so close, Jim.
47:09So close.
47:12Steamboat missed with the elbow.
47:14Flair sensed what was happening and rolled out of the way.
47:1715 minutes and counting.
47:21Can Steamboat's leg hold out the duration of this match?
47:24Or can Ric Flair put together the winning combination
47:28in the next 12 or 13 minutes?
47:33This one has been all it was billed to be.
47:39Flair won the first fall.
47:40Steamboat came back and took the second.
47:43But right now it's the challenger with the momentum.
47:45As he sends Steamboat for the ride.
47:47Oh, he got a neck breaker.
47:49Reverse neck breaker.
47:51Got him cradled for that pin.
47:54Flair towers out.
47:56Two count, Jim.
47:57Man, what mental toughness displayed
48:01by the NWA World's Heavyweight Champion.
48:05And a man that many people consider one of the greatest,
48:11if not the greatest heavyweight champions of all time.
48:13I know that's a great debatable subject.
48:15But Flair, five times champion,
48:16has got to be considered as one of the all-time greats.
48:20As one, it's very difficult to say the.
48:23And I won't say that, my friend,
48:24because we're in great company here.
48:27The list goes on and on with those champions.
48:29Steamboat goes over the top.
48:30Beautiful sunset flip right there.
48:32He's trying to pull Flair back down.
48:35Flair's trying to hang on, trying to get those ropes.
48:37Is he going to grab a hold of that rope or not?
48:41Steamboat trying to get him over, finally does.
48:44He's got his feet on his arms and he can't hold him down.
48:47Boy, the fatigue factor has got to be coming
48:49a major, major influence in this match.
48:52Big tackle, I mean a tough tackle by Steamboat on Flair.
48:57And Flair.
48:57Sleeper hold, sleeper hold.
48:59Flair's got the sleeper on him.
49:00Steamboat's carrying him around.
49:04I haven't seen Flair use this sleeper, Terry,
49:06in a long time.
49:08Steamboat carrying him around on his back.
49:10That's gonna...
49:12That's a feat in itself at this time.
49:14Whenever you're there trying to gasp for air,
49:16even breathing at 46 minutes or 15 minutes
49:19is tremendously hard.
49:20But having somebody cutting off your air,
49:23that's whenever it really gets difficult.
49:25Look at his eyes, they look as if they're glassy.
49:28Steamboat's eyes, you can look into his face
49:30and see that he is
49:34rapidly losing consciousness.
49:38His arm goes down once.
49:41It goes down twice.
49:43I guess that's gonna...
49:44Wait a minute, Steamboat's got his hand up.
49:46The referee was close to ringing the bell.
49:49He was within seconds away of ringing the bell.
49:51He was walking this way.
49:52Walking this way.
49:56Well, that sleeper hold cuts the blood off.
49:58It cuts that carotid artery off right there.
50:00And once you go on the new goal,
50:02and they're out,
50:04there's nothing that you can do about it
50:05when you finally black out.
50:08Very difficult to put this on a wrestler.
50:10That's what they work on their necks continuously.
50:15Flair with a sleeper.
50:17I can't believe that he's still on his feet.
50:19He just got back up to a vertical base,
50:21trying to relieve the pressure.
50:24And Flair went face first into the top turnbuckle.
50:29He falls out of the ring.
50:32And once again,
50:34it looked as if Flair had fallen.
50:37Everything's going his way.
50:38Steamboat's trying to shake it loose.
50:40Get that adrenaline pumping.
50:44It takes a tremendous amount of heart and desire.
50:47There's no way, I don't think there's any way
50:48either one of these men would submit now.
50:50I don't think if Flair got in the-
50:51I don't think-
50:52There's no way.
50:53Come in here with a hatchet or a gun
50:54or whatever you want to,
50:55and they still wouldn't submit.
50:57Flair's coming up behind him.
50:58Steamboat doesn't know he's there.
51:00Kicks him in that leg again.
51:01Nice move by Rex Park.
51:03Came right back to that one point.
51:05He knows that if he's in that position-
51:08Karate kick to the back of the head.
51:09Was that a surprise to me, Jim?
51:11Me too, Terry.
51:12And I'll tell you something.
51:13I thought Flair was going to set him for the figure four
51:15once again.
51:16And Steamboat rolls him over.
51:18He's got the leg grapevine and he can't hold him down.
51:21As we said, the fatigue factor in this match
51:24has got to be paramount.
51:28There's 10 minutes left in the time limit.
51:31They have wrestled.
51:32And I'm not talking about coming out to music
51:35and walking around the ring and posing.
51:36I'm talking about wrestling for 50 minutes.
51:39Both for hold, chop for chop, and move for move.
51:45I just can't get over this.
51:46I am so excited about this match, Jim.
51:49I'm telling you, this is the best match that I have seen.
51:54And I've been around for a long time, Jim.
51:56This is one of the truly greatest championship matches ever.
52:01If this isn't the match of the year, I don't know.
52:03You might say Chi-Town Rumble was,
52:06but to me, this one is right here.
52:08They've gone longer.
52:09They've competed harder.
52:11I agree with you.
52:14We're nine minutes away from time limit.
52:16The question is now,
52:18Steamboat's strategy may be, Terry, just to hold on.
52:22To hold on to the belt.
52:24A draw at this point is as good as a win for him.
52:29Steamboat, if he was smart,
52:31he would start looking for a way.
52:33There he is. He's backing up right now.
52:34It looks as if he's backing up.
52:35Is he going to go out from underneath the ropes?
52:38No, he isn't.
52:39I wouldn't blame him.
52:41You know, I don't think if there's a person in this arena
52:42that knows it can stay so long.
52:44Let's go ahead. Get out of the ring if you want to.
52:47You're risking a tremendous amount of money
52:49by staying in the ring, Steamboat.
52:52Flair now opening up on Steamboat again.
52:54The Slugfest.
52:55What competitive fires
52:57burn the bodies of these two athletes.
53:00Steamboat barely able to stand.
53:02Flair just shoves him down.
53:04I love both of their attitudes.
53:07Never say die, either one of them.
53:10There with another big thunderous chop.
53:12Look at Steamboat.
53:14He's got a glazed over look in his eye.
53:16He's, look at his leg.
53:18We ought to, look at his left leg.
53:22His left leg is bursting me like a, his lip.
53:26I mean, look how loose the knee is.
53:29He can't even walk on it.
53:30Look at how loose his leg is.
53:31But he just keeps on coming back.
53:33They will not quit.
53:35I love it. I love it.
53:37What a tremendous match this is.
53:40What a great, great wrestling match.
53:43What great competitor.
53:45I don't care what sport you're talking about.
53:50These are two of the greatest athletes
53:54bar none in the world today, Jim Ross.
53:59Steamboat now is not laying back.
54:02He is not being passive.
54:04He is not going to go outside.
54:05He's not going to kill time.
54:06He's crazy.
54:07He wants to compete.
54:08He's crazy.
54:10He wants to pin Flair one more time, obviously.
54:14But he's, I don't know how sound the judgment,
54:17I just don't know.
54:19Flair is a master at turning things around.
54:22Steamboat with a clothesline.
54:24He blocked the atomic drop.
54:26He's got a lateral press on Flair
54:28and Flair splits on the top of the bottom rope.
54:32This is not a championship mistake.
54:33Now it's personal.
54:35It is personal pride on both men's parts right here.
54:40A lot of pride.
54:41Indeed, you are right.
54:44Steamboat sends Flair for the ride,
54:45but Flair counters with an elbow to the back of the head.
54:51And now Flair with a big suplex.
54:57A Japanese suplex there, Terry.
54:58Got it way up on his shoulder before he came back with it.
55:01How much time is left in this match?
55:04Flair had better start going for those pins.
55:07Six minutes left, I've been informed.
55:09Six minutes, and if I was Steamboat,
55:11I don't know what I'd be doing.
55:15Flair now, will he go up top from the high risk?
55:20I'm surprised it isn't the figure four.
55:23Time remains, six minutes.
55:26Six minutes remaining.
55:28Flair up top, Steamboat trying to knock him off the rope
55:32with all his gut.
55:34And this was a mistake that perhaps Flair made up on top.
55:38Oh my gosh, that was a 10 foot slam off the top rope.
55:45Flair body slammed off the top rope,
55:47once again, punishing his back.
55:50The double arm chicken wing, the double arm chicken wing.
55:53He fell back.
55:55He's got Flair, he's got Steamboat.
55:59Flair had Steamboat's shoulders to the mat.
56:04Steamboat has won.
56:05Steamboat had Flair's shoulders to the mat.