HARLEY RACE VS. RIC FLAIR

Bob Caudle and Gordon Solie are on commentary for this match. Gene Kinitski is the special guest referee. The National Anthem is performed by James Winks, who is a big deal apparently. Although you have no idea where it's coming from because you can't see him for most of it until a light eventually finds him. The challenger enters first and Harley Race stands on the apron for a while before getting in the ring. They have words before the bell rings and get separated by Kinitski. It was during the build-up to this match that Race famously put a $25,000 bounty on Flair's head.

Harley Race © VS. Ric Flair

(Steel Cage match for NWA World Heavyweight Championship)

NWA Starrcade 1983 (24^th November 1983

The bell rings and the fans are behind Ric Flair, they lock up and Race is backed into the ropes. The referee separates them, Flair takes Harley Race down with a headlock. Race rolls it into a cover but Flair kicks out and quickly gets to his feet. They lock up again, this time Race backs Flair into the ropes and hits him on the top of the head. Flair fires back with a chop and a bionic elbow goes back to the headlock and wears Race down. Harley Race gets back to his feet, trying to counter with a bearhug, but instead backs Flair into the ropes to break the hold. Gene Kinitski physically keeps Harley back, so Race rightly calls him on his bullshit. Flair and Race lock up, Flair backs it into the ropes and a knee to the gut cuts Race off, Flair softens him up with a right hand and snapmares him over into a rear chinlock. Harley Race makes it to his feet as I try and think how many chinlocks I've seen recently with chinlocks like this one. Harley Race sends Flair off the ropes into a high knee but misses the falling headbutt. Flair knocks half the spit out of Race's mouth with a chop and covers but can't get a 1 count. Another headlock takes Race over for a 1 and I have to question how slow these counts are.

Harley Race turns it over and gets a 1 to show consistency with the ref's slow counts. Ric Flair transitions into a front facelock as commentary talk of this possibly going broadway. Flair gets a 2 count from the lack of speed even though Race's shoulder came up at 1. They get to their feet and Race hits a suplex, slowly covering for a 1 count. Harley Race misses a jumping elbow drop but lands on top of Flair as a slam is attempted. He gets 2 and connects with a knee drop, choking Flair near the ropes. Gene pulls him away from Flair. Race sends Flair into the turnbuckle and hits him on the ear, then goes back to choking with the shin. Harley Race hits the Piledriver and an elbow drop, covering for 2. Harley Race connects with an elbow to the back of the head and a swinging neckbreaker for another nearfall. Gene Kinitski is getting better with his timings throughout the match. Harley Race begins driving his knee into Ric Flair's head against the ropes and sends Flair headfirst into the cage.

We move to an overhead camera 16 years before the Hardy Boyz and Edge & Christian had one. Harley Race slams Ric Flair. I can just focus on the blood from the Dog Collar match earlier in the night. But back to this one, Ric Flair fights back but is dropped with a headbutt. Harley Race connects with the second falling headbutt and sends Flair into the cage for the second time. Ric Flair is busted open as he kicks Race in the guts but is sent into the cage again. Harley Race sends Flair into the turnbuckle and doesn't let him out of the corner, so the referee holds him back. Ric Flair gets in a free shot, taking advantage and the referee has stern words for Flair. Ric Flair backs Race into the corner but makes the mistake of forcing Kinitski's involvement. Harley Race takes advantage, dropping Flair with a headbutt. We go back to overhead as Flair's head is sent into the turnbuckle. He reverses an irish whip, sending Race into the corner and the fans get behind Flair as he sends Harley Race into the cage. Ric Flair snapmares Race down and hits a jumping knee drop as we see Race bleeding too.

Ric Flair keeps up the attack, kicking Harley Race in the head and dropping him with a piledriver for a nearfall. A butterfly suplex gets Flair another nearfall. He sends Harley Race into the cage a couple of times, which annoys Kinitski. That distraction allows Harley Race to swing the momentum and he grinds Flair's face against the cage. Gene Kinitski has some words, starting a confrontation. Harley Race sends Flair into the cage again, Flair swings wildly and gets a lucky shot but Harley Race knocks him down with a headbutt. Flair gets back to his feet, attacking back and chopping Harley Race down, Flair covers for 2. He connects with an elbow drop and mounts Harley Race with punches. The shot of Flair's face before he hits the back suplex on Race make him look like a horror movie character. He locks in the Figure Four and Race eventually reverses, but Flair rolls right through, forcing Harley Race to grab the ropes. Harley Race drops Flair with headbutts, using the top rope to stand. Ric Flair lands on Harley Race from Race's suplex attempt for a nearfall. A headbutt knocks Flair down with the second coming from the middle rope and eventually getting Race another nearfall.

The champion suplexes Flair for another 2 count, then stays on him with punches which we view from above. Harley Race drops the knee. Ric Flair tries to fight back but has no force behind his shots. He is sent over the top rope into the cage. Harley Race chokes Flair against the cage and Gene Kinitski involves himself again, dragging Race away by the hair. This must be the inspiration behind the Attitude Era Earl Hebner. Harley Race brings Flair to his feet for a suplex, but Flair blocks it, getting one of his own. Flair cuts off his own momentum, missing a jumping elbow drop. Harley Race gets a side headlock, causing a ref bump. Race and Flair fumble around and end up in the corner. Ric Flair backs Harley Race off with strikes and climbs to the top rope, hits a flying crossbody and covers for 3.

WINNER: RIC FLAIR (NEW NWA World Heavyweight Champion)

I don't think this match has aged well for me personally. Some people would consider the match `methodical' but personally, I just thought the first half was slow. Gene Kinitski's constant involvement when it isn't necessary dragged the match down for me also. But the fans in attendance loved it.– This match is a **** but I'd rate it 3.75/10

When I first saw this match it shattered my childhood, I was introduced to Flair at a time when WWE led us to believe Flair never succeeds from the top rope. Tomorrow I'm looking at a tag team match from Starrcade 1991's BattleBowl.