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[1985-11-18-CWA-Mid-South Coliseum] Ric Flair vs Koko Ware


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NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Koko Ware - Memphis 11/18/85

 

You forget how big Ric Flair is because he very rarely gets to wrestle people he is larger than. This is a chance for Flair to bully his opponent like he did with Morton. The beginning of the match is all about establishing Koko as a challenger. Lance does a great job narrating this story. Stating Koko is nervous about this opportunity and that he is starting with fundamentals (headlock) to get himself a rhythm and credits Dusty with this advice is fucking excellent. That's what commentary should be! Lance states Flair thinks he has himself a cakewalk, but beware of Koko (pun intended). After the headlocks, Flair tries to intimidate Koko with some shoving, but Koko shoves him right back in a great spot Flair takes a bump. . "I think Flair was thinking he was just dealing with another local yokel" - Lance Russell, best commentator ever.

 

Flair and Koko have an excellent slugfest. Flair chops and Koko hits him with those sweet Mempho punches in an absolutely electric segment. Flair Flop! Koko more punches and another nearfall! Crossbody! Flair tries a different tact, amateur takedowns, but ends up embarrassed falling out of the ring. Flair meets him with a kick to the midsection on a test of strength and BIG chop. Not the best transition to heat, but Flair works an excellent heat segment on the arm. He was really good at arm work. Koko tries punches and chops, but Flair is able to bully Koko in a way he cant with a smaller opponent. I like that wrinkle a lot. Koko gets the sleeper! The more I think about the sleeper is a great way to get out of the heat. It allows the babyface to get his energy back and sap Flair's energy. Smart spot calling by Flair! Flair cuts off again with a suplex into a DOUBLE STOMP! My favorite Flair move. Figure-4, baby! Dusty cheers on Koko and Koko reverses the pressure! Flair was really good dynamic wrestling. It never feels my turn, your turn, but no one has complete and utter control over the other person. Flair is always fighting back and Koko is too. I think that's what makes Flair matches so great. Ok, fun spot even if it is anachronism was when Flair punched Koko's head on the sunset flip and hurt his hand. Flair kneedrop missed! Good setup for Koko figure-4. Koko stays on the leg and starts throwing some serious chops. Fire fight! Koko is coming back and DROPKICK that Lance was hyping. Another dropkick! Here comes Dundee! Flair comes crashing into a distracted Koko with a knee from behind to win the match. Dusty & Koko clear the ring. Really great finish and Flair gets to over.

 

Great Flair vs underdog match and even though Flair spent so much time as champion we don't have a lot of these matches. The first third is great at establishing Koko as a threat. The middle third is Flair kicking ass, but always letting Koko get his hope spots. I think that is so crucial. Flair never just dominates a segment. His opponent fight back and he has to cheat by grabbing the hair or knee to the midsection to maintain advantage. It is these transient moments that keep the match engaging because there is a real sense of struggle. I loved the set up for each of the figure-4s. I think sometimes Flair just calls them randomly on his own opponent, but this time his timing was great. Koko had just made a decent comeback and he looked to extinguish with his figure-4 and Koko was set up by him missing a knee drop. Perfect finish run with Koko getting two dropkicks right before Dundee fuck finish, but Flair still gets the pin to get us a real finish but protect Koko. Excellent Flair match in a year of fucking greatness. People talk about 1989, but holy shit 1985, what a year for Flair! ****1/2

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Totally down with ****1/2. This is such a great match. I love just how MEMPHIS Koko is in this match-- he's fighting it for all the little guys with great punches who have to sell their souls to get the time of day anywhere else. He and Flair do an excellent job of avoiding the non-title switch finish seem as utterly obvious as it is, too.

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  • 2 months later...

Good match, very good even, but I'm surprised at how well acclaimed it is in general compared to other stuff from Memphis around this time, not to mention other territories. Still it's a good application of the Flair formula with the usual strong Flair performance and simple storytelling. Not too long either which is nice (overly long matches is my #1 issue with Flair). *** 1/2

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  • 4 months later...

Yeah, just wanted to throw in I absolutely loved this match too when I ran across it while diving into 80s Memphis. It's definitely one of the matches that stood out to me, and would've made my top 10 I'm pretty sure. I'm down with ****1/2. Both guys here deliver great performances and have you hanging onto the edge of your seat.

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  • 3 months later...
  • 1 month later...

This ruled, loved how so much of it took place at close range. And considering how great Koko's punches are that feels like the best course of action. Dude's combinations and even those mongolian chops all look phenomenal. Koko stuffing Flair's stuff early and looking like he had him figured out was well done and that chop Flair delivered to get back in control might be one of the best I've seen from him. Just a really well done slugfest.

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  • 2 months later...

Koko's punching is up there with the best candidates ever. I can watch this guy punch all day.

 

Formula touring champ Flair at the period he was at his very best. So it's an excellent match with a shit finish (like most Flair matches). Flair does tons of great shit here, including working the arm like his cousins would, busting out a double stomp and building a dynamic match against Koko who, despite not being Sam Houston or something, still had no chance in hell of winning. Koko is your regular Rocky Balboa, minus the win. Wonderful shot exchanges, this is basic and terrific at being basic.

 

I had reached the point where I was bored shitless with Flair, but this kind of performance happily revives the Flair fan in me. Until the shit finish (which is expected). Still, Flair was great and Koko was excellent. Terrific match.

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  • 1 month later...

As wonderful as Koko was as an underdog babyface, I thought Flair absolutely ruled this match. His heel mannerisms, the little tactics he'd use to grab even the smallest openings, all of it made for just a wonderful performance. Some good babyface shine with Koko's punches, and then Flair having to cheat to get the advantage back made for some classic heel-babyface drama. The finishing stretch with the Figure Fours and leading into Koko's big dropkicks was definitely the best part of the match and that finish got me legitimately pissed which is how you know it's a great finish.

 

****1/4

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  • GSR changed the title to [1985-11-18-CWA-Mid-South Coliseum] Ric Flair vs Koko Ware
  • 11 months later...

I kind of picked this at random from Loss' master-list of Flair matches. This one tells a fun story of Koko being outmatched on paper, but refusing to give an inch to the champion. He keeps catching Flair off-guard, and then repeatedly Flair tries to regain control and just gets knocked on his ass again for his trouble. Really cool sequence where Flair tries a leg scissor takedown, and Koko scrambles out of it! Neat, you never see that today. Nothing Flair tries is working, and he’s getting flustered. Finally Koko screws up and falls for the old test of strength trick, and now Flair can go to work. Koko makes a hot comeback, his punches and chops look good. Koko gets a sleeper and forces Flair down to the mat, the commentary notes that this is to counteract Flairs height advantage. Flair makes the ropes and Koko gets up to do the bird dance. A few weeks ago I was at the flea market with my girlfriend, and I was showing her some old WWF toys I remembered from when I was a kid. She pointed at the Koko action figure and said, "that man has a bird." Well said, imo.

Flair comes back and gets the figure-four, Koko reverses. Koko with a backslide gets two. Koko tries a sunset flip, Flair tries to stop him by punching him in the head, but he hurts his hand and Koko takes him over! Now Koko gets the figure four and Flair makes the ropes. Big dropkick from Koko, and another. Was that Koko’s finisher? 

Now at ringside Dusty is being attacked by Bill Dundee, and Koko is distracted. Focus, dude! Flair hits him with a knee from behind and… pins him? Kind of weak. Why not cradle him or something? The babyfaces make a comeback and clean house. Neat match. **** easy. 
 

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