[1985-11-28-JCP-Starrcade '85] Ric Flair vs Dusty Rhodes

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[tcg91]

This was a fine match, not a great main event but the crowd heavily supported it anyway. Flair sold Dusty's stuff quite well, even though they didn't always click perfectly and it almost looked like Dusty freestyled this more than Flair wanted him to. Usual good legwork from the Naitch, but it lacked the drama that a Starrcade main event should have, despite Dusty being consistent with his pain intolerance. I didn't care much for the Dusty finish in hindsight, even though the crowd did and it was quite surprising as a result
***

[Superstar Sleeze]

NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Dusty Rhodes - NWA Starrcade 1985

AND THE CROWD GOES WILD BECAUSE Dusty Rhodes stomps the ankle of the Nature Boy. Thats Pro Wrestling Magic, Daddy.

Two of the biggest lies ever sold to us were Hulk Hogan and Dusty Rhodes were not good at that wrestling business. That was the purview of the Macho Man and the Nature Boy. Big Dust and Hulkster fire on the mic, but once the bell rang they were no go so that story goes. I am here to tell you that is a huge can of BULLSHIT! The American Dream and Hulkamania FOREVER!

This is match coming off the big Horsemen break Dusty’s ankle in the Cage at the Omni. The ankle will be a target. The genius of this match is that they tease it three times before they deliver it in full. It creates that tension and that anticipation. It is extended shine for the Dream but in the back of you mind the Ankle, the Ankle is always looming. That’s great pro wrestling daddy. 
 

Big Dust opens up a can of whoop ass early. Punches and elbows. I love how he walked through that first right. Naitch feed, bump and run. He has a hungry babyface and he knows he needs to eat. Flair starts to make some in-roads in the corner and goes for the armpit punch NO he kicks the bad wheel! AMAZING SELLING BY DUSTY! Dusty powders and really milks it for all it’s worth. DUSTY STOMPS THE ANKLE OF FLAIR! Atlanta Comes Unglued! The leg work by Dusty is so damn good and so cathartic. Flair throws in some great hope spots for himself like the sleeper and getting press slammed off the top. OMG I would be remiss to mention the suplex battle early in this segment. Flair’s leg  gives out on a vertical suplex and instead the Dream musters up the might to get him off. Incredible. This segment climaxes with Dusty trying to get the Figure-4 on Flair but Flair kicks him off. Dusty sells the ankle again. Two strikes! However Dusty roars back and is able to whip Flair into Flair Flip and bust him open on the outside. So we switch from the leg to attacking the cut. Love this changing of levels. Dusty gets a great near fall on a top rope crossbody but Tommy Young was out of position. 
 

Flair Flip Bleeding Running Across the Apron Up Top and Down into a Big Dust Fist! Dusty follows into the corner Bur punts the turnbuckle with the bad foot! Three strikes and youre out Daddy. Now we get the full throttle Nature Boy attack on the leg climaxing with the Figure-4. One of the most magical and moving Figure-4 reversals as Dusty calls upon the Omni and all of America to reverse the Figure-4. Flair chops and punches But they are having no effect. HULK-UP! Punches and elbows, clothesline! Flair presses Big Dust off of him onto the ref. Dusty finally gets the Figure-4. Here come the Andersons. He dispatches Arn but Ole sneak attacks him. New ref! Flair 1-2-NO! Dusty Inside Cradle 1-2-3!!!  NEW WORLD CHAMPION! Wait? What? I thought the blow was at the July 86 Great American Bash. Fuck a Dusty Finish that is lame. 
 

Dusty Finish knocks this down a peg but man this was electric. I did think Dusty took a little too much of the match. Dont get me wrong it was entertaining But I would have liked to see Flair really get a chance to work that ankle. If it wasn’t for the Dusty Finish I would go 4 But cant do that. *** 3/4