[1985-02-24-Pro Wrestling USA] Ric Flair vs Harley Race

[Superstar Sleeze]

NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Harley Race - PWUSA 2/24/85

I have never dug deep into these PWUSA cards before a neat concept to counteract Vince & WWF expansion but was never going to work because they couldn’t agree.

Not a huge Harley guy definitely up there as one of my least favorite Flair opponents. This is still a very good match but nothing like a typical Flsir match. This is a very Race-driven match. My theory is because Race was the veteran elder statesman Flair deferred to Race on the spot calling. This led to Flair being more of a rag doll than a sporting champion. There was less of Flair trying to figure out his opponent and trying different strategies and being thwarted and more just being slam banged around. Flair still threw a couple chops and knees to keep Race honest and make him earn it but the match was completely run through Race and his penchant for working a lot of high spots.

I love that opening high spot was a press slam by old man Race and then his trademark Headbutt. Race throws the most cartoony old man Popeye punches. If it was Da Crusher doing it I’d find it endearing but here Race just looks old. Flair goes out of his way to bump and feed for Old Man Harley to make him look like a million bucks. It is a Race match so lots of bombs and suplexes. Flair get a back suplex and throws Flair out which seems like a transition to heat. Flair back drops Race on the outside. Enjoyed the brawling on the floor. Flair doesn’t get much inside. Race Headbutts. We get a piledriver and it’s Bombs Away again. Missed top rope Headbutt leads to Kneecrusher- >Figure-4. Love a missed move leading to a big momentum shift. Race reverses the pressure. Flair tries to get Harley up But his knee buckles nice. Race press slams Flair off the top. Brawl on the outside. They do the old Harley Race crossbody off the top But Flsir rolls through for the pin and win. Better than Starrcade 1983 But not as good the August 1983 match. This was entertaining and breezy But like most Harley matches lacked soul. Flair made it fun as best he could. *** 1/2