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The 25 Days of Von Erichs – Day Seventeen

By Rock Star Gary on 13 December 2023

With 9 days until Iron Claw is released, I present to you genuine moments in World Class Championship Wrestling history in chronological order.

Today, we look at January 30, 1984 from Will Rogers Coliseum:

Match 1 (non-title): NWA World champion “Nature Boy” Ric Flair versus Mike Von Erich

Highlights:

  • This match has a ten-minute time limit. Should Mike survive the time limit, David will earn another shot at the NWA World title.
  • Arrogantly, Flair asked timekeeper Joe Renelli about the time at the onset.
  • Flair took him down , but Mike escaped.
  • When Mike won round two culminating with a hammerlock, Flair was PISSED.
  • Flair countered a side head lock with a wrist lock as eight minutes remained.
  • As blows were exchanged, it was readily apparent that Flair was coaching Mike step-by-step.
  • Mike hip-tossed him across the ring, and a disheveled Flair again asked about the time.
  • After Mike backdropped him, he gave Flair a cross corner whip that led to a Flair flip.
  • Six minutes left, and Flair tossed Mike down to the concrete floor.
  • While Mike returned to the apron, he re-entered the ring via sunset flip.
  • Could Mike pin the World champion?
  • 1-2-NO!
  • Flair rebounded with a back elbow for a 1-count.
  • Bouncing off the ropes, Flair landed a knee drop and got 2.
  • He suplexed Mike for another 2.
  • With four minutes remaining, Flair hooked an abdominal stretch.
  • Amazingly, Mike reversed it!
  • Flair escaped but missed an elbow drop.
  • Upon withstanding a mid-ring collision, Flair mounted the top turnbuckle.
  • Mike found, caught, and slammed him down to the mat.
  • Overconfidently, Mike missed an elbow drop.
  • Flair, smelling blood in the water, seized the opportunity to trap Mike in a figure-four leg lock.
  • For all intents and purposes, this match should be over.
  • Mike refused to submit, and two minutes were left.
  • To encourage his younger brother, David sprinted to ringside.
  • Somehow, Mike reversed the hold!
  • Flair escaped with 90 seconds left.
  • Countering a piledriver, Mike backdropped Flair again.
  • Flair tried another figure-four leg lock, but Mike fought against it.
  • Monkey-flipping Flair, Mike got 2.
  • One minute remained, and Mike escaped a vertical suplex to apply a sleeper.
  • Briefly, Flair escaped only to be locked into another sleeper.
  • Flair faded, and Mike survived the time limit!
  • As you’d expect, the Ft. Worth faithful went BANANAS!

Rating: NONE

Summary: If you want a great example of the Flair formula, look no further than this match. Flair guided Mike each step of the way to last fifteen minutes. It might not be a great match, but it’s a great moment for the Von Erich family.

Following the match, David and Kerry storm the ring to congratulate their brother.

Stay tuned for more WCCW goodness tomorrow!