My Kingdom of Honor co-host and I are doing a new series exclusively for our Patreon subscribers called Wrecked with Rasslers. We are going to be choosing one wrestler and picking four matches or moments that we would want with us if we were stranded on a desert island. This series will focus on wrestling and wrestling only as the real-life stuff you can find else where. To listen to the series please check out our Patreon site here.
If you are a true wrestling fan, you needs to pay homage to the greats that came before. Yes there style was more plodding (especially in the heavyweight division) and a lot more cerebral, however no one could tell a story like the true greats of the 70's. We have great talent in 2019, Jay White, Matt Taven, Kenny Omega, Chris Jericho, Cody, AJ Styles, Kuzuchika Okada, Austin Aries, Daniel Bryan, Kevin Owens and so many more. As much as I love those guys (especially AJ Styles) it is hard to compare them to the true greats of the 70's
Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, Nick Bockwinkle, Verne Gagne, Hulk Hogan (before Hulkamania) Bruno Samartino, Randy Savage. This list can go on and on but one name stands out and that is Harley Race. Harley had one of the best minds in the wrestling business and his matches were works of art. He was a true heel and had the ability to draw an emotion from the crowd like no other. His 8 NWA championship runs were all the proof that was needed.
Sit back and enjoy as I take a little trip down memory lane and bring you my four all time favorite Harley Race matches.
.vs Ric Flair, Starrcade 1983. This rivalry hit it's climax in a steel cage for the NWA heavy weight championship. Pomp and Circumstances play in a darkened arena with occasional flickers of light. After some silence a sparkler shines behind the obvious silhouette of the Nature Boy, he comes through the crowd surrounded by police and enters the cage. Race enters to no music and a chorus of boos. Gene Kiniski is our special guest referee. Flair gets introduced to a round of cheers while Race is boo'd out of the building, clearly establishing who the fan favorite is. One thing that's gets lost in today's wrestling is the build. Everyone wants that fast paced, high octane, spot fest style and I get it, that is fun. But if you want to make believable, two fresh guys should go in there and try to feel out and wear down his opponent with head locks and snap mares. These two guys are brilliant at that and great technical wrestlers to boot. The brutality that Harley race inflicts is amazing and he has a beautiful pile driver. The way he rolls his pile driver to protect his opponent but still make it look devastating is a thing of beauty to watch. A bloody Flair and Race put on a classic as each man tried to wound and wear done the other so one could get the upper hand. Flair hits an awkward top rope cross body trying to avoid Gene Kiniski who is prone on the mat for a three count. This is one of my all time favorite matches. It has a little bit of everything and the fact that my boy came out on top makes it better. You can't count out the effort of Harley Race. He delivered a great heel performance in his battles with the ref and the way he put over Flair. This is a 5 star match all the way and still almost 40 years later holds up as one of the greatest of all time.
vs Dusty Rhodes, 12/17/1979 In Madison Square Garden, the 10 pounds of gold is on the line. Vince McMahon on commentary and Dusty is in rare form with some trash talking and an insane amount of charisma. The American Dream is on fire early with a little shuckin and a little jivin some flip flop and fly and a quick 2 count to fluster the champion. Rhodes counters a suplex and hits an atomic drop, after the elbow to a fallen Race then goes for a pin. Harley is pointing to his feet on the ropes so the ref can break the cover without expending any energy on a kick out. The second rope diving head butt looks devastating the way Harley does it. His knees hit the mat before he hits, then uses his knees to catapult forward driving his head into Rhodes. The match ended due to referee stoppage because of Dusty's extensive bleeding. The crowds may have given us our first ever bullsh*t chant and I'm giving this 4 stars.
and Hercules with Bobby the Brain Heenan vs Hulk Hogan and Ken Patera, June 1987. Bobby Heenan grabs the mic and tells everyone to bow to the King Harley Race. No one does so he taps the mic and asks "is this thing on". Hogan and Race start things off with the Heenan family gaining the early advantage. After a blocked suplex and a couple right hands, Hogan sends Race up and over the top rope to the floor. Hulk listens to the crowd who want Patera to enter the ring against Hercules. After a lock up Patera shoves Hercules to the corner and Race catches a backhand from his tag team partner. Hercules checks on him and Patera delivers a double noggin knocker to the heels. In the good guys corner Patera and Hogan are playing a little right hand ping pong with Hercules. Hernandez goes for the bear hug submission but Hogan fights free and gets the hot tag to Patera. Race hits a couple of suplex's for two counts as Hogan breaks them up. After a snapmare Race misses the headbutt which allows Patera to get the upper hand and eventually the tag to Hogan, The Big Boot followed by the leg drop on Race while Patera clears out Hercules. Hogan gets up and punches Heenan off the apron. Hulk and Patera deliver a double clothes line for the 3 count on Race. 3.5 stars and an excellent job by Race and Hercules getting Pantera and Hogan over.
vs Tito Santana 10/4/1986. This one is in the historic Boston Gardens. Mean Gene and Gorilla Monson are on commentary and mock "hansom" Harley Race on his way to the ring. After Tito hits Race with a couple right hands, Harley falls through the second rope and slides on his back down the ring steps. Santana has a front face lock and Harley pics him up and carries him across the ring and slams him into a corner. Heenan distracts the ref and Race uses a foreign object and his thumb to rake the eyes and gain the upper hand. Santana gains the advantage and hits a couple double noggin knockers on Heenan and Race. A low blow by the King and Race is back in charge. After a back body drop where Harley doesn't bridge the referee hits the 3 count and declares Santana the winner stating that Tito lifted his shoulder before the three count and Race did not. Excellent heel work by Race this entire match 4 Stars.
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