[1982-06-04-AJPW] Ric Flair vs Ric Steamboat

[JKWebb]

This started off kind of slow, but picked up after some hard chops and some incredible looking leap frogs from Steamboat. Nowhere near what these two guys would produce later, but cool to see this match in Japan at this time. It was good. It had its moments.

[Superstar Sleeze]

Loved those leapfrogs too! Remember when Cena had like best leapfrog in the business from 2012-2014.

 

NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair vs Ricky Steamboat - AJPW 6/4/82

 

Four days before a title defense against Jumbo in Japan, Flair has a tune-up match in Japan against his favorite opponent, Ricky Steamboat. This is the condensed sprint version of their typically classic match. Nowhere near as good as the sprint they have at Chi-Town Rumble, but I liked this a lot and am surprised it did not do well in the final rankings. The way to think about this match is instead of a heat segment with babyface hope spots. Think of it as a babyface control with heel hope spots. I think by changing that lens people will appreciate this more. Steamboat works a great headlock segment early. Once they get into the movement portion of the match, it is just beautiful. Steamboat is so fluid and Flair is so great at creating movement. He is taking ridiculous bumps to put over Steamboat's chops. Flair tries everything, running the ropes, crowding in the corner, elbows, headbutts, chops, but they are no match for THE DRAGON! Steamboat has a great babyface shine just around movement, chop variations and Flair bumping. The weakest part of the match is Flair's transitions. He will sometimes get on offense too easy like the piledriver-gutwrench or how he just trips Steamboat and wraps the leg around the post. It is too easy to get to, bit too easy to get back to Steamboat and not enough heat during his run on top. Flair's second kneedrop is caught and it is the Steamboat figure-4 to good heat. Steamboat is pretty over in All Japan. He probably could have been the new Terry Funk if he wanted to instead of going to WWF. Steamboat eats knees on his splash. But Flair cant get him up on a suplex. Flair was selling his back really well in this match especially an early atomic drop and big time suplex. Steamboat gets the press slam in motion and then a standing one. He has Flair on the ropes. Really big bumping from Flair at the end. Steamboat top rope crossbody, roll through by Flair and a victory for the champ ahead of his big title defense against Jumbo.

 

Bump n run match. A really good one that is totally action packed. Steamboat was on fire in this match and Flair was at his bumping & hollering best. Yeah Flair could have gotten more heat and Steamboat could have done more selling. It was nice to see them doing something opposite. It was a very much a greatest hits match with a lot of their common spots. No Flair Flop & No press slam off the top see Flair does not always have to get everything single spot in!!!! ****

[Zero]

Watching this after watching all the 77-78 stuff I could find between the two. A rushed version of the classic match. Steamboat's offense is really over and working in front of the Japanese crowd. I don't think I like it as much as most their stuff, but still really good.