Flair vs Martel AWA/NWA title unification part one

[peterp21]

So I've seen the AWA/NWA unification match(es) and WWF/NWA unification match(es) but did WWF/AWA ever have a unification match?

[mmscott9]

@peterp21 Bob Backlund faced Nick Bockwinkel in 1979. Haven't been able to find a video of it.

[jdbankshot]

this is absolutely priceless... two of the best ever in-ring performers at their best in a part of the world that really gets wrestling...y'all hear the pop from the crowd .30secs into the match just cuz they were actually wrestling...? magical.

[marsharent]

slow moving but very deliberate and technical wrestling. Martel was great, he was hugely entertaining as the Model but never really got his due

[blaknyte08]

When I 1st heard of this match in the mags I thought it was made up bcuz they said it was 1)in japan and 2)no American media was allowed 2 report on it. I said"hmmmmm...how convenient". Glad 2 c it actually took place. Glad 2 b able 2 c it now

[seancarletonzero]

Some fools on a wrestling forum were actually disagreeing when I said Martel is a legend. Can you believe that shit?!

[81carlos]

WOOOOOOOOO!!!!! This was better than most Wrestlemania matches I've seen. If Vince ever got another World champion to put up their title against his and on top of that have the event in Japan where matches are much more stiff and the crowd much more knowledgeable he'd be the man.

[81carlos]

WOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

[eslubin]

3:07 ding

[styx4ever1963]

Did these 2 ever wrestle in USA

[TheHulkamania94]

omg ric flair *__*

[PrestonMichaels]

Ric Flair could have beat Rick Martel hands down .

[thlap]

Flair is my fav of all time , but it always pissed me off that Martel was not given respect he was the AWA World champ people need to recognize

[buzuxi]

The first 5 minutes of this match shows the technical wrestling ability Flair possessed, being the perpetual heel in the states he was rarely allowed to display these skills. Martel was a serious wrestler unfortunately theater replaced substance in the wwe

[CadillacL]

If only the titles could've been unified. Had Verne let Hogan win the title & THEN unify them Hogan Vs Flair. That would've turn the wrestling world upside down IMO.

[catdaddy2006]

Martel vs. Flair was awesome. Two great wrestlers...as well as world champions in the same ring. Japan always had great matches that you wouldn't see here in the states.

[interstate95rocks]

Wow Rick Martel was actually a good wrestler.

[eslubin]

windsor knot special @ 9:50

[HARRYBUTOCKS]

You are correct. I've read that's exactly what killed Power USA. The promoters were accusing each other of trying to steal talent away & not dividing the profits as agreed upon.

[Buckeyecat2002]

I also noticed flair wearing his knee pads below the knee caps, as always.

[Buckeyecat2002]

Martel ranks among the best ever, in skill and experience and being a ring tactition. WWE turned him into a cartoon character, like so many others, down playing his real ability to wrestle.

[Midnighthour71]

Exactly.I always wondered why Martel didn't get the same recognition as Flair did when he went to the WWF/WWE,as a great former champion coming into another promotion to give Hulk Hogan a run for his money.Rick Martel ranked up there with Hogan and Flair as the AWA Heavyweight Champion.

[NWA1985WCCW]

Damn straight!

[NWA1985WCCW]

WWE should have been left to stand alone. It was a fad and never wanted to be part of the 'wrestling world' once Hulkamania started. Competing with it is what killed the rival organizations. And Buckeyecat2002, I could not agree more with your comment.

[miggy25]

@Buckeyecat2002 you got that right....Martel was such a skilled technician with wonderful in-ring charisma....WWE really got the least out of his vast talents that they could've....thankfully the AWA did right by him and gave him a long World title reign

[eslubin]

@miggy25 yeah and they went out of business

[phildirt3]

Buckeyecat2002 lanny poffo  says hes a heck of a great person too.

[eslubin]

@Buckeyecat2002 yeah but her got over as the model

[81carlos]

@Buckeyecat2002 Martel was good in the beginning of his run in WWE when he and Tito Santana won the World tag straps and held them for half a year. But went downhill as "The Model" after. Even WcW had enough respect for him to let him win the World TV title when he was older.

[whycantihavemyownuse]

@Buckeyecat2002 And that's the truth this is how i remember Rick Martel

[miggy25]

I would LOVE to see more of the classic title unification matches in the late-'70's - early '80's between the WWF/NWA/AWA world champs--they were all classics!.....Martel was such an underrated wrestler...he was one of the most skilled of his era

[4life1971]

damn do you have anymore title unification matchup's like this classic!?

[PsychProfessor]

What a great vid. Thanks for the upload.

[DVROFFMAN]

I hope this match eventually gets a million hits. This is really a luxury seeing something so historic. Especially between 2 great champions.

[Lfdjake91]

LOL Although I don't understand the commentary it is obvious that the commentators discuss that Gene Kiniski was the only man to ever hold both the NWA & AWA World titles. LOL

[omgwtfbbq34]

ooooo noooo as i was watching this my cinnamon twist from Shipleys's fell apart!

[skinwalkerxxx]

I'm from Rick Martel's home town so when they showed this in my hometown around that time, I was proud as Hell. I was pretty impressed by Flair too!

[blkndn305]

@3:15

GREAT wrestling sequence.

From that, you knew it was going to be a great match!!

[ogrejd]

Man, I miss pro-wrestling. That stuff we have today just can't compare.

And, man, the Japanese took their wrestling seriously - look at all of those suits and ties...

[FranklyMisterShankly]

I always thought it was classy how wrestlers were occasionally able to shake hands prior to the match in the NWA & AWA. Since the WWF/E was so insistent on the heel - face dichotomy, this kind of a gesture was *never* seen.

[kevinhardy]

great match, wish there were more like them

[Bryan8329]

Flair gets the streamers...excellent.

[actionfigures95]

loved it back then when wrestling was treated as sport in Japan.

[redwonder]

Great post! Now who has that Nick Bockwinkel vs. Ric Flair match from Winnipeg '86?

[omgwtfbbq34]

ooooo I want that one too!!

[VolumedMusicMan]

thank god vince doesn't own this!

[skinwalkerxxx]

Man I love Japan. They always took wrestling pretty seriously.

[andy7666]

Yeah, they had so much respect for wrestling back then - they still do I think and its the same with MMA. Great crowds..

[jmhood]

Sondog,Do you remember the AWA or NWA talking about this match? I don't.

[slickshapiro]

they were mentioned in some of the mags

[VolumedMusicMan]

I wish they did this in the states. Unfortunately the consortium couldn't agree with each other on a finish.

[darthchaosofrspw]

Who's that old guy at 0:09? Tally Ho Blears?

[sondog42]

Yep.

[Nurikane]

Cool! When did that title unification match happen?

[VolumedMusicMan]

It occured October 21, 1985.

[ddpryor]

I only knew him as the Model.  Great video

[blaknyte08]

this was when pro wrestling usa was in full effect brotha!! nwa & awa putting on shows together. i'm gonna stay lost in my moment because thinking of today's wrestling will just depress me.

[armandroh666]

I have this match on vhs actualy, along with 3 other Flair matches but wanted this one for Martel..great upload:)

[sondog42]

I think there's a match on the tube here with Harley Race fighting Bob Backlund in a unification title match. The quality is poor, and there is no sound, but that's the only other unification title match i've found.

[rockslord]

Oh yeah? Harley and Backlund? Good looking out man!

[redwonder]

@sondog42 The Bockwinkel v Flair match from Winnipeg is posted.

[rockslord]

Thanks!! Wait, they only had that one match at the Omni? Did they have one in Toronto at some point? I do a lot of reading on the old school wrestling..Thanks for responding!!! No footage of Champ vs Champ kinda sucks right? But thanks again anyway.

[rockslord]

That's good stuff right there my dude!!! Is there any known footage of Backlund vs Flair?Cause this is CLASSIC!! Merry Christmas to me!!! Thanks for posting

[Sargebri]

No. I asked around and there was never any footage from their classic 1982 bout at the Omni, which was supposed to unify the NWA and WWF belts. That match ended in a double countout.