Ric Flair fights Ricky Morton in Street clothes

[pipesmoker76]

i miss wrestling like this JIM CROCKETT WHERE ARE YOU ??

[dinolast]

Wow listen to the crowd screaming the house down. There must be 10 times as many people at a WWE broadcast, and most times it's so dead you could probably hear a mouse fart at the back row of the arena

[mixer549]

morton i heard from the boys that he used to give ric flair blow jobs

[Rocksteddybelmont]

morton got over huge

[mxaxnxo]

@BombsOverMyHouse bcoz its ric flair vs ric flair but one is underrted other is overrated.

[mxaxnxo]

@BombsOverMyHouse bcoz its ric flair vs ric flair but one is underrted other is overrated.

[ccalll1]

@pajmf I go back to that part every time be lmaf, I'm like this guy must be commentary another match, I think he's met it, that is so funny.

[MrCopo427]

what was that move at 1:36

[elcidviscoso]

Man those guys could put on a great show. Thanks for posting this.

[pajmf]

"Ric Flair, I think you met it. You've got it. Just think about it."

David Crockett is a modern day Shakespeare.

[LumpyAdams]

Listen to that fucking crowd...that is as loud as any crowd in WWE I've heard in a long, long time.

[largelester]

Morton was a draw because the R&R express was a great tag team. Flair didn't put anyone over, he defended and promoted the title throughout the territories and around the world on a hectic schedule against the best wrestlers day in and day out. "To be the Man, you got to beat the Man! Whooow!!"

[njsps72]

That pop was fake lol. Sounds like the crowd noise from those Beatles videos when they came to America lol. They always pumped noise into the arena.

[binka21]

@njsps72 That noise wasn't fake. I grew up watching this rivalry and it was intense. People really were pulling for Ricky Morton to whip Flair's ass from all the stuff the 4 horsemen did to the Rock n' Roll Express.

[njsps72]

Morton beating Flair for the belt would've been the same as when Tommy Rich beat Harley Race. Scratch your head, and ask yoirself how did that happen? Lol

[cpqarray]

Wow I've forgotten what a real pop sounded like.

[mintedllama]

The place just fucking exploded. That's what I miss about wrestling, the crowds will never be the same no matter what crazy shit they come up with.

[Darkyodajedi]

I didn't see this particular match live, but at another in Gainesville Ga where they fought and it was louder than any concert I've been to, these feuds are when Wrasslin was awesome, and not sports entertainment or whatever wwe calls it these days...

[hawkinn39]

That fact Ric made Ricky Morton seem like a legit threat is a miracle. The list of guys who owe MILLIONS to Ric getting them over is endless.

[binka21]

@hawkinn39 ya but you're not giving enough credit to Ricky Morton.  It was his personality and determination that got him where he did. If Morton got a shot at the title it wasn't bcuz Flair chose him at random. Think about that. Morton was a top player in the game.

[brnleague99]

Naitch! God he is the man!

[SulMonee]

@BombsOverMyHouse AMEN!!! WWE even with larger crowds could never be that loud!!

[eslubin]

Ricky Morton is the greatest of all time

[bull864]

WOW! It just doesn't get any better than Jim Crockett Promotions in the mid 80's!

[mamacornettesmoney]

@jaymr They were just as over in Mid-South in 84-8, too. As hot as anything the area has ever seen, including JYD who was Hogan over in this area..

[flipgood89]

Too bad flair was such an egomaniac that wouldnt job the title. Morton deserved the belt.

[mamacornettesmoney]

@flipgood89 LOL that wasn't the case at all. Flair would have dropped it to Morton, but that would have been TERRIBLE booking. As hot as the RnR was at this time, no one would have bought this little spaghetti armed hick as a World Hvywt Champ. And it wasn't flair's call. it was Dusty Rhodes' call. Flair is the one who talked them into letting him feud with Morton, whom he loved, in the first place.

[mamacornettesmoney]

@flipgood89 Flair dropped the belt several times. he had no problem at all getting someone else over. But they didn't just pu tthe belt on every popular wrestler back then. it still really meant something to be the champ.

[flipgood89]

@mamacornettesmoney ...I feel you. I disagree, tho. I think Flair played politics and his stranglehold on the title from 83-91 was to the detriment of the territory. He rarely gets called on it

[mamacornettesmoney]

@flipgood89 Politics or not, it wasn't Flair's call as to who was champ (at least until late 88 or so when he and Rhodes had a big power struggle) and he was always more than willing to put others over. He was also BY FAR the most marketable star they had (Rhodes was the only one close - and the Road Warriors - but he was getting old and the fans were steadily turning on him in favor of Flair and the Horsemen). But Rhodes booked Flair as a cowardly, weak champ from 85/86-88.

[TheLeroyMoon]

@flipgood89 Flair's "stranglehold" was due more to default than any ploy by Flair. I think he would've liked more breaks from the grueling schedule of a traveling champ, but who would've worn the belt? Magnum was injured; Von Erich was a junkie; RIch was only jailbait for Jim Barnett; Steamboat, Orndorff & Piper left for the WWF; Brody was a loose cannon; Rhodes...please. If fault anyone for monopolizing the belt, fault the Crocketts for negotiating to keep it on their boy.

[flipgood89]

@TheLeroyMoon ....he should have dropped the belt to either luger or or windham in 88....in any event, flair was a politician like everyone else in wrestling. he wasnt some saint, for sure.

[TheLeroyMoon]

@flipgood89 I agree: Flair's no saint. Since a traveling champ needs to be able to have a good match with anyone, I doubt Luger would've lasted. A few bad performances from him & the NWA would've dumped the belt back on Flair. Windham, however.... I've been a fan of his since his Blackjack Mulligan Jr. days. Unfortunately, the NWA never seemed interested in a big man (Windham), small man (Morton), or a niche(Missing Link) wrestler for champ; they mostly wanted that middle ground guy.

[flipgood89]

@TheLeroyMoon oh no, i agree with you that flair was the right guy as a traveling, territory champ. But by 88, the NWA was trying to go national. Luger was one of the few nwa guys with mainstream appeal and yet flair was beating him time after time...

[mamacornettesmoney]

@flipgood89 Also, Flair jobbed the title SEVERAL times. He basically made management allow him to drop it to Steamboat and then Sting. And had also dropped it to Race, Rhodes, Kerry Von Erich, even RONNIE GARVIN!

[flipgood89]

@mamacornettesmoney ...see thats where I disagree with you. Flair definitely had power. I think Meltzer tried to float this idea that Flair was this innocent victim of politics, but many wrestlers are on record confirming Flair's selfishness. If you notice all those "jobs" that u listed (Garvin, Rhodes, Kerry) Flair got the belt back within weeks. Thats not a job, thats just a ploy to build interest in Flair getting the belt back. Flair dominated the NWA.

[mamacornettesmoney]

@flipgood89 He did dominate the NWA, and yes he definitely wanted to be champ, but he WAS the top guy they had. If they wanted someone else to be champ, they easily could have done it. Who else could have been as good a long term champ as Flair? And how did flair not put others over? He did TOO MUCH of that, IMO. I think he should have been booked a lot stronger post-85.

[flipgood89]

@mamacornettesmoney ...why should he have been booked stronger? He was a heel. Over in the WWF, you had good triumphing over evil, with Hogan. But in the NWA you had the heel getting over and outsmarting every hero time and time again. Fans obviously got sick of that. Flair was a talent, but IMO his dominance killed the NWA. I feel he wielded his power to lord over the other talent, knowing the NWA couldnt afford to lose him to the WWF.

[mamacornettesmoney]

@flipgood89 Easy way to fix that. Turn him back babyface like he was before rhodes flipped him and put him with what became the Horsemen. I think he should have been a strong babyface champ. NWA needed that. Dusty was too old and fat to be the long erm answer for that. Maybe Magnum, but then he got hurt.

Again, I don't think "Flair" was the problem, but the was he was used and booked was.

[flipgood89]

Do you hear that crowd...1986 was definitely the peak year for the NWA. Those crowds were amazing!

[TheWholeYearInn]

Good God, I’ve never seen a crowd go that nuts.

[eslubin]

what a fight!

[theaikikid]

Man, how many sets of clothes did Flair ruin with these type of angles?

[mamacornettesmoney]

@theaikikid Expensive clothes too!

[RSXemperor]

Ricky Morton was one of best workers in N. America at this time. Only rivaled by Dynamite Kid, Flair, Savage and Steamboat. This whole feud is a example of how unselfish Flair was in making guys look good unlike a certain son in law in a large modern wrestling company. Ricky Morton's push and popularity was the equivalent of Kofi Kingston and Jeff Hardy's success today.

[ilovejourney1]

@RSXemperor No Ricky morton, No Shawn Michaels

[starwars518]

Wow just listen to that crowd

[dennisbergkamp17]

What a great time for wrestling. The crowd was so hyped, it made it more fun to watch when the crowd is into it.

[eastwood13]

Crocket deserves a slap for that...it was two count!

[eslubin]

that place literally came apart. you'll never see crowd reaction like that ever again. not stone cold, no one. no male fans can generate the unbridled adulation southern girls had for the rock and roll

[frogca1]

I remember watching this when I was in college in North Carolina.

[gamehound83]

Tell what was it like having Flair near you?

[mikeferr107]

That certainly got some loud crowd response. Thanks for sharing the great footage.

[stoningtonj]

i dare you to show me a louder pop in wrestling than when morton fought flair..

[ad1997]

ricks lookin big with shirt off

[metallicafanga]

YOU OR RIGHT

[mathproof]

They really know how to get the crowd involved.

[ronschaf1]

The flops that Flair does are hysterical. Awesome!

[BassFace2008]

Thats part of Flair's greatness. Not only was he a technician in the ring, but he sold his opponents better than anyone.

[punky7dunk333]

legit tough guy? Hey, action stars in movies are not legit either but its about entertainment. Besides, haven't the MMA world taught us, that its the small non steroid guys that would whoop ur ass quicker than a NY minute. Did you not see the UFC's David vs Goliath? Tuff guys are not always muscular freaks.

[flaglerbob]

What always bothered me about Morton was that I never believed that he was a legit tough guy. Him beating up people was just unbelievable.

[binka21]

i see what your saying. in my opinion though i think the fact that he was possibly the smallest guy in wrestling and took so many hits from the bigger wrestlers is pretty amazing. i mean he's got to be tough to hang with the big boys ya know? but i see what your saying too.

[vefve]

youll never see wrestling intensitey like this anymore:(

[stromedia1]

So miss the excitement in the crowds back then. Wrestling was hot!

[Mp25DIII]

Watching this, I honestly think they should have given Morton a title win over Flair. He may have been more over than Hogan at this point. You wonder what could have possibly have stood between him and the title and then at 2:40, you see why-

[marathonriverrat]

how many guys did ric flair teach to make money? The list is long and impressive isnt it. you could go on for hours naming them i could anyway. long live the nature boy wooooooooooooooooo

[mamacornettesmoney]

Flair was great, but he sure didn't teach Morton how to make money. Morton was a prime cause for record gates throughout 84 in Mid-South before he came to JCP. R n R was drawing big money and superhot reactions for many months before he hooked up with Morton too. R n R was one of the biggest draws in the country for at least 2 years before facing Flair.

[tpierce625]

Was this before or after, the Horsemen broke Ricky Morton's nose?

[TheJman2600]

Once again, Flair making his opponent look like a million bucks.

[RicarloBartalucci]

These were the good old days when the wrestling was pure.

[marathonriverrat]

i remember when ricky morton started in memphis. his dad paul was a ref there.

[themightycelestial]

Rock 'N' Roll, daddy!

[allstarjeff1]

I have no idea why Flair always put ricky morton over....he did it every time

[ashleybound]

He did it because he saw Morton as a true wrestler and a worker. He said himself that wrestling Morton didnt seem like work. He wrestled Morton in 11 1-hour matches in 1987. I wish Morton would have split from Robert Gibson, like Micheals did with Janetty. No Disrespect to either Gibson or Jannety but Micheals and Morton were destined as singles stars. Unfortunatley, Ricky didnt want to leave Robert

[ia74me]

You know it would've been interesting to see Ricky get the legit singles push the way Michaels did.

[ashleybound]

Oh I agree. I have nothing against Robert Gibson or Marty Janetty but Ricky I think could have carried the gold

[qux55]

heh, i remember the wwe had crowds that were consistently in this range all the way up until Royal Rumble 96, Vince was on headset and was dumbfounded when they didn't have cheers like they had had the past 20 some years and on the preshow actually "apologized for audio difficulties". The "difficulties" continued until the Attitude era, and they might as well apologize for every Raw and Smackdown today. If someone else goes bigtime (ROH, TNA), WWE is bankrupt in 10 years tops, and I can't wait.

[all028]

I think Bret Hart said it the best in an interview: "There was a leaked internal memo from Vince Mcmahon telling his employees that they were selling entertainment not wrestling." This is the reason why the fans dump on wrestling these days because you are watching something else...not wrestling.

[Starsky5000]

I used to a be HUGE wrestlig fan in the 1980s & 90s. But I haven't watched the stuff in over 5+ years. I feel the magic is gone.

[phillynutz]

check out 1:55 flair tells rick what to do

[wtcvidman]

Damn, listen to that crowd. What a pop. This was a really good feud.

[hayseed6969]

the wwf always sucked,,,,,nothin better than charlotte ,greensboro and richmond,,those were the days,,,,8 to 15 dollar tickets,,,,that was one smooth single leg takedown by morton!

[wtcvidman]

I really liked the WWF until 1993, when they brought in wrestlers like Doink. I was able to watch it but enjoyed it much less, then even less in 1994. By 1995 I stopped watching. I really started getting into WCW in 1992. I wish I had cable so I could have seen WCW Saturday Night & WCW Main Event (also WCW Pro/WCW Power Hour, WCW Prime and the Clashes). I caught them occasionally when I was at someone's place who had cable. My grandfather taped me all the Clashes starting with the 6/94 Clash.

[hayseed6969]

what was really good was when the nwa came on in the ealy 80's @ 330 pm...that was good stuff

[Starsky5000]

Yeh i remember this too. AWESOME stuff. The BEST time to be a wrestling fan. I went crazy.

[wtcvidman]

The thing with WCW is that it was always good, unlike WWF which sucked in the 90's & ever since. Back in the days of this feud, every wrestling organization was not only watchable, but enjoyable. I have stuff from Portland, WCCW, UWF, Mid South, etc and they were all good. The last organization I really got into was NWA Wildside in 2001 (now known as NWA Anarchy), which isn't on in my area anymore. They had an incredible assortment of talent back then.

[smoothpants]

Man, listen to that crowd heat! Incredible!

[Jessman46205]

It's magic man. I often said as far as pro wrestling goes "it's not the size of the crowd, it's the size of the pop. Wish we had wrestling like this.

[eslubin]

@Jessman46205 thats easy for a fan to say when its not your money on the line

[mmangum4444]

@Jessman46205

so true! I wish I had the money to bankroll a wrestling federation. This would be the way to win fans over!

Not that crap we see on TV nowadays...

[nwapro1]

I saw Flair and Morton wrestle in 1986 during the Great American Bash tour in Greenville, SC. They brought the house down. I was glad, being a Flair fan, that Ric beat him cleanly in one of their final matches that summer. I remember them going at it for almost 30 minutes. The R&R were great during the 80's and Flair could make anyone look like a champion...what great memories

[MrConservativeGuy]

The good old days of wrestling. I can't think of a better era of pro wrestling than this!

[shue3303]

I don't think Flair was the best worker by a long shot, but he sold really well there's no doubt there!

[broux77]

no wrestler in wrestling history has ever won the championship belt more than Ric Flair. Hes the the greatest has even been.

[Sargebri]

This was such a classic feud. It pretty much was supposed to build Morton up as a single. However, Morton soon went back with Robert Gibson and resumed one of the greatest teams of the eighties.

[palmettoparrots]

Good lord listen to the girls going wild. Morton was the KING of the babyface comeback. He did it so well, the kayfab term is now named after.

Also, Dusty simply had to be involved in EVERY F-ING FUED back then. The Russians, RNR Express, Ric Flair, Paul Jones, Magnum TA, etc. No one got the rub without Dusty standing next to them. You can tell ole' Virgil had book back then. It reminds me of HHH in WWE.

[Lannis32]

Exactly. What the hell did Dusty Rhodes have to do with that feud? That Morton/Flair feud was building up to be a classic before Dusty interfered.

[rudedog4d]

I agree with both of you.

[bull864]

Best comment I have read in a while. You hit the nail on the head.

[CoryByrd2006]

Do you have the clip that Anderson Blanchard and Flair beat the shit out of the R&R Express in the Omni? That was the part that lead to the GAB tour 86

[bull864]

I don't have that. Is that the one where flair rubbed his face in the concrete?

[CoryByrd2006]

Yes it was and that was what made that feud really take off

[CenterOpposite]

They show of clip of that on Flair's Definitive Collection DVD.

[TheJman2600]

Dusty insisted the heels say he was their toughest opponent, was so insanely jealous of The Road Warriors' popularity he put himself with them, threatened to cut PWI and its related mags off if he wasn't named Most Popular in 1987, put himself over Big Bubba Rogers clean when Bubba was being pushed as unstoppable...oh yeah, and convinced Jim Herd WCW didn't need Ric Flair. Feel free to add any that I missed.

[bjohns1975]

You're absolutely right.

Dusty was the booker from '85 to '88 & he was constantly booking himself as Flair's #1 contender long after the fans stopped caring about Dusty. He also kept Flair on an embarrassing DQ losing streak & used other variations of the Dusty Finish to make Flair look weak. When somebody else (e.g. the Road Warriors) became the top babyface, 'ol Dusty would book himself w/ that babyface to try & steal their pops. Dusty was jealous of anybody who got more attention than him.

[dmaverick72]

How DARE that punk Morton rip the Nature Boy's shirt WHICH

costs more than his entire wardrobe!!

[mgates55]

david crockett was such a face dickrider the best was when nikita fucked him up

[bigbostonfan]

When did that happen to Crocket? If you have it, can you post it?

[mgates55]

I don't have it but nikita did an interview him and uncle ivan and he cicled david crockett and he was "hurt"for a few weeks thats when flair stepped up and wanted to fight nikita for assaulting his friend david crokett it w as around 85 or so I don't have it or I woul dhave posted it.I remebr when it happened but just saw a reply on wwe 24/7 a few months ago

[bigbostonfan]

I can't believe I missed it, but that sounds like it would have been fun to watch.

[johnsonbobbob]

that was fun

[bengalboi77]

Robert Gibson is my cousin. i miss the wrestling of those days. i remember we used to have a house full on saturdays when i was a kid to watch nwa and wccw wrestling. its nothing like it used to be. too much of a soap opera now.

[ladsk]

Flair was just too generous, putting over itty bitty ricky like that... And then, he put over itty bitty ricky's CLONE over too: shawn michaels!!!

[dooktango]

damn i miss those days of "rasslin"

[jhericurl85]

tony shiavonne was a better announcer than david crocket. Where is tony anyways?

[bull864]

He is actually working for a radio station in atlanta doing braves updates, etc.

[darkglasses]

damn, sounds like a beatles concert or something lol.

[holidayrap]

Shawn Michaels team "The mid-night rockers" STOLE so much of their gimmick from Ricky Morton's team "Rock and Roll express"!! Holy cow!

[kndrd169]

No one seemed to have a problem with it, so who cares?

[thethirdmovement]

sooo stupid

[kndrd169]

What do you mean stupid? Are you out of your mind?

[thethirdmovement]

lol no im not , but these wwf fights are just crap and fake, ive i wanna watch good fight i watch a real one ;)

[Lannis32]

Hey dumbass that wasn't the WWF it was the NWA. If you don't like this why the hell are you on here bitching about it?

[stoningtonj]

Flair vs Morton was a great fued in 86

[Squwab]

wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­oooooo

[kndrd169]

I second that motion!!!

[dougboyd1963]

This was back when wrestling was fun...Now it's simply garbage. Flair was a blast.

[dmaverick72]

Anybody know what happened to David Flair? FORGIVE ME RICK but the boy has ZERO charisma. IT kinda of like watching Julian Lennon on stage!

[razoramon989]

Got his ass kicked by Undertaker a few times while Ric Flair and 'Taker were feuding in '02. Occasionaly works on some indie wrestling circuits

[Lannis32]

What the hell are you talking about?

[razoramon989]

response to someone about whatever happened to Ric's son David Flair

[Lannis32]

My bad!

[sm7273]

Mullet wrestling at its best!!!

[dmaverick72]

No matter what decade ,or what genre of wrestler, in what organization, rick flair will be there and he will get his hands on the World title! THE DIRTEST PLAYER IN THE GAME! Remember that kids!

[cheatingwanker]

its all fake anyway!

[kndrd169]

No shit, sherlock.

[kndrd169]

Get a life.

[bigc1966]

Oh my the memories - thanks for the post.

[bofatico]

Great posting...brings back memories!!

[RutgersKev]

The world champ, the greatest wrestler of his generation, and he puts over a member of a Tag-Team. Lets see HHH do that.

[MatthewWolverine]

Morton was considered one of the greatest in-ring workers of his generation.

[JuliusC1973]

David Crockett made no bones about rooting for the "Good Guys" and booing the bad guys. That's why Nikita Koloff gave him a Russian Sickle and David had to wear a cervical collar that time.

[zisul]

This is clssic heat.It shows that RIC FLAIR did not

need the horsemen,Mortin hides behind DUSTY and crew.

SOLIE,ROSS,RUSSLE,RENNER,MERSE­R & LAWRANCE would have

sold the FLAIR,Mortin angle better than crockett.

[statue75]

Dear God, do they ever stop screaming? Oh wait, this is 1986 and this is Ricky Morton...of COURSE they don't

[dmaverick72]

You think you that's bad! I grew up in Von'Erich country in the 80's! A man couldn't watch RASSILN without ear plugs! They leave and here comes Shaun Michaels GOD!

[JasonBassn]

David Crocket....this man had the most amazing ability to take anything exciting, and essentially render it lame by simply opening his mouth.  My god, he was the worst announcer in the history of the business.

[jhodges72]

agree 100 percent

[bcarlson33]

You're forgetting Mr. Pettengill.

[JasonBassn]

Crocket vs. Pettingill; damn, I don't know. I think I'll stick to Crocket being the worst, simply because he actually grew up in the business, and was still that horrible. Sort of like Greg Gagne. Pettingill - I don't know what in the hell he was, or where he came from.

[ed2kou1]

great post,look forward to seeing more wooooooo!