NWA - Ric Flair vs. Kabuki (1983.12.12)

[@Reborn8303]

Today's wrestling fans will never understand what an art form this was

[@vincentvalenhyde]

During a time when being a World Heavyweight Champion meant defending the title from territory to territory, country to country... damn, these were the glory years of old school professional wrestling!

[@TheStuport]

***** Agrees 100 per cent!! Very thankful we have "Youber Tubers" so as we might "walk the aisle" once more and experience GREATNESS! Cheers

[@baliw33]

***** Miss those days. I grew up watching Mid-Atlantic and Georgia Championship Wrestling.

[@TheStuport]

Spoonie G Agrees.....Territory "Rasslin" was Must See TV fo sho back in the day...In my humble opinion, those were "The Golden Days" of Wrestling to be sure! Cheers Spoonie G

[@blacquesjacques7239]

I knew it was not legitbut they tried to suck you in back then by acting as though it was legit . Now wins don't matter ? Meh

[@Warchief01]

That was the best

[@daytripzip]

Kabuki showcased a great blend of martial arts and wrestling ability. Very entertaining to watch. No steroids needed.

[@conan250]

+Buck Roogle oh jesus here we go with the anti steroid bullshit!!!

[@blacquesjacques7239]

+allen collamore Whats so good about steroided wrestlers ?

[@rapcoremanx]

steroids can brings you erectional disfunction, between muscles or boners, i prefer to get hard

[@baliw33]

Mid-Atlantic Wrestling didn't take advantage of his talent. He had a feud with Jimmy"Boogie-Woogie Man" Valiant.

[@norms3913]

He was awesome when kabuki spit that green or red mist in your face

[@charleslowe2095]

This is why the nwa title was the only one that mattered, you defended it all over the world, many of the WWF so called know it all fan's were not aware of this.

[@itsjustnopinionok]

I thumbs up before i even watched it. Because i know it will be good.

[@atrainn]

Same my boy, same

[@wilbertrobles1123]

Ric defined wrestling. Hogan popularized it exponentially. I could watch Flair matches all day. Hogan's I can't stand.

[@donn409]

+phil robb I couldn't stand Flair's matches! He got disqualified more than he won and he wrestled more ham and eggers than top talent.

[@jamesdavis5154]

Granted Hogan wrestled Basic big wrestler style in WWE/F. He actually wrestled more scientically while in Japan.

[@ricflair7841]

+James Davis Wasn't he IWGP champion at one time!?

[@jamesdavis5154]

Flair was only NWA in Japan, Hogan was IWGP champion in 83, Inoki put him over strong, just like he did Vader in his NJPW debut, Inoki made Vader a instant monster with that match as Vader squasshed Inoki and the place literally rioted and Inoki was banned from can't remember which Hall it was but it was for a while.

[@jamesdavis5154]

Hey Ric sorry, thought you meant Ric Flair the wrestler in your comment.

[@brianrosenberger]

I've been listening to Gary Hart's book on youtube. The Kabuki chapter is around chapter 32,33,34. Brody brought the wrestler who became Kabuki to Hart. He was the wrestler who could envision Hart's concept and play the part. Hart agreed. The rest is history. The entire book is worth a listen.

[@brianrosenberger]

Also learned The Magic Dragon sometimes played the part. In Ga, Kabuki w/ Hart the real Kabuki. In GA, no Hart, the Magic Dragon.

[@kingofdaundaworld]

Flair was a blessing to the business he legitimized wrestling gave us the blue print for a defending champion and made everyone he stepped in the ring with look phenomenal main reason he could go territory to territory defend or drop the belt, lose by dq don't matter it would still be a great match that often defined or validated whole territories i remember the lawler videos in mid south where'd show clips of him an flair world class did the same with the kerry and flair footage.great time to had been a fan.

[@blacquesjacques7239]

Flair can't take credit for that . He was the last to do it ; not the first

[@loudenkliehr3633]

That was the model for all NWA champs until 1986, the last time the title was defended outside of Jim Crockett Promotions and Flair's 4th title reign. Wendell Cooley, Alabama State champ in the Southeastern territory. After that , except for a couple of visits to Japan and an '87 match with Top Gun in Portland, the NWA title was handled by Crockett/WCW and between his guys. The Lawler videos were from Memphis, not Mid South. But check out the Mid South DiBiase/Murdoch feud that includes a Flair title match. Great stuff! Flair covered a lot of ground in his first three runs. I think that Harley Race is the King of defending in more NWA promotions and visiting other NWA countries than the others. Might be Thesz--the prototype.

[@johnnydaggers7649]

I agree but .......unless you lived in the area or had the tv you didn't really know shit about it and had to learn stuff through the magazines at the grocery store..I live more north so until cable came to our area (80s) that was the only way I could see anything south of Memphis ..but now with the technology I'm getting to watch all the stuff I read about as a kid ..all my area got was WWF and USWA on regular tv

[@rubedogg6969]

Ric Flair and Kabuki in their prime

[@lanenordgren7641]

The great Kabuki should be in the hall of fame.

[@BigBass-xf5yi]

YES

[@user-fc3ki3gb7u]

NWA PRO WRESTLING HALL OF FAME. THE HELL WITH WWE HALL OF FAME

[@alexisnegroncom7811]

A true classic between two legends USA and Japan!!

[@patrickenglish2909]

It was a shame kabuki never became world champ, he was a rare talent, could wrestle technical, brawl, martial arts, he could so it all, think if vince McMahon would have signed him to be Hogan's nemesis, that could have been one of the greatest rivalries of all time

[@donn409]

Hulk actually wrestled Kabuki"s son, Muta in Japan and defeated him.

[@robertrodriguez787]

@@donn409 Muta was never his son . It was a Storyline they made up

[@patale1640]

I love how Kabuki punches.

[@normancarr3015]

Great match from two great legends. But its strange not to see Gary Hart in his corner

[@user-rh1by6kc6l]

全盛期のフレアーとカブキのタイトルマッチ。ドル箱カード。それを実現した、馬場の手腕もすごい。

[@hs2608]

ブッカー佐藤昭雄の功績。正にアメリカンプロレス。馬場さんが高千穂にヤキモチ焼くのもわかる。

[@sinogonoiwazuni]

馬場は凄くない。昭雄の功績。

[@user-iu4dg1jd7e]

ババ・ザ・ジャイアントに嫉妬した力道の気持ちが馬場にも少しはわかったかな

[@LongBeachCityCAJoe]

The first four mins is how you present a high caliber spectacle of a match. Good ol days.

[@biwa-nono]

初見です。 何十年も前の試合なのに、気がついたら本気でカブキさんを応援してた。

[@テリースティーブ]

もしかして、ミスター林は最初で最後のNWA戦のレフリーか？

[@shawnrobinson5000]

Kabuki is one of the greatest attractions of the 80s

[@neilgoldring4832]

AMAZING OLD SCHOOL AJPW/NWA FOOTAGE!🇯🇵🇺🇸😀❤️🏆👑⭐️

[@divastyle45ful]

Ric Flair A Legend

[@chuynunez6065]

The good old days of wrestling not the circus show WWE has today

[@1JCPromotions]

Now this is Wrestling! something that's not seen anymore. And the difference between a World Champion and a Company chump. AWA,NWA Hell I'll even give WWC credit for inter-Promotional events with Newjapan & Alljapan. Bring back wrestling not pretty boy posers holding titles because they won the popularity vote. Time to bust up the WWE machine

[@defiantone8556]

ELQPromotions While I agree with what ya said, about the only way to bust up the WWE machine is for fans to NOT go to WWE shows & NOT to buy any of their merchandise, & NOT buy any of the PPV events & in short do like I do & simply walk away from the WWE Like all company's in the world, THEY need US as the paying customers. We DON'T need them. That's why it always amazes me when I read some of the post about those who bitch about the WWE cos its like, well if its as bad as what those who watch it, says it is, why are you watching for? That's more money in Vince's pocket. Myself, I watch youtube or DVDs cos at least, Vince & his WWE circus of freaks won't get any of my money. Truth is, when the territory's died, so did wrestling. And its been downhill ever since. For wrestling to ever get back its former glory, the territory's will have to come back. Without em, we get what we have today. Luckily for me, I have youtube, my dvds & my NWA wrestling game where I'M the BOSS & I keep it OLD SCHOOL. Sure's a hell of allot better than the shit that's on TV today. But to each there own. But I DO agree with what ya said though. But the sad part is, I don't ever see it happening. Had to be honest.

[@1JCPromotions]

defiantone I agree with everything your saying so i don't need to say much I haven't seen a WWE event Since they bought WCW in fact i even stopped watching WCW after Flair was Fired and started wrestling for WWE. So in short your saying what I've been talking about for the last 5-6 years. But I will say this if One visionary who sees "wrestling" as we do as fans can also bring together Investors who'll give that vision a chance, I can see another company not Territories or Maybe smaller promotions working with that company Making Wrestling something worth watching again.

[@defiantone8556]

ELQPromotions True. But it would take allot of money & allot of backing in order to get another promotion much less another MAJOR one at that, off the ground & up & running again. And with the current state that wrestling's in, chances are, its scared away anyone who may just wanna do just that, in fear that their's, much like those before them, would collapse in which case they would lose allot of the money if not all, that they invested into it. As much as I hate to say it, I don't see wrestling ever getting back to when it was at its peak in the 80's Back then, you had all those great territory's that produced allot of great talent. Just look at all that great talent they had in World Class alone. Kamala, The Missing Link, The Irwins, Black Bart, Eddie Gilbert, Dark Journey, Missy Hyatt, (before she became one of wrestling's biggest whores for sleeping with everyone & not having no respect for herself) The Great Kabuki, The Von Erichs, Bruiser Brody, The Freebirds, Gino Hernandez, Chris Adams, & the list just goes on & on. And this in just ONE territory! And it wasn't just the wrestling that was at its peak, so were all those great Bill Apter wrestling magazines that brought all the action right to our fingertips. Plus it didn't seem to matter what part of the country you lived in, you could watch wrestling on TV every Saturday & Sunday. It REALLY was when wrestling was at its peak. Nowadays I wouldn't even crap on the product, that's how bad it is. I too, stopped watching it. I stopped watching WCW when they had this NWO cos it was the same crap every weekend. A good match in the ring & the NWO would butt in & then Sting & his bat would come down from the rafters or something. And after a while, it got to be boring as hell cos ya pretty much knew what would happen. So I turned it off. In the WWE I watched up till Steve Austin retired cos at least He was somewhat entertaining. Guess ya might say when He retired, so did I. Retired from watching that is. I'll stick to either youtube, my dvds or my NWA wrestling game where I'm the boss & can run a promotion the RIGHT way instead of that lame snooze fest of a soap opera that IS the WWE. The Hell with wrestling on TV. I'm done with it.

[@1JCPromotions]

defiantone I'm saying wrestling should be like it was back in the 80's It'll never be that way again. I'm saying a new Company. New wrestling Companies pop up all the time there a new promotion in Mexico that Rey Mysterio apart of. New Promotion pop up in Japan every year. Jeff Jarrett Just started a second from TNA. Jerry Lawler's is still going strong. So Never say Never My hopes are that we just have More Variety.

[@defiantone8556]

ELQPromotions We also had allot of variety back in the 80's along with all the territory's too. I look at wrestling in the 80's like I do the "Dead Ball" era in baseball in the early 1900's Back in those days, baseball was more centered on getting em on, getting em over, & getting em in, in terms of how runs were produced. It was baseball science or baseball old school 101 at its best. Today's game is more centered on the home run ball, which there ain't nothing wrong with that either, but its just 2 very different era's of baseball. Wrestling is the same way in that, in the 80's we had all those territory's & the rock N wrestling thing going on & what have you, to where now we have just one greedy Jackass in Vince McMahon who seems to think that all the fans seem to wanna watch or like is just his company. And that's just not the case. Not with me its not. I loved the variety we had in the 80's cos I love ALL types of wrestling & believe it or not, we use to get that on TV till the big fish (the WWE & that greedy bastard Vince McMahon) started eating the little fish. And if fans don't have the internet for the most part, all they'll be stuck with will be just the WWE for their wrestling fix. And I never said we could go back to the 80's lol But IMO what I'm saying is, for wrestling to get back on the map, we need to bring back two things. The territory's & MORE variety of wrestling (other than the WWE) back on TV Sadly though, I don't see that happening anytime soon if at all. Guess its the business side of the wrestling biz. But on the bright side, I was here to see wrestling at its peak. And its like I said, I will ALWAYS have my NWA wrestling game. I even have those jobbers that were on TBS back in the day. The Mulkey's, and Bill Tabb, Bob Cook, Doug Vines & on & on. And I have em face the stars every weekend like Sting, The Powers Of Pain, Ric Flair & the likes. And I follow that up by having the NWA go on tour every week doing house shows. I even have PPV's too. Sure brings back some great times. lol

[@seagalseagal5858]

23分過ぎブリッジワークをフレアーが何回もさせてやろうとしてるけど失敗というか出来なかったのかな。全体的に技ネタの少ないカブキを見せ場作ってあげるフレアーはやはり凄い。

[@uyahma17]

NWAのベルトカッコよすぎる。

[@teddypritchett651]

Just great old school stuff. Old School is the best school. IN the days of grab a hold not so much flipping & flying high spot's. When being champ meant something 365.

[@rapcoremanx]

i could watch old Liger, Tiger Mask II, 90's Rey Mysterio and Hayabusa all day. classic aerial wrestling is art

[@jstine7671]

Flair wrestled in Nwa against wrestlers from the 60"s who were technicians that helped him last longer and adapt to shoot & staged scripts

[@MrChristopherHaas]

I wonder what Flairs record was from 80 to 89... 30000-6?

[@user-bg1ly3bw7m]

NWAは反則勝ちではタイトル移動しないんだよな。フレアーはやっぱり上手い。あと一歩のところで、反則に逃げるとは実に試合巧者だよなぁ。

[@maruhiroya417]

翌年9月の天龍戦でも😅

[@cyrilbrown9209]

You got that right VINCENT is valentine this is real classic wrestling

[@TravisTarrant]

WOW!!! This is a treasure of wrestling :-)

[@user-th8en4bm3h]

初めからタイトル移動する可能性ゼロの 世界タイトルマッチに超満員の観客 プロレスはこれで良いですね😁

[@user-mv7bu9tn5n]

そうです。 この日は最強タッグ優勝戦が控えてました。 ベルト移動よりも華を添えたビッグマッチでしたね。 そんなビッグマッチのレフェリーがMr.林(牛之助)とは(笑)

[@erikmuniz199]

The WWE should start inducting japanese wrestlers in to the hall of fame. And the great kabuki should be the first pick for induction.

[@jamesturner4659]

Erik Muniz exactly

[@johnmorganbatneal5681]

Mr. Fuji Antonio Inoki Tatsumi Fujinami Rikidōzan Hiro Matsuda All the above are in the WWE Hall of Fame. But I am all for The Great Kabuki getting that honor. But I would imagine Giant Baba getting in before him.

[@victordelgado2128]

Not a true wrestler fan lol

[@victordelgado2128]

John morgan true wrestler

[@jstine7671]

Prof Tora Tanaka

[@DestroyingKayfabe]

this is when wrestling really meant something, no need for shitty gimmicks and awful storylines, straight to the point action.

[@Lefty-Guitar-Enthusiast]

NO gimmick?? Kabuki is wearing face paint and spits fake green mist

[@rapcoremanx]

Shibata vs Kabuki could have been a hell of a brawl

[@gildad2000]

Is this the real Kabuki or the Kazuharu sonada great kabuki?

[@user-lv5qd3jk4r]

受けるプロレスの天才同士❗️✨

[@defiantone8556]

LOL I have these two great talents in my NWA wrestling game. Great match by the way.

[@Lurvy1963]

So why wasn't there a rematch in the NWA between Ric Flair and the Great Kabuki? Seems to me this looked like another feud for the NWA World title between these two wrestlers let alone another encounter with Harley Race.

[@Dan.50]

Ric meticulously playing by the rules, and Kabui pulling every dirty trick in the book!

[@garbageday587]

Doesn't make sense 😅

[@rockytheyorky]

Kabuki was the wrestler who enabled World Class Wrestling to come to the dinner.In other words Kabuki was the wrestler who gave World Class the status to become a main force and become what they were Big Tine.

[@blacquesjacques7239]

Before the Von Erichs , after he did not factor much

[@dexterglade8834]

gee, flair didn't poke chin in the eyes one single time. Never have seen a flair match when he didn't gouge his opponent's eyes.

[@victordelgado2128]

He knew he couls wrestle before he started playing dirty once he knew everyone was younger faster. And he was aging xF

[@victordelgado2128]

XD

[@victordelgado2128]

Or maybe triple h told em poke em in the eye fuck it lol

[@user-fc3ki3gb7u]

LOVE NWA PRO WRESTLING &ALL JAPAN PRO WRESTLING

[@box5bastard277]

By the way how do you define Kabuki's shape? Always thought wtf as a kid yell

[@wilsonbettis9461]

A freaking classic!

[@bladerunner5554]

If I ever attempted to do the "Flair flop"I'm sure I would end up with a broken nose and a face full of blood..maybe a concussion.

[@tankthomas4427]

"It looked like the great kabuki got pissed with the referee!"

[@michaelpeacestewart]

16.40 the speed of those strikes from kabuki are awesome

[@C_mao]

OH, HE GOT HIM WITH THE GREEN MIST!! THE, GREEN, MIST!!! (: Jim Ross' voice would'v been perfect for this match-up (different era of commentating, i know) Steve Stacks of South-West-C-W, also had that excitable commentating style. No way i'm not clicking on Flair vs Kabuki !

[@nizamnizam5540]

THE BEST OF CHANNEL

[@med1965]

Jim Crockett Jr = The Cauldron Of Charisma !!!!!!

[@jeffreycollier4220]

The Great Muta old man

[@CaliforniaBear619]

I would have loved this match in the United States back then.

[@norms3913]

I think flair wrestled the great muta with Gary hart in the wcw days

[@hhh123837]

Let no one ever say that Flair never did jobs!!! :)

[@blacquesjacques7239]

Ric Flaironly won 16matches after 1981 . They were championship challenges all .

[@norms3913]

The great kabuki was awesome he did that spin then spit that colored mist in your face

[@swolepatrol2139]

Longest match of Kabuki career

[@arthro9259]

I never knew these two wrestled each other.

[@jesusolague4748]

The great Kabuki, great in wrestling and martial arts.

[@errolwaguespack7196]

wow this is a great wrestling match.

[@danielhunt813]

Ric is thinking dusty should be doing this lol

[@rustykuntz94]

Oh Kabookie!!! Are you a assassin Kabookie?

[@jamesfloyd6532]

Nick and Matt Jackson, are the best aerial workers

[@hiro33698]

ミスター林、空気のような存在

[@jesusolague4748]

Rick flair as champion will top the main event almost everyday, nowadays the champion would only wrestle most of the time on ppvs, once a month or so. I'll say their always on vacation.

[@ovidorion437]

So what the heck happened? Flair just grabbed his belt and walked away? Countout?

[@scottpc22]

Ovid Orion Flair was disqualified for shoving the ref

[@divastyle45ful]

Their bodies were natural back then not all pumped full of steroids like most of the wrestler's today.

[@axlrose7668]

Especially kabuki, not even any vegetables.

[@ミート-k1u]

カブキ選手、最後お腹に血が流れていたけど、どこで切れたんだろう？ 当時、現場にいたけど未だに謎。

[@victordelgado2128]

Heard it in every differnt language spanish is the best at announcement sounds hilarious like their commentary

[@PropheticEclipses]

At the End the great kabuki sprayed the venom but the green mist never came out and Ric Flair was acting like he got sprayed then realizing his face is not green

[@robhicks2117]

The mist was red.

[@javtimestwo]

@@robhicks2117 I saw the same red mist but when did Kabuki have time to prepare the mist?

[@curtisbell1707]

Love Kabuki Arts😊

[@ludicrous7044]

The GREAT Kabuki-Has to blind his opponent to win!!😖🧑‍🦯

[@brianrosenberger]

Anyone know the entire card and if this was the Main Event?

[@bucknaked311]

Wow both these guys mailed it in

[@kennybounds923]

this is pre-bump on the back ric flair & 1 of my favorites the GREAT KABUKI ... HOW DO YOU REPLY ON THIS NEW SYSTEM OF THINGS U TUBE ? ...

[@sofiarune3124]

Lol

[@m5570]

Is that actually the Great Kabuki or Magic Dragon playing Kabuki?

[@mercyfulfrost2831]

100% the real Kabuki. Big fan of Magic Dragon though and his Prof. Sonoda persona.

[@GOTHAMチャンネル]

身体付きからすると、フレアーはこの頃が全盛期だと思う

[@summerfield4752]

I never knew Ric Flair wrestled the little girl from The Ring

[@charternicholson9933]

That was funny

[@axlrose7668]

Kabuki has the body of the average Baird man.

[@briansmith6103]

Flair could adapt to who he wrestled . Hogan couldn't !!

[@donn409]

HOGSHIT!

[@BigBass-xf5yi]

Great match. But as always in Japan, these matches almost always ended in a DQ,count out or a lapsed time limit.

[@errolwaguespack7196]

Kabuki the human dragon.

[@kevinaraujo4945]

Half hour match and then flair tosses Japanese referee that is disrespectful. He then grabs his belt and goes home. I'm surprised there was no riot.

[@user-mt4vk2ff7t]

いい試合だ😮

[@ThailandDantotherescue]

Wow, I grew up watching Kabuki in World class, georgia and florida. I am not used to seeing him shake hands and not flip the f#%k out and spin around in circles. No Gary Hart, no green mist display, no weapons... I guess the Japan audience have different tastes, or they would all run out of the arena screaming if he did his normal gimmick...

[@VolumedMusicMan]

Fresh right from Starcade 83’.

[@faithebere998]

I like kabuki

[@jw-lk1pe]

incredible to me how high the interest level is on a "sport" that is not real

[@ensabahnur7657]

Yes the Mist right in the face!

[@英宗藤山]

すばらしいNWAルール。

[@伊村真嗣]

レフェリーが第２の敵という類稀なるギミック

[@user-fc3ki3gb7u]

Absolutely 💯

[@MGarrette]

Ric should have dropped the Title to Kabuki at least once

[@victordelgado2128]

Thr great khalid looks exactly like kabuki, but kabuko has amazing reach and knows how to use his legs and hes really fast

[@MrBAMAFANATIC]

With boy wrestlers not being fan favorites, they couldn't mention this on NWA. But, where is Gary Hart?

[@norms3913]

I think is before Gary hart came along

[@lifehappy183]

26:50から仕込みタイム（笑）子供ながらにわざと場外に落ちたカブキに選手が群がったのかちょっと不思議でした。

[@williamamo5579]

Flair selling the love handle hold

[@montecarlo4294]

Was Eric Bischoff there back then?

[@ryanlutz1357]

Me Goofy no he wasn't.

[@user-fc3ki3gb7u]

No thank GOD

[@Chaibei]

牛之介が好き！

[@fredtoddism1649]

So this is The Great Must've dad ?

[@pyu3788]

Fred Toddism Yes, Fake dad.

[@undrajohnson8325]

Best flair match ever

[@tukikagehyougoful]

当時…向こうでもドル箱カード…！！当時のＮＷＡの大プロモーター…ジムクロケットJrが立ち会うぐらいだから！！

[@48323652]

NWA世界選手権のレフェリーは、やっぱりジョー樋口でないとダメだな。ミスター林のレフェリングレベルは素人に毛が生えたようなもんだったから。レフェリーがミスター林だと本当にレフェリングが下手糞過ぎて、どの試合も暗い感じで締まりが出ないんだよな。

[@maruhiroya417]

京平さん共々女子プロで失敗😂😂😂