Ric Flair on HOW he became NWA champion

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[@allenvaden1292]

Mid- Atlantic area during late 70s thru the 80s was the greatest roster of wrestlers of any era, any time. Some Flair didn't mention were Nikita and Ivan Koloff, Rock n roll express, Sgt Slaughter and his privates, Jimmy Valiant, Austin Idol, Ox Baker, The Anderson Brothers, Adrian Street, Joe Leduc, Kabuki, Midnight Express with Jim Cornette, Barry Windham, Mike Rotundo, Abdullah the Butcher, Manny Fernandez, Tully Blanchard, Magnum T. A. Superstar Graham, Buzz Tyler, Baron von Rashke, Paul, Orndorff, Jimmy Snuka, Angelo Mosca, Kevin Sullivan, Barbarian, Ernie Ladd, Jhon Studd, Ken Patera, Bobby Duncum, Bugsy McGraw, Thunderbolt Patterson, Eddie Gilbert and lots more.

[@MrSmitty1074]

Yep. It was a hot territory without the clown crap.

[@dante666jt]

Woooooooo

[@Jesusholmes64]

Greatest roster of Men

[@YoNickSoko]

Who was better tho? Sgt Slaughter and his privates or Ric Flair and his privates?

[@Bushmaster10MM]

@@MrSmitty1074 I.E... Boogie man Jimmy Valiant !

[@cstomp1]

For all of Flair's bragging, he's truly a humble guy. A living legend.

[@uncledrosselmeyer6480]

Flair is a clown, no one ever liked him. Jealous, bitter goof

[@lonerangersheriff]

I’m almost 60! I was watching all these dudes live! Boy Ric Flair was the very best, none better ever! Woooooooo!

[@lonerangersheriff]

Billy Superstar Graham and Rowdy Roddy Piper were great too!

[@uncledrosselmeyer6480]

@@lonerangersheriff flair was a total goof. No one ever respected him, no one has anything good to say about him, and what Guys like Steiner have said is who he really is: an ugIy, jealous, bitter, miserable clown who did nothing but politic & hold the young guys down. Zenk tells the story about how flair used to tell girls at bars that he (Zenk) & Pillman were married men, so they wouldn’t be able to pick up girls. He did the same thing to Roma, who he was absurdly envious of. The guy is a complete joke of a person, a sham

[@cstomp1]

@@uncledrosselmeyer6480 if true, what does Flair cock blocking have to do with him as a wrestler?

[@xemera1d]

Just to clarify: Three Kings Day is Jan 6. We celebrate christmas until the 14th. Love the content Nature Boy. Greetings from Puerto Rico.

[@charternicholson9933]

Mark you are so great. You do not jump in you just listen. You stick the bait out there and he just tells it. Thanks for this ...Ric is a historic person that I believe will in infamy

[@OldieWan]

Thank you for sharing Ric. These are the only videos on this platform that I just let the video ads play out. Anything I can do to help give back to a living legend is worth my time.

[@SuperStormyNormy]

I’m live in Kansas, no offense taken, we understand. But when you get old it’s really pretty good.

[@RattlerPiratesMusic]

I’m glad to be following ric flair to this point in winter 2021 into 2020

[@UTINNI_36]

How do you time travel?

[@ReeseMan]

Ric flair the 👑 jewel of pro wrestling

[@gregorykrug8034]

I heard Ole Anderson say in an interview that Flair became champ because Ole was sick of him and agreed to let him to leave his territory. I am paraphrasing and Ole's memory is not what it used to be.

[@THEBANDIT7979]

Love listening to flair talk abut the business. The man is the business. Godbless him.

[@carolinebrown8965]

Flair is still the best - nobody has ever topped him !

[@walterbrown2997]

STILL the dirtiest player in the GAME ALL HAIL THE LEADER OF 🐎 !

[@TheHypnoManNation]

*_Woooooo!!_*

[@angelvalle9963]

Ric played the politics better then any of them he was as tough in the ring as he was out of it.

[@armandop9082]

David Von Erich passing away changed the course of history in the nwa and wwf , had he lived hed have been nwa champ and sooner or later Vince wouldve brought him in to challenge Hogan in wwf , Magnum T.A. car accident also changed things hed have been nwa champ as well and gotten a run in wwf also.

[@Jim-Tuner]

The story is that he got in a close vote of the NWA board. Like by one vote. Crockett was obviously for him. Ole Anderson has said he was for him because he believed Flair worked better as an infrequent attraction than a weekly wrestler in the Carolinas at the time. St. Louis and the associated territories would have been for Ted. Florida would probably have gone with Flair. WCCW (Fritz Von Erich) considered whoever was made champion a transitional champion on the way to one of his sons getting it. Flair was never thought of as a long-term champion in the NWA when they made him champion. It just worked out that way because of all the changes in wrestling and the demise of the territories.

[@chrischar9428]

Muchnick liked Flair. He said DiBiase had a soft ear

[@SheltonHull]

Finally got to meet him yesterday. One of the greatest moments in my life!

[@DIllonthablazer11]

Ric flair big fan here!! Woooo

[@josegarcia5679]

Ric , you may not know but Carlos Colon is been diagnosed with The Parkinson Disease, barely can talk, his son's ( including Carlito Caribbean Cool and Primo ) are working his share of the promotion they have in Puerto Rico along with an old Victor Jovica.

[@christhornycroft3686]

Flair was the polar opposite of Hogan. You don't win the World Title 16 times or more because you aren't putting other guys over. But they booked Ric right enough times that when he did drop the title to someone, it meant something. He was the kind of wrestler who made himself and the other guy look good at the same time. I would have loved to have seen Pillman Vs Flair for the World Title at Starrcade. Or a series of matches, with Brian winning in the end, because as a veteran, that's what you do. Your job is to maintain your status as a top guy while elevating younger talent up the card. Flair was excellent at that in his day, if he thought you earned it. He was never like the Kliq or Hogan. He was always a professional who did what was right for business. He could easily be remembered as a politicker, but instead, he has a pretty solid in ring legacy.

[@davidfrederick6003]

Does this show take fan questions? It wasnt a question I sent via twitter and email but I believe Ric will love since it was personally written and 30+ years old now. A poem.

[@flamecarpet7770]

Hey Ric, get on joe Rohan’s podcast!

[@Dontbeasquarepeg]

In todays WWE Ted would have become a champion. I know he spent his WWF years as a great bad guy. I’m glad Flair become the NWA champion. What a great champion he was!

[@kevinjohnson3066]

Need more Mid-Atlantic on youtube think I've watch it all

[@MisterE1976]

Enjoyed this very much, thank you for sharing,Naitch!

[@watchmanadam726]

Woooooo

[@robhastings5403]

I heard Terry Funk tell a story that even when he champion , Flair was politicing him to be NWA World Champion. Flair was a master at it. Cricket had a partnership with Frank Tunney in Toronto from 77 til his death and for those 5 or ,6 years the wrestling cards at MLG every other Sunday night were off the charts ! There was the best talent in the entire business in that one territory. For those too young .. Flairs first run wasn't all that great . I was actually surprised they gave it back to him. I know the NWA was set on David Von Erich getting it in May 84 and he going to carry it for the future . Then we all know he passed away in Japan and Fritz worked it that Kerry could have a few weeks, much like Harley would drop it to Dusty or Tommy Rich or Baba for a short time . The nail on the coffin of the NWA was when the Horseman came about and they made the World Champion a part of it. The rule of thumb was the World Champion wasn't a gimmick ! Imagine your world champion losing every night on tags or by DQ in singles EVERY night with help of the Horseman. It took credibility away from the title and helped Crockett turn into simply another territory. There were other talented workers who were legit tough that could have carried the title. Guys like Rick Steiner, Steve Williams, Mike Rotunda. Flair with help from his booker buddies would bury them into ridiculous gimmicks to take their credibility away while trying to sell his gimmick as credible .

[@chrischar9428]

So while flair is rehabbing from plane crash he's politicking for the belt. Bullshit

[@chrischar9428]

Steiner Williams and rotundo couldn't carry flairs jock. Amateur wrestling doesn't mean shit

[@ssdj04]

I’m from NH we only had WWWF up here and I remember I was 8 years old and we got cable for the first time ever. I Was hooked forever on the NWA Ronnie Garvin and Jerry Oates the Road Warriors Ted Diniase Tommy Rich Mr. X Brad Armstrong and the greatest of them all! The nature Boy amd I wanted to be him lol Thanks for a great childhood Ric I don’t care what anyone says, you should always beat Hogan lol

[@erickort1987]

WOOOOO NATION!!! love ya Ric Flair!!!

[@samiam7342]

With all due respect to Ric: He could have the BIGGEST wrestling podcast in the WORLD if he set this up right.........it's him sitting in a closet with NO room decoration, no professional audio or visual??? WTF? His guest list could be endless....unreleased stories never heard...his in law is that one guy who does his own Pro looking/sounding podcast with Arn Anderson.......I just dont get it??????????????????? He shouldn't be the guest......he should be the host with his title belt sitting on the desk and the robes hanging in the back....................Bling-Bling!

[@Mr_Redsfan]

He used to do a show with Conrad in… maybe 2017? and it just kind of fizzled out, Conrad has referenced that Ric doesn’t have the attention span to stick with a weekly show. We will see how this one does.

[@dethaddr]

Hearing these stories from THE MAN himself... WOOOOOOOO!, just gotta love it!

[@stankormy5717]

NWA was filled with talent!

[@virgiljohnson9880]

#1 RIC FLAIR

[@kwmusic4560]

It's impossible for a wrestler to tell a Jim Barnett story without doing an impersonation of him.

[@peterodriguez328]

Jim Brunzell lol

[@johngallagher72]

I heard it was between the three Flair, Dibiase, and David von Erich. It prob went Harley , Geigel and Crockett for Flair , the Funks and Fritz for David . The swing votes were probably Florida, Mid South and if in not mistaken Stu and Verne and Carlos.

[@Jim-Tuner]

Geigal, Crockett and Ole Anderston/Jim Barnett (Georgia) for Flair.

[@johngallagher72]

@@Jim-Tuner I forgot Boesch(Houston) and St. Louis who had votes as well. Since Boesch was in Texas he probably would have wanted David. St. Louis would have wanted Flair . I think in 81 Verne, Stu and Vince SR were voting members as well.

[@AwesomeEricD]

Back in the days of carnival, if you boinked the goat girl ……

[@godswill5590]

The timeline doesn’t jibe. Flair had been World Champ for YEARS by the time DiBiase went to the WWF.

[@kevinjames2995]

Living legend

[@wfew]

woooooooooo

[@YoNickSoko]

Mark’s the kind of guy when your on the phone you gotta make sure keep it far away from you while he’s talking

[@walterbrown2997]

# WOOO ! when Nature Boy Ric Flair one the original 10 lb of gold against Harley Race in the very first Starrcade 83 A flair for the GOLD ! That's when professional wrestling was born

[@realazduffman]

Great to hear he made it by hard work not nepotism.

[@staleydu1]

How different would Flair’s career have been if Magnum TA hasn’t been hurt? He drops the title at Starcade 86 and then…..

[@chrischar9428]

It wouldn't

[@simonlitsche1454]

Old school is cool WoooooO

[@robertsole9970]

Dusty said he beat Terry Funk, Dory Funk and Mother F….

[@MrTooTechnical]

Kickass

[@Boss429..]

Why does Madden always interrupt Flair?

[@billflamank6882]

Flair--Kansas is Russia, KCK is Leningrad, Lawrence is St Petersberg, Topeka is Moscow, Wichita is Stalinburg and Dodge City has Gulags

[@grawakendream8980]

i'd love to see that 60 minute match on a high school Matt between Bob Brown and flare. There is someone else that had a similar situation too, I think it was Bob Backland and somebody, maybe iron chic, where the ring didn't show and they wrestled on a mat.

[@charlesmoore6140]

How great ! Unbelievable it was just Unbelievable.

[@davidfrederick6003]

In a RF Shoot Interview "Ole Anderson" said he never liked Ric Flair and wanted nothing to do with him, work or book him in the Atlanta territory. So when the decision as part of the NWA committee that votes on next NWA World Champion, Ole said yes because that way he would be a touring champion and not work so much in his area. BUT wasnt Jim Barnett was the representative, did Ole have voting power?

[@Davepool-hs7vr]

Did Ole Anderson get along with anyone?

[@NateNizzle]

His timeline of events was wrong. Flair became the NWA champ in 1981. Ted DiBiase went to the WWF to become the Million Dollar Man in 1987.

[@robintaylor485]

I live in Wichita Kansas I’m curious like what was the big issue here? It’s not so bad now but I’m sure probably did suck back then

[@timfrederick9305]

I am guessing that one,the territory was dying and two Ric lived the gimmick,he liked the partying and cavorting with the women as did a lot of guys in the wrestling business and Witchita don’t hit me as a place to live in the fast lane so to speak

[@65slick49]

The answer is simple. Wichita - and a lot of Kansas - suffered from the side effects of having Carrie Nation as a prominent resident for decades after her death. Throughout the era Flair was referring to, much of Kansas had strict liquor laws. The way for local Wichitans to enjoy night life was to pay a membership fee and belong to a private "supper club" which were exempt from being classified as a public establishment. It helped the locals get by, but made it difficult for people from out of town to have a good time at night.

[@chrischar9428]

Kc was a minor territory. Playing in front of a few thousand in kc

[@davel7791]

Didn't Ole Anderson claim that he made Flair world champion just so he could get rid of him? Was Ole full of $#!+?

[@steveomac385]

He always is.

[@MrSmitty1074]

@@steveomac385 Ole said that Mark Calloway wouldn't be a star because he has red hair. The Undertaker is now a legend.

[@steveomac385]

@@MrSmitty1074 sounds about right lol.

[@johngallagher72]

Ole is full of it on this issue . The NWA had a Board of Directors who decided who the world champion would be. The NWA had it down to Flair (the Carolina , Kansas and St. LOUIS choice), DiBiase (the Funks, Mid South and Houston choice) David Von Erich (The World Class choice) . From what I understand other voting members around this time were Colon (Flair Mantioned him) , Japan, and I think Verne , Vince Sr and Stu Hart were voting members. When Flair was first chosen I'd be fascinated to see how the actual vote went and who voted for who.

[@Jim-Tuner]

It was somewhat true. Ole saw Flair as being better as a less-frequent attraction. He was better to bring in every month or so to a territory than to work a territory every week. It wasn't so much to "get rid of him" as to give him a rest in places where he had been used alot and move him from a weekly attraction in certain places to more of a monthly special attraction. Ole did (with Jim Barnett) support Flair becoming World champion the first time. There are some interviews that Ole did where Ole talked in a dumb way about Flair because of their disagreements and Ole's age starting to get to Ole. The truth is in what Ole says, but you have to cut through the overstated BS.

[@FranFJB]

I am Up in Buffalo and saw how Mid Atlantic had Merged with Canadas Maple Leaf Wrestling, which did Bring Mid Atlantic Stars to the Buffalo area and Southern Ontario, was this a Positive Experience or did it Hurt the M Atlantic deal?

[@connerhuston2613]

When he said something about going home and getting into an argument about something he didn't do but I he did do and everyone knew about. I think I know what he was talking about but if someone wants to elaborate feel free.

[@CurseOfZeSnail]

I'm wondering if Ric tuned into Bryan Danielson's masterpiece last night? It seems he is better than just "OK". Woooooo!

[@3.2Carrera]

I hope so. It was indeed a masterpiece from the old days.

[@acidkyledaLSDj]

he twitted about it last night so I'm sure he watched it

[@seanberry1969]

💕

[@robintaylor485]

straight from the horses mouth this is golden right here

[@neilgoldring6494]

Lol, it's funny how his dread of staying home with his wife propelled him to jump at the chance to do all the necessary traveling as NWA champ 😅

[@grawakendream8980]

i wonder if vince's push was in response to the growth of mid atlantic initially

[@Jedi_MasterGX]

The WWWF started to change in '79/'80 due to the expansion/cable television viewing of Georgia Championship Wrestling on TBS. It forced the WWWF to become WWF and have better cameras and camera angles on it's television shows. Plus, when Vince, Jr took over...the rest is history.. Don't forget, WCCW was hot at that time as well..

[@Jim-Tuner]

It was Verne Gagne and the AWA. Verne became the secret new co-owner of St. Louis and was moving into Northern and Southern CA at the time. Verne just about had a national promotion before the WWWF raided his talent and did their own expansion.

[@grawakendream8980]

@@Jim-Tuner that's news to me

[@slickrichelicopter8977]

In the 1980's, would DiBiase have made more money as NWA champ or as the Million Dollar Man in the WWE?🤔

[@tafariali-alkebulan3325]

Far more money in NY. Bruno, Superstar, Backlund and of course Hogan made more money than the Briscoes, Funks, and Harley too.

[@slickrichelicopter8977]

@@tafariali-alkebulan3325 When Hogan was on the card, the entire roster made more $$$.

[@MrSmitty1074]

@@tafariali-alkebulan3325 Yep. NY is a bigger market.

[@wwltd3036]

Depends on when in the 80's. Pre-85 is a completely different situation from Post-85

[@slickrichelicopter8977]

@@wwltd3036 IMO AWA was the place to be pre 1984.

[@mr.perksy]

Dibiase did go to NY but not to be the million dollar man. That didn’t happen until 1987. Flair seems like he is talking about 79-81 or so.

[@flpanhandler7749]

If you don’t like Ric or Mark, quit watching. Like “professional” wrestling, this is great ENTERTAINMENT.

[@tox7841]

3 Kings Day is NOT CHRISTMAS in PUERTO RICO!!!!! Smmfh

[@tomwalker389]

Flair won the NWA belt in '81. DiBiase became The Million Dollar Man in '87. What is Flair talking about?

[@bryanclark3151]

Flair's memory is often poor, especially when it comes to dates. However, he may be saying that DiBiase not getting a run with the NWA title influenced DiBiase's decision to go to the WWF in 1987. DiBiase was a natural NWA-style wrestler and would have fit perfectly in JCP. I don't think DiBiase ever worked for Crockett.

[@MrSmitty1074]

@@bryanclark3151 TD never worked for JC. Flair vs Dibiase would have been classic.

[@johngallagher72]

@@bryanclark3151 you are right that Flair is getting the dates wrong. DiBiase stayed in predominantly NWA affiliated territories Mid South from 81 to 87. Flair is also forgetting the third finalist to replace Race ...David Vion Erich.

[@tomwalker389]

@@MrSmitty1074 They have wrestled a bunch of times in Mid South. Murdoch interfered and piledrived DiBiase into the concrete.

[@MrSmitty1074]

@@tomwalker389 I saw that on KZbin.

[@elland37]

didn't DiBiase go to New York as the million dollar man years later? Flair became NWA champ for the first time in what 82. 83?

[@chrischar9428]

81

[@elland37]

@@chrischar9428 thanks.

[@halfwaydecent6842]

I can understand DiBiase being in the mix, but it's surprising that he was a finalist. If I had a vote in 1981, my list of potential champs would include: Dick Slater, Wahoo, Dick Murdoch, Sgt. Slaughter, Ken Patera, Greg Valentine, Ricky Steamboat, Roddy Piper. Narrowing the list, some of these guys were maybe a little too old, or too young, or making big money going back and forth to WWF and wouldn't want the title. Congratulations, Dick Slater! It's 40 yrs. late but a youtube commenter is declaring you the champ! Adjusting for inflation, that's only 10 Ounces of Gold, but still.

[@johngallagher72]

The traveling world champ had to be able to shoot and defend himself in case there was a double cross. This is why Vince Sr. chose Backlund and the NWA always sent Harley and Slater with Flair to Japan.

[@chrischar9428]

So your champ is the jcp champ. Cool

[@angelvalle9963]

Teddy was almost as good on the mic as ric .

[@j.d.k8594]

In my mind theres a few reasons why ric became champ #1 harly race leaveing off and in a interview with cowboy bob ortan said ric flair was making a name for himself the other dusty rhoads all though loved and over and could work and talk respectfully was thought of as outa shape and to big belleyed. And tommy rich all though over was filled with scandal with barnet and alchohol. Flair had the girls hanging off him vern goneya reference, and harly race reference, and and ric would go to Japan and win and show footage in america to promote his place in north America wrestling even though he was a despised hated heal was still recanize as a fine toned wrestler just trying to make his way in the business from his side of the tracks , and in that people bought in from head to toe hook line and sinker , even though we loved dusty even though you wanted Tommy to capture the title agien you still bought into ric . 💁‍♂️

[@radioman6489]

1st

[@jerryfay7517]

All about the draw. Remember this isn't sports competition. Nevertheless we love Da Man.

[@johnirby4791]

Fact....Shawn micheals was a champion too

[@LegendofTheCosmic7]

Madden really just is awful

[@mikemotta9754]

this would be better without Madden, he is truly annoying.

[@karlpoulin3938]

Hang up your boots, move along. Don’t pretend to still be relevant