SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 28:48 Min.
On April 11, 1987, in Baltimore, MD, on the 2nd Annual Crockett Cup’s closing night, perennial contender Barry Windham challenged “Nature Boy” Ric Flair for his NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Without either manager J.J. Dillon or his fellow Four Horsemen, Flair would face Windham alone continuing their long-running title series.
REVIEW:
For that time, there’s only a handful of American stars that could equal a wily Flair in his prime, in terms of pure ring substance. One could visualize DiBiase, Hennig, Steamboat, Savage, and Bret Hart, but 1987’s remarkably agile (and no-nonsense) Barry Windham likely merits ranking No. 1 on such a short list.
Long underrated, Windham & Flair’s reliable title series was the NWA blue-collar answer to the WWF’s high-profile Savage vs. Steamboat (for the Intercontinental Title) feud, as far as dazzling its fanbase. This seemingly routine bout — at least, by this duo’s extraordinary standards — is no exception, given how Windham’s lanky athleticism alone pulls off some impressive feats, i.e. a top-rope dropkick.
Even if it dubiously looks like a ‘Battle of the Peroxide Blondes,’ this Windham-Flair showdown epitomizes gritty, no-frills NWA entertainment. During this era, Flair and Windham likely concocted innumerable title matches surpassing this one, but their Crockett Cup encounter is still a gem for any fan.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 9 Stars
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