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Classic Match: Nick Bockwinkel vs. Ric Flair
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Nick Bockwinkel vs. Ric Flair
Date: January 16, 1986
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Building: Winnipeg Arena
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Match Info:
- Match Details: 1 Fall
- Match Time Limit: 60 minutes
- Referee: Buddy Lane
- Commentators: Ken Resnick and Scott Hall
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Background:
This is the only “known” time these two men faced off against each other. Ric Flair was the 4 time NWA champion. He previously wrestled against former AWA champion Ric Martel, in Tokyo, to a double count-out about 3 months prior to this match.
Nick Bockwinkel came into this match near the end of his in-ring career. Bockwinkel would go on to win the AWA title 5 months later for a recognized 4th time. He retired in 1987 at the age of 52.
This match was part of the last AWA show in Winnipeg. Soon, WWF would take over the territory. Many fans, and pro-wrestlers, consider this match the greatest match ever to take place in Winnipeg.
Another historical note, both men faced WW(W)F champion Bob Backlund in a champion vs. champion match. Bockwinkel faced Backlund in 1979 for the and Flair faced Backlund in 1982.
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Introductions
Nick Bockwinkel
· From Los Angeles, California
· Est. Weight: 244 pounds
“The Nature Boy” Ric Flair
· From Charlotte, North Carolina
· Est. Weight: 243 pounds
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The Match
This match is joined in progress…
Flair holds up Nick for a delayed suplex. Flair then plays to the crowd for a second before locking in the figure-4 leglock. The crowd is cheering for Nick as he is in serious pain from this hold. Nick is able to reverse the figure-4 and Flair lets go of the hold.
Flair gets up and runs back over to Nick in an attempt to put Bockwinkel back in the figure-4. But, Nick counters with a small package for the 2 count.
Both men get up and Nick punches Flair in the “bread basket” a few times to get control. Nick throws Flair into the ropes and gives him a big back drop for a 2 count. Nick goes for another pin attempt but only for another 2 count.
Flair gets up and throws Nick out of the ring. After a brief rest, Flair goes over and grabs Nick by the hair and slams his neck on the top rope. Nick lands on the apron and rolls in the ring. Flair greets him several vicious stomps. The ref breaks it up.
Flair comes back and puts Bockwinkel in the sleeper hold. The crowd is cheering for Nick to overcome this. Nick goes over to the corner and drops down as Flair lands fance first on the top turnbuckle. Both men are down but Flair gets up first and hits a massive chop to Nick’s chest.
Flair proceeds to climb to the top rope but Bockwinkel stops him and slams him off. Nick is gaining momentum and the crowd is excited. Nick lays in some punches to Flair. He throws Flair into the ropes and then hits him with the sleeper hold. During this exchange, we can hear the arena announcer say the match has hit the 20 minute mark.
Flair tries to reach for the ropes but falls short and Bockwinkel goes for a pin attempt but only gets a 2 count as Flair gets his foot on the ropes.
Nick thinks he wins but the ref says Flair’s foot was on the ropes. Nick turns back to Flair and removes the foot from the rope and goes for another pin attempt. But, Flair puts his foot back on the rope before the ref could count to 3.
Nick removes the foot and goes for a 3rd pin attempt but only gets a 1 count this time as Flair lifts his should and puts his foot back on the rope. Both men get up and Nick takes Flair and rams his head into the top turnbuckle. He then puts Flair in the sleeper hold again but this time Flair hits a side suplex on Bockwinkel. Flair gets a 2 count on the pin attempt.
Flair gets up, runs to the ropes and comes off trying to kick Bockwinkel. Nick catches the foot and places Flair in the figure-4. Flair is screaming from the pain.
“It puts such a tremendous pain on your knee joints. Your legs just are meant to bend in that fashion” ….. Commentator Scott Hall
Nick begins to slap Flair in the face as he tries to make Flair submit. Flair is able to get to the ropes. Ref breaks the hold. Nick tries to get the Flair in the figure-4 again but Flair kicks him off. Flair kicks him off for a second time. Flair and Bockwinkel jockeyr for position to hit the suplex. Bockwinkel is able to get position and hit the suplex. Nick gets a 2 count on the pin attempt.
Flair crawls to the corner and Nick comes after him. Flair hits Nick in the “bread basket” and then picks him up and drops Nick on his back. Flair puts his feet on the ropes and tries to get a pin attempt but only gets the 2 count as Nick is able to get a shoulder up.
Flair gives Nick a loud chop and the grabs him for a side headlock. Nick backs Flair into the ropes and throws him. Flair comes back with a shoulder block. Flair proceeds to run to the ropes again as Bockwinkel is getting up from the shoulder block.
Nick sidesteps the charging Flair and rolls Flair up with a “victory roll” but he is only able to get a 2 count. Nick backs Flair into the corner and shoots him to the opposite corner where Flair goes in upside down.
Nick picks up Flair and lands a few punches which knocks Flair over the top ropes and onto the floor outside the ring. Ref keeps pushing Nick back as Flair is recovering. Flair tries to get up on the apron but Nick knocks Flair back off with a punch. The arena announcer lets the crowd know that the match has hit the 25 minute mark.
Flair is able to roll in. He catches Nick with a knee to the stomach. Flair grabs Nick in a headlock take over. Nick counters with the leg scissors to Flair. Ric is able to get out and both men end up in a bridge position. Flair is able to get 3 pin attempts before Nick rolls Flair over.
Both men get up at the same time. Flair kicks Nick in the stomach and then attempts a piledriver but Nick counters with a back drop. Both men rise to their feet and grapple against the ropes and then they both fall over the top rope together.
As both men lay on the floor, the ref starts the 10 count. Nick gets up at the 7 count and slowly climbs up onto the ring. But Flair trips him up before Nick can get back in the ring and the match ends in a double count-out.
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Match Results
- Winner: Draw
- Outcome: Double Count-Out
- Match time: 26:30
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My Opinion
This is definitely a classic match. To my knowledge, this is the only time these two men faced eachother in a single’s match or any type of match. The following video footage is hard to find and only adds to the lore of this match.
Nick at age 50 could still hang with Flair in his prime. In fact, you could never tell that Nick is even 50 because he can still perform in the ring at a high level. The Winnipeg Arena surely closed on a high note.
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Source: Wikipedia
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