Posted on by bdamage1
Brian Damage
‘The Nature Boy’ Ric Flair is widely considered a record holding 16 time world champion. A combination of his world title victories in the NWA, WCW and WWF/WWE. A record which was “tied” in 2017 by WWE wrestler John Cena. That is the myth that WWE would like you to believe, but the fact of the matter is, Ric Flair has won and lost the NWA world title a lot more than recognized.
Ric Flair’s first ever NWA world title reign occurred on September 17, 1981. It would be the beginning of a roller coaster ride that saw Flair defend his title all over the world. He’d win and lose the numerous times along the way. Some recognized, while others were simply ignored. Let’s take a look back at some of Flair’s title losses that were never acknowledged by the governing bodies of the National Wrestling Alliance.
The Midnight Rider
On February 9th, 1982 in Miami, Florida, the masked wrestler known as ‘The Midnight Rider’ defeated Flair to win the title. Midnight Rider was actually Dusty Rhodes under a mask, because he was “suspended” from wrestling in the Florida territory. Rider was soon stripped of the NWA title after the NWA gave The Midnight Rider the Ultimatum of either removing his mask and revealing his identity or surrender the belt back to Flair. Either way, Dusty was not going to be able to keep the title, so Rider surrendered it back to the Nature Boy.
Jack Veneno
Ric Flair would travel to the Dominican Republic and defended his coveted title against the local superstar of the island, a wrestler named Jack Veneno. Veneno was an idol in the Dominican Republic and losing to Flair on Dominican soil would have been disastrous. Flair was scheduled initially to beat Veneno, but after seeing how crazy the Dominican fans were getting and realizing a full blown riot was going to happen, Flair called an audible. He allowed Veneno to pin him cleanly and become the NWA world champion.
To get the title back in Flair’s possession, an excuse was made that Veneno refused to defend the title outside of the DR, so the title was returned back to Flair.
Carlos Colon
Yes, Carlos Colon who founded the World Wrestling Council in Puerto Rico and a WWE Hall of Famer held the NWA title. Colon beat Flair cleanly on a house show in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Since the title change wasn’t televised or recorded, the title was returned to Flair as if nothing had happened. Colon would still save face, by saying Flair was afraid of him and that he was the “true NWA world champion.”
Victor Jovica
Another Puerto Rican wrestler who helped co found WWC in Puerto Rico. He defeated Flair in Couva, Trinidad to become the world champion. His title reign lasted only three days, as the NWA stripped Jovica of the title when the NWA said Jovica used his foot on the rope to pin Flair. The title was once again returned to Flair.
Harley Race
Harley Race defeated Flair in Wellington, New Zealand in 1984 during a house show to regain the title. Flair would win the title back three days later in Kallang, Singapore. Initially recognized as title changes, they are no longer recognized as a part of his title reigns. Another case of if there are no cameras, it didn’t exist.
Bruiser Brody
In January of 1985 in Kansas City, Bruiser Brody used a flying knee drop to pin Ric Flair and become world champion. The referee for the match, Sonny Myers who was knocked unconscious during the match, made the “decision” to reverse the title change because he saw Flair throw Brody over the top rope, which was illegal at the time, before getting knocked out. Flair was disqualified and the title returned to Flair’s possession.
Wahoo McDaniel
Chief Wahoo McDaniel challenged Ric Flair for the ‘Ten Pounds of Gold” in Flair’s backyard of Charlotte, North Carolina. Wahoo would score the pin fall and be crowned world champion but the decision would later be reversed and Wahoo would be disqualified in controversial fashion.
There was also the controversial finish in a title defense against Tatsumi ‘The Dragon’ Fujinami when Flair was WCW world champion that was already covered here. No question about it, fan or no fan of Ric Flair. He epitomized what a real wrestling world champion should be. Whether we count his title losses and victories or just accept him as the 16 time world champion. Either way, Flair is the quintessential world champion.
