Ordinarily I wouldn't bother talking about this as we only get 10 minutes of a match that goes at least 20, but the half we got was so good I thought it was worth it. I'm sure you and all wrestlers involved are just thrilled. The pre-match was also worth talking about as the Missing Link absolutely murders Harley Race with headbutts. I don't even know how many Missing Link matches I've watched in my life but based on this alone it feels like I need to watch everything. These headbutts were tremendous, then he climbed the ropes and threw a chair clean off Harley's face! It was ridiculous and Race was a maniac for taking the thing fully with no hands up for protection. Full chair right in the face. Flair comes out after that to pick the bones clean, as cocksure as you'd expect from him in that situation. They're in Kansas City so Race was already going to be the hometown babyface, but after the pre-match mauling? After Flair basically strutting over the carcass? The place goes from hot to molten and then there's a jump cut and we miss 10 minutes but NO MATTER (a little matter) as everything after that is fantastic. From the point we pick up the action Flair has just been posted on the floor and very shortly after that he's a mess. Even in the dimly lit arena you can see the blood flowing. I've been sort of jaded by Harley after however many years of hearing he was an all-timer, especially having gone through so much of his stuff from Japan that does nothing for me, but this was a fantastic babyface performance from him. He was the local hero, but unlike most locals Flair rocks into town to wrestle, Harley was the eight-time champion of the world so the chances of him winning just felt higher. It seemed like Flair sold everything with a little more desperation into the bargain. Harley had already beaten him more than once after all. Where Flair's selling was frantic and exaggerated, Harley's was much more understated and he sold the toll of that blood-loss amazingly, dazed and struggling as he was. Both guys are very much from the school of "keep things movin!" and sometimes that'll work for you, sometimes it won't. If you're one of the dozen people reading this then I imagine you've seen enough from both to have your own stance on that particular philosophy. Harley's take on it doesn't always work for me because it can feel like he's running through offence with not a lot of escalation, but this time everything was reined in a bit and it never felt like as much STUFF was going on. They still cut a strong pace and Flair was getting bumped around the whole time, bloodied and fighting for his life - or title, which is practically the same thing - but it all clicked and there was logical progression and really they just bled and knocked lumps out each other which is also great. If the Missing Link stole the show pre-match with his headbutts then Race tried to reclaim it during it, especially with his falling headbutts and MORE especially with one off the middle rope. There was an amusing spot where Flair went up top to get thrown off, Race didn't bite on it, so Flair jumped off anyway and got caught with a gut shot. Rather than leaving it there Flair went fuck it and decided to do it again 10 seconds later and this time Harley obliged. I guess Flair's the one with the big belt now so he gets to steer that ship whether Harley wants it or not. After some awesome last legs punch exchanges and brawling Race hits another big headbutt off the second rope, the place in raptures, but the Missing Link comes back out headbutts the ref'! Race clearing house was molten hot and honestly I'm not sure I've ever seen him look better, even this late into his career. This was way different from the usual Flair/Race match thanks to the role reversal and it worked a treat. I just wish we had the full thing. Or dare I say another Flair/Harley match like this, as the 59 we have on tape already apparently isn't enough.
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