The First Five Stars: "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair vs "Hacksaw" Butch Reed [Videos]

Ric Flair and Gordon Solie in 1982

In the early 1980s, long before star ratings became part of everyday wrestling discourse, two rising stars met in South Florida for a match that would quietly make history. On April 7, 1982, the NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair stepped into the ring with the powerful and fast-rising “Hacksaw” Butch Reed at a Championship Wrestling from Florida event in Miami Beach. What unfolded that night was more than just a title defense—it was the beginning of a benchmark.

Years later, wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer would look back on this bout and award it the first five-star rating of his now-famous match evaluation system, a scale that would go on to shape how generations of fans discuss and analyze professional wrestling.

 

It’s the fact that I live a lifestyle, never ever equaled by any other man.

My man, Sam, right here, and check out this limousine, my own Learjet.

And look what I travel with, the most beautiful women on the face of this earth.

This is why the World’s Heavyweight Champion, not Joe Montana, not Burt Reynolds, not turkeys like that, but a real man, the World’s Heavyweight Champion, that’s what makes me a little different.

- Ric Flair

Ric Flair Promo

Championship Wrestling

April 1982

Champion "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair vs Butch Reed

NWA World Heavyweight Championship Match

Championship Wrestling

Miami Beach, Florida

April 7, 1982

Butch Reed rips off Ric Flair's suit

Championship Wrestling

Tampa, Florida

Aired May 1, 1982

💰 Starrcade ’84: The Million Dollar Challenge – Ric Flair vs. Dusty Rhodes [Videos]

The stage was set in Greensboro, North Carolina, for one of the most electric nights in NWA history — The Million Dollar Challenge, featuring Special Guest Referee “Smokin’ Joe” Frazier. “Nature Boy” Ric Flair, the World’s Heavyweight Champion, brought the limousine-ridin’, jet-flyin’ lifestyle, while “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes brought the blue-collar fire of every fan who believed in the Dream.

Relive the promos, the intensity, and the main event showdown that defined an era — just months before the World Wrestling Federation would introduce WrestleMania and change the professional wrestling industry forever.

Starrcade '84 Main Event Announcement

World Wide Wrestling

Aired on October 20, 1984

Greensboro, North Carolina

"The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes

Promos

"The Nature Boy" Ric Flair

Promos

Ric Flair vs Dusty Rhodes

Starrcade '84

November 22, 1984

Greensboro, North Carolina

Vintage Wrestlers: Pat O’Connor vs. Buddy Rogers [Videos]

Friday, June 30, 1961 – N.W.A. World Heavyweight Championship – Comiskey Park, Chicago

The course of professional wrestling shifted after this match. Billed as a Champion vs. Champion showdown, the coveted N.W.A. World Heavyweight Title, proudly held by Pat O’Connor, was on the line. Contested under the traditional best two-out-of-three falls rules, the bout blended O’Connor’s technical mastery with Rogers’ flair for theatrics. When Rogers emerged victorious, it marked far more than a title change. It was a symbolic passing of the torch from the disciplined, grappling-focused style of the past to a new era where charisma, showmanship, and performance stood alongside athletic skill as the cornerstones of professional wrestling. At the conclusion of the match, Rogers twisted the knife with trademark arrogance and flair, declaring, "To a nicer guy, it couldn't happen."

N.W.A. World Heavyweight Championship Match

Champion vs Champion

World Heavyweight Champion Pat O'Connor

versus

US Heavyweight Champion Buddy Rogers

WRESTLERS' SOUND-OFF

with

Manager Red Berry

and

The Fabulous Kangaroos (Al Costello & Roy Heffernan)

Second Fall

Third and Final Fall

Classic Promos: Dusty Rhodes "Hard Times" [Videos]

 

Dusty Rhodes "Hard Times" Promo

Mid-Atlantic Wrestling

October 29, 1985

 "First of all, I would like to thank the many, many fans throughout this country that wrote cards and letters to Dusty Rhodes, the American Dream, while I was down. Secondly, I want to thank Jim Crockett Promotions for waiting and taking the time, because I know how important it was -- Starrcade '85 -- it is to the wrestling fans and it is to Jim Crockett Promotions. And Dusty Rhodes, the American Dream, with that wait, got what I wanted: Ric Flair, the world's heavyweight champion!

I don't have to say a lot more about the way I feel about Ric Flair. No respect! No honor! There is no honor among thieves in the first place. He put hard times on Dusty Rhodes and his family. You don't know what hard times are, Daddy! Hard times are when the textile workers around this country are out of work and got four, five kids, and can't pay their wages, can't buy their food. Hard times are when the auto workers are out of work and they tell them 'Go home!'. And hard times are when a man has worked at a job thirty years -- thirty years! -- they give him a watch, kick him in the butt and say 'Hey, a computer took your place, Daddy!'. That's hard times! That's hard times.

And Ric Flair, you put hard times on this country by taking Dusty Rhodes out. That's hard times! And we all had hard times together. I admit, I don't look like the athlete of today supposed to look. My belly is just a little big, my hiney is just a little big, but brother, I am bad, and they know I'm bad. And there were two bad people: one was John Wayne -- and he's dead, brother -- and the other one is right here!

Nature Boy Ric Flair, the world's heavyweight title belongs to these people. I'm gonna reach out right now. I want you at home to know, my hand is touching your hand for this gathering of the biggest body of people in this country, in this universe, all over the world. Now reach it out! Because the love that was given me -- and this time I will repay you, now. Because I will be the next world's heavyweight champion, of this Hard Times Blues Dusty Rhodes Tour '85!

And Ric Flair, Nature Boy, let me leave you with this: One way to hurt Ric Flair is to take what he cherishes more than anything in the world. That's the world's heavyweight title. I'm gonna take it. I've been there twice. This time, when I take it, Daddy, I'm gonna take it for you [the fans]. Let's gather for it! Don't let me down now, 'cause I came back for you, for that man up there that died ten, twelve years ago, that never got the opportunity to see a real world's champion. I'm proud of you and thank god I have you. I love you. Love you!"

Bonus Video:

Pro Wrestling Illustrated Scouting Report

with Bill Apter and Ric Flair

Special Guest Dusty Rhodes

Mid-Atlantic Wrestling

October 26, 1985

Vintage Wrestlers: Vincent Lopez [Videos]

Vincent Lopez was born Daniel Vincent Lopez DeVinaspre in Meridian, Idaho on July 24, 1908. Lopez was the son of Spanish immigrants and was a standout football player while in high school.

Lopez entered professional wrestling in the early 1930s, gaining tremendous experience traveling throughout the world to exotic locations in Australia, Hawaii, and South America. On his 27th birthday, in Los Angeles, California, Lopez defeated Man Mountian Dean in the Undisputed World Heavyweight Championship tournament final.

Vincent Lopez vs Man Mountain Dean

July 24, 1935 - Los Angeles, California

Silent Video

Lopez was mainly known as a "bad guy" and the fans loved to hate him. Lopez held the World Heavyweight Championship for over a year, defending the title against the likes of Gino Garibaldi, George Calzi, and Howard Cantonwine.

On April 27, 1936, Vincent Lopez was presented with the “Lou Daro World Heavyweight Championship Trophy” by Civil Service Commission President George Lyon.  Lyon was acting on behalf of Los Angeles Mayor Frank Shaw.  The presentation was made at a special luncheon at the Biltmore Hotel. Among the others in attendance were promoter Jack Daro, matchmaker Joe “Toots” Mondt, and the Los Angeles Chief of Police Davis.

On August 19, 1936, a historic three falls match between Vincent Lopez and Dave Levin took place at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles, California. Coming from different parts of the county and different organizational championship lines, both Levin and Lopez claimed to be the world champion. Lopez would lose two of the three falls and Levin was declared the victor. In classic "bad guy style," after the loss, Lopez proclaimed that he was robbed of the victory, and blamed referee McCullough.

Lopez would continue to wrestle for over 25 years facing champions and upstart wrestlers alike.

Bronko Nagurski vs Vincent Lopez

August 11, 1937 - Los Angeles, California

Undisputed World Heavyweight Championship Match

Vincent Lopez involved in a Tornado Tag Team Match

March 28, 1940 - Hollywood, California

Cowboy Carlson vs Vincent Lopez

May 8, 1953 - Chicago, Illinois