Jim Cornette Reviews WWE Rivals: Ric Flair vs. Dusty Rhodes 

It doesn't matter how hard Ric Flair tries to destroy his legacy, I will always love his character.

"My Father was not the Famous Dad, He was electrician , He was doing Blue collar Job which is kind of ironic ..I more of a American Dream than you are." - CM PUNK to Cody Rhodes

I grew up on Crockett wrestling so this episode was a treat for me. Looking at how great Flair was back then and all through his prime, it makes me sad to see what he's become.

I still have the old Bash 86 VHS and the old PWI issue that has the results of all the Bash shows that year. I always wished there was footage of all those shows, especially all of the Flair title defenses.

“The Heartbreak Kid lays down for NOBODY!”

I wanna see an episode on Flair vs Steamboat - their 1989 matches are easily still the greatest professional wrestling matches of all time. They wrestled each other countless times in the mid to late 70s and then wrestled one last time for the WCW Championship in 1994. Every match was absolute magic. Midnight vs Rock n Roll would be a good episode, too, and so would Bobo vs Shiek.

Ric went from fighting Dusty in front of sold-out arenas to drunkenly picking fights with the manager of your local pizzeria 😂

Dusty’s promos with that big fur coat are the best

Love hearing the back stories of the legendary matches from Jim through his eyes when he was there. I could this to stories like this all day!

One of the reasons I always heard why the title change was held in Kansas City was because if they held it in the Carolinas it would have been a babyface vs. babyface match and if they held it in either Atlanta or Tampa there was a fear that if Dusty lost to a heel like Flair there might have been a riot due to how popular Dusty was.

1975 02/20 Greensboro, NC Ric Flair double countout with Dusty Rhodes

For me Dusty and Flair is a no doubt top 10 wrestling rivalry ever.

The WWE and A&E need to do more "Non-WWE" rivals stories.

I saw flair VS Rhodes live more than once

dusty and flair proved that even as people widely were realizing that wrestling was a work, that great performances trumped whether or not it was "real".

I stopped this video and found the Rivals show on this on RU-vid. My God, the passion in those promos is off the wall. It would be nice to see that reflected in modern-day promos. Dusty and Ric really appreciated each other. And it was wonderful to see the old school video of Starrcades and NWA rings. 🎉

I read somewhere (years ago), Dusty planned as booker, to win the title from Flair actually at the final Bash 8/2/86 in Atlanta Fulton County Stadium. BUT the tickets sales did not look good for that title change. So he instead set it up for 7/26 in Greensboro

Fayetteville building was the Cumberland County Civic Center i believe.

Bring back memories. Dorton Arena. I miss the territory days

Dusty Rhodes looks like if Kirby ate Ric Flair

Saw the rivalry in the latter years wished that I saw Crockett wrestling instead of the wwf. But when my friends' parents got a satellite dish we got to see better wrestling.

To my mind, the greatest rivalry in the history of the business. Now one of them is dead. And the other's legend and public respect are dead.

So many decades have passed, and both Flair and Rhodes have been analyzed to death. They clearly had their warts, but their impact on the history of wrestling is undeniable. Rhodes went from being a bad ass heel, to a beloved baby face, who was over “everywhere” he went. Flair did a job, traveling champion and ambassador, that few could do, or would do. Hour long matches with the top guys from all territories, a brutal schedule, and an ability to “promote” the business, its events, and his opponents. They are two of the fifteen biggest stars in the history of wrestling.

Any chance to see Flair as Ramblin Ricky Rhodes is gold. He looked like Curly Joe (the Make A Wish version of the real Curly) from the Stooges

Actually it was flair who said i don't do jobs in front of "70,000" people. Dusty came after with Baby Doll and said the same thing adding "so where we at now "? Great stuff but i think the actual crowd number was like 10,000 or something.

What a great episode on my favorite era. These years of the NWA were must watch wrestling.

The greatest wrestling rivalry currently taking place is Tony Khanye vs sanity; and not the group led by Eric Young that got buried like pirate gold.

This rivalry has been talked about for so long by so many people it's been played out. There is nothing left to talk about.

If dusty were still alive and saw the footage of both Rick flair’s final match and his argument at the Florida pizzeria he would be ashamed of Rick.

Corny hits on what I miss most about wrestling and that is real promo work that comes off as authentic and unscripted.

It was on the level of Rock vs Austin. 60 minutes of greatness night in and out.

Damn shame the AWA is gone. Martel,Henning,Flair,Rhodes,Hogan,Superstar Graham,Ventura,Snuka, Bockwinkel. Anybody who was anybody passed through the AWA

It saddens me that I wasn't born for all of this

Flair went from “Rambling Ricky Rhodes” to “Drunken Ricky Flair”

I've been a fan of pro wrestling for 40 years. Ric Flair vs Dusty Rhodes is still my all time favorite rivalry.

Not watched bit its cornette so its the greatest review on RU-vid

Back in The "SKOAL" Jacket Days.

Ric Flair went from being a GOD to drunkenly cursing out the manager at a Florida pizzeria…

I remember by the time Flair and Dusty happened at the Crockett Cup, That match was tiresome, and even tha Magazines were like "Again?"

This episode of Rivals was the best

Flair would've had Ole's support in Georgia to be champion. Ole has said he prompted Eddie Graham to go Flair's way as well once Dusty's run ended. Harley liked DiBiase for the belt because he saw more of himself in Ted than he did in Ric, but he knew it would be futile to push for that so he went with the flow. Imo, Ted DiBiase on Thanksgiving '83 wasn't ready. Thanksgiving '84 he definitely was but Flair was in full swing by then.

They been talking about this for 40 years

Flair's no job promo was 1st then Dusty's retort if i remember correctly. Two of the best on the stick and in the ring.

"The mysterious, Jesse Ventura spy room that they have over there." That made me laugh my ass off. Great review of Dusty and Ric. I was lucky enough to grow up when they were having their NWA feud on TV. I was unlucky in that I lived nowhere near the territory.

25:14 I'd love to be a fly on the wall to be in that point in time. Flair and Dusty going with shoot promos? Holy shit!

In regards to the "jobs promo", KY friends and I were huge fans of Flair and wrestling back then. An old time wrestler lives just up the road from us and when he would tell us about his career, he would never say he lost a particular match, he would say the other guy " jobbed him" so we came to know that word meant "lost the match" never knowing for sure he was told to lose (but suspecting in the back of our minds). When RIC and Dusty used that term in that way on those promos we all went nuts because for us, the cat was now out of the bag. Still bought tickets to the matches, still followed it even week because we really didn't care if it was predetermined or not. It was great entertainment. Rip Dream and thanks RIC for so much enjoyment.

Thats why they had it in KC , so not seen by many , Central States was not as hot as others but it was ours I met Harley Race in 77 Century II Auditorium a lot of the famous territory talent came through here .

I grew up on CWF its still to me is the holy grail of wrestling. Doesnt WWE own the tapes, why isnt it on the network? The dusty vs Sullivan angle is golden

Crown coliseum in Fayetteville

Corny needs to consider watching the Rhodes family vs Shield matches

I want rivals Flair vs Steamboat , Flair vs Sting , Flair vs Von Erich’s

The Dream and The Nature Biy always had a n underlying feud that could always be booked without any fresh angle. They were natural rivals and great talkers. It was always a main event draw and a big deal to see them go at it. The head of the baby faces vs the head of all heels.

For those who didn’t see the program, it’s available on my channel

I was rather disappointed that they didn't go an extra 2 weeks into that feud and go through Flair getting the belt back. My only guess is that they didn't want to go into who and why Babydoll was involved, but the feud didn't end in Greensboro.

Dusty vs Ric is still bigger than anything we watch today in wrestling

Great tangents

I didn't watch the dusty Rhodes & Richard flair special.

I like the cartoonist.

NWA and JCP Presents Starrcade 1984 The Million Dollar Challenge NWA World Heavyweight Championship Match The Nature Boy Ric Flair vs The American Dream Dusty Rhodes

It was awkward to see Lex Luger on the episode, considering he knew so little about wrestling prior to getting into the business.

Legends

A man is gonna shine in his career of choice if he's the man in charge. Dusty Rhodes wasnt shit.

The rival started in Florida 1981.

If Crockett monopolized the NWA World Title once either they took control or bought out associated territories THEN WHAT was the purpose of that stupid $25K deposit for the NWA World Champion. Since you said the NWA conventions practically ceased.

This is the greatest rivalry in the history of pro wrestling imo. Dusty Rhodes, along w/the Stinger are the only two men who I never got mad at when they beat Flair. Dusty always brought out the best in Ric Flair both in the ring and on the mic. I wish "Big Dus" was still around. Maybe he could slap some sense into "The Nature Boy."

This review is all over the place. I found it hard to follow

Ric is very hated now and rightfully so. But no one can deny that absolutely nobody could touch a prime ric flair. The man was just a sheer class in the ring. One of the greatest wrestler and storyteller of all time.

They were only 13 thousand people at the 1986 crockett cup n new orleans...not 60 thousand Jim...little off on your count lol

Muchnick wasnt behind DiBiase

Flair and Tony Khan were made for each other

Is Corny the smartest person ever?

Dusty and ric was a great rivalry

this was a good episode of WWE rivals these documentaries are very interesting and very entertaining to watch.

Corny got the "no jobs" story backwards. Flair cut the 1st promo saying that he doesn't do jobs in front of x-thousands of people, then Big Dust came out later pissed off and said the same thing. Classic wrestling man!! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-bxnCKDF5m6w.htmlsi=3fe-Fsni0He_ZA4G

Jim never did review the Dark Side of the Ring Harley Race episode. We ever gonna get it?

are these shows still hosted by panels of people that know nothing? did the production values change in Kevin Dunn's absence?

Honest question - was Dusty a better wrestler or booker? If you had to pick

Ric Flair, the character is professional wrestling, was one of the greatest performers in the business. Ric Flair, the human being, is a total and complete mess. I sincerely wish Flair would just ride off into the sunset and leave the business alone forever.

moar liek dusty °¥^=°¥¥

Dusty Rhodes was at his best as the chaser to the World Title that Flair had than he was as champion & I think it's slowly showing in Cody now.. 🤔

Woooooings...if you will.

Man Jim Cornette you are awesome. But please don't take the Lord's name in vain so much. I know you are an atheist but sheesh bub.....

Actually, Rick Flair said he don't do no job in front of 70,000 people

It was awesome!

I only have one thing to say.........WOOOOOOOOOOOOO!😅

Like The Dream would say get funky like Monkey.

Hello Mr James E Cornette I remember the match in 86 the Baby Doll Turn you should do a video about this Rick Flair wrestle Dusty Rhodes different .I am old enough to remember Rick Flair matches in the 70s I remember the plane crash Woo woo. But please Mr James E Cornette do a video about the 86; baby doll turn Woo woo woo

These are the rival episodes i watch. When wrestling 🤼. Was wrestling. When i see rivals with the miz. I do not watch. Garbage 🗑️

I want rivals Flair vs Steamboat , Flair vs Sting , Flair vs Von Erich’s