Classic Match Of The Week
Ric Flair vs. Terry Funk :I Quit Match
Overview
One of the many cool characteristics possessed by pro wrestling is the fact it has such a vast history. One could spend the rest of their life researching and reviewing the countless storylines and matches that have taken place all over the planet, and be thoroughly entertained while doing so. What’s even more cool is every single day that vast history is added to in various formats such as WWE Raw, New Japan Pro Wrestling live events and feuds that spill over onto social media. In this review series entitled “Classic Match of the Week”, *Duke Loves Rasslin* sits down with a fellow wrestling historian and gives detailed analysis about a historic pro wrestling match, the feud leading up to it and the match’s overall impact on the pro wrestling business. This week’s match is from Clash Of The Champions IX: New York Knockout 1989- Ric Flair vs. Terry Funk: I Quit Match
**Please Note: There is a youtube link to the match in it’s entirety at the end of this analysis. You can also find it on the WWE Network.**
This Week’s Guest
Our guest analysis this week on “Classic Match Of The Week” is our favorite pro wrestling loving preacher, *The Pastor* Kevin West(KW). KW hails from the wrestling hotbed of Bad-Street Atalanta Georgia, and therefore can offer an informative perspective regarding our pick this week. Now let’s get right to the action.
The Storyline
National Wrestling Alliance(NWA) World Heavyweight Champion “Nature Boy” Ric Flair has just concluded his legendary feud with one of his greatest opponents of all time, Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat. At the conclusion of the match, former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Terry Funk viciously attacks Flair.
KW: Here comes old man Terry Funk, who was NWA World Heavyweight Champion back in 1975, walking into the ring supposedly to congratulate the Nature Boy. Everything is all good and it seems normal, and then BAM. That wacky old Bastard Funk punches Flair square in the jaw! Next thing you know Funk pulls Flair outside the ring and gives him a piledriver on a solid wood table! You know how the tables today break when people land on them? Well not this table. Man it was a trip because that table was so stiff and solid it didn’t even break. Legend has it Flair’s neck nearly broke because of the impact. I think Flair actually said that in his book; that his neck almost broke because of that move by Terry. The feud was on after that!
I Quit Match
As a result of the viscous assault on Ric Flair by Terry Funk, a match was set up to take place at the next NWA special event ;Clash Of The Champions IX. Flair demanded that their match be no ordinary type of match. NO; Flair wanted free reign to inflict as much pain and suffering on Funk as possible without getting disqualified. The match that was ultimately decided upon was an I QUIT MATCH. Under the rules of such a match, wrestlers can beat one another to a pulp for as long as it takes until their opponent literally proclaims to the referee “I Quit”. With such a stipulation it was of no surprise to anyone that both competitors lived up to expectations.
KW: This match felt so real to me because Flair’s emotions were on fire. He punched, kicked, scratched and did just about everything else he could to get even with Funk. Flair really showed a more aggressive side of of himself on this one and everyone that saw this match was excited over it. Flair showed that he could change his style and instead of just out wrestle you all the time, he could outfit you too. Same thing for Terry Funk. Before this match he was just known for spinning toe holds and moves like that. But he used this feud and this match specifically to reinvent himself as a *Hardcore Legend*, which is what most people know him as even to this day. In the end Funk screamed “I Quit I Quit I Quit” to the referee in order to stop the match. Flair had that figure-four leg lock on him real tight so it was either quit and be able to walk away or not quit and take a broken leg. Funk chose to safe the leg and quit, lol!
Impact On The Wrestling Business
This match is considered by many fans and wrestlers as the one that set off the *Hardcore Wrestling* craze that took the pro wrestling industry by storm in the mid 90’s through the early 2000’s. In fact, to a certain extent that craze is still felt to this modern day! Whenever you see guys like Dean Ambrose, Rob Van Damn and Tommy Dreamer wrestle you can thank Terry Funk and Ric Flair for having the feud that inspired their style.
KW: I have heard so many say that this was the first hardcore match which I disagree with. It might be one of the most important hardcore matches, it wasn’t the first. War Games Matches in NWA and some of those battles in Memphis were just as brutal and bloody and they happened before this match. With all that said though, nearly 30 years later and we’re still talking about this match. They told a great story, made it believable and had the audience sold on it. This match is still one of my all time favorites because even to this day the action still feels real when I watch it!
Final Thoughts
You can view the classic I Quit Match between *Nature Boy* Ric Flair and Terry Funk by searching for it on the WWE Network, or checking out the following link from youtube. Enjoy!
