10 Wrestlers Who REFUSED To Win

5. Ric Flair Calls An Audible To Avoid A Riot - (Wrestling In The Dominican Republic)

Jack Veneno was a local legend in the Dominican Republic in the ‘80s. His charisma and charm on wrestling events made him an icon on the island. Ric Flair meanwhile was the travelling and defending NWA Heavyweight Champion that drew massive audiences and crowds wherever he went. A match was arranged between the two in ’82 that grew to be legendary and heavily controversial.

Ric was supposed to go over in the match, and that was always the plan right up until the very end of the match. Ric sensed there would be a full-scale riot and didn’t know if he would make it out the arena alive if he beat Veneno 1-2-3 in the ring. “Rowdy” Roddy Piper accompanied Flair on the trip to get involved in the match. Piper was supposed to interfere towards the end of the match to screw Veneno out of the gold. But when Piper tried to interfere real soldiers surrounding the ring pointed their rifles directly in his face.

Flair hastily improvised, instructing Veneno to roll him up with a small package for the impromptu win. Veneno won and was announced as the new NWA Champion. The National Wrestling Alliance back in America was livid at the outcome and didn’t recognise the title change in their history books.