40 Greatest Stories Wrestling Ever Told
22. Dusty Rhodes & Ric Flair Are Opposites (NWA, 1984-1988)
Behind the curtain, Ric Flair and Dusty Rhodes fostered mutual admiration, but both admitted over the years that they were also fuelled by a burning competitiveness that saw them try to outdo one another with fancy clothes, watches, other trinkets, flashy cars etc. That bled over in front of the cameras, albeit with less of the flash and flaunting from ye olde 'American Dream'.
On screen, Dusty's role was one of the everyman. He'd "dined with kings and queens, and he'd slept in alleys and dined on pork and beans". Conversely, you wouldn't find the jet setting 'Nature Boy' doing the latter. He was a high-roller, one happy to brag about $15,000 suits, crocodile/snake skin shoes and watches that cost more than the downpayment on your average family home.
Flair was an intolerable braggart, but he could back it up between the ropes. Rhodes was everyone's best friend, and he could go when the brights lights were on and the bell sounded too. They were natural opponents, and both lit up major NWA cards like Starrcade for years whilst fighting to become World Champion.
A timeless "hard times" promo heading into Starrcade 1985 has been one of wrestling's go to speeches ever since it happened, and with good reason. Dusty vs. Flair ushered in WarGames, helped develop The Four Horsemen, and it gave the NWA a dazzling counter to all of the WWF razzmatazz featuring Hulk Hogan, WrestleMania and more.
That should never be forgotten. It was a story anyone could identify with regardless of their social standing.