1. Harley Race vs. Ric Flair Starrcade: A Flare for the Gold
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Happ3a5auM Race had won the NWA Championship from the Nature Boy and offered $25,000 to anyone who would stop Flair from wrestling. Bob Orton and Dick Slater assaulted Flair and hit him with a devastating piledriver, forcing The Dirtiest Player in the Game to retire. Flair returned, though, attacking Orton and Slater, setting up his rematch at Starrcade: A Flare for the Gold. Flair starts with a series of headlocks but Race takes charge, countering a powerslam and landing a big piledriver. Gordon Solie on commentary, talking about the comparisons between wrestling styles and backgrounds, makes me hate Michael Cole all the more. The champion smashes Flairs head against the cage, blood splattering over the camera. The Nature Boy turns the tide, slamming Races head against the cage and hitting the piledriver. Flair locks in the Figure Four this was when this was one of the most dangerous finishers in wrestling but Race manages to reach the ropes, to the shock of the crowd and Solie. The King of Wrestling regains control with a diving headbutt, before accidently knocking the referee to the mat. Flair goes up top and lands the cross body, Race tripping over the referee, allowing The Nature Boy to take the NWA Championship for a third time. The crowd loved the win, with all the face stars coming to the ring to congratulate to new champion. It didnt have the action of todays standard, but the emotion and intensity is superb. It was a true passing of the torch moment.