WWE: Ranking Ric Flair's 16 World Title Runs - From Worst To Best

5. NWA World Championship (4th NWA, 4th Overall) August 9, 1986 - September 25, 1987

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkjwAc8j9Lg Another 400+ days with the championship for Flair as he continued to show why he was viewed by many as the best in the world during the era over these 412 days as this victory over "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes had Flair reclaim the championship after a hiccup against the hall of famer a fortnight earlier that ultimately prevented Flair from holding the championship for more than 1,000 days uninterrupted. Flair continued to be dogged by Rhodes throughout the summer and would also face off against Lex Luger, longtime rival Magnum T.A. (whose career was cut short after a car accident in October 1986), and Ricky Morton before heading off challenges from Nikita Koloff and continuing to ward off Rhodes' constant attempts to dethrone him to close out 1986 and start 1987. The first month of 1987 also saw Flair and Barry Windham wrestle to a time limit draw and five-star ratings in a match of the year candidate that would help to signal Windham's ascent to the upper echelon of the NWA's superstars. This effort would be matched by the two in April at the Crockett Cup. Flair would continue to successfully defend the championship with the aid of the Horsemen against Rhodes and other NWA mainstays and top names including Brad Armstrong, and Bobby Eaton, while also teaming with the Horsemen in various tag encounters against the Rock 'n' Roll Express, Midnight Express, Rhodes and Nikita Koloff and Ron and Jimmy Garvin, and The Road Warriors in contests throughout the spring and early summer, including the inaugural War Games matches during the Great American Bash tour. Ron Garvin would usurp Flair's grasp on the championship on September 25, bringing to close another chapter in the career of The Nature Boy.