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

2. NWA World Championship (1st NWA, 1st Overall) September 17, 1981 - June 10, 1983

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur6IRIDtaIM For fans of the Mid-Atlantic region, wrestling historians, older wrestling fans and purists, September 17, 1981 is a date that is just as significant as January 24, 1984, March 31, 1985, March 29, 1987 or any other important date in wrestling history as this was the day Ric Flair claimed his first World Championship defeating "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes in Kansas City, Missouri and cementing his place in pro wrestling legend. Through the next 631 days Flair would defend the championship the world over against all comers including Harley Race, the Von Erichs, Rhodes, Terry Funk, Dory Funk, Jr., Steamboat, and a bevy of the NWA's finest. Flair was also truly a world champion, defending Sweet Charlotte globally against the best wrestlers those countries and territories had to offer. Jack Veneno of the Dominican Republic WWE Hall of Famer Carlos Colón of Puerto Rico and Croatian-born Victor Jovica were all able to defeat Flair for the championship, but the decisions overturned or later stricken from the record for numerous reasons ranging from feet being on ropes, to changes just not being recognized. Another blemish for Flair was a February 1982 loss in Miami to masked wrestler The Midnight Rider. While it was largely an open secret that it was Dusty Rhodes under the mask, and the pin itself was not controversial, Flair was able to maintain his grasp on the title and the result overturned for several reasons. The first being that the NWA prohibited masked wrestlers from holding the NWA Championship, but NWA President Bob Geigel would let the title change stand if The Midnight Rider unmasked. He refused and thus the change did not occur. Even if The Midnight Rider had unmasked it would have been for naught since Rhodes was suspended in Florida at the time and thus unable to compete in any match let alone for the NWA Championship. While this was not the start nor end, it was a definite highpoint for the two and Rhodes would continue to challenge Flair for years to come in one of the most celebrated rivalries in the chronicles of professional wrestling. Other highlights of Flair's international defenses were dream matches against fellow reigning World Champions WWE kingpin Bob Backlund and AWA titleholder Nick Bockwinkel throughout Asia, usually resulting in 60-minute time limit draws and 2-out of-3 falls matches that while thrilling showcases of the best wrestlers on the planet, were frustratingly inconclusive more often than not with no wrestler ever truly having the advantage. The matches are legendary and a must-watch for all wrestling fans looking for classic mat wresting in seemingly impossible dream matches, rare encounters well worth the effort of finding them online (most of the footage is owned by Japanese promotions and probably will not see light of day on WWE Network). While Flair was certainly making a name for himself in wresting in the years since his debut in 1974, this title reign very much solidified and completed the transition to the Ric Flair fans are familiar with nowadays. While he had earned the rights to the Nature Boy moniker from Buddy Rogers in 1978, many would argue that it was only now that he truly became The Nature Boy.