Ric Flair Wins #1

Ric Flair defeats Dusty Rhodes for the NWA world heavyweight championship in Kansas City, KS, September 17, 1981. The special referee is former 6-times NWA champion Lou Thesz.

NWA President Jim Crockett, Jr. shakes the hand of world champion Dusty Rhodes before the title match. Referee Lou Thesz looks on.

Lou Thesz holds up the "Ten Pounds of Gold" before the match in Kansas City's Memorial Hall.
From “Wrestling at the Chase” in St. Louis, hosted by Larry Matysik.

Race vs. Flair: A Kansas City Classic!

Ric Flair defends the NWA World Championship against Harley Race at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, KS. The match aired on "All Star Wrestling." (circa 1984)

This is my favorite Harley Race vs. Ric Flair match ever. No other even close! Great angle, great heat, great call by Kevin Wall, very old school in every way and every thing I loved about wrestling back in the day.

The angle and match are in 3 parts on YouTube; all three are included below. 

Part 1 of 3

Part 2 of 3

Part 3 of 3

Kansas City 1973: Harley Race defeats Dory Funk, Jr.

Harley Race defeats Dory Funk, Jr. for the NWA world heavyweight championship at Memorial Hall in Kansas City, KS, on May 24, 1973. Race would be the last man to hold the "Thesz" version of the belt that you see presented to Race at the conclusion. Less than two months later, Race would be presented the new "domed globe" version of the NWA belt before his title defense against Jack Brisco in Houston TX on July 20, 1973. Brisco won the title that night.