- Shannon Steward

Let me welcome everyone to my first column on the JCP territory 1986-1989. First off, a little background on myself. I'm 23 years old and am a Certified Medication Technician, currently attending Missouri Western State College in St.Joseph, MO for a Bachelors Degree in Nursing. I began watching wrestling when I was 6 years old. By a wide margin, Jim Crockett Promotions is my favorite territory of all time, due in large part to the workers who made it so great. Over the past 10 years, I have collected a hefty amount of JCP videotapes, and they are the gems of my collection. 

For my first article, I have decided to focus on one of the greatest wrestling feuds ever to grace the squared circle, Ric Flair vs Barry Windham.  

Coming off of a run in Florida where he was one of their top stars, Barry Windham entered Jim Crockett Promotions in December of 1986. It was a common theory at the time that a large part of why he was brought in was to fill the void left by Magnum T.A.'s career ending auto accident a couple of months earlier. Upon entering JCP, Barry formed a tag team with Ron Garvin, and the two quickly captured the U.S. Tag Team Titles from Ivan Koloff and Krusher Kruschev, with Barry pinning Kruschev with a sunset flip coming over the ropes. The match was shown on an edition of NWA Pro Wrestling. In January, Ric Flair had just come off of a series of matches with Nikita Koloff.  He had drawn big money with Nikita at Starrcade ' 86, and subsequent rematches did good business as well. Barry Windham would be the next challenger in line. Dusty Rhodes realized the talent that Windham had, and he also would've been fully aware of the classic match Flair and Windham had in Florida at "Battle of the Belts" in early 1986. 

On a January edition of Worldwide wrestling, the trio of Ric Flair, Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard defeated Hector Guerrero, Tim Horner and Denny Brown. After the Horsmen continued to apply punishment after the match, Barry Windham came to the aide of the 3 men. Windham challenged Flair and the two had an impromptu match. Dusty Rhodes and The Rock 'n Roll Express came down to ringside to offset the the other Horsemen at ringside. Windham and Flair battled for almost 10 minutes, with Windham scoring some very close near falls. Anderson and Blanchard finally had to enter the ring to save the champ, and Flair was disqualified. A pier-six brawl ensued with all 8-men. After the ring was cleared of the Horsemen, Windham cut a promo, telling Flair that he was going to dethrone him of the NWA World Championship. 

One week later on Worldwide Wrestling, the match was set. Dusty Rhodes was at ringside in a tuxedo, to do special commentary with Tony Schiavone for the monumental encounter: Barry Windham vs Ric Flair for the NWA World Title. The match was one of the best matches of the 1980s, and perhaps the best match ever shown on Worldwide Wrestling.The crowd was electric, and Windham pushed Flair to the limit. The two men traded near falls, both always able to escape the 3-count.  Backslide...one...two..... kickout.  Small package....one...two...kickout. Finally, after Windham hit his finishing move, the lariat, the bell sounded. The 45-minute time limit had expired. Barry Windham had come up short in his quest for the NWA World title, but he would have one more chance upcoming at one of the biggest Crockett shows of the year. 

In April 1987, the second annual Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament was held in Baltimore, MD. The Flair-Windham rematch for the World title was signed for this mega event. The match was a wrestling clinic, as every match between the two men was. Windham was at his absolute best on this night, and seemed primed to take the title away from Flair. The two battled back and forth for over 20 minutes, exchanging near falls from every maneuver in the book. It appeared Windham had the match won with a reverse rollup, but Flair reversed the move, and held onto Windham's tights for the 1..2..3.  Ric Flair had retained his World Championship after a tremendous match. The people in Baltimore had gotten their moneys worth. In addition to a thrilling tag team tournament, they witnessed one of the greatest World title matches of 1987. 

Despite Barry Windham not winning the World Championship, neither man was a loser in anyone's book.  More...