Seven classic pro wrestling world title matches

7. Nature Boy Ric Flair (C) vs. Ricky the Dragon Steamboat

Ricky Steamboat faces off with Ric Flair for the ten pounds of gold

The Time: May 7, 1989 - NWA WrestleWar

The Title: The NWA World Heavyweight Championship

The Contenders: Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat

Back in the 1980s, Ric Flair seemed almost unstoppable as champion. His guile, trickery, and technical wrestling turned away every contender to his title, including men like Road Warrior Animal, Dusty Rhodes, and Sting.

And if there were anyone who could possibly be in danger of defeating Flair, the Four Horsemen would see to it they did not.

Flair's latest victim/contender was Wildfire Tommy Rich, hitherto the youngest man to hold the NWA world title. Flair punked out Rich on multiple occasions, usually with outside interference.

Tommy Rich went and got a mystery partner to help fend off Flair's numbers game, and wound up bringing in Ricky Steamboat. Steamboat pinned Flair in a tag team match, and of course instantly catapulted to the head of the line for a title shot.

The match between the two men is considered the gold standard for classic wrestling matches. Highlights include almost every second from bell to bell, as the two athletic men in their prime put on a phenomenal wrestling clinic that is still talked about today.

There you have it: seven of the best world championship matches of all time. Questions or comments? Please leave them below the article, and thanks for reading!