@@daedricprincejdw9364 but you don’t have to beat the champion to take the title and become new champion. Nobody had to “practically kill” Harley Race to beat him for the NWA title. You had to be booked to beat Harley, that’s it.
Harley Race was the most respected but the greatest wrestler ever is Ric Flair. The Nature Boy exceeded every demand required to be and to carry the World's Heavyweight Championship belt. It's a ton of accountability and responsibility because the entire company is on your shoulders.
I got to meet Harley about 7 years ago. At that point, Harley was in a wheelchair and could barley move around. He still scared the crap out of me though!!! He was super nice but he was still Harley Race!!!
I think one more person needs to be added to this: Nick Bockwinkel was understated as great as these two. The original "Cerebral Assassin", best seller ever.
Harley era una máquina. Fuerza natural, dominio de la tecnica y presencia ruda junto con buen micrófono. ¡Si! Era el mejor. Por lo menos mejor que Ric que también fue una gran estrella.
As a young fan, I got to observe Harley and Larry Hennig's AWA World Tag Team Championship run (mid-sixties) up close in the Twin Cities. Nothing could come close to the AWA from the early sixties up about until the Wrestlerock Event at the MetroDome. Pure classic pro wrestling as it was intended to be. There was a stretch there where every wrestler on that show seemed like they were born for a particular role. It was uncanny. I know Verne Gagne had his pro's and con's, but he should get his due, he was a genius when it came to the finished product the fans saw...
I love their promos but the televised matches were terrible. AWA had a great schedule, a quasi national territory just in size and great talent. He should have modernized as per the time rather than stick to the same old. Nick should have put Hogan over and feud with Hall, Henning etc going forward till a few years later.
@@vineetv youre right, Verne was so midwestern he never "got" tv production or the kitsch attraction of wrestling that attracted "the demographic". But let's face it, Vince jr. was always gonna get Hogan. Vince was always gonna win. He made the WWE the "Star Trek" of pro-wrestling-- a "universe" that defines the genre. I love AEW, but it is a doomed project-- Triple H is even better than Vince.
I heard Lisa Marie had to be sent to the hospital after not feeling well at the Golden Globes. I can't believe Priscilla and Lisa Marie passed away. At least Lisa Marie will get to reunite with his dad.
@@what...what... hes a loser that couldnt cut it in Florida so he quit. Andre will always be the greatest ever, anyone who says otherwise never seen him in person.
@@kenterminateddq5311 A matter of how old, and how much prior history anyone knew of. Magazine readers around the world knew how big Harley was before his WWF circus run.
I never saw Thesz wrestle, but I know Ric use to wrestle 1 hour matches and wrestle 9 matches in a week. Ric also had so much charisma and dressed like a million bucks and wore a $15,000.00 dollar Rolex watch. Ric also had the top 15 interviews-promos of all time and put so many people over. Ric was the total package and was a great overall showman. I don’t think Thesz or Harley can touch him and it is not even close, Ric is The Goat.
@@AvioftheSand Driving him around would have been enough for me...I would have kept a good supply of Mennen in the glove box...and at least 5 Evergreen car fresheners hanging from the rear view mirror...and a set of clothespins for the nose...just for right after the match was over...as Happy's chauffeur and shower fella, Harley started early paying his dues...
& vice versa. As Ric augmented their legends, in turn years prior, they boosted Ric's skills & knowledge. That's the ring of friendship & respect you rarely hear of anymore. Good on Ric in honoring that tradition💪❤️✌️👍
Enjoy reading all the comments about who's the greatest like every sport it's hard to compare do to wrestling change every decade or so but mr. Race build the modern-day champion and Ric flair took that to another level with his showmanship!!!!
I hate how at the end of his career in the late 80s They made Harley race in the WWF mostly a jobber That guy was one of the greatest in NWA world champions ever🔥🔥🔥🔥
@@sstrykert that's what Vince did to anyone who became a star somewhere else. Vader, Ron Simmons, etc. Sting has said that's why he never wanted to go to the WWF.
@@username-zj9id bingo. They treated the AAA luchadors & minis as novelties though at live shows they were blowing the roof off(even comedy w/Sunny didn't damper their work rate). VKM did more harm than good, but everything consolidates before people realize multiple confederations are better.🤔
@@chrisgrudge6964 how many times did those guys defend the belt in Japan and Australia etc. Flying across the country and the was not near as easy back then . Plus Flair and Race were doing 380 matches a year compared to 150 for guys in the 50's and 60's.
Yes, they were now I am not sure about the ones before them or Jack Brisco, Terry Funk types I assumed they were traveling champions as well I haven't done the research. But anyway for me those guys were the closest thing to "World 🌎 Champions because of how much they traveled. That's the main reason I I don't consider the more modern multi champions like John Cena and even hulk Hogan comparable.
In real life Harley Race was very tough. It's being mentioned lots of times. Same with Haku. Same with Vadar. Just because wrestling is staged doesn't mean none of them are tough. Haku is supposed to be serious tough.
You know they're family right? and that it's a worked business? Conrad is just play'n the part of promoter setting up angles with the boys in his locker room.
I watched Harley Race beat the hell outta Rick in the mid 70s at the Miami Beach Convention center. Ive seen Rick Flair more times than I care to remember if you seen 1 Rick Flair match youve seen them all. Great he was not he was a horrible wrestler and the NWA knew it thats why they kept the belt on him so he wouldnt get stuck in any one territory and ruin it. The guy is a real POS in the ring and out of the ring.
That actually makes a lot of sense. If you came up with modern wrestling where the guys go 100 miles per hour as soon as the match starts, no sell everything, and there's at least one table spot every single show, you'd probably fall asleep watching an old school tape.
@@theazureknight9399 I actually grew up watching 80's wrestling. I was a huge fan of Ricky the Dragon Steamboat, the Road Warriors, Jimmy Snuka, Roddy Piper, Nikita Koloff and later enjoyed the late 90s Monday Night War. I always thought that Andre the Giant was overrated as well as Hulk Hogan
I have to say Harley race isn't the goat but if flair never would have worked with Harley race he probably wouldn't have been as successful just like ric flair and dusty rhodes or ric flair and Ricky steamboat or ric flair vs sting
@@RSG007_ERA.of.GREATNESS triple h beat the rock more times ..... triple h beat shawn michaels more times...... triple h get the champions more than bret hart
@@RSG007_ERA.of.GREATNESS this triple h he is evolution..... no flair no orton no batista..... only triple h the heavy man and the boss and the princes
I will never be tired of hearing Flair tell Harley Race stories.
I love them too!
I never tire of Flair's imitation of Harley Race.
~ Caretaker
I love seeing Ric giving Harley Race his flowers. A real legend of wrestling. RIP big man, we miss you. ❤
Rick flair your a class act topping your glass to Harley race class act sir
Harley loved that belt, to beat him you had to practically kill him. He was like a battleship
Those back body drops. Holy f@ck!👍5stars!
To beat him you just needed the right script
@@patrickbooth5091 holy moly, another youtuber with limited channel content!
I think what you meant was, to beat Harley Race, you had to be booked to beat Harley Race.
@@daedricprincejdw9364 but you don’t have to beat the champion to take the title and become new champion. Nobody had to “practically kill” Harley Race to beat him for the NWA title. You had to be booked to beat Harley, that’s it.
Harley Race was the most respected but the greatest wrestler ever is Ric Flair. The Nature Boy exceeded every demand required to be and to carry the World's Heavyweight Championship belt. It's a ton of accountability and responsibility because the entire company is on your shoulders.
I got to meet Harley about 7 years ago. At that point, Harley was in a wheelchair and could barley move around. He still scared the crap out of me though!!! He was super nice but he was still Harley Race!!!
He probably would still beat you and me up from the wheelchair!
Love Ric’s Harley impersonation. Cracks me up every time. Lol😂😅
I think one more person needs to be added to this: Nick Bockwinkel was understated as great as these two. The original "Cerebral Assassin", best seller ever.
Harley era una máquina. Fuerza natural, dominio de la tecnica y presencia ruda junto con buen micrófono. ¡Si! Era el mejor. Por lo menos mejor que Ric que también fue una gran estrella.
Ric, you are by far my favorite wrestler. No other comes close.
Terry funk all day every day
As a young fan, I got to observe Harley and Larry Hennig's AWA World Tag Team Championship run (mid-sixties) up close in the Twin Cities. Nothing could come close to the AWA from the early sixties up about until the Wrestlerock Event at the MetroDome. Pure classic pro wrestling as it was intended to be. There was a stretch there where every wrestler on that show seemed like they were born for a particular role. It was uncanny. I know Verne Gagne had his pro's and con's, but he should get his due, he was a genius when it came to the finished product the fans saw...
I love their promos but the televised matches were terrible. AWA had a great schedule, a quasi national territory just in size and great talent. He should have modernized as per the time rather than stick to the same old. Nick should have put Hogan over and feud with Hall, Henning etc going forward till a few years later.
Awa from Chicago, good stuff
@@vineetv youre right, Verne was so midwestern he never "got" tv production or the kitsch attraction of wrestling that attracted "the demographic". But let's face it, Vince jr. was always gonna get Hogan. Vince was always gonna win.
He made the WWE the "Star Trek" of pro-wrestling-- a "universe" that defines the genre. I love AEW, but it is a doomed project-- Triple H is even better than Vince.
The adoration Ric has for the wrestlers before him and that got him over is pretty darn cool.
Especially Ray Stevens
@@TheVanneo what a legend 💪💪💪
I'm greatful I got to see Flair and Race in a cage 1984 at Maple Leaf Gardens
I believe if WWE 2K had an all-time list, Harley would be one of the topmost ranked performers, alongside Brock, Bruno and Cena.
I bet Harley Race is so tuff that he could beat up 100 Gen Z betas at one time.
Listening to this just after I heard Lisa Marie passed. Fucking crazy.
How weird he mentioned Priscilla Presley and Lisa Marie just died
I heard Lisa Marie had to be sent to the hospital after not feeling well at the Golden Globes.
I can't believe Priscilla and Lisa Marie passed away.
At least Lisa Marie will get to reunite with his dad.
@@kenterminateddq5311 Priscilla is still with us...
Lisa Marie was a woman/female
@@hockeyman1054 Oops, I read the comment wrong.
It is impossible to say any one person is the greatest. What about Lou Thesz? Bruno? Ric himself? Hogan? Dusty?
Let's just say they were great.
Ric Flair will always be the king of wrestling just like Elvis Presley is the king of Rock and Roll.
@@what...what... hes a loser that couldnt cut it in Florida so he quit. Andre will always be the greatest ever, anyone who says otherwise never seen him in person.
@@MasterWitchDoctor lots of people quit
Flair did 3 times
One thing I always loved about Harley Race was his looks. You can just tell he was a tough guy just looking at him.
Everything about Harley was tough.
A legend talking about a legend. Love this!!!
👁 walk down the street with Mr.Ra CE in St
Louis Mo.❤😊😊
The Boogie Man looks under his bed at night to make sure Harley Race isn't there.
My PERSONAL Top 5 All-Time World Heavyweight Champions :
1. Harley Race
2. Nick Bockwinkel
3. Ric Flair
4. Hulk Hogan
5. Sting
Harley race was one of the who built pro wrestling. He carried the NWA. RIP HARLEY RACE
BRUNO SAMMARTINO.
I wish WWF/WWE gave Harley a better gimmick so Harley Race can be seen as one of greatest WWF Superstars of all time.
since when does what Vince McMahon think say or do matter? Harley Race did not need the WWF / WWE he was great long before Vince McMahon.
@@MasterWitchDoctor if you ask most mainstream fans, they would think of either the King gimmick or as Vader's former manager.
@@kenterminateddq5311 A matter of how old, and how much prior history anyone knew of. Magazine readers around the world knew how big Harley was before his WWF circus run.
I remember the 3 Kings back in the days...The King Harley Race, The King Jerry Lawler and the King Larry Zabisco.
When and where was Larry Zbyszko doing the king gimmick? I don't remember that at all. 🤔
@@Daves_Faves about the time he was with Gordon Solie doing WCW, late 1980s...Legend Killer, King, the Last AWA Champ, he had a few bits going on.
Ric looked up to Harley and dam who wouldn't they don't make em like that anymore Harley was and will always be the world champion.
thesz by far the greatest. the 90 minute man. even did a few 120 min, 150 min matches
I never saw Thesz wrestle, but I know Ric use to wrestle 1 hour matches and wrestle 9 matches in a week. Ric also had so much charisma and dressed like a million bucks and wore a $15,000.00 dollar Rolex watch. Ric also had the top 15 interviews-promos of all time and put so many people over. Ric was the total package and was a great overall showman. I don’t think Thesz or Harley can touch him and it is not even close, Ric is The Goat.
He’s got a handful of his matches here on RUclips
I agree with you about Lou Thesz being the greatest, Harley and Ric being 2nd and 3rd in my book
lol
@@rubenarriaga3029 there are 35-40 thesz matches in circulation
I'LL MOVE..................WOOOOO!!!!!!!!
Rick loved that man.
"The Greatest Wrestler on God's Green Earth." Came a long ways from washing Happy Humphrey down with a garden hose. I miss Mr. Race!
What a story. A man so fat, he couldn't use bathtubs and had to be hosed down by a young Harley
@@AvioftheSand Driving him around would have been enough for me...I would have kept a good supply of Mennen in the glove box...and at least 5 Evergreen car fresheners hanging from the rear view mirror...and a set of clothespins for the nose...just for right after the match was over...as Happy's chauffeur and shower fella, Harley started early paying his dues...
@@AvioftheSand And I would have had to say, "Sorry Happy...sensitive stomach, you know?"
Ric Flair is the king of wrestling just like Elvis Presley is the king of Rock and Roll.
and youre the King of stupidity judt for saying that. The only thing Rick is the king of is snorting a line of coke.
Great Video Ric Flair
Harley might have been the greatest wrestler but Ric was the total package. There are too many wrestlers to name that owe Ric for making them names.
& vice versa. As Ric augmented their legends, in turn years prior, they boosted Ric's skills & knowledge. That's the ring of friendship & respect you rarely hear of anymore. Good on Ric in honoring that tradition💪❤️✌️👍
Enjoy reading all the comments about who's the greatest like every sport it's hard to compare do to wrestling change every decade or so but mr. Race build the modern-day champion and Ric flair took that to another level with his showmanship!!!!
If I hit him with my left hand and he doesn’t go down, I will walk around him to see what is holding him up!
Harley was awesome during his era. Not so much later and in the prime of professional wrestling
Harley Race was a tough man, but his matches were boring as fuck.
I hate how at the end of his career in the late 80s They made Harley race in the WWF mostly a jobber That guy was one of the greatest in NWA world champions ever🔥🔥🔥🔥
Both Race & Hacksaw could be total beasts, depending on the booking. Their feud could've been so much more, but VKM made it cartoony😕
@@sstrykert that's what Vince did to anyone who became a star somewhere else. Vader, Ron Simmons, etc. Sting has said that's why he never wanted to go to the WWF.
@@username-zj9id bingo. They treated the AAA luchadors & minis as novelties though at live shows they were blowing the roof off(even comedy w/Sunny didn't damper their work rate). VKM did more harm than good, but everything consolidates before people realize multiple confederations are better.🤔
@Sean STRYKER lack of competition definitely hurt the business. It's a completely different product now, and it will never be the same.
@@username-zj9id in terms of business side yes. In terms of fundamentals, no. & Lots running around w/out fundamentals in terms of talents.
Harley came up from the carnival time. He is pro wrestling not sport entertainment. Toughest
“I’ll move”. Haha
Harley Race
"The greatest wrestler on God's green earth "
R.I.P
Harley Race
1943-2019
dang, didn't Harley Race was no longer with us. thanks for the info.
Ric and Harley are the only 2 traveling world champions.
Jack Brisco, Terry Funk, Dory Funk, Lou Thesz?
Every champion before flair was a traveling champion going back to strangler Ed Lewis and then some…
@@chrisgrudge6964 how many times did those guys defend the belt in Japan and Australia etc. Flying across the country and the was not near as easy back then . Plus Flair and Race were doing 380 matches a year compared to 150 for guys in the 50's and 60's.
Yes, they were now I am not sure about the ones before them or Jack Brisco, Terry Funk types I assumed they were traveling champions as well I haven't done the research.
But anyway for me those guys were the closest thing to "World 🌎 Champions because of how much they traveled.
That's the main reason I I don't consider the more modern multi champions like John Cena and even hulk Hogan comparable.
@@connerhuston2613 great post
In real life Harley Race was very tough. It's being mentioned lots of times. Same with Haku. Same with Vadar. Just because wrestling is staged doesn't mean none of them are tough. Haku is supposed to be serious tough.
Harley Race even had a bad ass name…..
@@YetAnotherRetardedYTUpdate Harley Quinn...
My favourite Harley Race moment is body slamming Andre outside the ring onto the concrete!
I don't trust Conrad anymore. He is on with Eric talking a lot of shit about you lately Ric. Go watch.
You know they're family right? and that it's a worked business? Conrad is just play'n the part of promoter setting up angles with the boys in his locker room.
It's a work to set up Ric's last match vs. Bischoff.
Ric is stoned to deaf😂
I’m convinced Ric Flair has brain damage
I agree with Ric Flair on this one. Harley was mean!
Ric says that because nobody could beat Harley outside of the ring..
LOL
Mighty heroic of Ric to pay homage to Harley….but no…he’s not the GOAT….there really isn’t a GOAT…too many greats to choose from…
I watched Harley Race beat the hell outta Rick in the mid 70s at the Miami Beach Convention center. Ive seen Rick Flair more times than I care to remember if you seen 1 Rick Flair match youve seen them all. Great he was not he was a horrible wrestler and the NWA knew it thats why they kept the belt on him so he wouldnt get stuck in any one territory and ruin it. The guy is a real POS in the ring and out of the ring.
😆😆😆😆😆😆😆
Ric's being modest race wasn't better than he
Fear was just as big a part of it 😅
Call me a blaspheme but I never saw Harley Race match that didn't make me yawn.
That actually makes a lot of sense. If you came up with modern wrestling where the guys go 100 miles per hour as soon as the match starts, no sell everything, and there's at least one table spot every single show, you'd probably fall asleep watching an old school tape.
@@theazureknight9399 I actually grew up watching 80's wrestling. I was a huge fan of Ricky the Dragon Steamboat, the Road Warriors, Jimmy Snuka, Roddy Piper, Nikita Koloff and later enjoyed the late 90s Monday Night War. I always thought that Andre the Giant was overrated as well as Hulk Hogan
@Michael Ptacek that's just the way things go. Race was a good wrestler for his time. Alot of people watch 80s wrestling and yawn today.
I have to say Harley race isn't the goat but if flair never would have worked with Harley race he probably wouldn't have been as successful just like ric flair and dusty rhodes or ric flair and Ricky steamboat or ric flair vs sting
Dirtiest player in the game. He is, the one, the ONLY, the Naitcha Boy ! Woooooo.
Triple h is the best and better forever
😂 he couldn’t tie Bret Hart, Shawn Michaels, or Owen Hart’s boots…. The Rock was way better than him too
@@RSG007_ERA.of.GREATNESS triple h beat the rock more times ..... triple h beat shawn michaels more times...... triple h get the champions more than bret hart
@@RSG007_ERA.of.GREATNESS no left no right no lie no liar triple h is the best and the man and the heavy man
@@RSG007_ERA.of.GREATNESS this triple h he is evolution..... no flair no orton no batista..... only triple h the heavy man and the boss and the princes
@@RSG007_ERA.of.GREATNESS no impossible...... all of them envy and jealousy of triple h
speak up. Quit whispering. Try being sober for an interview.
He’s doing an impression of Harley Race. Harley race really talked like that. Watch the promos or the interviews.
Harley Race retired with dignity, unlike Ric.