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WWE Dream Match: CM Punk vs Ric Flair

WWE Dream Match: CM Punk vs Ric Flair

Posted: Jul 9th 2012 By: mikeiles

When it comes to dream matches, everyone has their own ideas.

In fact, the last time I wrote a slideshow on this very subject, the majority of comments began with a notion similar to ?yeah, that?s alright, but THIS is what I would have picked.?

Meanwhile, as the guy who puts some real effort into everything he writes, I am left sitting there, speechless. Like Milton in Office Space, I?m watching everyone else enjoying birthday cake, and my plate is empty.

In other words, I?m like ?what about me??

But the fact is, what we do as Featured Columnists is editorialize, and readers do not always agree with our opinions. That?s just the nature of the beast.

So, the bottom line is, some of you will get this, and some of you will not.

Because a dream match that has been in my head for quite sometime now revolves around the Best in the World, and the Best of all Time.

Okay, again, it?s an editorial, people. Take a breather and try not to lose it.

CM Punk, the current WWE champion, versus the 16-time world champion, the Nature Boy, Ric Flair. For me, it does not get any better than this.

Now, just to clarify, this is not the 63-year-old Ric Flair who has either been either helping TNA, or ruining his legacy, depending on who you listen to. The Nature Boy we?re discussing is the 30-something Ric Flair who was stylin? and profiln? back in the old school NWA.

This is the same Nature Boy who made a career out of taking the best that individual territories had to offer, and making them look better than they could with anyone else. No matter how big, or how small a hometown star was, Flair made it look as though that man had every chance in the world to walk away with the gold on that night.

Ric gave in order to get. He did it the right way every time he stepped into the ring. He understood that by making his opponent look good, he would also look good in the process.

Sounding familiar?

It should, because this is the way that the best workers have always done business. It?s the Horsemen way. And, it?s also Punk?s way.

Punk is the type of talent who goes into a match with the intent of knocking them dead. Giving maximum effort in every bout, Punk is like Jerry Lee Lewis strutting past Chuck Berry in Great Balls of Fire, challenging him with ?follow that, killer!?

Man, I?m really making with the movie references on this one, right?

Punk is easily at his best when facing off against another worker who takes pride in his craft as much as the WWE champion does. The pace of the match becomes a bit slower, but more intense, as each man takes his time to tell the story of the rivalry in every move presented in the contest.

For those of us out there who appreciate good old-fashioned mat wrestling, the era of Punk could not have come at a better time. And, the era of Flair ended way too soon.

Flair represented a time when the art of storytelling in the ring was not classic, it was the norm.

Though he was the top guy in Jim Crockett Promotions, he was not alone in terms of ability. Dusty Rhodes, Magnum T. A., Roddy Piper, Wahoo McDaniel, the Midnight Express and Rock-N-Roll Express; all of these stars brought a real work ethic, and dedication to their craft.

But, as the years went by, and Vince McMahon?s company became stronger, the days of the hard-working pro wrestler who left it all in the ring gradually became overshadowed by the overly polished sports entertainer produced by WWE.

This is not to say that there are not some very talented performers who are still coming up through the business, trying to make it at the highest level. But it is apparent that often times, these men and women are the exception, rather than the rule.

Now, as pro wrestling fans, we find ourselves debating the merits of these workers, and actually questioning if the majority of them even deserve a main-event spot in the first place.

Enter the taped fist fighter from the Windy City.

Punk has been a hot button topic of conversation since last year, when his ascension in WWE began with a pipe bomb on Monday Night Raw. He went from being underused to overexposed in the eyes of many fans, and now a great number of them are of the mind that he has grown stale.

For the 1980?s NWA, and the bleached blond, limousine-riding champion who reigned supreme, this would likely not have been a problem.

For Flair?s generation, a worker was typically not thrust into the spotlight as the result of one promo, or even one match. If a star like CM Punk were a part of that locker room, and had caught fire the way he had last year, then the company would have begun the gradual build up, pairing him with the best talent they had, bringing him up to the top.

And, once he got there, he would have faced Ric Flair.

Flair made guys. Pure and simple. Punk, like Sting, would have been the up-and-coming star who fans latched onto and wanted to see. The only thing he would have needed is the rub to get him where he needed to go, and Flair would have provided that. For me, the highlight of Sting?s career was his work with Ric, and I daresay this would also have been the case with Punk.

Would Punk have been the top draw in the NWA? Perhaps not. After all, much of Punk?s appeal is that he so closely resembles Rowdy Roddy Piper, another workhorse who was one step away from being the main guy in his day.

Fans during that time may have viewed Punk as being in the same vein as an unpredictable, dangerous personality who was not suited to wear the gold for an extended period of time.

Then there?s the fact that Flair was the proven money maker, battle tested, and pushed above all others. Everyone else revolved around him, and he was the man to beat for a very long time.

Now, this is sounding familiar. Are we talking about Ric Flair or John Cena?

To see Flair versus Punk, with both men in their prime, is a dream match for this writer. As much as I enjoy the showbiz side of the industry, I am always a pro wrestling fan at heart. And, this match is exactly what I as a fan want to see.

Let the disagreements begin.

 

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  • 1954 Johnny Valentine def. Joe Christie for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 2002 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Title
  • 2012 Tim Storm became the NWA-TXO Heavyweight Champion
  • 2012 Kyra Maya became the NWA-TXO Rose Champion
  • 2013 Nasty Swag (Robert Lee & Ace Archuleta) became the UWE Tag Team Champions
  • 2019 Slice & Kill (Skylar Slice & Killista) def. The Proclamation (Ethan Cole & Reed) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 2024 Brandon Warhawk def. Seth Daniels for the UWE Apex Title
  • 2024 Fuel def. Killbane for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 2024 Party Bird Crew (Smitty & Birdman) def. Black Flag Rising (Anarchy [2nd] & Faded Ghoul) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 2024 Super Crash Brothers (Badger James & Trench Blythe) def. Party Bird Crew (Smitty & Birdman) for the UWE Tag Team Titles

Week of Sun 09-20 to Sat: 09-26

  • 09-20 1978 Jose Lothario def. Assassin 1 for the TSW Louisiana Title
  • 09-20 1985 The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) def. The Dynamic Duo (Gino Hernandez & Chris Adams) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 09-20 2008 Michael Barry def. Angel Williams for the IZW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-20 2008 New Canada (The Canadian Red Devil & The Canadian Luchadore) became the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 09-20 2008 The Gentlemen Thugs (Cast-Iron Cothern & Shane Morbid) def. New Canada (The Canadian Red Devil & The Canadian Luchadore) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 09-20 2009 Jermaine Johnson def. Ky-ote Joe for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
  • 09-20 2013 Mike Foxx def. Tim Storm for the NWA-TXO Heavyweight Title
  • 09-20 2013 Genesis (Carrion Arcane & Kristopher Haiden) def. The Rock Star Mafia (Dane Griffin & Armani) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
  • 09-20 2013 The Rock Star Mafia (Dane Griffin & Armani) def. Genesis (Carrion Arcane & Kristopher Haiden) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Titles
  • 09-20 2014 Kevin Morgan & became the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 09-20 2014 Jordan Jacobs def. Drake Gallows for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 09-20 2014 Claudia def. Bree Ann for the NWA-TXO Rose Title
  • 09-20 2014 The Brotherhood (Kyng Benjamin & Akuma Jones) def. A. C. Slaughter (Aaron Anders & Clint Cassidy) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 09-20 2014 Fuel def. Tim Rockwell for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 09-20 2025 Gideon Vane became the EPW International Champion
  • 09-20 2025 Miles Bane became the NAW Openweight Champion
  • 09-20 2026 Neo Genesis def. T. J. Spade for the ASP WTF Title
  • 09-21 1954 Johnny Valentine def. Joe Christie for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-21 2002 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Title
  • 09-21 2012 Tim Storm became the NWA-TXO Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-21 2012 Kyra Maya became the NWA-TXO Rose Champion
  • 09-21 2013 Nasty Swag (Robert Lee & Ace Archuleta) became the UWE Tag Team Champions
  • 09-21 2019 Slice & Kill (Skylar Slice & Killista) def. The Proclamation (Ethan Cole & Reed) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 09-21 2024 Brandon Warhawk def. Seth Daniels for the UWE Apex Title
  • 09-21 2024 Fuel def. Killbane for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 09-21 2024 Party Bird Crew (Smitty & Birdman) def. Black Flag Rising (Anarchy [2nd] & Faded Ghoul) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 09-21 2024 Super Crash Brothers (Badger James & Trench Blythe) def. Party Bird Crew (Smitty & Birdman) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 09-22 1971 Bill Watts def. Dusty Rhodes for the TSW North American Title
  • 09-22 2001 Jenna Love became the OPW Oklahoma Womens Champion
  • 09-22 2001 Justin Lee def. Dexter Hardaway for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
  • 09-22 2012 Crossfire Morrison def. Drake Gallows for the SWCW Hardcore Title
  • 09-22 2012 Kareem Sadat def. Crossfire Morrison for the SWCW Hardcore Title
  • 09-22 2023 Tommy Prince became the TexPro Dynasty Champion
  • 09-22 2023 Nashoba became the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion
  • 09-22 2023 Skidz def. Nashoba for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
  • 09-22 2023 Oscar Amazing def. Skidz for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
  • 09-23 1974 Tex McKenzie & Johnny Valentine def. The Blackjacks (Blackjack Mulligan & Blackjack Lanza) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 09-23 1975 Jose Lothario def. Billy Graham for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
  • 09-23 2000 Grenade def. Ichiban [2nd] for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
  • 09-23 2016 Xavior became the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
  • 09-23 2016 Nikki Knight def. Skylar Slice for the MSWA Ladies Title
  • 09-23 2016 Psycho Mike def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
  • 09-23 2017 Kikutaro def. Ryan Davidson for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
  • 09-23 2017 Dusty Gold def. Randy Price for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 09-23 2017 Erica def. Paige Turner for the IZW Womens Title
  • 09-23 2017 Double D def. Kevin Morgan for the IZW Heavyweight Title
  • 09-23 2017 Drake Gallows def. Sam Stackhouse for the BCW Buzzsaw Title
  • 09-23 2017 Xavior def. C. J. Ward for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
  • 09-23 2017 The Omega (O’Brien & O’Malley) def. The Cursed (Blade [2nd] & Kuda) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 09-23 2023 Skidz def. Oscar Amazing for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
  • 09-23 2023 Koko def. Dan Webber for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 09-23 2023 Sweetness (Cappuccino Jones & Romeo Reese) def. Southern Aristocracy (Eddie LeVaughn & Anthony Wild) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
  • 09-23 2023 Killbane def. Leo Fox for the UWE Apex Title
  • 09-24 2002 The Professionals (John Zorthos & Julian Wolfenbarger) became the ACW Tag Team Champions
  • 09-24 2016 Ricky Starks def. Ky-Ote for the IWR Revolutionary Title
  • 09-24 2022 London Calling (Dutch Hagen & Richie Adams) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
  • 09-24 2022 Martin Justice def. Tyler Watts for the EPW International Title
  • 09-24 2022 Logan Knight def. Kareem Sadat for the EPW All-American Title
  • 09-24 2022 Olivier Vegos def. Danni Bee for the NCWO Women's Title
  • 09-25 1965 Don Kent def. Red McKim for the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 09-25 1981 The Great Kabuki def. Kerry Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 09-25 1999 Big Daddy Moore def. Rocco Valentino for the OPW Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
  • 09-25 1999 The Casualties of War (Malice & Shrapnel) def. Red Eagle & Night Hawk for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
  • 09-25 1999 Kid Flash def. Tarantula for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
  • 09-25 2004 Michael Barry def. Brandon Groom for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
  • 09-25 2010 Wage def. Bernie D for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 09-26 1978 Terry Latham & Ricky Fields def. Seigfried Stanke & Kurt Von Hess for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
  • 09-26 1984 Adrian Street def. Terry Taylor for the MSW Television Title
  • 09-26 2004 John O'Malley def. Mr. Brown for the ACW Hardcore Title
  • 09-26 2009 Jeremy Quinn III became the ACW Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-26 2014 Paul Puertorico def. Matt Majestic for the SRPW United States Title
  • 09-26 2020 Brian Dixon def. Ethan Cole for the BPW Lion Heart Title
  • 09-26 2020 The Ritual (Samedi & Shadow Gemini) became the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
  • 09-26 2025 Riley Grinn def. Tommy Dean for the BUW No Pressure Title
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