Terry Funk vs Harley Race (NWA - 7/1/1977)

This is really a #1 contender for me , and I am not a big Race fan. Just amazing performances by both guys. That third fall was truly mindblowing, with Funk trying to kill Race before he bleeds to death. So good, and makes me so bummed that NWA Classics died before the uploaded the rematch. Fuck you Billy Corgan

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I really have to rewatch that match, it has been many years. It would be neck and neck for sure. This may have a little recency bias for me, nothing I love more then new unearthed gems, and this arriving from the past unseen for 30 years really resonates with me.

Is this anywhere online? This is one of those matches I've always wanted to see but never had a chance.

I finally watched this, yesterday was the big day. And oh my, it's an extraordinary match. Terry's performance here, once again, is so over the top... His armwork, his fire trying to comeback, his bloody selling, just amazing. I'm not as high with Race being and all-time great worker as others, but I like the guy and he ruled in this too, something that happens a lot when he's more focused on working the mat and striking than when he goes for bombs; great control segments. Loved the ending for every fall, especially that VICIOUS Piledriver at the second one. The final minutes are intense af, with Harley selling the Toehold like a god and Funk bleeding like only the Funker knows. This has possibilities to make my list. ****1/2.

To me this is the crown jewel of the Houston footage. I dont care for Harley Race, but not even he could ruin this. This is a masterful performance by Terry Funk and proves why he is one of the greatest of all time.

" The problem here was his [Harley Race] lack of personality and lack of expression" - OJ nailed it. This has become a major hangup I have with Harley in a lot of his matches.

NWA World Heavyweight Champion Harley Race vs Terry Funk - Houston 7/1/77

Holy Grail is an understatement as anything from Terry Funk in the 1970s especially a long traditional NWA Championship bout is a huge prize. Race defeated Terry Funk in Toronto for the World's Championship in Februrary of '77 and now five months later Funk is challenging for the belt.

First Fall: If you watch closely, Funk is reviewing the rules with the ref and makes a specific point about how chopping to throat is illegal but below is not. First move of the match, a chop by Terry Funk! The first 15 minutes focused on matwork. Terry Funk looked great working the arm. The best part was definitely how he set up the arm stretcher by stepping on Harley's face. I dont mean he placed his boot on Harley's face. He put both his feet right on the face of the champion. It was some nasty work. Harley made sure to add some movement. Funk hit not one, but two press slams on Harley. I dont think I have ever seen Funk do that. The first one was a beauty and an emphatic way to regain control. There is 4 minutes of clipping and we come back to Harley working a tight headlock. Very similar to a tight Backlund style one with plenty of wringing. Great struggle from Funk. Funk is able to earn an armbar but quickly loses control to a headscissors. Race is working his holds very well, very tight. Great pressure on the headscissors. Funk stands up with Race draped over his back, but Race maintains the hold and Funk falls forward. Funk hits a couple lefts while in the headscissors and stands up with it and this time gets out. I like how this does not start the Funk immediately instead Funk is still selling so it is Race landing the blows. Race goes for an arm wringers, but Funk starts throwing right-handed chops and eventually Funk breaks Race's clasp and starts to mount a comeback. I really enjoyed Race totally whiffing on a straight left closed fist only for Funk to punch him in the face. I love Funk's reaction to the ref to throw his hands up like he is innocent. Stuff like that makes closed fists feel so much more important. Funk wants the spinning toehold, but cant apply it. Then it is Race with a figure-4 attempt but he cant get it. Funk takes a nasty spill to the floor when Race side-steps him on a criss-cross. Race bring back in the hardway with a vertical suplex. Funk does an excellent job selling the back. Abdominal Stretch gives Race the fall. I have watched thousands of pro wrestling matches and never seen the abdominal stretch earn a fall and now I have seen it twice. Great first fall. It really puts Funk on display. He is so innovative and unpredictable. If that is something you value, then he is your man. Even little things, like how he falls through the ropes on his apron and re-enters the ring feels different. This is the best possible Race as he is toned down not throwing out too much. He is sticking to the fundamentals. He is still a blackhole of charisma but everything looks tight. Race 1-0.

Second Fall: Even though Harley won the first fall. It was not definitive. Funk came back strong in the opening of the second fall. Backing Harley into a corner and slapping him around. This drew the ire of Race. Who charged into a bodyslam. Funk came over, but Race butted him in the abdomen. Great transition. Race went back to work on the back as that is how he won the first fall. Funk eventually wrestled a headlock on Race. They break free and Race wants an abdominal stretch, but Funk gets a backslide for two. Funk urgently pounces and hits a piledriver for three. This has been the Terry Funk show. Great individual performance. Characteristically short second fall. Tied 1-1.

Third Fall: Excellent fall, ***** stuff here. Harley decides that he wants to make this match a battle of fisticuffs. He is hitting harder than in the Wahoo match. Funk blasts him back! Atomic Drop! 1-2-NO! Both feet over the ropes. Dont leave anything to chance. Funk lays a clever trap. He takes a knee over by the ropes. Baiting Race to come over and Funk picks the ankle. SPINNING TOEHOLD! Race starts punching him in the face. He keeps punching until he busts Funk wide open. Great bladejob. This was great drama. It was Funk's Spinning Toehold vs. Race working the cut. I loved the spot where Race hits a kneedrop on the cut, but comes up clutching his bad knee. Funk has one last gasp in the Spinning Toehold, but Harley grabs him by the hair Funk tries to block the left hand, but Harley breaks free and starts taking wicked shots to the cut. Funk gradually loses his strength each punch taking more of him until he finally succumbs to collapse, bloody and convulsing he takes a wild swing at the ref who calls for a blood stoppage because he knows Funk has lost it. Wow! Damn great finish to set up a big time rematch. Race starts headbutting Funk in the cut while announcer calls for a doctor. Wild!

Little bit of overhype calling this the greatest NWA Championship of all time aside, this match is fantastic and a terrific Terry Funk performance. So many little touches that are unique to Funk and so many innovative spots that I dont think have been seen since 1977 and were seen before. The third fall was high drama and you always want to peak at the finish and these two did just that. ****3/4

I thought this match was a bit of a drag but still enjoyable to see terry funk in his prime. Funk was certainly the aggressor here but Race had his moments where he shined. The second fall was my favorite because of how unpredictable it was. Great drama in the third fall with the spinning toe hold but the finish sort of fell flat for me. ****