When Lex Luger started his wrestling career in the mid-1980s, some of his earliest matches were against Ric Flair while they competed in Championship Wrestling From Florida and the National Wrestling Alliance. Over time, Flair and Luger faced off in numerous Steel Cage and title matches, but one notable early bout was an untelevised “Broadway” match—a grueling 60-minute time-limit draw. At the time, Flair was an established veteran, while Luger was just a rookie. In a recent “Going Ringside” interview, the WWE Hall of Famer shared how “The Nature Boy” helped guide him through that hour-long match.
“I had only been wrestling for a few months when I was told I had to wrestle for a whole hour. I thought, ‘How am I going to do that?’ Ric called a Sunset Flip—a basic wrestling move—during the match, and I was like, ‘What’s that?’ Ric was so surprised, but he got me through the hour. Yeah, an hour-long Broadway match is a lot, especially for someone who didn’t really know how to wrestle yet. Only Flair could have carried a guy like me through a match like that. That’s how good he is in the ring,” Luger explained.
Later on, Flair and Luger went on to create multiple classic matches, including their famous showdown at NWA Starrcade 1988 for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, and another intense encounter at NWA WrestleWar 1990 for the same title. The “Broadway” match wasn’t their only time-limit bout; their memorable fight at the NWA Battle of the Belts in September 1986 was Luger’s first televised shot at the World Heavyweight Title and ended in a 30-minute time-limit draw.
If you use any quotes from this article, please credit “Going Ringside” with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
Fan Take: This story highlights the invaluable role veteran wrestlers play in nurturing newcomers, ensuring the sport’s tradition continues at the highest level. For fighting fans, it underscores the blend of mentorship and talent that makes wrestling matches not just contests, but timeless storytelling events.
Source: www.wrestlinginc.com
