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Michael W. Rickard II

Special Feature: The Greatest United States Heavyweight Champion of All Time Tournament: Round Three

Copyright 2019 Michael W. Rickard II

Originally presented at Canadian Bulldog's World.

It’s time for Round Three of The Greatest U.S. Champion of All Time Tournament, presented originally at Canadian Bulldog’s World. In case you’re just tuning in, this tournament includes the 21 greats who held Jim Crockett Promotions’ United States Heavyweight Championship, one of the most prestigious titles in the National Wrestling Alliance. The belt served as a steppingstone to the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and became the focus of many top programs in JCP. The 21 different men who held the belt were either famous veterans or rising stars who eventually became legends.

Round One featured 18 grappling greats battling to advance to round two while three other competitors (Ric Flair, Blackjack Mulligan, and Chief Wahoo McDaniel) received byes for having held the U.S. title the most times. Keep in mind that the wrestlers working the matches are in the same physical condition they were when they held the U.S. Championship which means nearly every competitor is in their wrestling prime.

Round Two featured 10 wrestling legends fighting tooth and nail to make it to round three and here we are with four wrestlers left.

The third-round matches are being held at the Winston-Salem Memorial Coliseum in (where else?) Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The multi-purpose arena opened in and could hold up to 8,500 people. The coliseum hosted a number of sports including hockey, basketball, and of course, “The Sport of Kings,” professional wrestling. As always, Bob Caudle and David Crockett will be calling the action for round two’s matches. Every match in the third round is one fall with a 60-minute time limit.

Tonight’s match features two long-time rivals, Chief Wahoo McDaniel and "Nature Boy" Ric Flair. Their battles in the Mid-Atlantic region were legendary and tonight they'll get a chance to claim supremacy.

Ric "Nature Boy" Flair vs. Wahoo McDaniel

Tony Schiavone is in the heel locker room with “Nature Boy” Ric Flair. Greg Valentine walks by and pats Flair on the back. Tony talks about Flair’s many past battles with Wahoo and asks him what he thinks he needs to do to advance to the finals. Flair tells Schiavone he’s going to do what he always does—style, profile, and Wooooo! do things as only he can do. When he’s done with Wahoo, you’re not going to see him around for a long time.

Click here for the full article.

Click here for the tournament introduction

Click here for match one of round one

Click here for match two of round one.

Click here for match three of round one.

Click here for match four of round one.

Click here for match six of round one.

Click here for match seven of round one.

Click here for match eight of round one.

Click here for match nine of round one.

Round Two

Click here for match one of round two.

Click here for match two of round two.

Click here for match three of round two.

Click here for match four of round two.

Click here for match five of round two.

Click here for match six of round two

Round Three

Click here for match one of round three

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