Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat

[10.0] "I'm not sure if this is my absolute favorite Flair/Steamboat match ... and rest assured, they have had a LOT of great matches ... but it's definitely up there in the standings. This is a full-frontal, all-killer-and-no-filler assault for about 25 minutes and even today it feels fluid and frenetic. It's a technical clinic, with some of the BEST knife edge chop exchanges you'll ever see inside a wrestling ring. Flair does all of the usual Flair antics here while Steamboat plays the role of stoic Boy Scout to near perfection. It's totally lost in the shuffle, buy I LOVE how Jim Ross paints the match as public schools vs. private schools -- the sort of class warfare parable that's sorely lacking in current day wrestling. For a match usually regarded as the embodiment of "scientific" grappling, you kind of forget just how great the brawling is in this thing; you get the best of EVERYTHING in this match and at no point does it ever feel contrived, convoluted or spotty. I can rewatch this match a couple of times a year and never get tired of it. If any match could rightfully be considered evergreen, it's this one right here."

[10.0] "What a classic this match is, from having great technique and psychology from Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat, to moments like that Clothesline from Nowhere that Steamboat, the 3 or 4 kick outs of Steamboat, or the Heel work from Flair with those pin and counts with the trap of using the ropes, and then the final with a roll pin from Steamboat after a streak of great spots like that flying chop, and that fly laying over flair and the referee, a missed fly and there the roll pin for this amazing victory with a great meaning for what Steamboat represented as a father, a family guy and a Face for WCW, 10/10 [*****1/2]"

[10.0] "An incredible atmosphere and a blistering pace defined this match. It never stalled and never relied on filler. That's also, in a way, my only real criticism: there wasn't much variety or creativity in the way the moves were used. Still, there's so much to like here. From Ricky Steamboat's unbreakable fighting spirit, always ready to push through any obstacle, to Ric Flair's incredible ring awareness and the way he managed to put both himself and his opponent over, to how flawlessly the match flowed from start to finish. It struck the perfect balance between feeling like a real fight and being a great wrestling match. What I loved most, though, was how many different types of pin attempts were used throughout the match and how that detail ultimately played a key role in the finish."

[9.0] "Wow, if you're looking for a match where chops mean something, this is the match. These guys hit each other hard and often, but not too often. They work them into the flow of the match so well. The sequence leading to Flair getting the figure four on for the first time is built to so painstakingly through the first half of this, and the crowd is on their feet for it. Flair also legitimately comes off the top rope during it. Jim Ross is at his best here on the call, giving us an all time classic. Considered (even by the competitors) to be their best of their three matches from 89."

[10.0] "A masterclass of professional wrestling. They did things in this match that have somehow never been replicated to my knowledge, like Flair getting his feet on the ropes and Steamboat having to kick out multiple times to get him off. And somehow, it's not the best match Ric would have this year!"

[9.0] "Flair has Steamboat in a figure 4 and Steamboat starts smacking the mat to get the crowd behind him, only problem is that HE IS TAPPING OUT HE IS DOING THE MOTION THE MATCH SHOULD HAVE ENDED THERE WHAT THE HELL FLAIR WAS SCREWED! But yeah the match is great. I just couldn't stop smileing while watching it idk why. But it was just fun to watch two legends going at it in Chicago with a red hot crowd behind them putting on a banger. Every move feels earned with every move also maving meaning. Love Flairs work as a heel and love Steamboats work as a babyface. Loved the misdirect at the end with the crossbody to Flair and the ref just for the roll up counted BY TEDDY LONG PLAYA for the win. Loved a lot about this match but that figure 4 smacking the mat really pissed me off. Great match and of course is worth the watch. ****1/2 (4.5)"

[10.0] "I started watching wrestling in 2000 (ish) and I have always seen Ric Flair as an old man and never bothered to go back into the 1980's to watch him in his prime. Well, this week I have done exactly that... and damn I am a huge fan of his work. I love his charisma, how he works a crowd, how he sells, bigger variety of moveset, he was top tier in-ring during his pomp. I think the 80's in general had a lot of incredible talent, which sadly is getting forgotten in 2025, for example I always thought Terry Funk was an old hardcore only wrestler, boy was I wrong, Funk was incredible. Anyways, I will stick to talking about this match now, I watched all three of Ric's famous trilogy with Steamboat and this was for sure my favourite. The crowd were great, commentary was great, both men had the crowd eating out of the palm of their hands, selling was top notch, grappling was top notch, they told a story in the ring, multiple realistic near falls for both men, a title change and we got a roll-up finish to protect the loser. 10/10."

[9.0] "This is such a fun, classic match! Truly wonderful in terms of skill and technique, and I don't think it got much better than this when it comes to great pacing, the cadence of this match is really spectacular, their chemistry is terrific, and I can totally see why it's a match many people remember until this day. The term 'Chi-Town Rumble moment' is very used when two wrestlers break out and show amazing chemistry with each other, that's how influent and remarkable the match is, and you have to acknowledge how big of an accomplish that is, to have your match quoted whenever two guys show an impressive performance together. There's a spark of magic in this match, and that's also because of how simple and amazing the storytelling is... you have two opposites, an extravagant womanizer guy like Flair, and a humble working guy in Steamboat, two different personalities, united by passion and grit. The match is awesome and very easy to watch, the crowd is on fire, screaming a lot and living the moment. Steamboat's chops here were brutal, looking like a bullet, and the whole match was subtle and precise, but at the same time very brutal and hard-hitting, which is a legendary paradox. The ending stretch saw a lot of unpredictability and back and forth moments, it was very nervous, but Steamboat survived Flair's tricks at the end with the ref bump and won the title - {****1/2}"

[10.0] "Really enjoyed this one. Both men sold as such that every move meant something and you thought that the match could end at any time. I don't think anyone else in American wrestling could have put on a better match at this point in wrestling history. The chemistry between Flair and Steamboat is unmatched and a joy to watch. In an era where more matches were about spectacle over technique, this match stands out as a diamond in the rough."

[9.0] "The first (and as far as i'm concerned the only) classic of their legendary 1989 trilogy. A masterclass in psychology between two extreme opposites with outstanding chemistry together as Steamboat's babyface fire and Flair's dirty tactics mesh perfectly well together. Steamboat's counters are a thing of beauty here, and Flair's dirty tricks in order to regain control or simply cut Steamboat in his tracks are excellent. It's engaging, the action is silky smooth, good pacing, great intensity, lots of drama, a red hot Chicago crowd, the ref bump that led to the finish feels a bit unnecessary but the result highly satisfying. **** 1/2"

[10.0] "First time I ever watched anything related from their legendary matches in my whole life. A great first experience for someone that never tasted anything like this before. I am slowly watching matches from that 80s era that I never watched before, and when I said on twitter that I never saw anything from Steamboat, I was suggested to directly go into this classic. And honestly..there is no better way to know The Dragon than this. This is not even a longer match, took basically a number equal or less than twenty five minutes, and I'm a guy acostumize to watch more than 40 minutes from NJPW, doesn't matter if it is Okada facing Omega or SANADA facing Evil, I can take it. But this, oh man, a true perfect definition of selling. Everything looked smooth, well executed and they sold that godly. Ricky showed some domination of Flair in the beggining and Flair, noticing it, leaves the ring at any point he had to do this, trying to break his momentum. Insane heel work. Actually, the true impressive wrestler here was not the Dragon, it was the Nature Boy. Flair looked so great here, so natural (sorry) that it made you almost cheer for him. The way he cheated, the way he tried to get his victory at any cost was so well done, his selling to each move Ricky did on him, my god, what a incredible match. I don't know what to describe about this match anymore honestly, this is a FUCKING five stars match for me and if you want to watch the peak of professional wrestling between two american wrestlers, you should watch this. A unforgetable experience."

[10.0] "The crowd was hot, JR on commentary, and this match was so far ahead of its time. Definitely worth a watch, didn't expect to like this as much as I did since it's older wrestling which I tend to not enjoy. *****!"

[10.0] "Pro Wrestling is my favorite when it's presented as a contest of sport. The NWA was the alternative to the entertainment centric fed and this match belongs in a museum. The 80's are one of my favorite decades in wrestling. Steamboat and Flair with a legendary trilogy of matches that presented two polar opposite opponents; athleticism, storytelling, modern speed and pacing, technical wrestling and the base of the rivalry simply being "I'm better than you." This is my favorite match between the two. Steamboat wrestles my favorite style of all time. He just moves different from everyone else of this era. The fluidity in his movement; the counters, the arm drags, the head scissor, the dropkicks, the chops. Straight up poetry. The ultimate babyface. The green tights? Absolute fire. Then there's Flair; the perfect villain, an unmatched ego and blend of technical style and over dramatic selling. It's a masterpiece in cardio and pro wrestling. The ultimate classic."

[10.0] "This match is the 2nd best after their 3 out of 2. I Don't know why all the finishes are so lame of this series. Match quality was definitely top notch with some Crazy storytelling and psychology. How 80s fan watch some other stuffs after they witnessed that much good thing in that time. (*****) full perfect and classic one."

[10.0] "(5*) This deserves to be in the top 20 greatest matches of all time. These two have the greatest chemistry. The ring psychology and the selling were beautiful. Remember, this was 1989, and wrestling was at its peak. Ric Flair, arguably the greatest wrestler in the 80s, was going against Steamboat, arguably one of the best in the 80s. It was a beautiful story being told in the ring. It was classic and deserves every praise it gets, and it has held up."

[10.0] "In my opinion the greatest match of the legendary Flair/Steamboat rivalry. Every move is executed flawlessly. The pacing is masterful. Two titans in peak form creating beautiful music together. This is what the sport should have become over the next decade, but unfortunately it went in a different direction."

[9.0] "There is a reason these two are the standard all rivalries in wrestling are held to they simply were made for one another. As good today as the day it happened. Everything they did was seamless, and perfect in every way. Jim Ross is great on commentary in this one. Selling the importance of the match and the interpersonal story between these two. An amazing crowd firmly behind Steamboat also adds to the match. A classic in every sense of the word. 4.75 stars."

[10.0] "What a classic this match is, from having great technique and psychology from Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat, to moments like that Clothesline from Nowhere that Steamboat, the 3 or 4 kick outs of Steamboat, or the Heel work from Flair with those pin and counts with the trap of using the ropes, and then the final with a roll pin from Steamboat after a streak of great spots like that flying chop, and that fly laying over flair and the referee, a missed fly and there the roll pin for this amazing victory with a great meaning for what Steamboat represented as a father, a family guy and a Face for WCW, 10/10 [*****1/2]"

[10.0] "[4.75*] Absolutely unbelievable match, one of the best of all time. Thank God for this WCW channel because the WWE Network has been highly missed. Well, it is Flair and Steamboat, so it is obviously a wrestling masterpiece. The first match of a legendary trilogy already set the tone of what we could expect for this pairing, creating magic on the Chi-Town Rumble. Flair enters the ring all cocky, despising Ricky, but he immediately gets outwrestled at the early stages of the match. Then he gets worried and he realizes that he was not going to win it fairly because Ricky was indeed kicking his ass, so he starts using the ropes to cheat at every possible ocasion, like to inflict more damage on the Figure Four lock, attempting pinfalls and he even used it to escape in one of the best nearfalls of the match. The referee looked pretty stupid during the whole match btw, lol. Anyways, after an outstanding display of heart, selling, psychology and physicality, the ref gets knocked down and Flair almost wins with his heel antics, but Steamboat ultimately reverses a Figure Four attempt into an Inside Cradle for the championship win and a giant pop. Electric atmosphere and fantastic reaction!"

[10.0] "Everything they'd established in their earlier matches really comes together here. The classic opening where Steamboat outwrestles Flair, he bails to the outside, tries to outmacho the Dragon, only to find out that he's much tougher than he'd feared. The back body drop. Flair is so well-actualized here, so at home as this version, that it amplifies everything they do. The way he begs off, points at Steamboat after a stiff chop. There's a real feeling during this that Magnum addresses during commentary that Flair is never truly at home during this match. He's never on offense. Steamboat takes it too him from the opening bell and it stays that way. Flair tries his usual tactics, tries to be the dirtiest player in the game, bully Tommy Young, but it feels like false bravado. He knows Steamboat is a different test for him, he's been pushed to a different limit. Even still, they really get you to buy in that Flair will find a way at the end, as Steamboat misses not one, but *two* crossbodies, particularly the last one at the ref bump, but he beautifully pulls off the inside cradle for the finish. More than anything, this has an immersion, this is a match you get swept up in. When people talk about wrestling feeling real or like a fight, it's not about trying to simulate boxing or MMA, this is it. It's two guys who never stop, who never look like they're working together, but are always firing, always trying to find the next upper hand, always embodying the struggle. The sweat. The unrelenting pace. This is real. This is two great opponents putting together the masterpiece they'd been building towards for a decade in one of the most beautifully crafted title bouts in American wrestling history. *****"

[10.0] "A masterclass of great wrestling. Everything about this felt right, from the pageanty and commentary to eveeything in between the ropes. It felt like the big time fight it was. Watching it and feeling it felt special, it felt like seeing a new color for the first time. This is what pro wrestling is. *****"

[10.0] "I mean seriously, does it get any better? Granted, that's a touch ironic considering that mere weeks later, these two would arguably improve on this effort. I don't know though, there's a magic to Chi-Town Rumble, a greatness that extends beyond this pairing's usual brilliance. It has a distinct feel and power, capturing an idyllic version of wrestling that stateside, would hardly ever be recreated. The result is an already powerful, intoxicating scene, and then you get to the work. Even more so than usual, it's immaculate, a gorgeous display of fiery, thoughtful pro wrestling action. It's grounded with a palpable grit and aggression, yet thrilling and occasionally, even a little theatrical. Beautiful match, one of the finest in pro wrestling history. *****"

"The greatest match of all time IMHO. Athleticism, showmanship and masterful control of the crowd, what more could you ask for?"

[9.0] "It's good to consider why this is so good, though not perfect. It has a good story going in. It has steady progression and escalation, especially from Flair, actually, who amps up to a Butterfly Suplex, a Backdrop Suplex, and a Flying Crossbody - for a guy with only moderate "moves", he builds their use really well. Steamboat is always immensely sympathetic. They keep up a moderate pace - I presume people who complain it's really slow are just insane. The workrate is very solid here, and in the hold-working periods, there is constant expression and engagement. The crowd works up to a fever pitch, and it's deserved. The Dusty finish is subverted magnificently, and in a crowd-popping manner. Now, it should be said there are only one or two real "high point" spots, and - oddly in this case - mostly from Flair. This isn't really an explosive match. It also takes time to develop - not that it should be Go-Go-Go, but the match-up takes time to warm up. Nonetheless, a real classic. 4.5/5"

[10.0] "An epic match between two legends that gave everything they got and the outcome was just perfect. It was such a physical match with the action never stopping which made the fans go crazy and rightfully so."

[10.0] "Might be my favorite match of theirs. Every part of the storytelling, wrestling, psychology is PERFECTLY executed and paced. Flair and steamboat is the greatest heel babyface matchup of all time and this is probably where that dynamic is most perfectly realized. Great action, hot crowd, great selling. This match has everything. Some of the best JR commentary of all time as well. *****1/2"

[7.0] "Overall a good match with great intensity and a plugged crowd with the great moment of Steamboat career, undeniable. However I dont engage with them at a personal level and dont like that much the first 10/15 minutes with all the headlock and getting out of the ring. At a certain point I thought they had been fighting for 30 minutes but no, so Ithink that resume my feeling towards the match."

[9.0] "This match is so compelling, from the story to the way that it is wrestled is done to almost perfection. The TV angle of Steamboat returning to NWA to the segments. The match itself is done so well and Ricky feels like such a believable babyface to Flair's final boss heel energy. The chops are beautiful and the grappling is great. There aren't that many high octane spots but when they hit, they really hit. I was invested from start to finish and Steamboat doing the impossible is just phenomenal and there is a surprising amount of chemistry here. (****.75)"

[8.0] "The chopfest for much of the opening stretch so effectively captures the intensity and physicality of the bout, and Steamboat's largely dominating and one-upping Flair at every step early on to establish him as so worthy a contender is tremendously done. Flair having Steamboat in the figure four for 2 minutes, attacking the knee a little even after without the effects ever being sold is much less so. Steamboat comes off the top with his chop and Flair just walks right into it too. Indeed, this match is full of the kind of stuff never forgiven today but entirely overlooked then, and yet, it's still wonderful for any open-minded wrestling fan, JR is generally strong on commentary selling it all when not trying to talk about Chicago sports, and it is all made first and foremost by the finish and Ross' glorious call of it. What a moment."

[10.0] "One of the greatest of the trilogy. If you haven't watched old school matches and you don not like it, watch one of the Flair and Ricky feud matches."

[10.0] "The crowd rightfully lost their minds over this long-awaited title match. Flair and Steamboat work a match more similar to Japanese matches of the time with multiple near-falls that could have believably ended the match. One of the greatest matches of the 1980s."

[9.0] "The entrances were simple yet perfect. Steamboat, the family man. Flair the womanizing deviant. Good lord that first shoulder tackle looked like a truck hit flair. All that incredible technical wrestling and Steamboat never let got of headlock. Fucking incredible. I actually yelled Flair actually hit something of the top rope and then Steamboat rolled through. The referee actually made Flair stop the submission. These chops sound so damn loud. Holy shit Ricky won! I just assumed Flair screwed him at the end. But Ricky actually won! The crowd exploded when he won and they had been loud the whole match. That was really damn good match. I still can't believe Steamboat won!"

[10.0] "Two masters at work. I'll go on record here and say that I'm not Flair's biggest fan. He was great at getting a good match out of a stiff, but when it was time to go against another great of the game, I never really enjoyed the match. His schtick never really did anything for me. However, this match is a notable exception. Not the greatest ever in terms of all out action and big moments, but it's a complete masterclass in how to work a wrestling match and use psychology to take you on the journey. Many times when watching a match we lament the timing of the finish, either because it doesn't fit in with the story or they missed the peak. Not here, it was perfect."

[8.0] "a really good match with a main event feel and the pace of Steamboat is unbelievable. But it never really transcends into greatness for me (its a bit basic at times) and these two will go onto have better matches with each other. Make no mistake that this is good, really good, just not a 5 star classic imo."

[10.0] "The first 5 star classic between Flair and Steamboat. Simply a masterpiece in terms of in ring work, storytelling and psychology and will always be an all time classic in the world of professional wrestling."

[10.0] "I've watched this match three times so far and I think I enjoy it a little more each time, on first viewing it was a 9 for me but now a 10. The pacing is perfect, the ring psychology and story telling is a master class too. I can see why younger fans who grew up in the 2000s might wonder what the fuss is especially as its not exactly full of flashy moves and action, but that's what I love about it and everything matters. An all time great for very good reason."

[10.0] "5 stars this bout is unquestionably a classic I saw the ending for this match before even watching the whole thing and yet I taken fully by the near falls & kick outs great mash of psychology crowd work wrestling & everything I am excited to see more"

[9.0] "You seriously can't make a match feel more like a real fight than that. It genuinely felt like they were calling all the action on the fly, but the pace was so fast and all the moves and transitions were so flawless that it's just hard to believe. Steamboat was a perfect babyface here - he looked so clean and was naturaly so sympathetic that the crowd just had to get behind him, while Flair's antics were known to everybody and he knew how to use his charisma to get the heat. The first few minutes with Ricky surprising Flair with his counters are brilliant and it set the stage perfectly for what's about to come and they just didn't slow down at no point, although they were still able to let the things breathe for a little. Also a great finish and a huge pop for Steamboat's win, plus his interview in the locker room afterwards was a joy to watch."

[10.0] "This was an amazing match, everything from the in ring psychology, chemistry, body language and selling was great. The match is structured well and Steamboat wins the title by countering a Figure Four into an inside cradle, which was an epic moment."

[10.0] "One of the best matches Ive ever seen truly worthy of its legendary status. Molten hot crowd mixed with the fantastic commentary From Jim Ross and Magnum TA really add so much to this match. Flair and steamboat have all timer chemistry and work this crowd so damn good. One of those rare matches that are just as good today as it was back in 89. Timeless classic 5/5"

[9.0] "An absolutely outstanding level of athleticism that must've felt like a transmission from the future in 1989. Flair and Steamboat beat the absolute hell out of each other and take some awesome bumps. Some excellent flying nothings, and some cartoonishly lovely heel work from Flair."

[9.0] "Amazing match that had me invested throughout. Intense back and forth between two legends of the industry. Only thing that brings the match down for me is the referee. Commentary puts over Tommy Young as one of the finest refs in the business, but he frequently fails to notice Flair's heel antics far longer than he should've. Otherwise, this is a phenomenal match."

[6.0] "The amount of stalling and headlocks in this match are absurd. You'd think they were going 60 minutes, but nope, just 23 minutes. The first 10 minutes is just headlock, chop, stall, headlock, chop, stall, repeat. Even when they're brawling outside the ring, Steamboat goes for another headlock before Flair pushes him into the corner. I'm not sure why Flair didn't attack the leg more given that's what his finishing hold targets. The final 10 minutes were a lot more enjoyable as things finally start to pick up, but it's still bogged down by sequences that drag on, like Flair going for three pinfall attempts in a row, immediately followed up by four pinfall attempts in a row - an extremely dull sequence that felt like it was only there to pad time. There's a ref bump at the end that doesn't really add much to the match, and Flair absurdly tries a schoolboy pin on Steamboat while the ref is down (why? ) I really wanted to like this match given its classic status, but I found it to be uninteresting for the most part, with psychology that didn't make sense to me. I'd put Flair-Funk and Steamboat-Savage above this match to be honest."

"The biggest victory in Ricky Steamboat career. Better match than his historical match against Randy Savage at WrestleMania III. ****3/4"

[8.0] "When I first watched this, I wondered if it would be one of those situations where the match had historical significance, but the wrestling itself was a bit dated. As it turns out, it stood up remarkably well and was a hell of a lot of fun to watch. Loved the moment when Steamboat thew Ric Flair into the corner, and Flair flipped over the turnbuckle, ran across the apron to the other corner, and then leaped onto that turnbuckle and jumped onto Steamboat. This match also feels like a good template for your quintessential face vs. heel storytelling in the ring. (It was funny how many times Flair got away with putting his legs on the rope during that Figure-4 leglock before the ref finally caught him.) And damn, the crowd was going CRAZY for this match! Great commentary by Jim Ross, too..."

[10.0] "Sometimes I hear you seen one Flair match you seen them all...well if you have/had that mindset then this is the match to see. They went full tilt, this is the benchmark. They knew each other inside out and front to back & that type of chemistry you cannot teach. Steamboats movement in the ring is fluid and quick. His babyface selling was unmatched at that time. Flair was the ultimate heel doing all he could to keep that title. Steamboat with the babyface win. Whew!"

[10.0] "My first ever comment on cagematch and the first time watching the Flair/Steamboat trilogy. Will be rating it a 10 . Hard hitting, simple wrestling moves performed by two master craftsmen at the peak of their powers. Nothing particularly flashly, but well executed wrestling moves in front of a white-hot crowd is all thats needed. Not a super kick in sight. JR with one of his greatest ever calls also."

[9.0] "Great match between two legends. Steamboat's early aggression was awesome to see, Ric Flair's constant cheating made him a heel easy to boo. The referee seemed too blind throughout the match, though. Wasn't sure if the ref bump was caused by Ric Flair pulling him in or just the ref's own stupidity. 9/10, could have been perfect without the extra stupid referee."

[10.0] "Incredible match. I dont know what I can say that hasnt been said yet. Everything in this was done insanely well. The in-ring action, the storytelling, the crowd, the competitive nature. Everything was great. Both guys showed great resilience here. With every move Flair had, Steamboat seemed to have a response. With every move Steamboat had, Flair seemed to have a response. It showed just how competitive this was and how they were basically on an even playing field. Despite that, Steamboat seemed to have an edge throughout the entire match with Flair needing to cheat to even get close to winning. For example, grabbing the ropes for leverage while using the figure four or having his legs on the ropes during the pin attempts. The crowd responded to pretty much everything. They hated Flair and loved Steamboat. Again, there was a clear babyface/heel dynamic in this one. The match itself flowed insanely well. It had a nice pace. The Ref bump couldve been done way better and I feel that it and the finish are the only negatives I have towards this. Do I think this has aged well? To put it simply: yes. I think it has. Give this a watch for sure. The length may deter you, but it isnt a long 23 minutes. 10/10. *****"

[9.0] "The fluidity of this match is wonderful. The Flair corner bump is the best its ever been. The way he floats right over the buckle and lands on the apron running is so perfect. It showed how on their game they were and how well everything flows comes from their outstanding chemistry. That said, I don't like the ref bump and I don't like the finish. Throughout the match they do such a good job of telling a story about strengths and weaknesses and at the end it all comes down the referee being in the wrong place. Oh well, I guess we'll have to have another match then!"