411's Countdown to WrestleMania 24: Ric Flair and WrestleMania

Posted by Ari Berenstein on 03.26.2008

One word says it all: WOOOOOOOO!


Graphic by Meehan

"I WILL NEVER RETIRE!" Those were the fiery and determined words that multiple-time World Heavyweight Champion "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair shouted out to a throng of ecstatic wrestling fans on an episode of Monday Night Raw over four months ago. Set to make a huge announcement, instead Flair rejected the notion that he would be leaving the WWE. Then Mr. McMahon came huffing and puffing his way to the ring and announced that while Flair didn't want to retire, McMahon was intent on making Flair go. If he lost one more match, he would be done in World Wrestling Entertainment. This set Flair in motion to win, baby, win. For the last four months, that's exactly what he has been doing, beating some of the WWE's youngest, some of their oldest and some of their best. By hook, crook or even a clean pin or submission, Ric Flair has made it this far by faith and the Figure-4. Now he is poised and ready to go all the way to Wrestlemania 24, right after he is inducted to the 2008 class in the WWE Hall of Fame.

At the time we didn't know exactly where the story was headed, whether or not this last run meant one more title shot for Flair or if it would end up becoming the inevitable match that Mr. McMahon wrestled at Wrestlemania. Instead, we end up in as great a compromise as you can get for fans of great wrestling. It will be a "last stand" encounter against the Mr. Wrestlemania of this era in Shawn Michaels.

As many fans know, the truth is that these last few months have been Ric Flair's final major run as an active professional wrestler. He is scheduled to retire from in-ring action imminently, most likely going out in a blaze of glory against the neo-legendary "Heartbreak Kid". This is a fitting end to his active career even if he will show up again on TV as an ambassador of wrestling and WWE.

Of course, some wrestlers never do retire. Or wrestlers retire and then come out of retirement multiple times. Terry Funk has unretired more times than Ric Flair has won world championships, whether the oft-debated number you go with is 16, 18 or 20. Mick Foley is working on a half a dozen retirements and may be back at any time in order to wrestle Colin Delaney in a Hardcore match (oh, if only). So fans often take the idea of retirement in professional wrestling with a grain of salt, because well, we know better than to expect the old dogs of pro rasslin' to stay down. Yet, this time around it seems to be the real deal. Those close to Flair expect this to be his last dance in the wrestling ring. Maybe the casual fans are skeptical of this being the end, but those on the inside are treating this as if it is the last ride on Space Mountain.

In my mind, Flair is going to really retire from active competition, whether it be at 'Mania or soon afterwards. I know that fans all around the world, including myself, are fantasy booking the possible outcomes for Flair's match against Michaels. Will it be a loss to another Hall of Fame talent in a symbolic gesture that the torch has been passed? Sooner or later, someone is going to "beat the man" and according to the stipulations of this storyline that will mean the end of Ric Flair's career. Maybe HBK will be the one to stop Ric Flair's show with a super kick directly to the point of Flair's prominent jaw.Or maybe, just maybe, Ric Flair will come out with the win and go out on his own terms. Maybe Flair will defeat Michaels in one last show of the old Nature Boy spirit.

However, it would be oh so fitting for Ric Flair to bask in the triumph of a Wrestlemania win, with the massive array of spotlights and camera focused on him. After all, the man has never won a singles match on the "grandest stage of them all". Sure he has won a few tag team matches (Wrestlemania XX as a part of Evolution and Wrestlemania 23 teaming up with Carlito in a pre-show dark match), gave a hell of an effort in the second ever Money in the Bank Ladder Match (22) and even walked into one 'Mania as champion (VIII). Yet, the elusive singles win has not been there for Ric Flair. He has lost to Randy Savage and was mostly dominated by The Undertaker in his only singles matches. He hasn't even wrestled a Wrestlemania match on Pay Per View since 2006. This is not how big time events are supposed to go for "The Nature Boy". The limousine riding, wheelin' dealin', kiss stealin', custom made jet setter is supposed to be THE MAN and everyone is supposed to bow down in homage. Two wins and three losses at Wrestlemania is a very average number, ill-fitting a man of Flair's history and reputation.



It seems that Ric Flair and Wrestlemania are star-crossed lovers. Flair has been involved in a few large scale moments at "Mania, but he always seems to miss out when it comes to that one memorable Wrestlemania victory. I think I know why.

Starcade.

While Flair has spent the last seven years as a loyal member of the WWE family, Flair spent the previous sixteen out of seventeen Wrestlemania events elsewhere. Specifically, Flair was a dedicated member of the NWA / WCW. As such, Flair and his super-group The Four Horsemen became some of the principal characters in that company during the 1980's and 90's, along with Sting, Dusty Rhodes, Magnum TA, Nikita Koloff, The Rock n' Roll Express, The Midnight Express, The Steiners and Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat. Flair, being "The Man" of WCW spent the majority of his career either being the NWA / WCW champion or chasing it. It is no coincidence that Ric Flair is most closely associated with what has been coined "The Big Gold Belt" (currently used as WWE's World Heavyweight Title). Flair was the gold standard of the NWA despite all the politics and the backstage controversies surrounding who would get to wear the title.

Flair in many ways WAS the National Wrestling Alliance for wrestling fans of the 1980's and Ric Flair WAS World Championship Wrestling in the 1990's. When WWE purchased WCW, Flair would prove this to be true on the last Monday Nitro broadcast by giving one hell of a memorable promo about Vince McMahon buying the company and how he couldn't hold the lives of such legendary names as Dory Funk, Karl Gotch, Lou Thesz, Harley Race and Dusty Rhodes in the palm of his hands. He then "closed the show" against Sting in a tremendous ode to their past history.

It would be Flair closing the show more often than not at Starcade Pay Per View events. Starcade was a supercard in every sense of the word and an important annual tradition for the NWA /WCW. It meant so much that the booking focused on the company's biggest feuds, major concepts (e.g. BattleBowl and the WCW vs. New Japan series) and major title matches. It was basically the Wrestlemania of the industry before Wrestlemania was Wrestlemania. In this all important arena event, Ric Flair was one of its most prominent and consistent headliners.

On November 24th 1983, Flair WAS Starcade. The show was subtitled "A Flair for the Gold" and focused on his chase (as a babyface) for the NWA World title. In the main event of the evening, Flair defeated Harley Race in a steel cage match and left the Greensboro Coliseum the champion. As the story goes, he then spent the rest of the night partying all over Greensboro, North Carolina. "Flair Country" had taken hold and had become defined by those who loved to hate the man, and those that loved to cheer for him regardless of the fact that he was supposed to be "the bad guy".

Ric Flair would go on to main event seven of the first eight Starcade events and defended or fought for the World Title from 1983 through 1988. Flair fought Dusty Rhodes and Nikita Koloff in main events at The Omni in Georgia in 1985 and 1986, as Starcade was held at two locations at the same time during those years. He would fight Ronnie Garvin in their infamous cage match in 1987, where Flair was supposed to be the heel but instead was unanimously cheered on towards victory. He went second from the top against Lex Luger in 1988 in a World title defense. A year later he would participate in the "Night of the Iron Men" tournament at the Starcade 1989 show. He wrestled three times, defeating The Great Muta, fighting Luger to a draw and then losing to Sting in the main event of the PPV. Flair would once again main event the next year, this time losing to Sting as the masked Black Scorpion.

After not participating in the 1991 and 1992 versions of Starcade due to being in the WWF, Flair was once again back in the main event of Starcade 1993. He was the overwhelming crowd favorite coming into the show, where he fought and defeated Big Van Vader. The stipulation was that if Flair lost he would retire. Fans were treated to a miracle title win and an emotional celebration (with his family in attendance) from the now older, but still brilliant Nature Boy who did not retire then and was a far cry away from calling it quits.

However, Flair would not main event Starcade again and only participated in two out of the next eight editions of the show due to one reason or another (my speculation would be Hulk Hogan, politics, Eric Bischoff, politics…and oh yes, politics). Nevertheless, Flair remains an integral part of NWA and WCW history when it comes to Starcade. What Hulk Hogan meant to Wrestlemania in the early years, Ric Flair meant to Starcade in the same era.

It is interesting then to note what happened when Flair crossed over the borderline in a brief stint in the WWF from late 1991 through early 1993. Flair became WWF Champion heading into Wrestlemania VIII. Since Hulk Hogan was the Mr. Wrestlemania at the time it would end up that HE would be the headliner and NOT the WWF Champion. Of course the WWF Championship or the man who was champion had headlined all seven previous Wrestlemania shows. Of course, Hulk Hogan was champion or fighting for the championship on six of those seven events.

At Wrestlemania VIII, Hulk Hogan would wrestle his own "retirement match" (in the hype to the show it was not officially announced but rather heavily hinted at this match being his last), duking it out with Sid Vicious to a DQ victory. Hogan would be back in action and ironically would become champion the very next year (meaning in 1993, Flair and Hogan would both end up returning to headline what was "their" respective Pay Per View showcase). Meanwhile, earlier on the same show Ric Flair and "Macho Man" Randy Savage had a tremendously exciting WWF title match that went back and forth and whose outcome was not so easily predictable. It featured a trademark bloodletting from Flair's forehead dripping to his golden mane, the drama of Elizabeth's questioned fidelity and her desire to prove her loyalty to the Macho Man and a fantastic finish that provided sweet justice. Flair's loss to Savage gave the good guy a win that culminated a year's long journey in his own right—from Savage's "retirement" match against Ultimate Warrior at Wrestlemania VII back to the top of the WWF as its Heavyweight champion. Huh. Savage, Hogan and Flair… all having retirement matches in the early nineties. See what I mean about retirements and wrestling?



That brings us back to this year's Wrestlemania and the "career threatening" match between Ric Flair and Shawn Michaels.

Flair vs. Michaels has happened several times before, notably on an edition of WWF Prime Time Wrestling taped during late 1991 right before The Rockers break up angle and Michael's first heel turn. In that match, Marty Jannetty inadvertently cost Michaels a loss because he threw an obviously hurt and knocked goofy Michaels back in the ring, where he was easy prey for Flair. This loss helped fuel the "Barbershop" segment where HBK super kicked Jannetty and threw him directly through the plate glass window, a moment of shock and awe for many fans watching.

Years later they would once again meet in battle in a singles match during Bad Blood 2003. Flair was a part of Evolution with Triple H, Batista and Randy Orton. Michaels challenged Flair to remember just how good "The Nature Boy" could be without the help of Evolution. At first Flair seemed touched by Michaels' words and his challenge. It seemed he would defect from Evolution, but the dirtiest player in the game was just playing the Heartbreak Kid. This spurred on the Pay Per View match, which was actually a very good back and forth wrestling affair. Both men went hold for hold with Michaels getting the better of it. Then Flair went to work on the leg, working extensively and in diverse moves to set up the Figure 4 Leglock. Then the match took a turn that was par for sports entertainment in 2003. Some end of match wackiness involved HBK pulling out a table and splashing Flair to pieces (it was without a real reason, but it looked great). Soon afterwards, HBK super kicked Flair out of this dimension, but it was Randy Orton and a steel chair that ended the match in Flair's favor. Orton had pulled Flair over HBK's unconscious body and Flair hadn't even known it.








A more recent but less remembered bout occurred during an episode of Raw taped from Japan during February of 2005. Flair was still a part of Evolution and was showing his age just a bit more. While the match was shorter due to TV time and perhaps the action less intense than their encounter two years previous, it was still quintessential Flair vs. Michaels. What we would expect from a match between the two is exactly what we got. Flair became the "dirtiest" player in the game one more time, resorting to thumbs to the eye and foot stomps to take the advantage. Michaels for his part took to the same strategy as the 2003 match and using his trademark moves to battle from behind. It would be HBK turning out the lights of Flair this time around. Flair walked right into a supe rkick that hit dead on for the three-count. If HBK gets the kick again on Sunday March 30th, 2008, its Flair's career that takes the pinfall.








Also remarkable during that match was the responsiveness of the Japanese fans and their enthusiasm throughout. There were boisterous receptions for both men upon their entrance. All the fans followed the rhythm of the match and their response was like a wall of sound crashing against the ears. There was even a standing ovation after the match for both men. This was a huge crowd. If that kind of massive crowd is present at Wrestlemania 24 and brings that kind of response and enthusiasm, we are in for a hugely emotional and memorable atmosphere for this showdown.

What can we expect from each man this time around? Both have aged but it is the physical condition of their bodies that is most important in determining how much they can do. Flair has taken a limited amount of bumps and Michaels has slowed himself down some in the wake of last year's knee surgery. I believe both men will look to go all out in terms of the in ring action not just for the fans but for themselves. It is a matter of pride as you just know they want to put on the best match they are capable of. Both men have the switch and know they can turn it on when they want. We all just have to hope that at this hugely important moment that the "switch" does in fact still work. Ultimately many fans may think more highly of this upcoming match compared to their other encounters not for the quality in the ring but because it is the one match between the two that will have been most in the spotlight. This match of all their few past encounters will be the most replayed in the years to come. As highlights from past Wrestlemanias are used to hype up the coming year's edition, you can be sure HBK vs. Flair will be one of those moments shown over and over again. If the match is even remotely passable, this one will become etched in the minds of this generations' fan base as a true epic battle of legends.

Then again, maybe it is unfair and even disrespectful to question the ability of these men. As the old saying goes, Ric Flair could carry a broomstick to a three star match. Just the same, Shawn Michaels could carry a ladder to a three star match. Shawn Michaels is no broomstick, even in 2008. Neither is Flair a ladder, even as he prepares for what may be his last match.

So will the in ring action be as good as their previous matches? Its hard to say, but I think both men are game to give as much of themselves as they can in order to make sure it does live up to the hype. It remains up to the WWE to give them the time to make this match as great and as exciting as it should be. There are a lot of other matches on the card including some heavy hitters in the form of Floyd "Money" Mayweather vs. The Big Show and the two heavyweight title matches. Realistically, Michaels vs. Flair is fourth from the top on this massive supercard. They aren't even on some of the promotional pieces advertising Wrestlemania 24. Maybe it was too idealistic of me to expect that this match would be the main event of the evening, one last hurrah for Flair to experience the top of the sport. However, both men have done their best in the last few weeks to make sure that even though Mayweather vs. Big Show is the match most hyped to the mainstream, that the hardcore wrestling fans are anticipating their match more than the three main events above them.

I have absolutely enjoyed the last month of build up between these two greats. I think they have hit a home run in every segment, from Michaels being the one to honor Flair with the public announcement of the induction to the WWE Hall of Fame, to Flair's challenge the next week for a match at ‘Mania, all the way to the growing frustrations of each man as they struggle with their motivations for taking on the match. This has been played perfectly. There is no need for a "heel" turn here by either man, just an acknowledgment that they will put each other to the test when it counts the most. All that is needed to pump the blood for this match is to see Michaels playing up his reluctance to pull the trigger on his "show stopping" ways and Flair's counter retort that he doesn't expect to lose and wants Michaels to bring his best. Michaels and Flair are two aging gunslingers at the OK Corral and its almost high noon. It's time to pull the trigger on this one. Yet, while I am such a huge fan of HBK, I am hoping against hope that for this one, Ric Flair is the one who is quicker on the draw.



It is about time one of the masters of the ring knows what it's like to win on the biggest day of professional wrestling. It is about time that the WWE gives just due to one of the biggest names in all of professional wrestling, even if it's on his last night as an active professional wrestler. Ric Flair is a modern day living legend of wrestling, our version of Joe Namath, Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali. The difference is, none of those men are still participating in their sport. None of those Hall of Fame athletes have that one last chance to walk into the field of play and walk out a winner. Professional wrestling, in all of its scripted glory, can give Ric Flair that chance and give the fans that one last moment of glory to witness. This could be our last chance to revel and to celebrate with "The Natcha Boy! Woooooo!"

Flair always loves to party, so the WWE should do right by his probable retirement and give us one last bash for "the champ". Whether or not it is to be Flair's actual retirement match, let's ride Space Mountain with "The Man" one more time on March 30th, 2008 and let's enjoy every second of it while it happens.