Let's get the requisite stuff out of the way first -- Ric Flair's a legend, the greatest of all time, and was a perfect gentleman to work with, I have to say.
But let me ask you -- as much as you might want to, as much as you might have been led to believe so, do you really believe this retirement stuff for even one second?
Because I don't.
I remember watching the first time Flair "retired" -- in October 1994, when he lost a retirement match to Hulk Hogan. FOURTEEN YEARS AGO. I remember when they played up his potential retirement heading into Starrcade 1993 -- FIFTEEN YEARS AGO.
There are WRESTLERS whose careers haven't lasted as long as the career of RIC FLAIR RETIREMENT ANGLES.
Has any wrestler EVER retired and stayed retired? Not Mick Foley, whose last match was supposedly at WrestleMania 2000. Not Hulk Hogan, who first teased retirement at WrestleMania VIII -- SIXTEEN YEARS AGO.
Retirement in wrestling is just another storyline, designed to tug at the heart strings. As I was often told during my time there, the wrestling business is built on emotion, and the emotion of seeing an all-time favorite in possibly his last match is as emotional as it gets.
So ya, I'm sure you'll get chills when the match ends, and Flair'll have a tear in his eye as he leaves the ring. But do you really think that'll be it? Honestly?
If you've learned nothing else from wrestling, it's that when they say something is "forever," it never is.
Think about it. The entire wrestling business is predicated on a lie, on "the work."
So you're believing this retirement thing because they tell you it's the case?
Sure it'll be emotional next Sunday. (You'll have to let me know how emotional. I won't be watching). But like many other things in wrestling, I have a feeling the reason behind the emotion will be mostly manufactured.
So how are you gonna feel when WWE has a Pay-Per-View in North Carolina in a couple of years and brings Flair back for "one night only" as a tag team partner for someone? Or something along those lines?
Wrestlers don't retire on their own terms. They retire because of horrible injury (Bret Hart), or not being able to find work (Lex Luger) or death (too many to name). Sure, sometimes you get people "going out on their own terms", like Trish Stratus, but do you really believe she's done with wrestling? She'll go out on her own, and like Chris Jericho (another one who lost a "loser leaves town FOREVER" match only to return, by the way) before her, she'll soon realize where she's best suited.
It's nice to say they'd want to give Ric Flair a hero's sendoff, given all his contributions to the wrestling business. I want to believe that's part of all this; I really do. But think of how much money there is to be made off Ric Flair retirement storylines. They've already made thousands on the Hall of Fame ceremony tickets, with millions more at Mania. I'm sure a DVD and/or magazine is soon to follow.
Money makes the wrestling business go around. And when there's money to be made off his "one-time only!!!" return, they'll all jump at the chance, believe me.
What do you think?
Also: Coming in the next few days: I've already written about how poorly executed I think this angle has been. Next I'll be posting something on why I think the Flair-Michaels match won't be as good as you think it will be, and why I think Michaels is the absolute wrong guy for Flair to be wrestling at WrestleMania.
Comments (18)
I have no doubt that Ric Flair will wrestle at least one match at some point in the future. Still, I consider WM as being the end of Flair's career as an active wrestler. Hopefully, they won't bastardize him as they have done with Foley and even Austin in recent years.
As for the actual match, the only way I can see it being bad is if the crowd sits on their hands because they don't want to boo either man. Shawn Michaels' last "bad" WM match was probably 1998, with the bad back, so he is one of the feature points of the big show. I'm sure they will put together something special.
Just curious.....why won't you be watching 'Mania?
i agree. Flair's best build for this would be with Vince, Orton, or a heel HBK/HHH. A heel is better to feed the emotional fire for Flair in this as his last match. The face/face respect thing doesn't give much room to work with in the build, they can't fight, they can't really argue past, oh, hey, I'm bringing my best...but besides that they really havn't done ANYTHING on the one angle they could and SHOULD use to build this, which is who of these two is truly the best EVER. Remember the GREAT build with Rock/Hogan, on who's the best ever? Or hbk/angle, hbk/hogan? Why does this program not feel like that even? bad job WWE creative...once again...
Hi Seth
You mentioned Trish in your blog entry. I was wondering if you could do a blog on her and what she was like backstage. I've always heard good things, and would like to get your take on it. Or you could email me if you want. Either way is fine.
JC, I won't be watching the show because I have tickets to the Washington Nationals home opener in DC that night (their first game in the new ballpark) and I'd rather head down and watch a baseball game.
Even if I didn't have tickets, there's nothing on the show that interests me enough to want to spend my 50 dollars or so to watch.
The only intrigue at all is Taker vs. Edge, and the fact that it's an outdoor show, which I think is awesome.
Seth, why would you do that? Just to see the Nats get squashed by the eventual NL East, Nation League Pennant, & World Series winning Philadelphia Phillies:)
Seth, why would you do that? Just to see the Nats get squashed by the eventual NL East, Nation League Pennant, & World Series winning Philadelphia Phillies:)
Sorry wasn't trying to be a jerk by posting twice. BTW, I was just playing around...well not about the Phillies winning. Given the choice between Wrestlemania & seeing the ball game I'd take the ball game.
Philliesphan, I'd be really impressed if the Phillies beat the Nats that night, since the Nats are playing the Braves ...
Seth, what a cool read. I am reading your blogs thanks to a link I found at prowrestling.net. Keep those behind-the-scenes stories coming! Anyhow, Flair will probably be back for a match or two down the line. If I remember right, Foley was still under contract to the then-WWF and had to do whatever they wanted(i.e. wrestle at WrestleMania 2000)or face breach of contract. If I remember right, Austin hasn't wrestled an official match since WrestleMania XIX (His "Hog Pen" match against Eric Bischoff at Bad Blood 2003 doesn't count because it wasn't really even a match, more like a Stunner for Bisch and then he got thrown in the Pen).
I don't think HBK will defeat Flair at WM, but I think he will at Backlash. I expect Shawn will have Flair beaten and will be striking up the band to deliver Sweet Chin Music, but he'll hesitate just before impact, allowing Flair to roll him up for the quick pin. Vince will then book the rematch, stipulating that both men's careers are on the line. Shawn will then have no choice but to retire Flair.
But no, it probably won't be for good.
JET
My bad, I misred the schedule. They play that one game against the Braves in DC, then are in Philly for the 31st. Guess I'm just a little over anxious for Baseball:)
I also think Shawn is totally the wrong opponent for this, simply because he has absolutely nothing to gain from being the guy that "retires" Flair. That honor should be used to further one of the younger guy's careers, one that needs such a rub more than Shawn.
Plus I haven't seen Flair wrestle a good match in well over 5 years.
They're not booking it like it's his final match ever. JR keeps repeating that it's his career as an active wrestler on the line. Granted he hasn't really been that active since WCW was bought out. At least that's when I considered him done as a legitmate active wrestler and not a nostalgia act ala Mr. America.
What are you guys all on crack? Did you not forget Flair as part of Evolution and his feud with Edge? He has been more active in his late 50s than most of you are now.
"Has any wrestler EVER retired and stayed retired?"
I believe Gorilla Monsoon pretty much adhered to his retirement stipulation loss to Ken Patera.
I think the fact that Andrew had to go all the way back to Monsoon actually strengthened your argument.
The Nats are so bad, I can see them losing to the Phillies as well as the Braves!!