For Flair, it’s win or go home
Some thoughts on last night’s Raw:
WWE began what is likely Ric Flair’s last big angle when Vince McMahon announced that Flair will be forced to retire when he suffers his next loss. Presumably Flair will go on a winning streak that will culminate in a high-profile match – perhaps for the world title – at WrestleMania 24.
The Wrestling Observer reported a couple months ago that Steve Austin had pitched the idea of Flair having to win to keep his career going. Reportedly, McMahon gave the green light for the story line, but for some reason it never got going and Flair and WWE ended up on the outs for a few months.
I believed all along that Flair would eventually return for his well-deserved final run. While I’m not convinced fans really buy retirement angles anymore since they’ve been overdone and hardly anyone retires and stays retired, this is shaping up to be an intriguing story line. If anyone can make it work, it’s the “Nature Boy.”
I would love to see him wrestle Edge for the world title at WrestleMania 24, but there are rumblings that Edge will face The Undertaker at Mania. Even if it’s not Flair-Edge, it will be special to see Flair with a prominent role on the biggest show of the year. …
The first match in Flair’s win-or-go-home scenario, against WWE champion Randy Orton, was decent, but it was obvious that Chris Jericho’s interference was going to cost Orton the match. That’s OK, though, as sometimes the obvious finish is the right one. There was one anxious moment. After Orton hit the RKO and went for the cover, it appeared that Flair forgot to put his foot on the ropes to break up the pin. However, he did grab the rope at the last second. …
The only thing more entertaining than a Santino Marella segment is a Santino Marella segment with Jericho, as the two had a nice verbal battle. I still wish Marella wasn’t booked to be such a chump. Of course he should lose to Jericho, but did Marella need to get punked out after the match by Jerry Lawler – again? …
Triple H's heel turn appears to be imminent, although WWE is almost making it too obvious. As I’ve said before, I enjoy Triple H more as a babyface, but there’s no denying that WWE is thin on upper-tier heels at the moment. After Edge and Orton, there’s Mr. Kennedy, MVP and Umaga and not much else. If Triple H does turn on Jeff Hardy, hopefully Hardy will get a rub from working a program with “The Game” instead of getting buried as a result of it. …
The Hornswoggle-Carlito backstage vignette, in which Hornswoggle spray-painted a black hole on the wall and then supposedly ran through it, was the dumbest thing I have seen on a wrestling show in quite a while. And I watch TNA Impact every week, so that’s saying something. …
The biggest disappointment of the show was that Mickie James not did deliver The Long Kiss Goodnight to Melina. James and Melina reportedly don’t get along, so that might explain it.
Comments
Flair v Hogan at WrestleMania is a match that should have happened... would be a fitting retirement match for both.
Posted by: Chris | November 27, 2007 7:17 AM
The WWE isn't that deep in face wrestlers either. Top tier face wrestlers are Batista, Undertaker, Jericho, Michaels, and Jeff Hardy is kind of teetering at the bottom of the category. When you look in the wings, most of ECW are heels.
As for Mickie, she kissed Melina to win at Survivor Series. Maybe Melina had bad breath and she just didn't want to go back and kiss her again.
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: I'd put Flair and Mysterio on that list, too. And with Triple H currently a babyface, that's eight big names. As for Mickie James-Melina, you are correct about Survivor Series. I can't believe I already forgot about that.
Posted by: Lee | November 27, 2007 7:56 AM
The most intriguing match would be Flair-Undertaker with ‘Taker being world champ. That way you would have Flair’s career, the belt, and the streak all on the line!
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: I think it would be a tough sell as far as convincing fans that Flair had any chance against Undertaker.
Posted by: Sean Kilkelly | November 27, 2007 9:12 AM
Is there a worse in-ring performer than Randy Orton? Granted that he was working with a senior citizen last night, but he spends most of the match standing around thinking of what to do. I'm sure he would get the "BORING" chant if he wasn't in the ring with main-eventers!
Posted by: Danny | November 27, 2007 10:57 AM
Hi Kevin,
I've been reading your blog for awhile and it's great to see someone discuss wrestling the way it should be discussed, Great stories as told by live action actors.
Anyway, I truly hope the Flair storyline culminates at WM. Vince has to know the buyrate would be through the roof if Flair is in the main event. I'll happliy plunk down my 50 to watch one of the best ever one last time
Posted by: Anonymous | November 27, 2007 2:44 PM
I think Flair will win the Royal Rumble and then win a championship at WM 24 and retire after that match.
Posted by: John | November 27, 2007 9:46 PM
Kevin,
I agree with you that it would be a hard sell having Undertaker-Flair one on one. But how about a fatal four way, with Flair, Undertaker, Batista and Edge?
Flair wins the Gold belt in front of 80,000 at 'Mania and then retires the next night on Raw.
Posted by: Sean Kilkelly | November 28, 2007 10:47 AM
Regarding Hornswoggle-Carlito, I couldn't agree more. While the "scripted" element of wrestling is always in the back of my mind, it's fun, at least while I'm watching for the 2 hours, to get wrapped up in it and enjoy the "drama". By doing a "Roadrunner/Wile E Coyote" bit, it totally brought me back to reality. What a stupid idea! On the other hand, I enjoyed the breath of life Y2J brought to the show.
Posted by: Steve | November 28, 2007 12:46 PM
First, Monday marked the return of RF: WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
Second: Kevin, what's with the appearance of AA backstage? Will he somehow assist Flair, or is he backstage only, given the condition of his neck/back? AA's one of my all time favorites, and I'd love to see him assume a visible role, though at no risk to himself.
Third: Any scenario under which Flair regains the belt? A clean 3-count against that miserable slob Orton would be deeply satisfying, as would the same against Undertaker, especially after kicking out of the AA spinebuster at WM--what kind of lousy AA fan service was that, anyway?
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: Arn Anderson is an agent (or producer as they are now known) for WWE. As for Flair winning the title one last time, I think it is a possibility.
Posted by: Ghost of Ole Anderson | November 29, 2007 1:54 AM
as far as Flair`s final match, probably impossible, but the only guy I think that would be fitted for it now is Flair vs Sting as the final match. They just had so many historical battles in the past. Unfortunately as we all know Sting has NEVER worked for Vince in his career.
Posted by: 1989 | December 3, 2007 8:57 PM
Interesting comments on the Flair winning the belt at WM and retiring on Raw. That could set up a tournament. I am a HUGE fan of brackets in wrestling. BUT they gotta quit the 14 man tournaments, they never work, especially with all of those byes. Both WWF title tournaments made Main Eventers out of Randy Savage and The Rock.
Posted by: 1989 | December 3, 2007 9:01 PM