Flair vs. Michaels at WrestleMania?
The current booking plan is for Ric Flair to face Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania and for it to be Flair’s final match, according to wrestlingnewsdesk.com.
Flair-Michaels makes a lot of sense to me, especially if the idea is for Flair to participate in a classic match. No disrespect to the “Nature Boy,” but at this point in his career, he needs to be in the ring with a great worker such as Michaels to have a shot at pulling that off.
This would be a matchup of two of the greatest all-around performers in wrestling history on the biggest stage. It also would represent something of a passing of the torch, as Michaels idolized Flair growing up and wanted to be like him.
I have little doubt that Flair-Michaels would be a great match filled with genuine emotion — both in the wrestlers and the fans — and would go down as another memorable WrestleMania moment. The key for this to work is for WWE to come up with a story line explaining why Michaels would want to defeat Flair and end his career.
As I have stated in the past, I would prefer that Flair was chasing the world title in his final run, culminating in a match against Edge at WrestleMania. But with that scenario obviously not under consideration, I can’t think of a better final opponent for Flair than Michaels.
Another school of thought is that an up-and-coming wrestler such as Mr. Kennedy or MVP should be the one to retire Flair. I understand the thinking behind it, but I just think — out of respect for Flair’s legendary status — that the loss that ends his career should be to a proven superstar, not a potential one.
Comments
If Flair wrestles HBK, I think it would be hard to find a suitable opponent for Randy Orton (assuming Cena regains the title at No Way Out). You can't exactly take Orton out of the title picture so quickly (unless they work an injury). Having him wrestle Jeff Hardy for the I.C. belt is a step down (The fact that the WWE has kept the IC belt on Hardy thus far tells me they don't plan on giving him the WWE belt just yet). Therefore, I expect a triple-threat match at Wrestlemania between Cena, Orton & Hardy (Hardy wins the elimination chamber match). HHH will likely wrestle McMahon. Possibly for control of the company. I also expect Undertaker-Edge for the World Heavyweight Championship, Chavo-Mysterio for the ECW Championship, Hardy (or CM Punk) vs. MVP and for Kennedy to be in some sort of gimmick match (Battle Royal, Money-in-the-Bank Ladder Match, etc...).
Posted by: Ben - Las Vegas, NV | January 31, 2008 8:37 PM
Too bad Sting is stuck in TNA. I think the greatest thing that could ever happen in WWE history would be for Sting to be Flair's last match.
Posted by: mr. bronson | January 31, 2008 8:40 PM
What would you think of a situation where Flair wrestles a championship holding Undertaker at Wrestlemania and beats him to end his Wrestlemania streak and win his 17th title, breaking the record he shares with Harley Race and then promptly announces his retirement on his terms not Vince's?
Posted by: Bob | January 31, 2008 9:26 PM
Flair should lose to Satino Marella!
Posted by: Michael | January 31, 2008 9:40 PM
HBK is the only person in the WWE capable of having a great match with Flair at this point. I was thinking Kennedy, but he is a horrible worker. I was also thinking MVP, but his match with Flair was really poor. Flair just doesn't have the magic anymore. Michaels is the only person talented enough to pull that one final magical match from the Nature Boy, because he is fading fast.
What about this idea:
Triple H will probably go heel soon. Imagine if he interfered in the HBK-Flair Mania match. He does something that causes Michaels to get the victory. That would do two things.
1-Give Trips instant heel heat
2-Launch him into a feud with Michaels.
I think its the best thing.
Posted by: John | January 31, 2008 10:40 PM
Flair vs Hogan at WrestleMania is the only event I would pay for....
They should have this match the year it was Flair vs Savage, and Hogan v Justice..
Posted by: Chris | February 1, 2008 9:16 AM
Here's what I've been pondering for the booking of a Flair-Michaels match...
Supposing somehow Michaels and HHH end up being the last 2 in the Elimination Chamber and somehow Michaels appears to win, but gets screwed out of the title.
The following night on RAW, Mr. McMahon says that IF Michaels wants another chance at the title (HHH or otherwise), he has to do Mr. McMahon alittle 'favor'... that happens to be end Flair's career.
A previous post noted that STing would be a better opponent for Flair (and somewhere I thought he was wrestling TNA w/o a contract) would make more sense... BUT... I think it would take a lot of 'story-telling' to bring Sting in for a one-time match and have it make sense.
I also agree with Bob's post about having Flair win the title one more time and 'retire', dropping it on his own terms.
Finally, a question for Kevin or others, would Flair disappear completely off-camera or will/would there be a place for him to be a 'manager/GM' of sorts in either WWE brand? I've been following Wrestling since the late 70's and I can't imaging wrestling w/o the likes of the stylin', profilin', son of a gun...
Posted by: Gentlemen Chris | February 1, 2008 12:54 PM
Pity. I was hoping that they would do a four corners Evolution elimination match with HHH, Orton, Batista and Flair with the career ending stipulation to Flair still on the line. That way, he could still go out strong by defeating one or two of the wrestlers but still gets his career ended by the eventual winner, presumably HHH. I think going out that way would mean a lot more than just being defeated by Michaels in an ordinary one on one contest. Besides, the four corners Evolution match can only ever take place as long as Flair is still wrestling.
The title bout can be between Cena vs Hardy while Michaels can headline the Money In The Bank ladder match.
Posted by: Din | February 1, 2008 9:02 PM
Anyone notice why Sting hasn't appeared on TNA Impact at all this year? And has anyone else noticed that WWE is releasing a Sting DVD in the near future?
Maybe. Just Maybe. I guess I can still dream.
Posted by: Sahl | February 2, 2008 3:04 PM
NAw...they should have mcmahon pull a brett hart - screw deal. Make it look as though Mcmahon made shawn pin flair....
turn the heat on shawn again.,.. and feed more into DX return...
jut my opinion....
Posted by: David Beach | February 2, 2008 10:25 PM
I'd rather watch a broken down Flair than anything on the current roster.
Nothing on TV today that passes for "wrestling" is worht watching. Break out your 1986 tapes of the 4 Horseman. Nothing on those shows is worth watching. Kennedy is Bob Holly as Bob Holly is Kennedy. What's the difference.
A lame Diva's match comes on at the same time on every show.
Too scripted Kev, sorry. I loved it before Hogan and the expansion and then I moved on to the NWA when they came to Baltimore. Even the "Attitude era" WWE was great! With you there.
You are too old to be wasting your time with these guys and their stupid tattoos. Check out UFC or watch some vintage tapes.
Posted by: Ed | February 8, 2008 12:20 AM
The fact that there is even an angle to a Flair retirement is disgusting. Flair/Steamboat were great matches because they themselves were great performers (better than Cena or Orton on any day) and due to the fact that the action was called in the ring and not by the booker.
There does not need to a Michaels heel turn to make this a great match, they just need to be told their time limit and Ric and Shawn go.
Another commenter said that Flair has lost his magic and that I would say is not due to Flair's age, it is due to the overly-scripted nature of McMahon's product.
Posted by: Keith Okie | February 28, 2008 11:50 AM