Welcome to another edition of Triple Threat from Smark Out Moment, where three of us get together to discuss three questions based on one big topic going down in the week of professional wrestling.
This week, Dallas Allsopp, Robert DeFelice and Callum Wiggins discuss Ric Flair's upcoming final match.
Ric Flair revealed this week that he will be lacing up his boots once more, much to the chagrin of a large part of the wrestling community. Is this a wise decision, or is it doomed to fail?
Question 1: What are your thoughts on The Nature Boy lacing up his boots for one more match? Will this truly be his final stand?
ALLSOPP: My initial belief was that this was a stupid joke. Well, it is, but for all the wrong reasons. Ric Flair is 73! 73! He should not be wrestling, especially with his current and historic health conditions, but I suspect he is in need of more money. Come on - those alimony payments add up! I’d like to think that if he survives, this would be his final match, but the pessimist in me is adamant it will be the first in a very unfortunate series of events.
DeFELICE: What is sure to be a fun payday for everyone involved, I actually think that this is okay. Ric Flair clearly wasn't ready in 2008, no matter how appropriate and perfectly crafted that retirement was. His time in TNA was, whilst enjoyable, largely a blemish on his legacy. I know that a lot has changed regarding public perception of Flair in the last 14 years, but I think given the right opponent, this match can be truly special.
WIGGINS: Whilst you can never say never when it comes to wrestling, I think it would be unlikely we see Ric Flair wrestle beyond this final swansong. I think due to the way his final in-ring run in TNA ended, and how close we came to losing The Nature Boy a couple of years back, he wants to have one final memorable moment in between the ropes. Whilst I'm not exactly confident it will be a good match, hopefully everything will be kept as safe as possible.
Question 2: Who would make the most sense to square off against the 16 time World Heavyweight Champion?
DeFELICE: So, seeing that, as of this writing, Ricky Steamboat has said no to the opportunity, I think Sting makes a lot of sense. In fact, sting was Ric Flair’s last opponent in TNA. Their legacies are intertwined, and the rumored addition of FTR and The Rock ‘N’ Roll Express will allow Flair to be a part of something special and brand new while also putting a bow on another one of his legendary rivalries with Ricky Morton. That weekend will also see The Four Horsemen on stage at Starrcast, and it's a very nice way to give Flair one last moment in the sun. If not “The Dragon,” Sting should be the guy to put a bow on Flair's career.
WIGGINS: Sting would make the most sense to stand opposite Ric Flair, as a man synonymous with his career. But in order to give the fans an actual 'match' alongside this spectacle, it would be good to have a tag team (or even two tag teams) either side to make this viable. FTR is an obvious pick, and whilst the suggestion is The Rock 'N' Roll Express, I think The Hardy Boyz would be a more contemporary babyface pick to work this.
ALLSOPP: I know there have been discussions with Ricky Steamboat, but it is believed he rejected the option almost immediately. Despite FTR and The Rock ‘N’ Roll Express being mooted, I think a match with Sting would be appropriate. Not only would he be a safe worker, but they are inextricably linked through their feuds in NWA and WCW. I don’t want this match, but that option does make the most sense to me.
Question 3: To restore some credibility to this news - which Ric Flair match during his long and illustrious career stands out the most to you?
WIGGINS: I'm not as learned when it comes to Ric Flair's classic NWA matches, but when I think of Flair, I'm immediately drawn to Royal Rumble 1992, with a tear in his eye. The retirement feud against Vader over the WCW Championship. That legendary shoot promo on Eric Bischoff. And, in his 'later' years, two standout clashes with Shawn Michaels - one at Bad Blood 2003, and of course the remarkable WrestleMania 24 clash that would have been a fitting farewell to his career.
ALLSOPP: The most athletic match I enjoyed from The Nature Boy was vs Ricky Steamboat at Chi-Town Rumble in 1989. Everything about that contest was fantastic, highlighting exactly why NWA wrestling was superior to WWF wrestling in the late 80’s. However, his emotional match against Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 24 was tear inducing for all the right reasons, and this match should have been the true final match of one of the best careers in wrestling history.
DeFELICE: For me, if we are talking about matches I watched live as they happened, Ric Flair vs Triple H on Raw in 2003 was a very special match, and one of the first times I feel like Ric Flair truly recaptured the glory of his heyday. I would also give a shout out to Flair vs Randy Orton at Taboo Tuesday in 2004 and Flair vs Edge in a TLC Match in 2006.
If we are talking about legendary matches overall, Flair vs Ricky Steamboat at Clash of the Champions in a 2 out of 3 Falls Match is really good, and Flair vs Sting from the inaugural Clash of the Champions show is also very good. I would also give a shout out to Flair vs Barry Windham from World Wide Wrestling in 1987, and Flair vs Windham from Battle of the Belts 2 in Florida.
Those are our thoughts on the issue, but where do you stand?
Let us know your answers to these questions in the comments below!
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