Handling A Situation With Flair
Posted: Apr 4th 2008 By: CMBurnham
Maybe you've all known me to crack a joke or two about strange situations causing me to break into bawling hysterics, but for the most part, I swear they're all just jokes. I couldn't possibly tear up that much. I'd be dehydrated all the time.
Conversely, my comedically corrupt mind could not have conceived a situation such as this past Monday, as I sat crying considerably on my couch, while watching professional wrestling.
Men in white coats, I've waited so long for you.
A great number of Americans treat pro wrestling with disdain because it presents itself as if it were a real sporting event, but we all know that the matches are staged, and no one likes being lied to. Especially not by men with surnames of "the Samoan Bulldozer."
The men and women in the ring are just doing what writers tell them to. But you really can't fake falling through tables or crashing onto the mat from the top rope. Their actions are probably more real than those of actors.
I like to call it theater, as written by Larry the Cable Guy.
One of the unexpected results of this sort-of reality is that the human beings behind these characters will sometimes shine through, delivering legitimately emotional moments.
Had you not heard (and, being more respectable than the likes of me, I'm sure you hadn't), Wrestlemania was Sunday, and longtime wrestler Ric Flair lost a match that had the stipulation that he must retire if he didn't win. The whole weekend had been stocked with Flair tributes, including his inductment into the WWE Hall of Fame, and being the perceptive detective I am, I sort of had a hunch that he just might lose that match.
Flair is, among wrestling fans, a legend. While Hulk Hogan was the household name of pro wrestling in the '80s, Flair was the world champion in the National Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling. He was over-the-top outside of the ring and in interviews, and a dedicated athlete and showman in the ring. He was and will remain the greatest to ever walk that aisle.
So, on Monday's "Raw," Flair came out to give his farewell address to the audience. After he had thanked the audience for supporting him throughout his 36-year career, the company surprised him by bringing current and former wrestlers to the ring, along with his family, and the entire roster surrounded the ring, applauding him. Along with that, the audience stood in unison, chanting, "Thank you, Flair,"while Flair broke down in tears.
It was not at the level of a "Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day," but it was still as touching as any retirement ceremony I'd ever seen. It was a man at the twilight of his career, sad that this time in his life was over but grateful for the time he had. It's a milestone we all come to eventually, so we can reflect on how we will react when we, too, get there.
That feeling was, to me, as real as it gets. Thank you, Ric Flair.
Supplemental Information
Latest News
Toby Keith Given Posthumous Honorary Degree From University Of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is celebrating the memory and legacy of Toby Keith with an honorary degr... Read More
The Scoop
NEWS During an interview with WhatCulture.com, Ricky Starks talked about working with C. M. Punk during the early e... Read More
EC3 Opens Up About His Time In WWE, Being NWA Champion, What’s Next For Him, More
In the latest exclusive interview with PWMania’s Scott Mitchell (@Scott44Mitchell), E... Read More
Upcoming Events
- WAH · May 25 6:00pm · Tulsa
- CPW · May 31 7:30pm · Sand Springs
- WFC · Jun 1 7:00pm · Tulsa
- WFC · Jun 2 6:00pm · Tulsa
- WAH · Jun 8 6:00pm · Tulsa
- NAW · Jun 8 6:30pm · Watts (Chewey)
- MHCW · Jun 14 7:00pm · Wetumka
- TIW · Jun 15 6:00pm · Claremore
- UWO · Jun 15 6:00pm · Oklahoma City
- EPW · Jun 15 6:00pm · Oklahoma City
- CPW · May 31 7:30pm · Sand Springs
- EPW · Jun 15 6:00pm · Oklahoma City
- MHCW · Jun 14 7:00pm · Wetumka
- NAW · Jun 8 6:30pm · Watts (Chewey)
- TIW · Jun 15 6:00pm · Claremore
- UWO · Jun 15 6:00pm · Oklahoma City
- WAH · May 25 6:00pm · Tulsa
- WAH · Jun 8 6:00pm · Tulsa
- WFC · Jun 1 7:00pm · Tulsa
- WFC · Jun 2 6:00pm · Tulsa
- Jerry Lawler, Mick Foley, Scott Steiner, Leva Bates, Lex Luger, Matt Hardy, Milo Beasley, and Ron Simmons · May 24 2:00pm · Oklahoma City Convention Center · Oklahoma City
- Jerry Lawler, Mick Foley, Scott Steiner, Leva Bates, Lex Luger, Matt Hardy, Milo Beasley, and Ron Simmons · May 25 10:00am · Oklahoma City Convention Center · Oklahoma City
- Jerry Lawler, Mick Foley, Scott Steiner, Leva Bates, Lex Luger, Matt Hardy, Milo Beasley, and Ron Simmons · May 26 10:00am · Oklahoma City Convention Center · Oklahoma City
- Jimmy Hart and Matt Riddle · Aug 10 10:00am · Cox Business Convention Center · Tulsa
- Jimmy Hart and Matt Riddle · Aug 11 11:00am · Cox Business Convention Center · Tulsa
- Jake Hager and Jimmy Hart · Oct 5 10:00am · A. J. Horton Event Center · McAlester
- Jake Hager and Jimmy Hart · Oct 6 10:00am · A. J, Horton Event Center · McAlester
Most Active Members
- Striker
- Michael York
- The Mayne Event
- cphs_sweethearts
- Talon
Oklafan Quiz
Who were the main broadcast team for NWA Universal's TV show "NWA Intense TV" in 2005?