"Nature Boy" Just Hopes To Go Out On Top
Posted: Mar 29th 2008 By: CMBurnham
Sunday is Wrestlemania 24, the biggest extravaganza of the year for aficionados of professional wrestling.
Sure, pro wrestling is scripted. Sure, the outcome of all the matches is predetermined. But most "male soap-opera" buffs still are ready to plunk down $55 or so for the opportunity to sit back in their recliners and watch grown men in spandex pretend to fight.
Growing up, there were three things my mother was passionate about: The Kansas City Royals, roller derby and pro wrestling. Not much of a skating fan, I cut my teeth on the other two and both likely will be ingrained in me for life.
One of the selling points of this year's pay-per-view is a singles bout between the "Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels and "Nature Boy" Ric Flair in what is widely-accepted as being the final match of Flair's illustrious career.
True, the 59-year-old Flair is far-removed from being a "boy," and the 44-year-old Michaels is hardly a "kid." But because both are among an elite class of "workers" -- wrestlers who are known for putting on awesome matches with an air of drama and believability -- this match in particular should be the "show-stealer."
I've liked Flair since he was a young up-and-comer who made a name for himself after moving from the American Wrestling Association to the Carolinas territory, feuding with the likes of Wahoo McDaniel, Roddy Piper, Greg Valentine and another future superstar, Ricky Steamboat.
Over the years, whether "bad guy" or "babyface," my favorite wrestlers tended to be the ones who knew how to "work." Therefore, I cheered for "heels" such as Flair, Harley Race, Terry Funk and The Road Warriors as vociferously as I did "good guys" such as Steamboat and Jim Brunzell.
Flair is widely considered the greatest pro wrestler of all time, and I count myself among that group of voters. His matches with Steamboat, Race and Funk, among others, are legendary.
He knew how to give great interviews. He knew how to "sell," making his opponent look like a million bucks in the ring. He knew how to "work" the fans with "ring psychology," giving them their money's worth every night. All this after suffering a near-paralyzing broken back in a 1975 plane crash.
Many wrestlers have many retirement matches, only to return to the "squared circle." Funk himself must have held at least 10 such matches between the United States and Japan. And the ol' Funker is still lacing up the boots, even though he turns 64 in June.
Flair might come back for an occasional "special attraction," but I believe this really is it for the Nature Boy. Though he expects to work behind the scenes in World Wrestling Entertainment training young grapplers, I don't think we'll ever see the "greatest wrestler alive" any longer after Sunday.
Since it is being billed as a "retirement match" should he lose, Flair will almost surely "do the job" -- allow Michaels to escape with the win. No doubt Flair will bleed -- both combatants probably will.
Because both men take pride in their work, I hope Flair gets to go out the way he wants -- not with his hand held high at the end of the match as so many self-centered, egotistical wrestlers demand, but with his head held high, knowing he gave 100 percent in the ring, right down to his final match.
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Spotlight in History
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- 1979 Mike George def. Mr. Wrestling II for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
- 1979 Mike Sharpe, Jr. def. Mike George for the MSW Louisiana Title
- 1982 Kevin Von Erich def. King Kong Bundy for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 1988 John Tatum & Jimmy Jack Funk def. The Simpson Brithers (Steve Simpson & Shaun Simpson) for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
- 2008 Tim Rockwell became the MWA Heavyweight Champion
- 2009 Cold Blooded Chris def. The Canadian Red Devil for the ComPro Showtime Title
- 2019 Lake Hefner def. Adam Patrick for the ASP Inter-County Title
- 2020 Brixton Barricade def. Brock Landers for the ASP Inter-County Title
- 2021 Step Brothas (Jermaine Johnson & Tego) def. DNR (Drake Gallows & Revan) for the ASP Tag Team Titles
- 2021 Father Padge def. Duncan Kincaid for the ASP All Time Title
- 2021 Brandon Barricade def. Father Padge for the ASP All Time Title
- 2025 Merc became the CPW Heavyweight Champion
- 2025 Cappuccino Jones became the CPW 918 Champion
- 2025 Skylar Slice became the CPW Women’s Champion
- 2025 Super Crash Brothers (Trench Blythe & Badger James) became the CPW Tag Team Champions
- 2025 The Sweet Life (Jake Swayze & Killbane) def. The Super Crash Brothers (Trench Blythe & Badger James) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
Week of Sun 08-30 to Sat: 09-05
- 08-30 2025 Remy Devereaux def. Gluttony for the RWE United States Title
- 08-30 2025 Psychotic Messengers (Malachi the Mad & Tank Bryson) def. The Family Affiliated (Riki Wildlee & Gluttony [substituting for Athan Sorrow]) for the RWE Tag Team Titles
- 08-30 2025 Bishop Simon def. Skidz for the RWE Light Heavyweight Title
- 08-30 2025 Block Party (Mr. Wobble & Billie the Kiid) became the TexPro Tag Team Champions
- 08-31 1954 Joe Christie became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
- 08-31 1986 Eddie Gilbert & Sting def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the UWF Tag Team Titles
- 08-31 1987 Ted Arcidi became the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
- 08-31 1998 T. C. Gold def. J. J. Mustang for the OPW Turnpike Title
- 09-01 1958 Mad Man Martin def. Bill Longson for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 09-01 1982 Bill Irwin def. Al Madril for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 09-01 1984 The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) def. The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 09-01 1986 Buzz Sawyer & Matt Borne became the WCCW World Tag Team Champions
- 09-01 2007 Damien Morte def. Shane Sanchez for the SWCW Hardcore Title
- 09-01 2007 Kareem Sadat def. Damien Morte for the SWCW Hardcore Title
- 09-01 2007 Kevin James Sanchez def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Title
- 09-01 2016 The Canadian Red Devil became the PWTV Junior Heavyweight Champion
- 09-01 2018 Tommy Dean def. Jerry Storm for the BPW Lion Heart Title
- 09-01 2018 Randy Price def. Damon Windsor for the WCR Revolutionary Title
- 09-02 1963 Bill Watts & Jerry Kozak def. The Bolos (The Great Bolo [1st] & The Mighty Bolo) for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 09-02 1985 Brian Adias & The Von Erichs (Kevin Von Erich & Kerry Von Erich) def. Mark Lewin, One Man Gang, & Jack Victory (substituting for Tim Brooks) for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Titles
- 09-02 1985 Gino Hernandez def. Brian Adias for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 09-02 1987 Terry Taylor def. Shane Douglas for the UWF Television Title
- 09-02 2005 Jack Legacy def. Pork Chop for the SRPW Boys and Girls Club Title
- 09-02 2022 Sam Stackhouse def. Derek James for the UWO Heavyweight Title
- 09-02 2022 Fly Def (Warren J & Zack Zilla) def. The Unit (Charlie Haas & Big Fitz) for the TexPro Tag Team Titles
- 09-03 1984 The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich & Mike Von Erich) def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy, Michael Hayes, & Buddy Roberts) for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Titles
- 09-03 1984 Gino Hernandez def. Mike Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 09-03 1984 Chris Adams def. Jake Roberts for the WCCW Television Title
- 09-03 2005 Outlaw def. Angel Williams for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
- 09-03 2011 Kareem Sadat def. L. J. McDaniels for the SWCW Hardcore Title
- 09-03 2022 Hornsby def. Rhett for the WFC Drillsville Title
- 09-04 1972 Duke Myers & Terry Garvin [1st] became the TSW United States Tag Team Champions
- 09-04 1978 The Von Erichs (David Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) def. Gino Hernandez & Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
- 09-04 2015 Mr. Nasty def. Abel for the SRPW United States Title
- 09-04 2021 Hornsby became the WFC Drillsville Champion
- 09-04 2021 Duncan Kincaid def. C. M. Burnham for the ASP All Time Title
- 09-05 1962 Danny Hodge & El Gran Lothario def. Hiro Matsuda & Don Kent for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 09-05 1979 Mike George def. Mr. Wrestling II for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
- 09-05 1979 Mike Sharpe, Jr. def. Mike George for the MSW Louisiana Title
- 09-05 1982 Kevin Von Erich def. King Kong Bundy for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 09-05 1988 John Tatum & Jimmy Jack Funk def. The Simpson Brithers (Steve Simpson & Shaun Simpson) for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
- 09-05 2008 Tim Rockwell became the MWA Heavyweight Champion
- 09-05 2009 Cold Blooded Chris def. The Canadian Red Devil for the ComPro Showtime Title
- 09-05 2019 Lake Hefner def. Adam Patrick for the ASP Inter-County Title
- 09-05 2020 Brixton Barricade def. Brock Landers for the ASP Inter-County Title
- 09-05 2021 Step Brothas (Jermaine Johnson & Tego) def. DNR (Drake Gallows & Revan) for the ASP Tag Team Titles
- 09-05 2021 Father Padge def. Duncan Kincaid for the ASP All Time Title
- 09-05 2021 Brandon Barricade def. Father Padge for the ASP All Time Title
- 09-05 2025 Merc became the CPW Heavyweight Champion
- 09-05 2025 Cappuccino Jones became the CPW 918 Champion
- 09-05 2025 Skylar Slice became the CPW Women’s Champion
- 09-05 2025 Super Crash Brothers (Trench Blythe & Badger James) became the CPW Tag Team Champions
- 09-05 2025 The Sweet Life (Jake Swayze & Killbane) def. The Super Crash Brothers (Trench Blythe & Badger James) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
- Bernard Funk Sep 5th Today!
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- Char Starr Sep 5th Today!
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