WRESTLEMANIA: RIC FLAIR VS. SHAWN MICHAELS

by The Prophet, ProphetFighting

Ric Flair vs. Shawn Michaels up next...Michaels coming out first. His ring entrance makes the Fabulous Freebirds "Badstreet USA" sound like "Stairway to Heaven". I know they do it for financial/legal reasons but I sure hate all of these in-house produced ring entrances. Flair about to make his entrance and expect the crowd to go nuts. At least Vinny Mac popped for the rights to "2001" to give Slick Ric the respect he deserves. But what's this? Here comes Mae Young in one of Flair's trademark robes?!? No, my mistake...that *is* Flair. The ref holds the ropes open for him--too cool, just like when he was NWA Champion. They announce Flair as 16 time worlds champion, which is actually 18 to 20 times depending on who's counting. I know there was one quick title change with Harley Race in Australia or New Zealand with Race winning the belt at the beginning of the tour and Flair winning it back at the end. This was before the Internet, so no one knew...the bell rings and we're set to go...

Flair comes out quickly. The two men do some great old school "get the hammerlock and reverse the hammerlock" stuff. Actually, I think the biggest difference between Flair and Mae Young at this point is that Mae's breasts aren't as saggy. Michaels slaps Flair and the 16,18 or 20 time world champion doesn't look happy. Lock up collar and elbow followed by a Flair knee that knocks Michaels to the turnbuckle. The two men exchange some classic Flair style chops. Flair with an elbow off the rope followed by the classic Flair kneedrop to the forehead. Michaels catches Flair coming in and then heads to the top rope. Too cool--Flair catches him and gives him the classic "get body slammed off the top rope" spot that he made famous. Flair hits what may have been the first cross body block off the top rope he's ever done and gets a two count. Flair out of the ring now. Michaels misses an Asai moonsault and lands on the table. Michaels in pain as the ref counts to 8. He rolls in to be greeted by some Flair boots. Michaels selling "injured ribs" as Flair whips him to the turnbuckle and Shawn selling like he's been shot. Ric with a back suplex gets a two count. Flair with some punches to the ribs, hits a salto followed by a two count. Now they're exchanging chops in the middle of the ring followed by a classic standing vertical suplex by Flair and it gets a two count. I'll call it a "high, high vertical soo-play" in honor of Gordon Solie. Neckbreaker out of nowhere by Michaels takes some of the starch out of the champ. Flair rushes in and Shawn backdrops him over the top rope. In the old territory days they would have called the DQ to save the belt. Another Michaels moonsault, this one from the top rope out of the ring, finds its mark. If they don't let Flair blade in his retirement match I'll be very disappointed. Back in the ring now, boots by Flair. More stiff chops traded --Flair whips Michaels and Shawn catches him coming off with a flying forearm. Reverse atomic drop by Michaels followed by a Michaels bodyslam. He's still selling his "injured ribs" from the missed Asai moonsault. Now Michaels is up top with a Randy Savage-esque elbow off the top which--surprise--hurt him more than it hurt Naitch due to his "injured ribs". Michaels teasing for his superkick finisher, but he hesitates which allows Flair to grab the leg and slap on the figure four in the center of the ring. Nice spot. I can see where this is going now but I'm not going to tell you yet. Michaels reverses it but Flair makes it to the ropes. Flair tries the atomic drop on the leg, only to have Michaels reverse it into a sunset flip for a 2 count. Michaels chopping Flair in the corner but when he turns his back Ric goes for the leg with a chop block. Slick Rick teasing for the figure four again, only to be caught by a small package. Flair ducks the enziguri (props to Jerry Lawler for calling it properly) and he slaps on the figure four again. He's in the center of the ring and can't make the ropes. Michaels tries to reserve but Flair rolls through. He makes the ropes and the crowd starts to boo. Flair pushes the ref aside and lays in the boots. Flair turns to survey the crowd and then turns around to be greeted by a Michaels superkick but he can only get the two count. Michaels now selling his "injured leg" and he's enough of a pro to not forget that he has to sell his "injured ribs" as well. Michaels teasing for the superkick again and yelling at Slick Ric to "get up". Michaels helps Flair to his feet but gets a kick to the gonads for his effort. Flair gets a count of two off the low blow. Now Michaels reverses and slaps on his version of the figure four (which is technically called the Texas Cloverleaf if I'm not mistaken). Flair gets to the ropes and then thumbs Michaels in the eye. Flair small package gets a two count. More trading of chops but out of nowhere Michaels nails the superkick again. Michaels now selling his injuries and giving his pouty face to suggest that he doesn't want to pin Flair. He's lost his smile again and can't set Naitch for another superkick. Naitch comes toward him, Michaels mouths "I love you" and then he nails another superkick for the three count. Aside from the fact that Flair didn't get the blade a pretty well booked retirement match.

Postmatch has Flair in the ring with a huge standing ovation from the crowd. Michaels displayed a lot of class sliding out of the ring to let Ric enjoy this moment on his own. I'm surprised Triple H hasn't made a run-in to gravy train. Ric slides out of the ring, walks over to his sons and two hot daughters at ringside and gives them all a kiss before heading to the back.