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Guest Editorials
Guest Editorial: Why does Ric Flair have to lose to someone at WrestleMania and retire? Feb 22, 2008 - 4:11:40 AM
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GUEST EDITORIAL
By Dan Leite of Columbus, Ohio, PWTorch.com reader
I have been reading countless articles on the Torch, many insightful, about "who will retire Ric Flair at WrestleMania?" Talk of Shawn Michaels and even Ricky Steamboat coming out of retirement to wrestle Flair in his last match have been mentioned to "retire" Ric at WrestleMania. My simple question is why does Ric Flair have to lose at WrestleMania?
It seems to me there is a possible opening for Flair to slip into the spot against Edge at WrestleMania to wrestle for "his belt," the belt he actually brought over from WCW as "the Real World Champion." Even with Undertaker winning the Elimination Chamber match at No Way Out, a shift could be made for Taker and Michaels to meet at WrestleMania and relive the great exchanges they have had at the last two Royal Rumbles while permitting Flair to slide in to a final match at WrestleMania with Edge for the belt "that his rightfully his."
Edge and Flair have history, as Edge defeated Flair last year in Raleigh in a great ladder match on Raw. Edge is capable of getting a good match out of Flair at WrestleMania and the ending can involve Vince coming out to ringside after seeing Edge dominate to wave "goodbye" to the legend of Ric Flair and try to get involved but, since it is Florida, have Arn Anderson, Dusty Rhodes, and Rick Steamboat come down to pull Vince off the apron, have Edge turn around to finish Flair with his own figure-four, and have Flair reach up and small package him for a three count and the title. He has beaten Rhodes, Steamboat, and others with that finish and it would be a shocker for everyone, as Jim Ross can add to the moment talking about how anything can happen and note the history of Flair winning his 17th title. Treat it like a huge deal at WrestleMania and let Ric bask in the moment.
Have Flair come out the next night on Raw and then retire, going out on his terms and telling McMahon that "since Ric Flair made Ric Flair, I am taking my belt and going home." He can give a gracious speech to the fans (at the 10 o'clock hour to allow the last hour of Raw to be used about setting up the eight-man tournament that will follow for the championship) and then leave the ring, but not before having all the wrestlers come out on stage to give him an honorable send off.
Fans would then have the opportunity to see Ric Flair style and profile out of the spotlight with his belt on his shoulder and his head held high. The man deserves to go out on top after all he has given to the business and what a better way to send him out than with his 17th title.
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