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WWE Raw Reax #3: "Hulk Hogan got his standing ovation at the HOF, but he could never buy what Flair has tonight." Apr 1, 2008 - 1:21:29 AM
Tam Batts of Louisiana, Law. (10.0) Best Match: All of them. Worst Match: None. I have been watching wrestling since 1983 and the memories I have is watching the Natural Boy coming to the different terrorities. Wrestling without Ric Flair. Wow. I knew that the day was coming but I didn't know it was coming this soon. The moment that the Horseman rode out so to speak made me get emotional. Seeing Rick Steamboat and remembering he and Flair's feud from 1989 and the comments made by an emotional Shawn Michaels really added to this night. It is such a sad moment, but a happy ending that the ride to Space Mountain is over. No one will ever have more of an impact than the 16 time world champion. Now, all I have is my videos of what use to be and having to explain to the younger generation of wrestling fans who was Ric Flair. He shall be missed.
Shane McKinley of Danville, Calif. (10.0): Usually I try to keep a level head in scoring these, but tonight that goes out the window. Hands down, that was one of the most special wrestling shows that I have ever watched. The Ric Flair sendoff was so, so well done. Much respect. Big Show hugging Ric Flair got me all choked up. The whole night was handled very well, and there was defeintely a feeling of rebirth in the matches. Words cannot begin to describe how awesome this night was. I'm recording this show to a DVD so that I can keep it, because tonight was a treasure. What a show.
J. Ross of Blacksburg, VA (10.0) Best Match: Ric Flair vs. Hulk Hogan fans. Worst Match: Rhodes/Holly vs. Kendrick/London. First of all, solid promo by Randy Orton to start the show. While it wasn't the promo of a lifetime that he may have needed to get over that hump he's been climbing, he certainly did present himself as the real deal and the legit world champion. He also, although probably accidentally, made a very poignant statement: the "Hulkamania" & "Attitude" eras are indeed over. While I'm sure Steve Austin wanted to be there, the Roc...err... Mr. Johnson probably didn't. Eric Bischoff was most likely somewhere pitching something to "revolutionize" some industry. And somewhere Bret Hart was stewing in his bitterness. In fact, had it not been in his very ring, Vince McMahon (and his head writers) may not have even attended. But an era is indeed over: The Flair Era. That era dwarfed the '80s Hulkamania Boom, the troubled early-'90s, the Monday Night War (in which his noticeable absence set the tone rather than his presence), and the Brand-Extension. He was part of it all and, like everything else he was apart of, it was always his. Because, unlike his "contemporaries," Ric Flair made stars, he made matches, and he made professional wrestling what it is today. Somewhere, perhaps in Tampa or Venice Beach or Calgary or who cares... I hope somebody sat and watched a man, so beloved by his peers, so worshiped by his fans and so respected by, well f---ing everybody, and they asked themselves "why didn't I get that?" It's because you never earned it. It's because you never really worked for it. It's because he loved it... so it was never really a work at all. WOOOOO!
Billy Laboska of New York: That was the greatest segment I've ever seen. That was fair to Flair. Hulk Hogan got his standing ovation at the HOF, but he could never buy what Flair has tonight. That final long shot reminded me of the tribute shows. At least Naitch got his flowers while he can still smell them.
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