'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
This is one of those lists that are very difficult to write. Not because of the work required to research and compile it, but because of the emotional turmoil that one has to go through while doing so.
When witnessing these scenes all over again, you can't help but feel a warm and fuzzy sensation in your chest. It is what the WWE can do sometimes. They might not be the best-run company in the world, but they certainly know how to engross the fans in what they do.
Watching the WWE is like a journey that perhaps only ends with the conclusion one's breath. Sometimes, some moments make us laugh while some others make us cry in sadness.
And this is an attempt to depict the latter as here are the 5 moments that made WWE fans cry…
#5 Shawn Michaels retirement speech
When Shawn Michaels was pitted against The Undertaker in a career v/s streak match at the Wrestlemania 26, many had hoped that the HBK would win in order to prolong his illustrious career. They were not prepared to see the Heartbreak Kid leave the arena forever, but, that was scripted to happen.
And there was perhaps no better way to leave than play your final game against the Dead Man—The Undertaker—and give him the match of his life.
HBK broke many hearts as The Undertaker defeated him in the Wrestlemania. After that, he came out to address the WWE fans in his farewell speech on RAW. Before he could say anything, The Undertaker came out on the ramp and tilted his hat downwards as a sign of respect for Mr Wrestlemania.
He was then greeted by chants of “please don’t go,” which was followed by “thank you, Shawn!”
Tears were dripping down his cheeks, as were of so many fans, who also chanted “one more match,” pleading HBK to perform for one last time. He, however, was a man of his words and never played another game ever since.
I love you, Shawn—without you, the WWE is like a flower without fragrance.
#4 ‘I am sorry… I love you’
Life is like a movie, you know. Everything that happens is recorded somewhere inside the mind. When it all ends, however, the memories apparently replay within the walls made of shadows and dust. So when you are about to put an end to something, that you have been doing for so long, it is almost as though you are saying goodbye to life itself.
Ric Flair, aka Nature Boy, is one of the most decorated WWE superstars of all time. In his final match against Shawn Michaels—which wasn’t REALLY his final match, but I would like to pretend that all the subsequent matches he played after that didn’t happen—he took the sweet chin music before losing to the Heartbreak Kid.
However, before HBK put in his finishing move, there was a moment of pure sadness on both their faces. For Flair, all his memories were perhaps being played within the chambers of his mind. For Michaels, it was a devastating moment, one where he had to end the career of his idol.
Michaels then said to Flair, “I am sorry… I love you,” before smashing his boot to Flair’s chin. After that, Michaels pinned him, kissed him on his forehead and left the ring to leave Flair weeping in sadness.
#3 Ric Flair’s farewell
It wasn’t over just there, Ric Flair had more tears to shed. After his final match, the Nature Boy addressed the fans in a final speech that was meant to be between him and them.
However, Triple H made his entry and showered praises on Flair. And then came his family and a wave of wrestlers to make it a complete tribute for the man that served WWE for 40 years. He was visibly moved and was in tears as the wrestlers came out to show their reverence.
The best of the lot, though, was when The Undertaker made his entry. The other wrestlers cleared the ring and formed a guard of honour for the Dead Man as he paid his tribute in his own style, bending on his knees doing his signature move.
And oh boy, Flair’s face said it all.
#2 Connor the Crusher
Sometimes, in the darkest of times shines the truest of lights—like the plague flowering the kaleidoscope. Nobody’s dreams should be robbed by cancer, but that bastard runs in his own way to ruin people’s lives.
Connor Michalek was one such kid. However, WWE didn’t let the disease rob him of his dreams. No, sir, not this time. His lifelong dream was to meet Daniel Bryan and he finally got to do that on October 7, 2013, in Pittsburg.
Michalek, who dubbed himself as The Crusher, was an ardent WWE fan and got to witness the Wrestlemania XXX from the stands. After Daniel Bryan won the WWE World Heavyweight Championship that night, he went straight to Michalek and hugged him.
Connor left us on April 25, 2014, and then a tribute video was released. And it made us all cry.
#1 Eddie Guerrero’s tribute
Cheat to win, win to cheat. That was the motto of Eddie Guerrero, but he cheated us all and went to the arms of death, leaving us all in sorrow and despair. As a writer, I shouldn’t be breaking the fourth wall, but I won’t care about that now.
Man, I hated Eddie Guerrero. I hated him so much. I hated the fact that he cheated in almost every match that he played. I used to loathe him from the core of my being. And now, I loathe the fact that he isn’t here among us anymore.
Nobody could make cheating look so real and subtle like he did. Nobody could win like he did. Nobody can be another Eddie Guerrero. After his death, when the WWE gathered to give him a tribute, every WWE fan had tears in their eyes.
Heck, even the superstars couldn’t maintain the constraints of kayfabe and broke the fourth wall with their tears.
However, the most heartbreaking of them all was witnessing Chris Benoit weeping behind it all. Benoit and Eddie were best friends and now even Eddie is not here among us. I guess somewhere up there, they are together and happily enjoying their reunion.
And that brings a bit of joy to my heart.
