#2 Ric Flair
The sharpest among you may have noticed the Nature Boy’s absence in the previous category (which was also a fitting description for Mysterio, Styles, Punk and a host of tag teams as well, congratulations, you are a true super fan).
However, Ric Flair deserves an honourable mention and a standalone spot on the countdown for a few more egregious reasons.
Firstly, his ‘retirement’ at Mania 24 was a beautifully crafted match and storyline that caused very real emotion in the hearts of everyone watching. Despite an excellent match for that show, Flair should have been given the honour of the final walk off at the biggest stage.
Second (as though that honour only suited to a handful was a mere courtesy), when Flair first entered the WWE and won the title in the Royal Rumble match of 1992, there was no doubt that ‘The Man’ had arrived.
Logically, this would dictate a main event spot and presumably the WWE’s top man of the previous decade would have made a worthy opponent.
Whether it’s Hogan or Flair to blame. for this match not to have happened at wrestling’s biggest show will always remain a mistake. Flair could have even gone on to spare fans the embarrassment of Manias 9, 11 and 13. Who really knows?
The WWE was frankly a little fortunate to survive and make it to Flair’s retirement many years later, they just need to remember their own mantra: do what’s best for business.
