Manik Aftab on July 27, 2022
Ric Flair is widely considered to be one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. Flair built a long-lasting legacy, which is continuing in the form of his daughter, Charlotte Flair. The Nature Boy is entering the squared circle for the final time this Sunday.
Flair is set to wrestle his retirement match in Nashville, Tennessee. The 16-time world champion will team up with son-in-law and AEW star Andrade El Idolo against Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal in the main event of ‘Ric Flair’s Last Match’ on July 31st.
Head booker Conrad Thompson recently talked about Flair’s last match and addressed fan concern regarding the match. Flair has received widespread criticism regarding his involvement in the match. Here’s what Conrad Thompson said during a media call.
“This is about him wanting to feel like Ric Flair, ‘The Nature Boy’, one last time. When that whole 2008 retirement happened, that wasn’t his idea. He was dictated to. That was created in a creative meeting, and they said, ‘Hey, you’re having your last match,’ and by the way, it was fabulous. It was ten out of ten. But he wasn’t necessarily ready to do that, which is why he wrestled again.
“But at this point, he’s been gone for so long, I think everybody understands he’s not gonna wrestle again. This really is it. It if he wants to feel like Ric Flair ‘The Nature Boy’ one last time, having lost his son nearly ten years ago and as you saw in episode one, he said as soon as that happened, he walked across the street to the bar, and he didn’t quit drinking for five years.
“He nearly lost his life because he was self-medicating, [he] wasn’t taking care of himself. But he’s worked himself back, and Ric Flair is in a better place mentally, emotionally, physically, financially, than I’ve ever known him right. This is not a cash grab for Ric Flair. This is not, ‘Ric Flair needs a payday.’ This is about Ric Flair wants the glory and the rush of being in front of a crowd that paid to come see him one last time.”
“Who are we to say that he can’t do that? I understand there are naysayers who have concerns about his health. But they’re not his doctor. His doctor has cleared him for it, and his trainer has told him that he’s ready. I just wanna remind everybody that this, when he steps through the ropes this Sunday night, it won’t be the first time he’s stepped through the ropes. It will be the first time you’ve seen him step through the ropes, but he’s been training almost every other day for months.
“So if there was a concern about something that could happen with Ric medically, it would have already happened in training, candidly, because he’s already done it. He’s been put through the paces, he’s pushed himself. This is not, ‘He wants to get out there and chop and strut and ‘Woo.’ He wants to go out there and steal the show, and he’s gonna have his work cut out for him following guys from AAA and New Japan and MLW and IMPACT Wrestling and all of these fabulous wrestlers who are here and in the prime of their career.
“He feels incredible pressure to deliver. Now luckily, his tag team partner is one of the best wrestlers in the world today, no matter what anybody says, and they’re gonna put on one hell of a show this Sunday night.”
WWE Hall of Famer Stone Cold Steve Austin believes Ric Flair’s final match will turn out great. However, there is also concern about Ric Flair’s health ahead of his final match. Charlotte Flair will also attend her father’s final match. You can check out the card for Ric Flair’s Last Match below.
- Ric Flair & Andrade El Idolo vs. Jeff Jarrett & Jay Lethal
- Josh Alexander (c) vs. Jacob Fatu – Impact World Championship Match
- Jordynne Grace (c) vs. Rachael Ellering vs. Deonna Purrazzo – Impact KO Championship Match
- Jonathan Gresham vs. Nick Wayne vs. Alan Angels vs. Konosuke Takeshita
- The Wolves vs. Motor City Machine Guns
- Ricky Morton & Kerry Morton w/ Robert Gibson vs. Brian Pillman Jr. & Brock Anderson w/ Arn Anderson – Legacy Match
- Killer Kross vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr.
- Yuya Uemura vs. Ren Narita
- Laredo Kid vs. Bandido vs. Taurus vs. Rey Fenix
- The Von Erichs vs. The Briscoes
- Bunkhouse Battle Royal
What’s your take on this story? Sound off in the comments!
July 27, 2022 6:10 am
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