The stipulation was known to all parties. The next match that Ric Flair lost would be his last. Flair defeated MVP, and his career was safe. Flair defeated Mr. Kennedy, and he was safe again. But when it was announced that Flair would face Mr. Wrestlemania himself at Wrestlemania XXIV, the fans knew, in their hearts of hearts, that this was the end, even if they were in denial. The match played out in exactly the same way; Shawn kept on pulling his punches until the very, very end, when he finally delivered Sweet Chin Music to the Nature Boy.