40 Greatest Stories Wrestling Ever Told

14. Ric Flair’s Retirement (WWE, 2007-2008)

A verbal spat on the 24 March 2008 episode of Raw perfectly summed up everything good about the story pitting Ric Flair's career against the pride of Shawn Michaels. Flair handpicked Shawn as his opponent for WrestleMania XXIV, then said he wanted everything HBK had to offer then some.

Pausing, Michaels brought up the tale of Old Yeller. "They loved that dog", he said, but then they had to put him down. Shawn said he wouldn't hesitate to do the same, which earned a slap from Flair as Ric fired up and went on quite the rant. That's something the 'Nature Boy' would apologise for later, but then he lost to Michaels at 'Mania and had to call it a (WWE) career.

Vince McMahon had already warned Ric that his next defeat would be his last. Flair, fighting for his livelihood every step of the way, managed to score some big wins between November-March, but stepping up to 'Mr. WrestleMania' proved to be a stretch too far. Before putting Ric down for the count with a superkick, Michaels mouthed: "I'm sorry, I love you".

The emotion was thick, and tears fell by the bucketload as onlookers came to terms with the thought of no more 'Naitch'. Flair himself cried as everything started to sink in post-loss, and a dejected Shawn gave his hero the floor to soak up applause.

If only Ric had stayed retired after this. It's still one of wrestling's best retirement story arcs as is, but it would've meant just that little bit more had he never wrestled again.