10 Depressing Wrestling Retirement Matches
9. Hulk Hogan Vs. Kidman, Ric Flair Vs. David Flair (Great American Bash 2000)
Nothing like a two-fer of sad and unnecessary 'retirement' matches. GAB 2000 featured two bouts with the retirement stipulation (way to think outside the box, WCW,) featuring wrestlers who were simply NOT going to be taken out by their scheduled opponents.
In a storyline too convoluted to recount, Ric and his son, supported by Russo, were at odds. After weeks of back and forth build, Ric led his considerably less experienced son through the match while also making it look plausible that David could beat him. After a mercifully short affair, Flair pinned David. Then, 24 hours later, Russo reversed the whole thing on Nitro.
Kidman against Hogan was a multi-stipulation match: the winner earned a title shot, and if Hogan lost he would be forced to retire. With Russo and Hogan constantly butting heads (resulting in the unforgettable dueling swerves and promos a month later at Bash at the Beach), it was slightly possible that the Russo-backed Kidman might prevail.
No it wasn't. At all.
After a middling match, Hogan, despite being the face, used brass knuckles to coldcock Kidman for a win. Behind the scenes, he had used his creative control clause to ensure the match would go in his favour.
Again.