10 Fascinating WWE WrestleMania 24 Facts
5. Vince McMahon Insisted On Ric Flair Retiring At WrestleMania 24
At the age of 59, Flair was still capable of delivering an enjoyable match, though his days of pulling a four-star classic from his sleeve had long since passed. One would've logically assumed that retirement loomed for "Space Mountain". The storyline that resulted in Flair's retirement was an odd one, where Vince McMahon decreed that the next time Flair lost a match, he would be finished as a wrestler.
That idea was pitched by McMahon himself, who was keen on Flair retiring from the ring. According to Dave Meltzer, McMahon wanted to use Flair strictly as a cherished ambassador going forward, the "Babe Ruth" of the company that he'd wanted Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, and Bret Hart to be previously, before their various falling-outs.
Flair went along with the plan, but was apparently not happy with it. His WWE contract expired in June 2009, and he would return to the ring later that year, headlining a tour of Australia with Hogan.