10 Monumental Happenings On Post-WrestleMania Raws
2. Ric Flair’s Farewell Address (2008)
WWE’s grandest retirement bash of them all occurred on March 31, 2008 in Orlando, Florida.
Flair’s WWE career had ended the previous evening at the hands of Shawn Michaels in an emotional match at WrestleMania XXIV.
Vince McMahon had issued the directive on November 26, 2007 that when Flair next suffered a loss in a WWE ring, he would have to retire as an active wrestler. “Your career will continue on, as long as you continue to win,” revealed McMahon on Raw that night. “The first match you lose, Ric, your career is over.”
Flair suffered that defeat to Michaels in a thrilling and heated match-up at ’Mania XXIV from Orlando’s Citrus Bowl on March 30, 2008.
On Raw the following evening from Orlando’s Amway Arena, the entire WWE roster, a host of veterans from Flair’s past — including Arn Anderson, Barry Windham, Tully Blanchard, Ricky Steamboat, Harley Race and Greg Valentine — members of WWE management and Flair’s family members (including future Women’s Champion Charlotte) paid tribute to the great man in a touching 20-minute ceremony. Even The Undertaker entered the ring to kneel before Flair. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
“I will never, ever wrestle in this ring again,” said Flair at the beginning of the ceremony.
He never has, strictly speaking.
Though Flair made a comeback on an independent tour of Australia in 2009 and wrestled for TNA from 2010-2011, he has never entered a WWE ring as a wrestler since March 30, 2008. WWE has refused to use him in that capacity.
WWE has never officially acknowledged Flair’s non-WWE matches between 2009 and 2011. As far as the company is concerned, Flair retired as an in-ring performer at WrestleMania XXIV.
Most longtime Flair fans prefer to remember his exit from the squared circle the same way.