10 Times Unlikely Wrestlers Stole The Show
7. Ric Flair - WWE Survivor Series 2006
A contest comprised of four developmental prospects green on the main roster -(even "prospects" is a push, given that Johnny, Kenny, Mikey and Nicky were a day removed from the infamous, literal burial back to OVW) and four creaking legends in various states of decomposition, expectations were as low as the hanging fruit of the joke angle booked 24 hours after the fact.
Almost in direct opposition to the in-jokey selfishness shown by DX, the Sprit Squad quadrumvirate sold terrifically for Ron Simmons in the early going, who was arguably never more over as an in-ring performer than he was here. Faint patriotic fervour carried the immobile Sgt. Slaughter in a cameo mercifully intercepted by The Man of the hour. Dusty Rhodes restored the heat with stirring elbow-throwing theatrics before Ric Flair entered the fray, outnumbered three-to-one.
He cut through the field in a showreel performance of wise wrestling acumen and by-now-affectionate cheating, eliminating two of the cheerleaders with his feet on the ropes and their inexperience in his back pocket, before eviscerating Johnny's chest with wincing chops in a rare latter day bravura performance.
The ageing Flair wasn't the Man in late 2006. He was, weirdly, the Showstopper - though it helps that WWE was horrendous that year, admittedly.