25 Most Iconic WWE Ring Entrances Ever
11. Ric Flair (WrestleMania 24)
For perhaps the first and only time in his illustrious career, Ric Flair looked earnestly ready to say goodbye.
As he stepped onto the stage under the Floridian sun at WrestleMania XXIV, just about holding back tears, Flair fused together the finest elements of his iconic image. His robe - a stunning blue amalgamation of the many resplendent gowns he’d worn over the decades - was part superhero cape, part shimmering, feathered farewell. The arms fanned out like wings, draping over an ensemble that gave the impression of a man preparing for one final flight.
He was still the "Stylin’, profilin’, limousine riding, jet flying, kiss-stealing, wheelin’ n’ dealin’ son of a gun"—but now with the gravity of a legend saying farewell, not just the bravado of a character. His face told the story of a million miles and memories, of a man ostensibly content with his legacy and ready to do business with the only opponent he believed worthy of the honour: Shawn Michaels.
The Orlando crowd, primed by a masterfully built storyline, understood the weight of the moment too. This wasn’t just another entrance but it was a living tribute and a career’s worth of emotion woven into every sequin and step. They roared with appreciation, showering 'The Nature Boy' in the same reverence he’d inspired for generations. More's the pity it wouldn’t turn out to be his final match - what stood as a rare opportunity to close out a career perfectly instead survives as a what-might-have-been. His 2008 arrival was perhaps destined to be more artifice than definite article.