8 WWE Veterans That Turned Back The Clock

Ric Flair's in-ring career between 2002 and 2008 can be summed up as being 'inconsistent'. On some nights, you could see glimpses of the Flair of the 1980s and early 90s, a peerless performer who could have a good match with anyone. On others, he looked like a parody of himself.

That may seem harsh, but it's the truth. Flair is one of the greatest of all-time but there were many times when, as a fan, you had to question WWE's judgement in sending him out to the ring. But when he was on and he got it right, boy did he get it right.

One such occasion was Taboo Tuesday 2005, which saw Flair defending his Intercontinental Title in a cage match against former Evolution stablemate Triple H. The two had experienced a nasty breakup, with The Cerebral Assassin turning on his mentor in bloody fashion.

Their match was suitably brutal, with both men getting colour and using the steel to maim their opponent. Flair was at his dirty best here, gouging and low-blowing The Game and doing everything he could to escape with the gold. He even hit a move off the top rope, an axe handle, which never happens.

In the end, a testicular claw, a backdrop onto a steel chair and three nasty chair shots with the weapon were enough to see The Nature Boy leave the cage as champion. It was a wonderful, old school performance from Flair. There was life left in the old dog yet.