AIW

Shawn Michaels vs. Ric Flair - Wrestlemania 24

There is an interview where Flair is asked what is his gameplan for the match just before it. His quick answer was "To be the man, wooooooo!" Pretty short and (sweet) to the point. I absolutely love the first few minutes of this match. Flair and Michaels wrestle pretty even until HBK slaps Flair in the face after a push from Flair. Then Flair himself looks a bit stunned at first with what Shawn did. It gave a great impression I thought on Shawn showing that he will try and not hold back on Flair. Nature Boy bleeds a little in the mouth. We get a heated chop battle in the corner. Yes! Wait, why I am marking for this again? I give part of the blame on McQueen's need to speak and show Japan matches to me. But yeah, Flair gets the better of Michaels with a kick to the face. Crowd at the show was even more pumped for the match as of this point, not to say they were exactly quiet since the beginning. Seconds later Michaels goes up on the top rope, only for Flair to throw him off to hit the mat. Then Flair goes up after and Michaels tries for the same, but Flair gives him a quick punch and then does a crossbody! Pop for that one. After the thousands of times Flair has failed on the top to the small amount of times he actually was successful. I could only want that to happen. Michaels pushes Flair to the outside from behind and gives him a baseball slide to boot. Most wild spot of the match I see comes where HBK goes for a moonsault off the ring apron to Flair only miss and crash on the announce table! Edge of it didn't even break. That not only looked crazy to do but it looked to hurt like hell for Shawn. Believe this is a great touch though for some work Nature Boy puts on Michaels ribs for that time to take control of the match in his favor. Decent follow up if nothing else. I liked that Flair busted out the double underhook suplex during this period. Rare for that to happen during a Ric Flair match. Well, you could say that at least here. There is a chop exchange between the two once more after. What's even better for me with this was Flair getting all "woo" reactions from the crowd. But Michaels would get some more negative crowd boos when he would strike. I say it added more to the match as they kept going. HBK later then backdrops Flair to the outside and does another moonsault off the top to hit Flair this time. Both still get back in the ring before the ten count. Michaels hits the flying forearm only seconds later and does the typical HBK routine comeback. Inverted atomic drop, punches, top rope elbow, etc. This match has a very solid pace. HBK starts stomping the mat in the corner, it's time for some Sweet Chin Music. But wait, all of a sudden Michaels totally hesitates when he raised his foot and stops himself. Flair then yanks the Heartbreak Kid to the mat and puts on the figure four leg lock! This was just excellent in every way you can image. You have this putting over the fact it was hard for Michaels to actually put away Flair here so simple like other opponents of his. But it shows Flair continuing to do what he has to do in order to pick up the big victory. Michaels then turns over the hold and reverse it shortly but Flair gets out. We get more chops out of both men. Flair then just takes Michaels down with a headlock takeover and after this I notice a bridge attempt that didn't quite take off. Shame. But both give the impression of looking tired after that covers what happen as passable in my opinion. A sunset flip comes by HBK that only gets two slaps on the mat. Nature Boy then whips Shawn into the corner then clips the legs. Flair went for the figure four again here but Michaels countered that to a small package for a close fall. Michaels tired for an enzuigiri but Ric gets out of the way and locks in the figure four for another time now. So far, so good. HBK tries to go for the ropes but has a hard time getting to it for a while. Flair even rolls through after Michaels tries to turn it over. He then finally reaches the ropes. These guys just have the crowd in the palm of their hands now. We get big boos for HBK. Incredible how easily Shawn is made out to be the bad guy here for continuing. Flair kicks HBK's leg some for a smart follow up after the big spot and did a strut. Then bam! Sweet Chin Music out of nowhere.

Michaels covers but only still gets the two count. Huge pop for Flair getting out of that. HBK goes to the corner and seems to want to hit another. But Flair doesn't get up quickly and Michaels yells at Flair to get up. Then during this point has to pick up Flair. Low blow. Flair using dirty tactics as always to get his way in my book can only be described as awesome. He only gets the two count for it though. Michaels then gets in the inverted version of his Figure Four. Ross and Lawler's comments on Michaels doing the hold for myself was priceless as they were so against him winning with it. Flair makes it to the ropes but gets pulls back some and then gives thumb to the eye on Michaels. After that a roll up by Flair but only for the two count. These guys are now giving chopfest to each other's chest while on their knees. Epic. They continue while getting up and the Nature Boy seems to be getting better of Michaels. Superkick out of nowhere for the second straight time. But instead of going for the pin. Michaels gets up and want to go for another. I feel this incorporates well with the story for not doing such. Michaels doesn't just want to go for a simple pin here. Very dramatic ending with HBK giving perfect words before putting an end to the match and winning. Flair was already crying before the pin. Oh wow. We get a moment after showing the end of an era.


****1/2.

That was just about the best of everything that I needed to see for a wrestling match. Drama, some good wrestling and a fine story told all rolled into one. Takes the spot as my favorite match of the year currently. Edge/Taker was pretty good watching also. But I found this one to be more unique and better out of the show.