This is typically a VIP-exclusive post-Raw feature from Torch columnist Bruce Mitchell, but it's presented on the free-version of PWTorch.com given the special occasion of perhaps Ric Flair's last TV appearance ever as an active wrestler and the final Raw before WrestleMania...
I wonder if the control freaks in WWE will actually let legendary Ric Flair give his own promo on his last night in his home, the old Mid-Atlantic territory?
John Cena recites a free-form poem about WrestleMania, reminding me why I don't go into the college coffee house next door very often.
Big Show interrupts. I guess he's a heel for this segment. He says even Floyd Mayweather's family wants him to destroy the boxer and that his destruction will replace Hulk Hogan (not) slamming Andre The Giant as the all-time most played WrestleMania moment.
JBL gives a long, well-enunciated speech about Hornswoggle and giving a real beating to his father Hornswoggle and how he didn't come back from a broken back just to work the mid-card and John Cena wasn't listening either…
Randy Orton interrupts. He tries to make everyone believe he doesn't know he's losing at 'Mania.
Umaga cuts a promo on Batista in Samoan. It's the best one so far.
Triple H plugs his brand new Triple H t-shirt first. There's one reason why they're all in this business, the WWE championship sitting on Orton's shoulder. The three biggest stars in the business will tear the roof off of the stadium, if there was a roof, or something.
At WrestleMania The King of King goes back on his throne.
JBL starts yelling at Triple H.
Raw General Manager William Regal makes a WrestleMania Showcase for the main event – No DQ Orton, Umaga, JBL, and Big Show (so he'll be a heel for the whole two hours) vs. Cena, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, and Ric Flair. That makes sense.
I wasn't crazy about this segment; it was too contrived, not very well written, and the star power was slightly off. It did set the issues for 'Mania, though.
C.M. Punk & Chris Jericho face MVP & Carlito. I thought Jericho's face-off with MVP was the best thing on Smackdown Friday night. Punk hits the bulldog headlock on MVP, but misses his dive. MVP goes for the pin but Jericho stops him. They slug it out. Punk stands up, just in time.
Mr. Kennedy thinks the heels are all going over at 'Mania and his Money In The Bank win will be the story of the show. I guess he hasn’t seen that many WrestleManias.
The great Ric Flair video finally airs – with a couple of clips from the past few weeks added. His wife Tiffany, his daughter Ashleigh, his son Reid, and son David from WCW are at ringside tonight.
Flair is shown backstage waiting to cut his last promo. The emotion of that is evident
Big Show narrates a Floyd Mayweather video package. He acts like they're having a boxing match Sunday, but who knows?
Hardcore Holly is one half of the world tag team champions? Anyway, he's facing the Great Khali. Jerry Lawler says Khali has become adept at blocking punches. Hmmm…
He puts a nerve-hold on Holly. They need to bring in Baron Von Raschke to show Khali how to make the funny face when he does that. He slams Holly for the win. It's worth noting that Khali can go down to pin guys now, so he has improved.
One last time: "The Nature" Boy Ric Flair.
It starts with someone else's idea of what and who Ric Flair is – a guy who's worried about whether people respect him, who doesn't know whether he could beat Mr. McMahon, and who's mad at his friend Shawn Michaels. Flair is carrying something in a velvet bag.
The Heartbreak Kid comes out. It gets good.
It gets great.
Ric Flair cuts his own promo, with all the pride and passion he always had as the greatest talker of them all. He pulls his original NWA Title belt out – the one that Terry Funk and Harley Race carried – and tells of that engine that drove him to face Dusty Rhodes and the Funks and the Briscos and Ricky Steamboat and Sting and Bruiser Brody. He wants the Show Stoppa' to bring it all on the grandest stage – he needs it one last time.
Michaels matches him, playing it perfectly – letting his emotions roil across his face. Then he pulls out his gun and shoots Ric Flair right between the eyes.
He asks Flair if he remembers the old Disney movie "Ol' Yeller."
"Everyone loved that dog, but when the time came, they put it out of its misery.
"Well, Ol' Yeller…"
Flair goes off. He slaps Michaels across the face three times. "Put Ol' Yeller out of his misery right now!" Michaels tells Flair he'll do it Sunday.
Michaels leaves.
Awesome.
Mayweather gets his answer video package.
Maria faces Melina (w/Beth Phoenix). Ashley returns in the middle of the match. Jillian Hall is there. Santino Marella arrives. Jerry Lawler gets out of his chair and attacks him. They all fight. The crowd chants for Lawler. Regal makes it a six-man inter-gender tag match. Marella pins his ex-girlfriend Maria. Cute.
Triple H reminds John Cena it's his turn again, and that he owes him a job from two years ago. Cena whines about having to watch Orton carry around his title when he never lost it in the ring. Any more of this and Orton's turning babyface.
You know when, you think of pro wrestling, you think of John Legend.
Ashley is taking the injured Candace Michelle's place in the Bunnymania match. Is Lawler getting his 'Mania match or not?
Randy Orton & JBL & Big Show & Umaga face Shawn Michaels & Ric Flair & John Cena & Triple H. Big Show and Floyd Mayweather are on the Today show Wednesday. The good guys aren't very happy with each other. For all of my carping about Triple H and his turn, I like what he said, and Ross backs up, about how everyone gets in WWE to win the world championship. Orton and Michaels start, but Finlay appears on the ramp. He and JBL start brawling to the back. That means the faces have a three-on-two advantage. Ugh.
After the break, Batista arrives to attack Umaga and they brawl to the back. Four-on-two. Flair bumps for Big Show. Well, the other three are big stars.
Orton wants Show to do all the work. That won't work. After taking a double suplex from Triple H and Cena, Show turns face and attacks Orton as Triple H and Cena brawl to the back. Ric Flair goes for the figure-four, but Shawn Michaels punches him. That figures. He goes after Orton.
Flair low-blows him. Oh my God. Flair gets the figure-four on Orton, who fights like crazy, then taps out!
Vince McMahon and WWE Creative gave Ric Flair one last moment, beating the World Champion clean in front of God and the old Mid-Atlantic – instead of pushing WrestleMania for one last Raw moment.
