Ric Flair vs. Shawn Michaels

[6.0] "This match created a memorable, iconic moment but the in-ring action wasn't anything to write home about. Shawn Michaels was at the peak of his powers and carried Ric Flair to a serviceable farewell match, though. I took off one point for the melodrama, it was a bit too much."

[9.0] "Just peak in ring storytelling which hits you right in the gut throughout the entire match. Flair was amazing in this match yes he had lost a step from his prime but this was still an extremely impressive performance from him as he pushed his body to the absolute limit to try and keep his career alive and pulling out all of his dirty old tricks that helped him become so damn successful. HBK what else is there to say once again on the grandest stage of them all he puts in another amazing performance leading Ric to a great match and he conveyed his internal conflict during this match so damn well especially when he hesitated on the first Sweet Chin Music which allowed Ric to put him in the Figure four. When people talk about moments and throw around the term "Cinema" not many things touch how good the end of this match is with Ric trying one more final dirty trick and getting a near fall of the roll up before we have possible the most iconic finish in Maina history "I'm Sorry, I Love you" which elevates this match even more. Overall yes this match if you look at it from a technical and moves standpoint has been out done so many times before and since as the only real standout spot before the finish is Shawn taking a crazy bump on the table off a springboard moonsault. But few matches touch this in terms of the way they make you feel and retirement matches are one of the few times were i think having lots of mid match melodrama is very much allowed but yes this match is fucking great and also iconic as fuck. (****1/2)"

[9.0] "Professional wrestling magic right there. This is so much more than just a match, it's the celebration of possibly the industry's most influential figure ever, and from an emotional standpoint, this is about as special as it gets. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony on the eve of the match, the glorious final entrance, the magnificent stage and Flair's family ringside. From a presentation standpoint, this is perfection. As for the match itself, the action is decent at best, but emotionally, this holds so much weight, and the storytelling is so great! The crowd is fully invested, Flair gets to pull out some of his iconic dirty tricks, which is awesome, the chopfest is amazing, Shawn's nasty moonsault on the announce table serves as a perfect turning point to make the Old Yeller a credible threat, and Shawn's selling is so damn good. The finish is pure cinema and what a perfect send off for such a legend. Still a shame Flair did not remain a man of his word, but what a moment. Shawn proved a perfect final opponent. The Showstopper indeed, and most definitely The Heartbreak Kid. **** 1/4+"

[10.0] "The stakes, the atmosphere, the stage, the emotions that this match took every fan watching were at an all time high. This isn't your classic work rate match and it was never supposed to be. Ric flair went down swinging pulling off some of his best tricks to win this match but he ran out of luck as Shawn put him down after hitting 3 super kicks. A masterclass in storytelling and psychology. How Flair wasn't content with staying retired after this match I will never understand, but considering the life he's lived and some of the stuff he has done, it's not surprising to say the least. Even with all that, it doesn't impact how I feel about this match. *****"

[9.0] "My god what an emotional rollercoaster this match was. Flair had the best match in years and gave it everything he had, but it just wasn't enough. Would've been a 10/10 had Flair actually retired but oh well."

[10.0] "[9, 5/10] - An emotional masterpiece and one of the most iconic matches in WrestleMania history. Both men told a flawless story from start to finish, with Shawn Michaels delivering one of the most heartfelt performances of his career and Ric Flair giving everything he had left in the ring. The crowd was fully invested, every move meant something, and the final moments were unforgettable. A perfect farewell on the grandest stage, mixing drama, respect, and in-ring quality"

[8.0] "It's a good story match and I think all of the high praise is on the back of the last sequence which, make no mistake, is phenomenal. At the time I loved it and thought it was the perfect sendoff. Now it's just another empty promise because even Shawn Michaels came out of retirement to damage his legacy."

[10.0] "***** (10/10) If you made it this far, then congratulations! Because now the true enchantments of 24 would take hold and never let go (except for the slight lumberjill misdemeanor). This was how you book (and present) a retirement match, especially the retirement of one who the eyes of many wrestling fans see as the GOAT, and one who is often quickly mentioned whenever the topic of Pro-Wrestling' Mt. Rushmore reaches the mouth. Of course, I'm talking about Ric Flair, but the same could be said about the Heartbreak-Kid, though his sunset would arrive a couple of years later. To think: that when Ric returned to WWE back in late 2001 that he had lost the Nature-Boy mojo that made him Naitch. Eventually, he would get it back, redefining his career and establishing the final chapters of his iconic status that would have sufficed the satisfaction of any GOAT, before coming to a one final ride at WrestleMania: against Mr. WrestleMania himself. Yeah, everybody knew Ric was putting Shawn over, but that didn't take away the exceptional energy that took over the Citrus Bowl during Ric Flair's final match. If there was ever a perfect retirement match, this was certainly that. Was, is correct. O Ric, please, whatever you do: please, keep the boots off for good. It's already enough that we were forced to stomach your time in TNA, and then get another retirement match from you... in a T-Shirt. No further comments, your honor! Woooooooo!"

[10.0] "Just because of the sheer emotion this match held, i'm giving it a 10. It was an awesome match nonetheless, but the story building up to this was something special, Shawn really did not want to end Flair's career and he really conveyed this well here, that last Sweet Chin Music to Ric was brutal, and Shawn saying "I'm Sorry" before he hit it was also a nice touch, fair play to both of these men."

[10.0] "It wasn't about Ric's age caused limits - it was about his love and passion to professional wrestling. These aspects easily set this match in the most emotional and meaningful battles in Wrestlemania history."

[10.0] "One of my favorite matches not only at WrestleMania, but of all time. What happens when you put two great wrestlers and entertainers face off. You create a classic, that's what! There was no better person than HBK to be Ric Flair's last opponent, not only because it was poetic since Ric was a role model for Shawn, but also because few could give Ric a memorable match like that. The pace of the match is very good, you can't rest, and it's impressive to see Ric Flair at all his age doing spots like some of these. The ending still echoes in my mind to this day, "I'm Sorry, I Love You" must probably be one of the most memorable moments in the history of Pro Wrestling."

[9.0] "Honeslty flair surviving is what makes this match special. He knows Michaels is a tough opponent to beat, so he makes elaborate attempts of cheating and tricking to win. But it never works even for Michaels who didn't want to retir flair. It's just magical(if you ignore his TNA run)"

[9.0] ""The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak, " and by 2008 Ric Flair had lost enough of a step to where his moves didn't always look quite as crisp as they should've; however, the match was wrestled in a way that it generally didn't matter, with Shawn Michaels usually able to use his own agility to overcome Flair's physical shortcomings (bridging pin counter screw-up notwithstanding). A good way to send The Nature Boy out on a high note, if you ignore his appearances with The Hulkamania Tour, TNA, and Ric Flair's Last Match over the following fourteen years."

[8.0] "[4.0*] This is one of the most important matches of all time. Of course the pure in-ring work is not perfect and there are indeed a lot of non-smooth moments, and of course Flair was not that fast anymore, but man, the storytelling is just marvelous. Sometimes, the in-ring is the least important thing on a match, and that is the perfect example. Super emotional match, with a legendary ending. I am sorry, I love you and Ric takes the pin while in tears. The whole crowd was crying and his family was there. Charles Robinson pretending that he did not see the low blow popped me hard."

[10.0] "Storytelling perfection. It may not be the greatest technical masterpiece of all time, but all things considered, this is sports entertainment at its best."

[7.0] "Far and away from a classic. The match started a bit awkward and some big moves came up a bit prematurely - like the moonsault when Michaels broke the table. I feel like the match wasn't 'hot' enough to do such a flashy thing so early. On the other hand, the emotion and storytelling were present, Flair was giving his best and the finish is iconic."

[7.0] "It's clear as day that these 2 have enormous chemistry together. Ric always wrestled a very streamlined style, & HBK happens to be a guy that understands & is able to work within that capacity. HBK reminds me duly that he is the king of the superkick, & that "I love you" expression pre-finisher is just fantastic."

[10.0] "Such a really phenomenal match with absolutely spectacular in ring action and insane emotion and storytelling, the ending with the "I'm sorry, I love you" and final sweet chin music was just perfection. Really phenomenal match with such a perfect about the career of the best of all time being ended by the best of all time and the perfect and proper way to end Ric Flair's career."

[9.0] "Ack way to mushy to rate this anything under a 9. A perfect narrative performance with fantastic psychological work, and some astonishing in-ring performances from these oldies. Even the low (the first Sweet Chin Music reversal) is followed by a fantastic and well-paced technical sequence. Worth a watch every time, and a pitch-perfect ending to Flair's career."

[10.0] "A match that made justice to be the retire of Ric Flair, amazing and full of Storytelling from the beginning, 10/10 specially from that special moment "I'm sorry, I Love You" [*****]"

[6.0] "this isn't as great as the rating shows, it's very slow, quite melodramatic to the points its not needed and the overall wrestling here is nothing great given how old Flair is, this match would've gotten a high rating if Flair actually retired but he went to TNA and returned to ruin it all so even the emotional factor died, rating as a wrestling match, it's decent but nothing truly special (***1/4)"

[9.0] "This is the type of a match that is not all about work, it's about the context, characters and pure emotions. They made a fantastic job of building this up with Ric constantly getting away with wins against midcard heels prior to WrestleMania, but now it was time for the ultimate opponent - his friend. This story is brilliant enough, but they also deliver in the pure wrestling department. Maybe their work isn't as smooth as it would be back in the day, but they got the basics locked in and the crowd on the edge of their seats. Shawn announcing that he will pull the trigger just to stagger on the first Sweet Chin Music was a fantastic idea, but the finish itself was just magnificent and seeing people genuinely crying is the best review for that bout."

[7.0] "Michaels carried this match which is expected given Flair's age, the match is good but its not of a high calibre a great technical wrestler like Shawn Michaels can achieve. It was some insane bumps and some emotional moments. The match gets praised more for its emotional impact than the in-ring action, and for someone that doesn't feel that deep of a connection to Ric Flair this isn't outstanding though I can aknowledge its sentimental value. Perhaps if I experienced the feud unfold as it was coming out and experience the match live it would have a different rating."

[9.0] "Shawn Michaels gives us the ultimate version of a RIc Flair match, with all the Mr. Wrestlemania moments in there as well. If anyone could nail this assignment, it's MIchaels. Sit back and watch the classic Ric Flair match unfold and shed a tear with him as he goes down fighting."

[10.0] "Storytelling with more emotion pacmed into this than any other match I've watched. HBK gave flair everything he could and the superkick to close is the golden ending."

[9.0] "Michael's really carries this match and it really should have been Flair's last ever match as it would have been perfect. The score awarded here isn't on the in ring action although it was surprisingly good but rather the pure emotion of it all. Beautiful!"

[9.0] "This was amazing. It wasnt exactly an in ring classic as Flair was well past his prime, but the storytelling, drama and emotion was able to carry the whole match. The finish with Shawn apologizing to Flair before delivering the kill shot was beautiful."

[9.0] "This wasnt anything technical or spectacular. No flips or high speed action. I know I sound like an annoying Cornette cult member but like honestly, this was such a standard wrestling match. And yet, the story was so strong that they didnt need to do that much. Even then, this match has a lot of great moments. Shawn DESTROYING his abdomen on the announce table, the struggling figure four spot, the multiple sweet chin musics out of nowhere. And finally, the last 20 seconds of this match. Which has to be one of the most emotional wrestling moments in history. Truly is Old Yeller story unfolding in a wrestling ring. Its so good."

"My rating is for the match itself, but of course the story behind it and raw emotion (especially the famous finish) would probably be closer to a 10/10. Shawn Michaels saying "I'm sorry; I love you" is probably one of the all-time greatest WWE moments..."

[10.0] "This is one of only 3 wrestling matches that have made me so emotional to the point of tears. I was never even that big of a Ric Flair follower but even I couldnt help but shed a few tears when Ric can barely manage to stand up but keeps telling Shawn to bring it, defiant to the end, just for Shawn to utter the now iconic line, Im sorry. I love you. And then hit one more Sweet Chin Music for the win. This match is truly special. In an absolutely stacked Wrestlemania card, this match stood out for its sheer emotional weight and storytelling. And of course, its a great in ring performance by both icons. I mean its Flair and Michaels, how could it not be? Yes Flair is definitely slowed down here but he knew the importance of this match and gave it everything he still had. I know that Flair would go on to ruin it all in TNA, but I never watched those matches so Im choosing to just ignore them and believe this was actually it. And thats definitely the right call. A beautiful match and a beautiful send-off for one of the best to ever do it. 11/10."

[10.0] "Fantastic match that would and should have been the perfect ending. Flair had to ruin it unfortunately."

"Recently re watched this PPV and I have to say I forgot how much I loved this match. The storytelling was great. The Michaels line "I'm sorry, I love you" was gripping."

[9.0] "A beautiful match. A tribute to Flairs career with many callbacks and references to flairs career. Flair pulled out all the stops and Shawn did a fantastic job guiding flair thru this match. Fantastic storytelling and what wouldve been a perfect retirement match ends up being just a great wrestling match. Doesnt take away from the greatness of this match tho. 4.5/5"

[9.0] "[4.5*] A Match full of references to feud promos. Ric Flair was very slow, but Shawn adapted very well to the situation, being fast and technical at the same time, having one of the most beautiful moves of the match being a beautiful moonsault on the announce table. It was beautiful to see the moments when HBK hesitated to hit Flair for fear of ending the match and his idol's career. In countless moments, Ric Flair showed why his nickname is the dirtiest player in the game, using low blows, poking Shawn's eyes, doing shananigans etc. In the end of the match occured the famous line of Shawn to Flair "I'm Sorry, I Love you". And with a Sweet Shin Music Ric Flair's career was over. The focus was not on the quality of the ring, but on the quality of the storytelling. That's what made the fight so memorable since even though we didn't value quality it managed to be phenomenal."

[8.0] "It's weirdly anticlimactic, especially when you know the finish. I don't think the end of the match is nearly as well-considered as the beginning (as they do something smart to slow down HBK), but it's two great wrestlers putting together a good match... even if one of them (outside of kayfabe) really doesn't seem like he's completely keeping pace with what the match is asking of him."

[8.0] "This is a good match which was a fitting way to end Ric Flair's career with a tremendous story between both HBK and Flair that captivated the audience which hooked them into the match. Excellent finish by HBK for the win to end Flair's career."

[9.0] "Not the greatest match of these two wrestlers but a very nice way to end Ric Flair's career. A very beautiful story with an audience fully into this match. Ric Flair is ready to do anything to win. A brilliant and legendary finish. (4*1/2)"

[7.0] "This was, for sure, a great match, but I wouldn't call it one of the best ever. Flair clearly doesn't have the stamina to go at the pace Michaels sometimes wants to go at. You can see Flair sucking wind a lot, and there are points where Shawn slows himself down because Flair can't keep up. Because of that, the match pretty much has one pace the whole way, and much of the match has a 'stop and start' feel where they do a sequence and have to rest, and then go to the next one. The other thing I don't care for is that you can hear Shawn call pretty much the entire match in the ring. Not that I'm totally against calling matches in the ring, but a lot of this was very blatant. I'm definitely more in the Bret Hart/Macho Man camp of 'lay it out before, and then perform' camp, though. They really could have found better ways to cover the spot calling up. But beyond those aspects, the match obviously was filled with drama, and it was clear Flair was pouring every ounce he had into the match. Michaels, in turn, was trying to give Flair the best match he could muster. Their efforts pay off, because the match has so much emotion and a good deal of variety in mat work and high spots to balance it out. This was about the best possible match Flair could have had at this age, but if they'd had this match even just 2-3 years before this, it might have actually been a 9/10 point match. A great match, but I think it's one step away from me calling it a classic."

[8.0] "This was a great match with an amazing story. The drama in this was excellent, and the action was good. The finish with Michaels saying "I'm sorry, I love you" to Flair and hitting one last Sweet Chin Music was perfect. ****"

"Just watched this match for the first time as someone who got into wrestling later in life, and I really enjoyed the drama of this match. Flair and Michaels tell a great match story over the course of 20 minutes and the post match scene is ultra emotional. Don't have permissions to rate due to new account but 8.5/10 would be my score."

[10.0] "What a great farewell match the final moments are one of the most emotional in PW, too bad Ric threw the legacy of that match in the trash with the run in TNA and the last match this year. 2008 MOTY (*****)"

[9.0] "Today was my first time watching this back in more than six years. At a physical level, Michaels carried this bout, and there were quite a few spots that did not go as planned. But the emotion in the closing stretch, along with the heartbreaking ending, make this a must-watch for any long-time wrestling fan. ****1/2"

[10.0] "What this fight meant to wrestling fans was that a legend like Ric Flair, who was coming from winning a lot of fights to avoid his career, finally had to do it with the right opponent, a nice fight for what was at stake."

[4.0] "This match is so brilliant yet so awful at the same time. Ric Flair, someone who many consider one of the greatest of all time, is now a weak, tired, old-man. A shell of his former self. I like the story of this old man who looks to be on deaths door just fighting and giving every ounce of strength to try and beat his opponent. The ending is poetic, I like it. The idea was amazing, but the execution was just so awful. This should have been 10 minutes max, but instead is for some reason 20 whole minutes (that's the second longest match on the card longer than the bloody WWE Heavyweight title match between Cena/Orton/HHH)."

[7.0] "Didn't expect to care for this given I have no interest in Flair's "last" match but this had a lot more going for it than that. Flair's classic spots, some of which reversed, HBK's crazy moonsault onto the table and the rib/leg selling was all good. Great finish too of course - ***3/4"

[10.0] "This match is a instant classic and one of the best wrestlemania matches of all time. The emotion in the match is so good and one of the most emotional matches of all time it is just a roller coaster ride and is so good and when shawn wins it is crazy this was a perfect end to ric flairs wwe career. *****"

[10.0] "It seems like Ric Flair and Shawn Michaels are physically incapable of delivering anything but pure greatness. The selling is top-notch, the emotions feel raw and real - it's just one of those matches that get as close to perfection as it gets."

[4.0] "Way more long and overdramatic than it needed to be. They could have still done the emotional "Flair's last match" angle and just had him and HBK truly go all out for 12 minutes, which would have been more fitting given Flair's conditioning at this age. Instead they try to drag out a 20 minute "epic" that is really more about Flair just not wanting to give up and Michaels seemingly not wanting to end his career. The main flaw of this match is its supposed to be a tribute to Flair but ends up being some of the sloppiest work in his entire career due to how unnecessarily long it was. Flair was one of the smoothest wrestlers ever but you'd never guess that watching his "final match." This was simply a case of WWE trying to be a bit too epic and going overboard with the story to the point the match quality itself actually suffered."

[10.0] "Loved the build up to this match, some stories along the way would really bring some heel talent up as they would wrestle Ric each match potentially being his last. Even at the time as a kid I felt like a majority of viewers knew two things going into this match. This would indeed be Flairs final match....and it will be a damn good one. It lived up to the hype of those who were into the stories and showed any doubts of Flair or this feud at the time that his prime never left him, age did just joined him. He was good as he ever was. Great performance on both the spots and entertainment sides if you will."

[5.0] "I'm going to get slapped down, but: like the Undertaker from 2017, Ric Flair was too old in my opinion to deliver big matches like he used to, I can see the match being enjoyed by a large majority, I don't."