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Page 14 of 35
WWE Career vs. DX leadership: "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair vs. "The Game" Triple H
"ARE YOU READY?" the crowd erupt as the darkened arena flashes green, the pole dancers and police car crossing the TitanTron as the D-Generation X theme hits
"You think you can tell us what to do? you think you cant tell us what to wear? you think that you're better? ...well you bedda get ready.. ta bow to the masters....BREAK IT DOWN"
Another massive roar signals the arrival of The Game, a green spotlight unusually tonight lighting the stage as Helmsley stands with his head slightly bowed, pouring water over his head, dripping down onto his classic DX jersey. The Cerebral Assassin takes a drink and then spurts water at the camera with a snort, the Game looking animalistic with his new beard as he finally marches forward, game face on tonight
"Triple H certainly more up for this match than I've seen him in years King, he's focused, he's ready and folks? the stakes really just don't come any higher than this - DX versus career, two storied institutions of this business, one possibly the greatest faction of all time... the other almost quite certainly the greatest performer this business has ever seen - the Nature Boy Ric Flair" we hear from JR, Helmsley striding down the long aisle, strobe lights illuminating his chiseled frame as he goes
"And one of thems gunna end right here tonight at WrestleMania JR!!! I love it!!" squeals the excited Lawler, Lillian Garcia's voice cutting through the music and cheering fans
"Ladies and gentlemen the following contest is the DX VERUS CAREER MATCH and it is scheduled for one fall...." she begins, Hunter stopping at the end of the aisle, looking around briefly, taking in this massive crowd possibly
"Introducing first representing D-Generation X, from Greenwich Connecticut, weighing Two Hundred Sixty Five Pounds... The Game... TRRRRRRRRRRRIPLE H!!!"
The DX leader strolls calmly around the ring to the front side facing the camera, he takes another drink from the bottle and casts it aside before climbing up onto the apron, slowly turning to look directly into the camera..... before throwing back his arms and spurting a jet of water directly aloft, bringing his hands down into a crotch chop as the crowd roar even louder
"Triple H one of the best wrestlers in the World today in my estimation folks, his knowledge, talent and passion are matched by only a few select individuals in this business - Ric Flair being one and this match, like so many, could come down to who wants it more" states our play by play man, Trips entering the ring and striding across it to climb the far turnbuckles, X sign held aloft
"JR, how can you question Ric Flairs passion to win this? his careers at stake here" goes King, JR agreeing
"Well you may very well be right king, as i mention however, Triple H is focused, he's been in training, he ready and able to come here tonight and end the career of the greatest performer we've ever seen, kill the biggest legend of them all and i my opinion, that's all it is, a victory here tonight will but Triple H up amongst the Title chasing pack" we hear as the Game steps down and moves to his corner, his eyes staring at the entrance way, focused on nothing but the Nature Boy
"Triple H as we've mentioned so many times a former World Tag Team Champion and Intercontinental Champion, just needing that Worlds Title to complete the Trifecta if you will, a man with so much history against both Hulk Hogan and Randy Orton, he'd love nothing more that a Title shot against either man and this match, in my estimation is quite possibly the most important of the Games life" finishes Ross, the crowd bursting to life as the speaks hits once more
"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO"
Also Sprach Zarathrusta hit, the majestic theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey blaring throughout Ford Field. The camera slowly moves up the aisle toward the stage as the iconic Nature Boy Ric Flair slowly struts out in stunning fur trimmed blue robe. Flair slowly twirls, showing off the diamond encrusted "Nature Boy" on the back before he stops and surveys the crowd, giving a "WOOOO"
"Thats a hell of a piece of ring attire JR" laughs King
"That probably cost more than i make in a year" observes Ross, sounding as though he believes it as we watch Flair stroll forward, looking calm and collected
"Ric Flair certainly not a man to let the big stage get to him folks, not one to shy away from risk or the big occasion, this match is the HIGHEST of stakes - his Thirty year career is on the line but more than that - so is his pride King. Triple H and DX have been a thorn in his side all year, Triple H was a member of Evolution, he made a name at Flairs side.. and now these two face off for the only thing that could possibly mean more than a Championship"
"JR.. when you've been ta space mountain as many times s the Naitch, nothing fazes you, not even this crowd, this match or even Triple H and i gotta tell ya, i think his experience may be a key for him" goes King, JR in agreement as Flair walks that aisle
"Well they don't come more experienced that the Naitch King, Sixteen times the Worlds Champion, winning his first from Harley Race over Twenty Five years ago, he's a future Hall of Famer without a shadow of a doubt, in my humble estimation the greatest wrestler to ever lace a pair of boots, but as much as it pains me to say it King - i think the age of the Nature Boy WILL play a factor here, he himself would be the first to admit he's not as quick as he was, not as strong.. and when you're in the ring with a man like Triple H, a student of the game, the Cerebral Assassin... i gotta believe that on this night - the career of Ric Flair is in serious jeopardy"
"And his opponent...." begins Lillian as Flair reaches the end of the aisle, several fans giving him the "not worthy" bow
"From Charlotte, North Carolina.. weighing Two Hundred Forty Three Pounds... THE NATURE BOY... RIIIIIIIIIIIIIC FLAAAAAIR" she cries as Flair climbs the steps and as the Referee Charles Robinson sits on the ropes, steps through into the squared circle, again giving a twirl of his stunning robe
"Ric Flair with an impressive record at WrestleMania folks, somewhat ironically defeating Doomsday in his own retirement match at WrestleMania Nineteen and then the Rock and Sock connection the year after, one of the few men, with Triple H, to have appeared in some capacity at every WrestleMania since WrestleMania Eighteen in Toronto"
Flair blanks his opponent as he heads for his corner, removing his robe as he goes and dropping it over the top, stretching his arms and pulling on the top rope in the corner, last second preparation underway as the camera catches the face of The Game, staring straight ahead, JR saying again how focused he is
"I can't imagine whats going though tha mans mind folks, Ric Flair was a mentor, an idol to him growing up in Greenwich Connecticut and now, on this night, on the grandest stage - he has to defeat his boyhood idol and put his long and great career to rest... how do you justify that in your mind King?" asks the confused JR
"Well to be honest JR... i don't think Triple H gives a damn who Ric Flair is or was anymore - it's always been about one man - himself, and tonight he'll do whatever it takes ta get the job done, thats who he is JR"
"Well i don't believe that, i refuse to believe that Triple H is that coldblooded, that calculating - this is a changed man, this ISN'T the Cerebral Assassin of years gone by - he has a heart, he has compassion, a sense of humor within DX and to think, to suggest, that he'll take Ric Flair like an old dog and put him down, have no feelings for his legacy of career... that saddens me King" we hear finally as the bell sounds out, the two men approaching each other, the tension thick in the air as the crowd roar, both men talking a little smack... before the lock up, Collar and Elbow tie up, Helmsley clearly the stronger of the two walking his opponent backwards toward the corner where he opens up with a strong right hand, again, again, but Flairs on the move, spinning the Game into the corner - CRACK, big time Knife Edge Chop to the chest, Flair backing up quickly as the Game makes an angry lunge. The crowd whistle at the shot, Flair grinning and giving us a "WOOOOO"
"A little bit of mind games right there folks, Ric Flair again showing the Game he's not intimidated" proclaims our play by play announcer, Hunter staring with an acid look at his former mentor. Flairs talking trash again and Trips charges from the corner at him, a wild lunge of a Clothesline attempt thats easily ducked by Flair, the wily old veteran getting in his opponents head as hes around and behind, Trips spins - hard right by Flair, CRACK, scores with a Knife Edged, right hand, right hand, CRACK, a Knife Edge, right hand, right hand, backing the Game up with furious offense, the Flair fans in the crowd getting behind him as Helmsleys backed into the corner, goes for the Knife Edge again... and this time it's Triple H who reverses, spinning the former Horseman into the pads and going for the right - scores, scores.... countered, CRACK, another blistering Knife Edge Chop... Trips is back with a right, Flair with a Knife Edge, right hand, Knife Edge, Knife Edge, Knife Edge, Helmsleys chest already red as he's backed up across the ring... and he counters again by spinning Flair into a corner, right hand again, again, again, pummeling the Nature Boy, trying to beat this early fight out of him but the old dog will not die, countering with a right hand of his own, again.... Thumb To The Eye by Flair - that's why they call him the Dirtiest Player in the Game goes Ross, Flair following with yet another blistering Chop as his opponent staggers, hard enough to actually knock the Cerebral Assassin down to the canvas this time. Flair lets out a small "WOO", running his fingers through his already wet hair before grabbing the rising Game and shoving him against the ropes, grabs the arm, goes for the Irish Whip, reversed and its Helmsley sent running, he rebounds..... High Knee from Trips, shades of Harley Race as Flair will know all too well as he hits the mats, taken down for the first time in this contest. Hunter doesn't capitalize however, backing off for a moment to recover his stamina, clutching his red raw chest, sound strategy from the DX leader before he helps Flair to his feet, putting him back into the corner to work over him with another straight right, again... but AGAIN Flair fights back from the corner, CRACK, punch from Helmsley.. CRACK, Helmsley strikes again, Flair with a right, Flair, Helmsley, Flair, its a slobberknocker already wails JR as Flair hits another right hand, a left, a chop, a right, Triple H into the ropes, Flair grabs the arm - goes for the whip, reversed again, Naitch rebounds toward the waiting Hunter..... Spinning Spinebuster, that trademark move drilling Flairs spine hard into the mat. Hunter stands slowly, sweeping back his hair and taking a second again to catch his wind before going back down to mount his opponent, striking him with a closed fist to the temple, again, again, again, again, the Referee protesting as he does. Trips stands, giving Charles Robinson an angry look of warning before heading to the corner, measuring Flair in the center of the ring. Helmsley throws his arms back, crotch chops, charges at the laid out Naitch.... drops the knee to the head
"And thats a page right out of the Nature Boys play book" observes Ross as Flair cries out in pain, Trips pushing his shoulders to the mat, making a Lateral Press - One... Two... Thno, a Two count only. Helmsley gives a look somewhere between amusement and annoyance as he slowly stands, Flair no moving an inch as his opponent returns to the corner and theatrically lowers his kneepad, giving a mini strut and "WOOOO" before charging.... and dropping a second Knee, the King calling it a disrespect
"LETS GO FLAIR.... LETS GO FLAIR" begins to ring out from the crowd, almost immediately drowned out by the "DX, DX, DX" chants but the Flair one wasn't lost on the Game it seems as with a smirk he gets behind Flairs who's sat forward and with one arm locks in the sleeps as he pummels the side of his opponents head with yet more right fists, over, over, over, brutal strikes before slamming Flairs head and shoulders back down and methodically standing again, the slow dismantling of Flair well underway. Naitch manages to grab the nearby ropes and starts to haul himself to his feet, his legs unsteady under his weight. Flairs halfway to his feet as the Game approaches - CRACK, he walks right into the Chop, CRACK, CRACK, Two more back him up to the center of the ring. Flair goes for the leg, lifts Trips up.... Shin Breaker, the Game falling as the crowd come to their feet, sensing it coming as the Naitch grabs the left leg... going for the Figure Four. He wraps the leg around his own.... but his head gets too close to the Games hands, the DX leader grabs it, pulls it down - Small Package... One... Two... Thrno, Flair breaks away but has no strength to do anything more, laying flat out, the tank seemingly now empty. The Game rises again, slowly taking his time as he does, all the while conserving the energy thats ebbing away from his opponent. Flair tries to get up be has little success as Helmsley moves to the corner, the crowd turning a little as they see him start to untie the Turnbuckle pad, Robinson protesting once more but to little effect as Hunter casts the pad aside and turns back to Flair whos in the opposite corner, still trying to get fully to his feet as Trips strolls over - right hand, again, again, again, again, again, over and over, right to the head, again, pummeling Naitch like he were a punchbag. Hunter grabs the arm, the Irish Whip in his mind
"Oh no... come on...." says Ross quietly, Helmsley going for it... and he scores, Flair wailing in pain, arching his back as he staggers forward... and flops on his face
"JR.. this is over..." goes Lawler, the atmosphere inside Ford Field uneasy as the dominant Triple H stands over the Nature Boy
"As much as it pains me to say it King... the Referee needs to consider stopping this match, i never thought I'd say that, i know it'd cost Flair his career... but Triple H is dominant here, he's determined not only to win this match but put an exclamation point on it, ta hurt Ric Flairs career and legacy...." goes Ross, trailing off as Triple H grabs Flairs leg, spinning him onto his back and keeping it in his hands. The crowd pop as the smiling Trips looks up at them, knowing whats on his mind. Trips wraps Flairs leg around his own, goes down
"AND THATS THE FIGURE FOUR, THE FIGURE FOUR LEGLOCK BY TRIPLE H" we hear, Flair crying out again
"JR!!!!" wails King "How fitting would it be if Ric Flairs career was to end with the Figure-Four?" he asks, Trips pulling back on the legs as Naitch screams an agony, that steel shot to the back only adding to the shocks that must be running up his legs and spine we're told as the crowd boo loudly, Helmsley reaching for the ropes behind him to gain extra leverage, the fans disliking these tactics it seems but the added pressure forces Flair backward with the exhaustion, his shoulders hitting the mat - One, Two... no, he gets up, arm aloft with a defiant cry, swinging his whole body to the left, trying desperately to turn the Game... but no, he collapses again, shoulders to the mat as Robinson counts - One... Two... Thrno, again the defiant Flairs shoulder is up, a loud and strong Nature Boy chant echoing through Ford Field as he tries desperately to turn, Triple H struggling with all the strength he has to stop him..... but Flair turns him, the crowd roaring as the pressure is reversed, Helmsley getting a taste of his own medicine as he cries out, trying desperately to reach the ropes... and he succeeds after just a few seconds, trying however to get to his feet and cut off any momentum that the Sixteen Time Worlds Champion gains - but Flairs there, the adrenaline and crowd support running through his vains as he gabs Helmsleys by the head in the ropes, drilling his fist into his opponents skull - turnabout being fair pair. The Game tries to get away, staggering on spaghetti legs into the center of the ring and being met with another right hand and Knife Edge, Helmsley falling to his knees before staggering up again, stumbling unwisely toward the exposed metal in the corner. Flair grins as he grabs the back of the Cerebral Assassins head..... and slams it into the steel to an eruption from the crowd. Hunter staggers back and goes down to his hands and knees clutching his face, eyes rolled back into his skull.
"WOOOOOO" goes Flair, shaking his head in delight, sweat flying from his soaked hair as he begins to feel the Nature Boy returning, the momentum shifting in this match as the Game looks up into the camera, blood now streaming down his face. Trips gets to his feet, barely knowing where he is it seems as he staggers around into a Front Face Lock from Naitch, he grabs the trunks, hoists Trips up... Standing Vertical Suplex - both men are down. The Referee checks on both men before holding his arms up, signaling the start of the Ten count, Flair looking more likely to stir first as he rolls to the ropes, putting a hand on them to slowly help himself up, desperately trying to recover all the energy he can, knowing this one is still far from being over claims JR as Naitch gets back to his feet and turns back to the Game and with a sneer of contempt he charges.... scores with the Knee Drop - showing his opponent how it's done. Flair signals "one more time" as he slowly rises, heading to the corner as the Game lays flat out, Flair runs.... scores again, Two big time offensive moves and now its Helmsley and D-Generation X who look in danger, their leader struggling up to his feet. Flairs on him in an instant however, knowing that he can't allow him a second to regain his wind... CRAAACK, Knife Edge to the chest by Naitch, the blood from the Games face covering much of his torso now and he sways back, Ric grabbing his arm to actually stop him falling... and hitting him with another Chop with his free hand, pulling him back, Chop, pulled back, Chop, Right Hand, Chop, Right Hand, Chop, Right, Chop, Right Chop, Right, Chop, the crowd roaring louder and louder with every blow that strikes home, Trips is staggering, Flair breaks away, runs into the ropes behind his opponent, springs off at his back... Chop Block, the big tree felled, Hunter hits the canvas, clutching that surgically repaired knee, JR claiming that Flair singled it out deliberately, knowing it as a weak point. Triple H seems to be in some discomfort as he clutches the limb, rolling in pain and like a shark smelling blood, Flair springs - Stomp, Stomp, Elbow Drop to the knee, hitting two birds with one stone - damaging the weak point and setting Helmsley up for the Figure Four Leglock. The Nature Boy looks down on the withering Helmsley, pure hatred in his eyes and he grabs the leg, wraps it around....
"FIGURE FOUR... FLAIRS GOT THE FIGURE FOUR" screams Ross, Ford Field on their feet as the mixed crowd duel with every chant imaginable, Flair fans screaming for Helmsley to tap as the DX man cries out in pain, trying to clutch his injured leg, the Triple H fans desperately trying to will him to hang on, to reach the ropes. Flair is like a man possessed as he pulls back on the leg, smashing his fist down onto it, pulling back with everything he has, the bloody Game shaking his head furiously, grabbing Flairs legs and trying to separate them from his own - no use, Flair simply pulling back even more, Helmsley desperately looking around, seeing where the ropes are and realizing he's a long way from the, The Games shoulders are down - One... Two... Thrno, just up at the last second, arms flailing as Hunter tries to punch Flair in the face, Naitch grinning as he sees Trips desperation, his strength fading as he tries to turn Flair. Trips slowly tries to work his way backward, inch by painful inch, his shoulders falling for a second but he gets them up, Flair struggling against Helmsleys strength, trying to stop him as the Game reaches.... nearly there.... and he grabs the bottom rope, the deflated Ric Flair breaking and cursing as we see the shattered Helmsley crawling out under the bottom rope and falling to the mats on the outside. The camera can't see Helmsley as Flair takes the opportunity to regain his stamina, Referee Charles Robinson striding over to the ropes near Hunter whos on his knees... and Helmsley suddenly leaps up, pulling Robinson's head down across the top rope, the Official stringing off and going down clutching his neck
"OH WHAT THE HELL?!" asks Ross, the jeers deafening, Lawler trying to claim that Triple H mistook him for Flair, the true state of affairs becoming clear however as The Game slides back into the ring - sledgehammer in hand
"That damn sledgehammer" spits Ross as if in confirmation, Flairs ready as Hunter charges at him, looking to strike... Flair goes down to his knees, the move startling Helmsley just for a second and allowing Flair to bring his hand up.... and grab a hand full of Triple Hs testicles
"ARAGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!" screams The King, feeling it as Hunter winces, the crowd erupting as Flair keeps ahold of the Games nuts, standing and twisting, forcing the Game to drop the Sledgehammer.... big Knife Edge from Flair drops Triple H to the mat, the crowd popping as Naitch eyes the discarded Sledgehammer, slowly picking it up and looking at it, staring at the rising Helmsley... considering whether he should use it. Trips is almost up... and Flair shakes his head, dropping the weapon to the canvas, not wanting to win that way claims Ross. Trips is on his feet, Naitch grabs him... Belly to Back Suplex, massive impact, Flair floats over, grabs the leg.... no count, the fans jeering as they believe Flair has the pin. Naitch desperately looks around and realizes that Charles Robinson is still down. Flair drops the leg as quickly moves over to the Official, shaking him and pulling his shirt to lift him off the canvas, trying to rouse him. The camera stays on Flair as Robinson starts to recover but the crowd begin to jeer, Flair spinning to see Helmsley charging at him, Sledgehammer in his hands
THWACK
"OH GOD.... GOD ALMIGHTY... YOU SON OF A BITCH... SLEDGEHAMMER TO FLAIR... SON OF A BITCH" screams Ross, Flair staggering back, lights gone off. Helmsley drops the hammer and hits the Gut Kick, Flair keels over, the head is placed, arms hooked....
"PEDIGREE, PEDIGREE!!!!!"
Flair is turned over, Robinson is recovered enough to count as the fans chant along, the leg of the Nature Boy hooked....
"NO.... FOR GODSAKES NO...." screams the hoarse JR
ONE
"NOT THIS WAY...."
TWO
"NO...."
THREE
"OH MY GOD... MY GOD... ITS OVER, TRIPLE H HAS WON.... ITS OVER" is all the absolutely stunned JR can say, the crowd in shock as Helmsley rolls off and this time its Motorhead that hits
"ITS ALL ABOUT THE GAME AND HOW YOU PLAY IT.. ALL ABOUT CONTROL AND IF YOU TAKE IT.. ALL ABOUT YOUR DEBT AND IF YOU CAN PAY IT.... ITS ALL ABOUT THE PAIN.. AND WHO GUNNA MAKE IT"
The camera shows the victorious Triple H having his arm raised over Flair who's still down on the canvas, Helmsley snatching his arm away and spitting trash down at Naitch, point to himself and then Flair, telling him who the better man is as we move to the crowd, many fans stood in shock, one blonde in a Hogan T-Shirt nearly in tears, hand over her mouth
"I... i just don't have the words King... the career of Ric Flair.... is over"
Lawler has no answer as we go to a replay of the closing moments, Flair turning around to be met with the Sledgehammer shot and then the Pedigree, JR and King still quiet, letting the moment speak for itself, Lillian officially announcing Triple H the winner as he exits the ring, leaving Flair to be helped up by the Referee, seemingly only just realizing whats happened
"You know JR, this reminds me of Muhammed Ali, retiring on his stool well past his prime, Mike Tyson fighting in front of a few hundred fans at a casino" claims Lawler, shocking Ross
"Thats not what it's like at all King, this is WrestleMania, the biggest stage you can go out on, Ric Flair had this match won, he fought like he hasn't in years and it was taken away, his legacy was spat on by that man Triple H"
"I though you said Triple H was a changed man JR" laughs King, trying to inject some humor but Ross is enraged
"Yeah well i was wrong King, i thought Triple H had more class than to assault a man like Ric Flair with a Sledgehammer, to steal his career from him, cause thats what he's done right here"
The camera suddenly cuts away to the crowd where one by one they begin to stand in a wave, the applause becoming deafening
"Wow" is all Lawler can say as Eighty Thousand begin to applaud in unison, Flair beginning to well up as he looks around, the camera now showing JR, King, Michael Cole, Tazz, JBL and Joey Styles all on their feet for the Nature Boy, a "THANK YOU RIC" chant breaking out somewhere and rapidly spreading
"THANK YOU RIC.... THANK YOU RIC" cry the fans, the applause continuing, Flair breaking down as he nods to the fans, putting a hand up in acknowledgement as we see an amused Triple H vanish backstage
"THANK YOU RIC IS DAMN WELL RIGHT" cries the equally emotional Ross, ignoring Helmsleys exit
"Thank you for every title reign you ever had, Sixteen and more World titles, for the Steamboat classics, the matches with Dusty, Terry Funk, for the Four Horsemen and every star you made, for Dean Malenko, the Anderson's and Nightmare, for Batista, Orton and bah Gawd for Triple H. For being half owner, the classic with Doomsday, Evolution and the New Horsemen, for stylin, profiling, wheelin an dealing and for being the original son of a gun. WE THANK YOU RIC" he adds as Flair exits the ring, another roar echoing out from the crowd as from nowhere a stream of Superstars come through the curtain led by Dusty Rhodes and Batista, the stars applauding and lining the ramp - Shawn Michaels, Nightmare, Hunter, Steve Austin, Michael Shane, Johnny Nitro, figure after figure strolling onto stage to pay their respects to Flair - CM Punk, even Tommy Dreamer
"Thats what he means" spits JR "Thats what Ric Flair means to these fans, these Superstars and to this business"
Flair slowly makes his way to the stage, the crowd still standing
"Maybe JR, but, the one man who mattered, Triple H... he didn't give a damn about Ric tonight" points out King
"I know that King and it breaks my heart, it makes me sick to think that Triple H, the man Ric Flair called his best friend, has just ended his career - it makes me sick King" reiterates our announcer, Flair embracing Arn Anderson, Ricky Steamboat and then his son David Flair
"Ric Flairs family is here tonight folks, his son David that you see there, Reid Flair also here as are Rics wonderful daughters Ashley and Megan.... for them to see this, their father beaten like a dog, cheated King, i can't say it enough - that no good bastard Triple H...."
"Careful JR" laughs King
"Well i apologize folks... but what he's done... what he's done to that man...." continues Ross, unable to find broadcastable words
"This isn't right King, this isn't how it ends for Ric Flair" he finally says as the emotional Flair takes one last look at the crowd, mouthing the words "Thank You" before heading through the curtain, the screen slowly fading away to blackness...
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WrestleMania 23