Ric Flair's Last Match
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| Ric Flair's Last Match | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster featuring Andrade El Idolo, Ric Flair, Jay Lethal, Jeff Jarrett, David Crockett and Karen Jarrett | |
| Promotion | Jim Crockett Promotions |
| Date | July 31, 2022 |
| City | Nashville, Tennessee, United States |
| Venue | Nashville Municipal Auditorium |
| Attendance | 6,800[1] |
| Buy rate | 24,020–29,020[1] |
| Tagline(s) | Walkin' That Aisle – One Last Time |
Ric Flair's Last Match was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event and supershow. It took place on July 31, 2022, at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee and aired on FITE and In Demand. The event was produced and promoted by Conrad Thompson and David Crockett under the banner of Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP) as part of the Starrcast V convention, and was the first card promoted under the JCP banner since 1988. Ric Flair headlined the event in the advertised final match of his 50-year career, teaming with his son-in-law Andrade El Idolo to defeat Jay Lethal and Jeff Jarrett.
Wrestlers from All Elite Wrestling (AEW), Black Label Pro (BLP), DDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT), Future Stars of Wrestling (FSW), Game Changer Wrestling (GCW), Impact Wrestling, Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA), Major League Wrestling (MLW), National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), Progress Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Revolver (PWR), Ring of Honor (ROH), Terminus: Modern Age Grappling, and WWE performed during the event. It was the first event to feature cooperation from all major American professional wrestling promotions since the 3rd Annual Brian Pillman Memorial Show in 2000.
The show drew 6,800 fans for a live gate of $448,502, making it the second highest-grossing North American independent professional wrestling event in modern history behind All In.
Production[edit]
Background[edit]
Ric Flair debuted as a professional wrestler on December 10, 1972.[2] Flair lost his first retirement match against Shawn Michaels at WWE's WrestleMania XXIV in March 2008. He later wrestled on the Hulkamania: Let The Battle Begin tour in 2009 and for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) from 2010–2011. Flair has said he only came back to wrestle after the match with Michaels because he was significantly in debt, and regrets having done so.[3]
Footage surfaced of Flair training with former TNA rival Jay Lethal in April 2022.[4] It was then announced in May 2022 that Flair would wrestle one final match at Tennessee State Fairground Sports Arena on July 31, 2022, as part of his son-in-law Conrad Thompson's Starrcast convention.[5] The convention was held the same weekend as WWE's SummerSlam, which took place at nearby Nissan Stadium on July 30.
The wrestling card, titled Ric Flair's Final Match, was later moved to the larger Nashville Municipal Auditorium due to high demand.[6] Flair previously headlined events at Nashville Municipal Auditorium including WrestleWar '89: Music City Showdown against Ricky Steamboat, and Starrcade '95: World Cup of Wrestling against Randy Savage.
Nashville mayor John Cooper declared July 31 "Ric Flair Day" in honor of the occasion.[7]
Storylines[edit]
The event included eleven matches that resulted from scripted storylines, in which wrestlers portrayed heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that built tension and culminated in a wrestling match.[8]
Storylines were produced in a three-part weekly web series titled Ric Flair: The Last Match that aired between July 11, 2022 and July 25, 2022 on the show's official website. Narrated by Darius Rucker, the first episode detailed Flair's battle with alcoholism and subsequent health problems following the death of his son Reid Flair in 2013.[9] The second episode saw Flair get attacked by training partner Jay Lethal and WWE executive Jeff Jarrett outside of Tennessee State Fairground Sports Arena following the event's press conference on June 23, 2022. Lethal was insulted that Flair could not get him booked on the card, and Jarrett was insulted that Flair disrespected his father, Jerry Jarrett. Flair was left bloodied in a parking lot following the attack. It was then announced that Flair would team with son-in-law Andrade El Idolo to face Jarrett and Lethal in the main event.[10] The third and final episode featured a contract signing between the main event teams, brokered by promoter David Crockett.
An angle was filmed during Game Changer Wrestling's The People vs. GCW event at Starrcast on July 29, 2022. Nick Gage told Conrad Thompson that since he did not book any GCW wrestlers for Ric Flair's Final Match, they would have to invade the show.[11]
Cancelled matches[edit]
The originally planned main event was reported to have been Ric Flair teaming with FTR (Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood) to take on Ricky Steamboat and the Rock 'n' Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson) in a six-man tag team match. Steamboat confirmed that he was offered the match, but turned it down.[12] Matt Cardona proposed defending the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship against Flair, but he was injured soon after and forced to forfeit his title.[13] Ren Narita was scheduled to face Clark Connors on the undercard, but Connors was injured and replaced by Yuya Uemura.[14]
Event[edit]
| Role: | Name: |
|---|---|
| English commentators | Tony Schiavone |
| David Crockett | |
| Ian Riccaboni (ROH and NJPW) | |
| Tom Hannifan (Impact) | |
| Scott D'Amore (Impact) | |
| Joe Dombrowski (MLW and AAA) | |
| Dave Prazak (GCW and MLW) | |
| Nick Aldis (NWA) | |
| Spanish commentators | Carlos Cabrera |
| Hugo Savinovich | |
| Ring announcers | Cyrus Fees |
| David Penzer (main event) | |
| Referees | Brandon Tolle |
| Daniel Spencer | |
| Dave Harmon | |
| Dave Miller | |
| Derek Sabato | |
| Mike Chioda (main event) | |
| Mike Posey | |
| Interviewer | Josh Shernoff |
Pre-show[edit]
The event's pre-show was broadcast free on YouTube at 6:05pm EDT, a nod to the traditional timeslot JCP's World Championship Wrestling program aired on TBS throughout the 1980s.
In the opening contest of the pre-show, New Japan Pro Wrestling star Yuya Uemura faced Ren Narita, a young lion in New Japan's Dojo. Narita took the victory by pinning Uemura with a bridging belly to belly suplex.
Tony Schiavone introduced Ric Flair for an interview segment, but instead Jay Lethal came out with Karen Jarrett to do a Flair impersonation and antagonize the crowd. Jarrett was interrupted by loud "Who are you?" chants from the audience.
Frank the Clown then entered the ring to insult Ric Flair, at which point Jacob Fatu came out. Frank the Clown attempted to escape up the entranceway, but Mick Foley prevented him from leaving and threw him back in the ring to get beatdown by Fatu.
The second contest of the show and final contest of the pre-show saw Game Changer Wrestling (GCW) star Mance Warner win the Bunkhouse Battle Royale by last eliminating Bully Ray. Prior to the match, the announced participants were already in the ring when Nick Gage came out and declared that he had brought a contingent of GCW stars as surprise entrants.
Preliminary matches[edit]
In the opening contest of the pay-per-view broadcast, The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin) took on The Wolves in a tag team match. The Motor City Machine Guns picked up the victory after performing Skull and Bones on Edwards, who was pinned.
The second contest of the pay-per-view saw Davey Boy Smith Jr. take on Killer Kross (with Scarlett Bordeaux) in singles competition, with both men representing Major League Wrestling. Kross hit Smith Jr. with The Quickening and won by pinfall.
The pay-per-view's third contest was a Four Corners Match to determine the #1 contender to the Progress World Championship. The participants were Alan Angels, Jonathan Gresham, Konosuke Takeshita and Nick Wayne. Gresham won by pinfall after performing a bridging O'Connor Roll on Angels.
In the fourth contest of the pay-per-view, Rock 'n' Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Kerry Morton) (with Robert Gibson) took on The Four Horsemen (Brian Pillman Jr. and Brock Anderson) (with Arn Anderson) in a tag team match. The Four Horsemen picked up the victory after Anderson hit Ricky Morton with a Gourdbuster and pinned him.
The fifth contest of the pay-per-view was a Four-way match between Bandido, Black Taurus, Laredo Kid and Rey Fénix. This showcase of stars from Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide was won by Fénix after he caught Black Taurus with the Fire Thunder Driver and pinned him.
The pay-per-view's sixth contest saw Impact World Champion Josh Alexander defend his title against Major League Wrestling star Jacob Fatu. The match ended in a no contest after interference by Brian Myers, Matt Cardona and Mark Sterling. Diamond Dallas Page ran in from the crowd to save Alexander from a beatdown, hitting Cardona with a Diamond Cutter.
A backstage segment saw Jerry Jarrett and Jerry Lawler consulting Jeff Jarrett in his locker room regarding the main event, with the group consensus being that Ric Flair stole his strut from Jackie Fargo and that Jeff needed to reclaim it.
In the seventh contest of the pay-per-view, The Von Erichs (Marshall Von Erich and Ross Von Erich) took on The Briscoes (Jay Briscoe and Mark Briscoe) in a tag team match. The Briscoes picked up the victory after Mark hit Ross with a Froggy Bow and pinned him.
The penultimate match of the pay-per-view saw Impact Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace defend her title against Deonna Purrazzo and Rachael Ellering in a three-way match. Grace retained her title after tapping out Ellering with a rear naked choke.
Main event[edit]
In the main event, Ric Flair and Andrade El Idolo took on Jay Lethal and Jeff Jarrett (with Karen Jarrett) in a tag team match. The finish came after Conrad Thompson threw brass knuckles to El Idolo. El Idolo then gave the brass knuckles to Flair, who used them to knock out Jarrett. Referee Mike Chioda was knocked out, causing El Idolo to call for another referee from the back. Flair put Jarrett in the figure-four leglock, and with Jarrett's shoulders pinned to the mat, referee Dave Miller counted the pinfall. After the match, Flair greeted his family at ringside along with colleagues in attendance such as Bret Hart, Mick Foley and The Undertaker. Tony Schiavone then interviewed Flair ringside before he made his way up the entrance ramp, stopping to embrace singer Kid Rock and hoist the Big Gold Belt as the broadcast went off the air.
Reception[edit]
The production quality and overall presentation of the show was praised.[15] Brian James and Scott D'Amore produced and timed the matches.[16] Matches were agented by Bully Ray, Daniel McDevitt, Scott Armstrong, Sinn Bodhi, Tom Prichard and Wolfie D.[17] The broadcast was produced by David Sahadi, Josh Mathews and Keith Mitchell.[16]
Reviews of the show consistently pointed to the four-way between Bandido, Black Taurus, Laredo Kid and Rey Fénix as the best match of the night.[18][19][20] Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter gave that match a 4½-star rating.[21]
Multiple reviewers described watching Flair's performance in the main event as "uncomfortable" due to his poor physical condition.[18][20] In the leadup to the match, Flair revealed that he had been suffering from plantar fasciitis and planned on drinking prior to the bout.[22] Flair later said that he passed out twice during the match due to dehydration.[23]
The show drew 6,800 fans for a live gate of $448,502, with an estimated 20,000–25,000 viewers on FITE and 4,200 viewers on In Demand.[1] It was the second highest-grossing North American independent professional wrestling event in modern history behind All In.[1]
Aftermath[edit]
Possible follow-up events have been rumored. During the Foley Is Pod panel at Starrcast, Conrad Thompson and Mick Foley discussed the idea of Mick Foley's Last Match.[24] Booker T confirmed that he was approached by Thompson to take part in Harlem Heat's Last Match in 2023, but turned it down.[25] Diamond Dallas Page also confirmed that he turned down an offer from Thompson.[26] Starrcast filed to trademark Southwest Championship Wrestling on August 5, 2022, and SuperClash on September 7, 2022.[27][28]
Mance Warner was awarded a non-title match against interim AEW World Champion Jon Moxley after his Bunkhouse Battle Royale win, with the stipulation that Warner would earn a future title shot if victorious.[29] Moxley defeated Warner on the August 5, 2022 episode of AEW Rampage.[30]
Before the match in July 2022, Flair had vowed to honor his word and never wrestle again, but said he would continue in the business as a manager.[31] A few days after the match however, he regretted announcing that it would be his final match.[32] During a September 2022 celebration for the 50th anniversary of his debut in professional wrestling, Flair announced that he would never retire.[33]
Results[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ^ Order of elimination from first eliminated: Kal Herro, Big Damo, Crimson, Gringo Loco, Komander, Wolfie D, Sinn Bodhi, Effy, Matthew Justice, 1 Called Manders, Jordan Oliver, Rickey Shane Page, Blake Christian, Joey Janela, and James Storm.
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d Nason, Josh. "Ric Flair's Last Match PPV does over 24,000 PPV buys, $448,000 gate". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Archived from the original on August 6, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
- ^ Woodward, Buck (December 10, 2010). "This day in history". PWInsider. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
- ^ "Ric Flair reveals real reason why he joined TNA after WWE retirement". Sportskeeda. April 12, 2020. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
- ^ DeFelice, Robert (April 18, 2022). "Ric Flair Shares Footage Of He And Jay Lethal Training Inside A Ring". Fightful. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
- ^ Gray, Nick (May 17, 2022). "Ric Flair, 73, returns to wrestling ring for 'final match' in July at Nashville Fairgrounds". The Tennessean. Archived from the original on July 31, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
- ^ Organ, Mike (June 20, 2022). "Ric Flair's 'final match' moved to Nashville's Municipal Auditorium. Additional tickets going on sale". The Tennessean. Archived from the original on July 31, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
- ^ Gulbransen, Aaron (June 23, 2022). "Nashville Mayor John Cooper Declares July 31 'Ric Flair Day'". Tennessee Star. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
- ^ Grabianowski, Ed (January 13, 2006). "How Pro Wrestling Works". HowStuffWorks, Inc. Discovery Communications. Archived from the original on November 29, 2013. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
- ^ Casey, Connor (July 12, 2022). "Ric Flair: The Last Match Documentary Episode 1 Premieres". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on July 16, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
- ^ Middleton, Marc (July 18, 2022). "Ric Flair's Final Match Revealed with Bloody Angle, Updated Card for Jim Crockett Presents Event". Wrestling Headlines. Archived from the original on July 18, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
- ^ Tessier, Colin (July 29, 2022). "Nick Gage Threatens To Invade 'Ric Flair's Last Match' Event During The People vs. GCW". Fightful. Archived from the original on July 30, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
- ^ Carey, Ian (May 18, 2022). "Ricky Steamboat says he declined offer to face Ric Flair in 'last match'". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
- ^ Lambert, Jeremy (March 8, 2022). "Matt Cardona Wants To Have Ric Flair's Last Match For The NWA Worlds Heavyweight Title". Fightful. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
- ^ a b Currier, Joseph (July 24, 2022). "Yuya Uemura replacing Clark Connors at Ric Flair's Last Match". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Archived from the original on July 30, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
- ^ a b Powell, Jason (July 31, 2022). "Ric Flair's Last Match event: Powell's review of Ric Flair and Andrade El Idolo vs. Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal, Josh Alexander vs. Jacob Fatu for the Impact World Championship, Motor City Machine Guns vs. The Wolves, Killer Kross vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr., Jordynne Grace vs. Rachael Ellering vs. Deonna Purrazzo for the Knockouts Championship, The Briscoes vs. The Von Erichs". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Archived from the original on August 1, 2022. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
- ^ a b Nason, Josh (August 1, 2022). "Ric Flair's Last Match notes: Flair's health, show changes, production team". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Archived from the original on August 2, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
- ^ "Undertaker, Bret Hart And Full List Of Legends At Ric Flair's Last Match". Wrestling Inc. August 1, 2022. Archived from the original on August 2, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
- ^ a b Coyle-Simmons, Patrick (August 1, 2022). "Ric Flair's Last Match PPV: Every Match Ranked From Worst To Best". TheSportster. Archived from the original on August 14, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
- ^ a b Beaston, Erik (July 31, 2022). "Ric Flair Last Match Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction, Highlights from Starrcast V". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on August 1, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
- ^ "Dave Meltzer Match Ratings For Ric Flair's Last Match Card Revealed". Inside The Ropes. August 5, 2022. Archived from the original on August 6, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
- ^ "Ric Flair 'Drinking Every Night' Before Last Fight, I'm No Good Sober!". TMZ. July 31, 2022. Archived from the original on August 1, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
- ^ Lee, Joseph (August 10, 2022). "Ric Flair Says He Passed Out Twice During His Last Match Due To Dehydration". 411Mania. Archived from the original on August 10, 2022. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
- ^ WrestleZone [@WRESTLEZONEcom] (July 31, 2022). "Hypothetically, one day… What do you guys think about Mick Foley's Last Match? @HeyHeyItsConrad with quite the proposition during Mick Foley's panel at @StarrcastEvents" (Tweet). Retrieved August 1, 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Booker T Confirms He Was Approached About A 'Last Match'". Wrestling Inc. August 3, 2022. Archived from the original on August 3, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
- ^ Rovere, Marco (August 16, 2022). "DDP Confirms Conrad Thompson Asked Him About Doing A 'Last Match'". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
- ^ Lee, Joseph (August 10, 2022). "Starrcast Files Trademark For Southwest Championship Wrestling". 411Mania. Archived from the original on August 10, 2022. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
- ^ Miller, Nick (September 12, 2022). "Starrcast Files To Trademark Classic PPV Name". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
- ^ Nason, Josh (August 4, 2022). "Jon Moxley vs. Mance Warner, Madison Rayne debut set for AEW Rampage". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Archived from the original on August 6, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
- ^ Sanders, Lee (August 5, 2022). "Sanders' AEW Rampage Review 8.5.22". 411Mania. Archived from the original on August 6, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
- ^ Casey, Connor (July 28, 2022). "Ric Flair Says He Has Already Turned Down Future Matches Ahead of His Last Match Event". ComicBook.com. Archived from the original on August 7, 2022. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
- ^ Connor Casey (August 11, 2022). "Ric Flair Regrets Declaring His Retirement Match His Last Match". Comicbook.com. ViacomCBS. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
- ^ Aidan Gibbons (September 27, 2022). "Ric Flair Vows To Never Retire". Cultaholic. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
- ^ Currier, Joseph (July 19, 2022). "Bunkhouse Battle Royal added to Ric Flair's Last Match PPV". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Archived from the original on July 23, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
- ^ DeFelice, Robert (June 24, 2022). "The Wolves vs. The Motor City Machine Guns Added To The Card Of 'Ric Flair's Last Match'". Fightful. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
- ^ Renner, Ethan (June 29, 2022). "Killer Kross vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr. set for 'Ric Flair's Last Match' event". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Archived from the original on June 29, 2022. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
- ^ Renner, Ethan (July 21, 2022). "Four-way added to Ric Flair's Last Match event". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Archived from the original on July 26, 2022. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
- ^ Rose, Bryan (July 14, 2022). "Ricky & Kerry Morton vs. Brian Pillman Jr. & Brock Anderson added to Ric Flair's Final Match card". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Archived from the original on July 16, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
- ^ Rose, Bryan (July 5, 2022). "AAA bout announced for Ric Flair's Last Match event". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Archived from the original on July 6, 2022. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
- ^ Knight, Cain A. (June 23, 2022). "Two major inter-promotional fights are added to Ric Flair's Last Match". Cageside Seats. Archived from the original on July 8, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
- ^ Renner, Ethan (July 7, 2022). "The Briscoes vs. The Von Erichs added to Ric Flair's Last Match event". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Archived from the original on July 9, 2022. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
- ^ Currier, Joseph (June 24, 2022). "Impact Knockouts title match set for 'Ric Flair's Last Match' event". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
- ^ "Ric Flair Teaming Up W/ Andrade To Fight Jeff Jarrett, Jay Lethal In Last Match". TMZ. July 18, 2022. Archived from the original on July 22, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2022.