Shawn Michaels: Top 5 Definitive Moments Of The Showstopper’s Career
By Max Everett
“I’m Sorry, I Love You”
Ric Flair vs Shawn Michaels, a dream match for the ages, generational icons going head to head, similar to The Rock vs Hulk Hogan, this kind of match deserved the best, and it got it, at WrestleMania XXIV.
Ric Flair had begun his career in 1972, amassing a record 16 world title wins in a 30 year period. All things, no matter how good, must come to an end, however.
Following Shawn Michael’s announcement of his hero’s entry into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2008, Flair put the challenge to HBK. The man who proclaimed “to be the man, you gotta beat the man” was asking Michaels if he believed he was the man.
Although the general consensus was that this was going to be Flair’s last waltz, in front of a capacity 74,000 crowd, Michaels and Flair staged a remarkable and emotional contest. For a moment, the WWE Universe pondered.
Maybe Flair would win, and continue his career. The match was never going to be a technical masterpiece, nor did it have to. When two characters so iconic enter the ring the atmosphere is what makes the match.
Each move felt like it lasted an age as fans sat on the edge of their seat watching on, biting their nails, and trying to anticipate when the match would close. Flair locking in the figure-four leg lock for thirty seconds, nailing a flying cross-body, and Michaels failing to deliver Sweet Chin Music despite Flair being wide open for the taking.
The match was wrestling storytelling at its finest, an internal battle between the competitive and compassionate sides of Michaels was conveyed excellently.
The closing moments, as Flair climbed to his feet in a daze, before facing Mr WrestleMania, Michaels declaring “I’m sorry, I love you” before delivering the Sweet Chin Music the world felt.
Flair’s last moment of defiance, raising his fists before the career-ending kick, Michaels falls to cover his long-time colleague, mentor, and idol. 1-2-3. End of story.
Michaels had entered Mania a living legend, opposite a fellow living legend. But leaving the stadium, Michaels had become more than just a legend, he had become the man.