Reported by Mike Siciliano of WrestleView.com
On Tuesday, April 1, 2008 at 4:45 AM EST

When you've had the pleasure of being able to talk about professional wrestling on a forum that is as popular as this is, you have some responsibilities that you have to make sure you live up to. Following Wrestlemania 24, there is a responsibility I have to undertake right now, and I hope you take the time to allow me to do so. I would like to tell you a story as to the day when I had the privilege, and yes, I do mean privilege, of meeting the WWE Hall Of Famer, the former 16 time World Heavyweight Champion, the Nature Boy, Ric Flair.

4 years ago, prior to Wrestlemania 20 in New York city, and damn, it feels like it was yesterday, Evolution members were taking over the Big Apple with appearances all over town. Then World Heavyweight Champion Triple H, and "Naitch" were doing an autograph session at the Times Square Toys R Us, the world famous store in the heart of the city. I was knee deep, or should I say, more like chest deep in to the hobby or obsession of trying to get as many autographs, and meet as many superstars as I could. With help from my family as a whole, and my wife in particular, we were able to get tickets to this event, and it proved to be as good as it could possibly be.

Before the event, when we were picking up tickets, I was fortunate enough to find a replica World title belt, adult sized, for a very reasonable price. Picked that puppy up, (thank you, thank you, thank you to my wife for that gift), and we were ready for business. All in all, we had 8 tickets in hand. 8 pieces of merchandise to be signed by both the Game and the Nature Boy. Wrestlemania 20 exclusive action figures, a toy World title belt, the replica world title belt, and the classic figure series 1 of Hunter Hearst Helmsley.

We were on line for a while, but it was orderly, but that's not the focus here. When we arrived on the site with the champ and the legend, they could not be nicer. Ric took the time to speak with each of my three kids, shook their hands, and was geniune and kind. He seemed appreciative of our attendance at the event, and gratified to see a family like mine, or any one of them who were in attendance that day, coming out to pay their respect to a man who put so much time in to a career that he obviously loved more than anything in the world.

As we were leaving, I wasn't aware of the fact that there were WWE cameras taking pictures of Flair with my kids. It took me by surprise, and I was checking out WWE programming ad nauseum to look for the footage. Back then, WWE Confidential was airing, but no dice. No footage, no nothing. Then one day, a Raw Magazine came out recapping the events of Wrestlemania 20, and sure enough, in the bottom right hand corner was a picture of my son Jonathan shaking hands with the Nature Boy. I nearly lost my lunch, screaming through Wal Mart to tell my wife.

Since then, I was able to correspond with WWE, and get copies of the legit pictures taken for the magazine. They're beautiful. And true treasures I hold on to to this day.

I remember the days back in World Championship Wrestling, watching it on TBS and then on Nitro, and being thoroughly entertained by the antics of Ric Flair. He honestly could be one of the factors that brought me in to this industry and hooked me like a tuna waiting for fish food.

Ok, bad pun.

Now, even his days in WWE were definitely ones to be proud of. From Evolution to his multiple reigns as World tag team champion to his run as Intercontinental champion, he has defined all aspects of the business, and can be touted without question as one of the best to, using JBL's words, "ever lace up a pair of boots."

I am honored to know that I have "the Man's" autograph on multiple items of memorabilia. I am honored to know that I have "the Man's" picture, shaking hands with my son. I am honored to know that, even being a celebrity of this magnitude, and damnit, it is high magnitude when your name is Ric Flair, you can still be down to earth, and respect the fans who brought you this fame.

Now, I'd like to ask this. I know it's going to sound contradictory, but it's a debate I think that's somewhat worthwhile to bring up.

In the span of the last couple of years, 3 talents have had their "last matches" in WWE, and retired from wrestling. Two women previous, one by winning the championship, and one by a heelish fashion that, I have to admit I was not proud to witness, and now this time out, via a doctrine sent out by the DemiGod of WWE.

I don't discount the storyline. Not one little bit. But, allow me the chance to try and play armchair booker.

Ric Flair is given this doctrine from the boss. Lose, and you're done. He goes on and wins like a madman, like he did, from November onward. Maybe, just maybe, somewhere before Wrestlemania, he manages to pull the Upset of the millenium, and win his 17th World title. Then, he goes to Mania, main events, we get the switch, and all is right with the world. "The Man" reigns supreme for one last time, the DemiGod gets his wish, and has "the Man" fall to defeat, and "the Man" can go out as he should, and as he is, and as he will be for now and forever, a champion.

Don't get me wrong, I don't doubt that the way it went down wasn't emotional, and hit the nail right on the head. No, I didn't see it, I can't say for sure anything about it, but I intend on seeing it first chance I can, and I will tell you this, it will be the first thing I check out when I buy the DVD.

I just felt like if WWE could have Trish Stratus go out in her last match by winning the WWE Women's Championship, I would believe that the same privilege could have been worked out for Ric Flair. I know there's differences in those comparisons, but the premise is still the same.

Which brings me to closing out this piece. Ric Flair has retired from wrestling, "for now." We all know the chances of him wrestling again is slim, and I think he knows it, too, but you can never truly say never. He has, from what I have read, shown interest in being involved with WWE in a "Stone Cold Steve Austin" style role, which I think would be terrific. In the meantime, we have the Ric Flair collection DVD, we have the Four Horsemen DVD, and we have the forthcoming DVD set on Ric Flair to further immortalize someone who will walk the planet for the rest of his days as an immortal in the world of professional wrestling.

As Dusty Rhodes said in his video piece. "These words are thrown out lightly, legend, icon. But, Ric Flair, is truly, a national treasure."

I would agree.

Thank you, Ric Flair, for making that day 4 years ago memorable for me, and thank you for the memories you provided for the fans of this sport over the past 35 to 36 years.

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Thank you for reading.

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