At WrestleMania 24 in 2008, Ric Flair wrestled in what was supposed to be his final professional wrestling match. The critically-acclaimed bout saw Shawn Michaels defeat Flair, bringing his decades-long career to a supposed end. Many considered the match with Shawn Michaels as the perfect way for Flair to cap off his career, but he didn't stay retired for long. Ric Flair came out of retirement to compete in various matches for TNA wrestling a few years later, with these fights failing to live up to the high bar set by the WrestleMania 24 match.
Ric Flair is wanting to end his in-ring career on a high note, and so a revived Jim Crockett Promotions is promoting a pay-per-view event on July 31 aptly titled Ric Flair's Last Match. There's been some question as to who Ric Flair's opponent would be for his final match, but now it's official. At the July 31 pay-per-view, Ric Flair will be teaming with his son-in-law Andrade El Idolo to face off against the team of Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal, who will be managed by Jeff's wife Karen.
This was announced earlier this week after a video surfaced online of Jarrett and Lethal bloodying Flair in the parking lot. This incident came about because Lethal, who had some famous interactions with Flair during the TNA days, was upset that he wasn't booked to wrestle on the Ric Flair's Last Match PPV. Jarrett defended Flair from Lethal at first, but Flair didn't appreciate the help, swearing at Jarrett and prompting Double J to continue the assault.
Ric Flair's Last Match Card
- Andrade El Idolo & Ric Flair vs. Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal w/ Karen Jarrett
- Impact World Championship Match: Josh Alexander (c) vs. Jacob Fatu
- Impact Knockouts World Championship Three-Way Match: Jordynne Grace (c) vs. Deonna Purrazzo vs. Rachael Ellering
- Four-Way Match: Bandido vs. Laredo Kid vs. Rey Fenix vs. Taurus
- Rock 'n' Roll Express vs. The Four Horsemen w/ Arn Anderson
- The Motor City Machine Guns vs. The Wolves
- The Briscoes vs. The Von Erichs
- Davey Boy Smith Jr. vs. Killer Kross w/ Scarlett Bordeaux
- Clark Conners vs. Ren Narita
- Bunkhouse Battle Royale
The tag team match between Andrade El Idolo and Ric Flair against Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal will be the main event of Ric Flair's Last Match, but there will be at least nine other matches, featuring wrestlers from various promotions around the world, including All Elite Wrestling and Impact Wrestling (which was formerly known as TNA). Notable bouts include Josh Alexander defending the Impact World Championship against Jacob Fatu, the Motor City Machine Guns reigniting their rivalry with The Wolves, The Briscoes facing The Von Erichs, and the old-school Jim Crockett Promotions tag team the Rock 'n' Roll Express facing off against a new version of the Four Horsemen, comprised of Brock Anderson and Brian Pillman Jr.
There will also be a Bunkhouse Battle Royale at the event, though the full list of participants for that match have not been announced at the time of this writing. So far the only wrestler confirmed for the match is Bully Ray, who is best known for his time in WWE as Bubba Ray Dudley.