5 Timeless Shawn Michaels Matches Everyone Should Remember

#2 Ric Flair (WrestleMania XXIV)

Shawn Michaels put away his hero, Ric Flair

By the time 2008 had come around, Ric Flair was a shadow of his former self. One of the wrestling greats, who had set records during his run in the wrestling business, Ric Flair was beloved by all. From the days of the wrestling territories to the Monday Night Wars, and finally in WWE, he had been front and center for most of the time.

But, in the recent years, the passage of time had caught up with him. He was no longer the wrestling legend of old, and he could not keep up in the ring. During this time, he wrestled a lot of matches, with a condition that any of them would be his last if he lost.

Finally, at WrestleMania XXIV, he faced Shawn Michaels. Shawn and Ric were good friends in real life, and the younger star was a huge fan and had great respect for the Nature Boy. It was one of those moments in wrestling where emotions were riding high.

In a sequence, that is still remembered by every fan of wrestling who watched it to this day, with Ric begging to be put away, Shawn lined up the Superkick. He mouthed the words, "I am sorry, I love you." and then, hit Ric Flair with a beautiful Sweet Chin Music. The pin. The 1... 2.... 3. That was it. Ric Flair's career was at an end.

Shawn hugged Ric, breaking down in tears, and then quickly left the ring, leaving him to savor his last moments in a WWE ring. The audience was crying, Ric was crying, and as Shawn walked away his tears were visible for all to see.

While Ric spoilt the point of this match later, wrestling in TNA for a brief period, at that moment there was nothing purer than what the audience had seen, as it showcased what wrestling was all about, captured in one small match.