7 Times WWE Tugged On Fan's Emotions

#2 Shawn Michaels Retires Ric Flair:

Undertaker paying his respects to the retiring Ric Flair at the end of Raw

You knew it was coming, even as you watched the match, you know that it was a matter of time for Ric Flair to end his career.

There was no better way to end the match than the scripted ending between Shawn Michaels and Ric Flair. Flair was a legend during the 80's and 90's, and along with Hulk Hogan was one of the mainstream faces of wrestling during those decades.

During the late 90's, Shawn Michaels rose to the pinnacle of the wrestling business. Michaels, together with Bret Hart, kept the WWF afloat with some phenomenal wrestling after several of its stars had left to join the rapidly growing WCW.

After the demise of the rival promotion, several stars jumped to sign contracts with the sole superpower in wrestling, the WWF, this included WCW stalwart, Ric Flair.

At the end of 2007, Vince McMahon announced that the next singles match that Flair lost would be his last.

Flair would go on a tear, defeating a string of wrestlers from the end of 2007 to the start of 2008, including Triple H, Umaga, Mr Kennedy, William Regal, and even Vince McMahon.

Flair's winning streak ended at Wrestlemania XXIV against Shawn Michaels. The back and forth classic between the two ended with Flair struggling to make it back to his feet, willing Michaels to bring the fight to him.

Michaels whispered "I'm sorry, I love you" before hitting Sweet Chin Music onto the legend. Michaels rolled out of the ring, leaving Flair alone in the ring for the final time.

Flair's retirement speech the next night on Raw was similarly touching, with Triple H bringing out Flair's family and friends from the past, such as the 4 Horseman, Batista, Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, Chris Jericho, John Cena, and Shawn Michaels. After Raw went off the air, even the Undertaker and Mr McMahon came down to the ring and paid respect to Flair.