The 5 Most Emotional Episodes of Raw in WWE History

#3 The Nature Boy Retires

Ric Flair's retirement speech

To many – including “Stone Cold” Steve Austin – Ric Flair is seen as the very best professional wrestler of all time. And let’s face it, even if you don’t agree with that sentiment, you have to admit that Flair is most certainly in the conversation when it comes to the greatest ever.

Since the moment Vince McMahon announced in 2007 that The Nature Boy would be forced to retire the next time he lost a match, we all knew what we coming. Then, to throw even more certainty on matters, Naitch was eventually put up against Mr. Wrestlemania, Shawn Michaels, at WrestleMania XXIV. Of course, Flair would famously lose the match, and it was time for this legend to finally go home.

The night following ‘Mania, however, the sixteen-time World Champion was given an emotional send-off on Monday Night Raw. Not only did a sobbing Flair get to address the WWE Universe, but this show also allowed for some of Ric’s greatest friends and foes to express their appreciation of the North Carolina native.

As the minutes went on, Triple H, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Barry Windham, JJ Dillon, Batista, Ricky Steamboat, Harley Race, Greg Valentine, Dean Malenko, Chris Jericho, John Cena, Flair’s family, Shawn Michaels, the 2008 roster and crew, and then, off air, Vince McMahon and The Undertaker all headed to the ring to pay tribute to The Nature Boy. The emotion was infectious, and there was not a dry eye in the house.

But yeah, let’s not mention the fact that Flair would come out of retirement for TNA in 2010…