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(April. 3rd) Time to update everyone on the happenings of Mean Marc Ash and give you some insight into the happenings of the world, the way MMA sees it!
Watched the RAW program just for the Flair retirement speech. I know over the last couple of weeks I had stated that I just didn't see it being Flair's last match & to be honest, I still don't get it. When watching the Hall of Fame broadcast on Saturday night, it became a reality when Flair himself stated, that "tomorrow night is my last match". I didn't watch Mania, I'm waiting on the DVD release. I hear the match was excellent & I've just got to see "The Man's" last match.
I still don't understand why Flair went out the way, I would have loved to have seen Flair, even it was portrayed as an upset win the HIS belt one last time & then immediately retire. Although, I do have to say he got the only retirement send off that I've ever seen. I don't recall any sort of ceremony for Bruno Sammartino, Wahoo McDaniel, Buddy Rogers, Lou Thesz, Arn Anderson, Ole Anderson, Verne Gagne, Nick Bockwinkel, Harley Race, or anyone else that had made any impact on pro wrestling.
Not complaining, mind you. Flair was deserving of a great send off. In the times, I have been around Flair, he was always a super nice guy. A class act in & out of the ring. He never came across as that he felt he was better than you, he never spoke down to you. Now, I know that in my best period of wrestling I was no where in Flair's league but, he didn't make you feel that he thought that. He was a respectful man. I hear a lot of people bring up that in his book he called Mick Foley "a glorified stunt man" & go off that he is crazy for thinking that.
Mick Foley started that argument in his first book, Flair even stated that the comment was Foley's receipt. Foley was successful & I like Foley's work but, in all honesty...Flair was right. Foley's career is based off taking crazy bumps & giving the "OH MY GOD" effect. Remember the sickening bump Foley took on Clash of the Champions in his match with Mil Mascaras? Remember the hip toss off the top of the cage with the Undertaker? Remember going through the cage in the same match? These types of bumps is what made Foley. That & bleeding.
Flair beld a lot in his career as well. I was fortunate tho. I grew up in Jim Crockett Mid Atlantic Wrestling territory & saw a lot of Flair both on TV & LIVE! I saw his wars with with Wahoo McDaniel, Dusty Rhodes, Blackjack Mulligan, Roddy Piper, both teaming & feuding with Greg Valentine, Harley Race, all the 4 Horsemen feuds. I was at Legion Stadium in Wilmingto the night of the infamous plane crash.
I, as well as many others, may not have been interested in getting into pro wrestling if not Flair. Flair wasn't the only wrestler I followed but, he always stood out above the rest. In wrestling's down periods, Flair kept it interesting. Out of all my childhood idols, the only one I never got to work with in the ring was Ric Flair. I'm seriously contemplating making my April 26th match with Ivan Koloff my last match. Not becuase Flair has called it a day, I have numerous other reasons that I will discuss if I decide to actually make it my last match, but, I've had matches with WCW, I've had matches with the original ECW but, the only thing I've ever wanted to do that I didn't get to make happen was working a match with Flair. Now, that Flair has called it a day, what goal do I have left?
Now, everyone wants to debate on whether Flair was the greatest of all time or not. I don't see the question. Hogan...couldn't lace Flair's boots. Yes, Hogan made a lot of money & brought wrestling more into the mainstream but, seriously how can you compare the two? Flair wrestled every night of the week & twice on somedays..Hogan didn't even try to compare. Flair travelled the world..Hogan picked & chose. Bruno Sammartino, Bob Backlund...were champion when the WWE was nothing but a territory so they didn't travel as much as Flair did. Verne Gagne & Nick Bockwinkel..same thing really...the AWA did do a little more overseas than the WWE but just not as much as the NWA. Flair was NWA champion when the NWA was pro wrestling. Flair & Harley Race are running more closely for the greatest of all time title than any of the rest. As good as Harley Race was, he couldn't go back & forth from heel to face as Flair could. Flair could make you love him or hate him just as qucikly as you could flip the light switch. Dusty Rhodes runs right up there with Flair as well. Rhodes never had a long run with the title but, he travelled just as much & main evented just about everywhere he went. But, once again Flair stands above. Rhodes started as a heel but, once he turned he never went back, he just couldn't flip the switch like Flair could. Flair was heel one day & face the next as he travelled from territory to territory defending the title against each stop's top name.
Maybe from growing up in Crockett territory & never being without seeing Flair I'm biased. But, I can tell you this..I saw the TRULY "Best there was, best there is, & best there ever will be" each & every week. Naitch, if this was truly your last match...Thank you, thank you for all the great memories, thank you for inspiring me to take my chances in the wrestling ring, & thank you for keeping me inspired when I was having a hard time in the business. You have done so much more than just entertained all these years. You are still "The Man". There will never be another.
Now, I'll step off my soapbox for now. I'm sure I'll be getting bashed on some message board somewhere for my comments. But, ya know what....I sure won't spend anytime worrying about it.
New stuff to plug AshDVD.com www.websitewrestling.com/ICWDVD.html& www.cafepress.com/ashstuff
I've gotten myself into better shape & starting to wrestle a little more often. Wrestled recently for tjhe UPWA & GOUGE promotions. Check my appearances page to see when I'm coming to your area.
Well, I've rambled long enough!! Shameless plug time! www.prowrestlingdvds.com will take you to the ProWrestlingDVD.com webpage. Some good stuff there & much more to be added soon!
I'm out for now!
People drop me a line! I love hearing from you!
Send me your e-mails! Ashster@marcash.com
People take care of yourself! God Bless!
