Post by spacejam on Nov 1, 2007 16:23:25 GMT -5
I found this
It's Survivor Series 2007 and C.M. Punk is defending the ECW Championship against John Morrison. It's a great back and
forth match when there is a referee bump during the end of the match. Punk has just hit Morrison with his finishing move and
has him pinned. However, there is no referee there to make the pin. During this, Elijah Burke walks down to the ring and gets
on one side of it. Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin walk down to the ring and each get on another side of the ring. Paul
Heyman then makes a surprise return and walks down to stand on the forth side of the ring. With the referee still down,
Heyman raises four fingers in the air and all three men jump into the ring to aid Morrison. The three men give Punk a brutal
beating, including busting him open. They then pick up Morrison and put him on top of Punk and exit the ring. As the referee
is coming to, the three wrestlers along with Heyman walk back up to the top of the ramp. Morrison gets the win and regains
the ECW Championship. Morrison looks up the ramp and sees Burke, Haas, and Benjamin holding up four fingers while
Heyman looks on. Morrison holds up the title with one hand, while raising his four fingers with the other.
On the following episode of ECW, Paul Heyman comes out alone and cuts a promo in the ring. He talks about how he's been
sitting at home for the last year, waiting to come up with the next big idea to elevate the wrestling business to the next level.
He said he sat at home week after week watching ECW, a promotion that was once his baby. He said his baby was all grown
up now and he doesn't even recognize it anymore. He said it was time to get his baby back. He said if he couldn't own it like
he did back in the day, at least he was going to rule it. He said he wanted to form a stable of wrestlers that would be the
greatest stable in the history of wrestling. He said John Morrison reminds him of a young Ric Flair. He says Elijah Burke
reminds him of a young Tully Blanchard. He says Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin are better than the Anderson's ever were.
He said that's when it clicked that he should sign these four men and produce a stable of the next generation of superstars.
He says he needed a catchy name for them and began doing research. He says he looked into the name The Four Horsemen
and to much of his surprise, the name wasn't copyrighted. He says he couldn't believe that after all of the years of Ric Flair
and company working so hard to establish that name that they wouldn't put the extra work into copyrighting it. Heyman says
that sometimes you have to step on some toes in this business to get ahead and announces to the wrestling world that he's
purchased and copyrighted the name "The Four Horsemen." He then introduces The Four Horsemen to the audience; John
Morrison, Elijah Burke, and The World's Greatest Tag Team.
On the following episode of Smackdown, Ric Flair storms into Teddy Long's office demanding his release from Smackdown
so he can go to ECW to counter Paul Heyman and company. Long informs Flair that he's an important part of Smackdown
and there is no way that he could let him out of his contract. Flair screams how he's sacrificed his life for this business and
there is no way he's going to let Heyman and a bunch of punks make a name for themselves off of his legacy. He says the
Four Horsemen didn't need a copyright because he has been a Horsemen his entire life. He says the Four Horsemen is in his
blood. He says it's more than just a name, it's his life. Long agrees with Flair, but tells him it's bad business letting him leave
their show.
On the following episode of ECW, The Four Horsemen come out for a promo. Heyman is carrying a box to the ring, wrapped
as a gift. Heyman cuts a promo talking about how he watched Ric Flair cry to Teddy Long about what he did. Heyman says
it's not his fault that Flair didn't have enough common sense to copyright a name that apparently meant so much to him.
Heyman says Flair cared more about going out and partying every night then business. Heyman says Flair partied his life away
and now he's partied his legacy away as well. Heyman shows the world the documents that he owns the name The Four
Horsemen. Heyman then says how he in-visions John Morrison as the next Ric Flair. Heyman says that Morrison needs to
look the part so he went out and got him a present. Heyman says that he ran into Flair's ex-wife recently and asked her if she
had any old robes of her husband's laying around the house. He said that she had one and Heyman says he told her he's a huge
collector of wrestling merchandise and asked if he can buy it from her. Heyman says she said it wasn't worth anything and
that he can have it. Heyman hands Morrison the box and he opens it to find one of Ric Flair's robes in it. Morrison puts it on
and Heyman proclaims him "Nature Boy" John Morrison.
On the following Smackdown, Flair once again breaks into Long's office and is going crazy. Flair asks Long if he saw what
Heyman did on ECW Tuesday night. Long says he did and that Heyman has gone too far. Flair says he has and demands Long
to let him out of his contract so he can go to ECW for revenge. Flair says "First they stole The Four Horsemen name, and
now they stole mine?" Long informs Flair that he's under contract with Smackdown until the end of February and he's going
to have to wait until then to get his hands on Heyman and company. Flair says he's going to ECW on Tuesday and there is
nothing anyone can do about it.
On the following ECW show, Heyman convinces Armando Estrada to order a ton of security to keep Ric Flair out of the
building. Through out the show they show a camera crew outside waiting on the arrival of Flair. At the end of the show, Flair
shows up in jeans and a T-Shirt carrying a 2 by 4. Flair tries to make his way into the building but security is holding him
back. Flair is screaming for Heyman to come outside and face him like a man. The show goes off the air showing security
holding Flair back from getting into the arena while he's screaming for Heyman.
On the following Smackdown, they tease through out the show that Ric Flair has a major announcement to make. Flair comes
out and talks about his legacy in the wrestling business and everything that he's done for it. He mentions all of the titles he's
won and all of the big name opponents that he's wrestled. He said he wanted to wait until the right time to announce this to the
world, but now that Heyman and crew are destroying his life, there isn't a good time to announce it. Flair says he's at the end
of his road and plans to retire from the ring at WrestleMania 24. Flair begins crying and tells the fans how much he loves
them and how much they mean to him. He then flips out while crying.
"Dammit Heyman! As I stand in this ring, sharing perhaps my most special moment ever with my fans, I still can't get you out
of my mind. I'm going to show up to ECW again this Tuesday night. Be a man and let me into your building to face you guys
face to face. Let me look you and your punks into your eyes and tell you what I think about what you're doing. And if
security doesn't let me in, guess what? I'll come back the next week. If I get thrown out, I'll come back the following week. I
will continue to show up to ECW week in and week out until I get my hands wrapped around your neck. And Morrison, who
the hell do you think you are? My friend, I was selling out buildings while you were playing with my action figure. And now
you're going to call yourself "The Nature Boy." Over my dead body you are."
On the following ECW, Flair shows up again to the building with a baseball bat and storms towards the arena door. Security is
there to meet him again. Flair begins screaming to let him into the building. Heyman walks out of the building with a police
officer and tells the officer that "that's the guy." The police officer arrests Flair and takes him away in a police car. As the car
is driving away with Flair's face pinned to the window looking down Heyman, Heyman simply says "Wooooooooooooo" as
the show goes off the air.
On the following Smackdown, Teddy Long comes to the ring and calls out Ric Flair. Long says he's been thinking long and
hard about Flair's situation with Heyman and company. Long said while he still can't let Flair walk away from Smackdown, he
can offer Flair a solution on how he could get his hands on Heyman and company. Long says coming up is the Royal Rumble,
where the winner gets a title shot at WrestleMania 24 against any champion he chooses. Long tells Flair to look at the picture
he's painting for him. It's WrestleMania 24, the biggest event of the year and Ric Flair's retirement match. Flair is standing in
the ring challenging John Morrison for the ECW Championship, a title that Flair has never held before. Long tells Flair if he's
going to go out, it's got to be on top. Long says what a way to end your career, winning the ECW Championship in your very
last match, retiring a champion. Long says "Can you feel that, player?" Flair says he certainly can.
While all of this is going on, CM Punk is still in a heated weekly feud with Morrison. Elijah Burke is in a little program with
Stevie Richards, while The World's Greatest Tag Team are working with The Major Brothers. Since The Horsemen are the
top focus of the company, it'll elevate Stevie Richards and The Major Brothers by working with them every week. If done
correctly, The Major Brothers could become a current version of the Rock & Roll Express. It could lead to an eight man tag
match at the Rumble with The Four Horsemen against C.M. Punk, Stevie Richards, and The Major Brothers.
On the ECW show before the Rumble, The Horsemen come out and cut a promo. Heyman asks Flair if he really thinks he's
going to win the Rumble? He tells Flair that he's an old man and he's making the right choice by retiring at WrestleMania. He
says for his last match he needs to be in the ring with someone like Dusty Rhodes, not the modern day Nature Boy John
Morrison. He tells Flair the only way he's going to get a shot at Morrison is if he wins the Rumble, so there is nothing for him
to worry about. He says, "Do you think all of those young, hungry wrestlers are going to sit back and let you take away their
dream of headlining WrestleMania? Do you think you're still good enough to defeat twenty nine of the greatest, and much
younger by the way, wrestlers in the world today? Face it Flair, your time is over in this business. It's time to move over and
let guys like John Morrison, guys like Elijah Burke, and guys like The World's Greatest Tag Team take over. The end of the
line is coming very soon for Space Mountain."
At the Rumble, it comes down to C.M. Punk and Ric Flair. The crowd is torn. They love C.M. Punk and want him to win the
biggest match of his career, but at the same time they know how important it is for Flair to get his hands on the Horsemen
and have a chance to win one final championship before he retires. The two go back and forth, and in the end, C.M. Punk
eliminates Flair to win the 2008 Royal Rumble.
On the following Smackdown, you see Flair backstage getting dressed for his match. Long approaches Flair and congratulates
him at coming so close to winning the Rumble. Flair gets up and throws Long up against the wall. Flair says that close doesn't
cut it and he's blown his final chance of getting his hands on Heyman and Morrison. Flair says when Long painted him that
picture a few weeks back about winning the Rumble and going to WrestleMania for revenge and challenge for a title he's
never had before, he loved the idea. He thought it would be a hell of a way to go out. He said now he can't have it that way.
Flair said he's decided to not retire at WrestleMania. Long is happy, thinking Flair will continue to compete. Flair tells Long
he's decided to retire next week on Smackdown in the middle of the ring.
On the following ECW, Heyman tells The Horsemen that there is no way that they couldn't see Flair retire from the wrestling
business, so he's purchased five front row seats for Smackdown on Friday to see it live and in person. Heyman acts like he's
sad about the situation. He sits down and starts talking about seeing Flair wrestle when he was a kid. He says Flair was
always one of his favorite wrestlers growing up. He puts his hands over his head and asks himself why would he do that to
someone he's looked up to his entire life? He then looks into the camera and says "Because you have overstayed your
welcome in this business, Flair. It's time to move over and let the next generation of superstars take over. You will never have
the chance to step in the ring with my Nature Boy. We will be there this Friday night at Smackdown to witness you retiring
from a business you know deep down you don't want to retire from. You're retiring because we are forcing you to retire."
That Friday on Smackdown Flair comes down to the ring for the final segment on the show to retire. The Four Horsemen are
in the front row and give Flair a standing ovation when he enters the ring. Flair runs after them to attack them but security
keeps Flair back. Heyman and company are flashing their tickets at Flair to let them know that they paid for their seats. Before
Flair has a chance to speak, the entire Smackdown locker room comes out and and gets around the ring. They all start
clapping. The entire crowd then begins clapping. Flair looks around the ring and begins crying. Flair is crying and says, "That
son of a bitch right there (pointing to Heyman) and that son of a bitch right there (Morrison), don't deserve to be here to
witness this moment." Flair says "this is my moment, this is your moment."
Flair said he wanted to retire at WrestleMania, but he says he can't face anyone that isn't John Morrison, because his heart will
just not be into it. Flair says that since he couldn't win the Rumble and earn a shot at facing Morrison, he's never going to be
able to get a title match against the ECW Champion while he's on another show. Long gets in the ring and tells Flair he doesn't
want him to retire this way and grants him his release so that he can go to ECW. Heyman somehow gets a microphone and
says "It doesn't matter, Long. Morrison is already scheduled to defend the ECW Championship at WrestleMania against the
winner of the Royal Rumble, C.M. Punk. He'd just be coming to ECW for nothing, let him retire." Flair then says "He's right,
Teddy. Punk has earned the chance to challenge for that title at WrestleMania, not me. Maybe Heyman is right, it's time to
move over and let the new guys break through. So on that note, I'd like to announce that I'm offic.....<C.M. PUNK'S MUSIC
HITS>
Punk comes out and tells Flair that like many other wrestlers in the locker room, Flair was his idol growing up. He says he's
sat back for weeks now on ECW and watched what Heyman and The Horsemen are doing to Flair. He says it makes him sick
to his stomach. He tells Flair what an honor it was to be able to say he eliminated him to win the Royal Rumble. He tells him
that means way more to him than being able to get a title shot at WrestleMania. Punk tells Flair that the tradition in the
wrestling business is how the older guys give back to the new guys. Punk says he wants to do something that's never been
done before, which was for the new guy giving something back to the old guy for paving the road for him. Punk hands Flair a
paper. Flair looks at it and looks at Punk. Flair asks Punk if he's serious. Punk shakes his head. Flair hugs Punk. Punk
announces to the crowd that he's given his WrestleMania title match to Ric Flair to take on John Morrison. The place is going
crazy. The wrestlers around the ring are celebrating. Heyman and The Horsemen are irate.
On the following ECW, Heyman is promoting a major video that he will air at the end of the show. He says, "Flair, if you're
out there watching this right now, you better not change the channel. This video is a special message for you. If you are
someone out there right now watching this that knows Flair, call him up and tell him to turn on ECW. I hope you enjoy the
video Flair, we give it two thumbs up." At the end of the night you see the Horsemen sitting around a television eating popcorn
and laughing. Heyman looks into the camera and says "This is for you Flair." The video shows the Horsemen walking up to
someone's front door and ringing the door bell. When the door opens it's Arn Anderson and the Horsemen force their way into
his home. They begin beating Anderson down really bad while his wife is screaming. She goes to call 911 but Heyman grabs
her away from the phone and wraps his hand around her mouth. The Horsemen lay a beating on Anderson. As The Horsemen
are leaving, Heyman says "You can thank your best friend Flair for this beating, Arn. Your boy should have just retired instead
of accepting Punk's title shot at WrestleMania." Heyman then looks into the camera and says, "Flair, you see your best friend
laying there in a pool of his own blood? And we like Arn Anderson. However, we don't like you. Now if we would do
something like that to someone we liked, can you just imagine what we are going to do to you come WrestleMania?"
On the following Smackdown, they show a vignette of Flair visiting Anderson at the hospital. Flair begins crying at Arn's
bed. Anderson tells Flair what's done is done and there is nothing you can do by sitting there and crying about it. Anderson
tells Flair that he's the greatest wrestler to ever step foot in a wrestling ring and it's going to be an honor to watch him
compete for the ECW Championship in his final match ever at WrestleMania. Anderson tells Flair that it doesn't matter if he
has to crawl there from his hospital bed, he wouldn't miss it for the world. He tells Flair that's the way every single wrestler in
the locker room feels. He says that's how every single fan sitting in the audience feels. He says that's how every single fan
sitting at home feels. They want him to win the big one. He says if Space Mountain is closing after WrestleMania, that he
should give us all one last great ride. Anderson tells Flair that the only way fitting for Flair to retire is as a champion. Anderson
tells Flair not to do it for him. He tells him to not do it for the fans. He tells Flair to do it for himself, because it's how he
deserves to go out, a champion.
WWE should induct Ric Flair into the Hall of Fame the night before WrestleMania 24. The entire weekend should be built
around him. During Flair's speech, The Horsemen are in the audience screaming and trying to ruin Flair's night. Triple H, who
is sitting in the front row, gets up and goes after them to try and put it over as a shoot. Security breaks them up and Triple H
is screaming that this is Flair's night and how dare they disrespect the greatest wrestler ever on his most important night. John
Cena, Shawn Michaels, Batista, and other top babyfaces stand next to Triple H and are ready to do battle with The Horsemen.
The Horsemen are removed from the building and Flair finishes his speech. He goes on to say whether he wins or loses
tomorrow night, he's lived his dream and is so proud to have been in the wrestling business for so many years. He says
tomorrow night is his last match ever. He says there's no looking back.
Finally, at WrestleMania 24, Flair finally gets his hands on John Morrison and Paul Heyman. By this point the fans are so into
this storyline that they will be sitting on the edge of their seats for the entire match. There will be so much hype and emotion
in this match. This match could have ref bumps, run ins, tons of false finishes, and more. It could be that one last classic Ric
Flair match that the fans will always remember. And when it's all said and done, Ric Flair captures the ECW Championship in
the middle of the ring at WrestleMania. The entire locker room empties and puts Flair on their shoulders. The entire crowd is
going nuts watching Ric Flair retire as ECW Champion. That will be a WrestleMania moment that fans will remember forever.
So there you have it, that's how I would book the final months of Ric Flair. It would not only have him go out on top the way
he deserves to go out, but it would elevate new superstars while doing so. The fans love Ric Flair. They want to get behind
him, they just need a reason to. This is far more than a reason to. Every fan around the world will get behind Flair to see him
try and win one more title and get revenge before he retires from the ring. Booking it this way would really make Flair's last
match special. After all he's done for this business, it's the least WWE could do for him. That's how you should book the final
months of Ric Flair!
FEEDBACK: So what did you think of this storyline idea? Please let me know by E-Mailing me at:
feedback@bookingwrestling101.com or leaving a message on BookingWrestling101's official Myspace page at:
myspace.com/bookingwrestling101
It's Survivor Series 2007 and C.M. Punk is defending the ECW Championship against John Morrison. It's a great back and
forth match when there is a referee bump during the end of the match. Punk has just hit Morrison with his finishing move and
has him pinned. However, there is no referee there to make the pin. During this, Elijah Burke walks down to the ring and gets
on one side of it. Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin walk down to the ring and each get on another side of the ring. Paul
Heyman then makes a surprise return and walks down to stand on the forth side of the ring. With the referee still down,
Heyman raises four fingers in the air and all three men jump into the ring to aid Morrison. The three men give Punk a brutal
beating, including busting him open. They then pick up Morrison and put him on top of Punk and exit the ring. As the referee
is coming to, the three wrestlers along with Heyman walk back up to the top of the ramp. Morrison gets the win and regains
the ECW Championship. Morrison looks up the ramp and sees Burke, Haas, and Benjamin holding up four fingers while
Heyman looks on. Morrison holds up the title with one hand, while raising his four fingers with the other.
On the following episode of ECW, Paul Heyman comes out alone and cuts a promo in the ring. He talks about how he's been
sitting at home for the last year, waiting to come up with the next big idea to elevate the wrestling business to the next level.
He said he sat at home week after week watching ECW, a promotion that was once his baby. He said his baby was all grown
up now and he doesn't even recognize it anymore. He said it was time to get his baby back. He said if he couldn't own it like
he did back in the day, at least he was going to rule it. He said he wanted to form a stable of wrestlers that would be the
greatest stable in the history of wrestling. He said John Morrison reminds him of a young Ric Flair. He says Elijah Burke
reminds him of a young Tully Blanchard. He says Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin are better than the Anderson's ever were.
He said that's when it clicked that he should sign these four men and produce a stable of the next generation of superstars.
He says he needed a catchy name for them and began doing research. He says he looked into the name The Four Horsemen
and to much of his surprise, the name wasn't copyrighted. He says he couldn't believe that after all of the years of Ric Flair
and company working so hard to establish that name that they wouldn't put the extra work into copyrighting it. Heyman says
that sometimes you have to step on some toes in this business to get ahead and announces to the wrestling world that he's
purchased and copyrighted the name "The Four Horsemen." He then introduces The Four Horsemen to the audience; John
Morrison, Elijah Burke, and The World's Greatest Tag Team.
On the following episode of Smackdown, Ric Flair storms into Teddy Long's office demanding his release from Smackdown
so he can go to ECW to counter Paul Heyman and company. Long informs Flair that he's an important part of Smackdown
and there is no way that he could let him out of his contract. Flair screams how he's sacrificed his life for this business and
there is no way he's going to let Heyman and a bunch of punks make a name for themselves off of his legacy. He says the
Four Horsemen didn't need a copyright because he has been a Horsemen his entire life. He says the Four Horsemen is in his
blood. He says it's more than just a name, it's his life. Long agrees with Flair, but tells him it's bad business letting him leave
their show.
On the following episode of ECW, The Four Horsemen come out for a promo. Heyman is carrying a box to the ring, wrapped
as a gift. Heyman cuts a promo talking about how he watched Ric Flair cry to Teddy Long about what he did. Heyman says
it's not his fault that Flair didn't have enough common sense to copyright a name that apparently meant so much to him.
Heyman says Flair cared more about going out and partying every night then business. Heyman says Flair partied his life away
and now he's partied his legacy away as well. Heyman shows the world the documents that he owns the name The Four
Horsemen. Heyman then says how he in-visions John Morrison as the next Ric Flair. Heyman says that Morrison needs to
look the part so he went out and got him a present. Heyman says that he ran into Flair's ex-wife recently and asked her if she
had any old robes of her husband's laying around the house. He said that she had one and Heyman says he told her he's a huge
collector of wrestling merchandise and asked if he can buy it from her. Heyman says she said it wasn't worth anything and
that he can have it. Heyman hands Morrison the box and he opens it to find one of Ric Flair's robes in it. Morrison puts it on
and Heyman proclaims him "Nature Boy" John Morrison.
On the following Smackdown, Flair once again breaks into Long's office and is going crazy. Flair asks Long if he saw what
Heyman did on ECW Tuesday night. Long says he did and that Heyman has gone too far. Flair says he has and demands Long
to let him out of his contract so he can go to ECW for revenge. Flair says "First they stole The Four Horsemen name, and
now they stole mine?" Long informs Flair that he's under contract with Smackdown until the end of February and he's going
to have to wait until then to get his hands on Heyman and company. Flair says he's going to ECW on Tuesday and there is
nothing anyone can do about it.
On the following ECW show, Heyman convinces Armando Estrada to order a ton of security to keep Ric Flair out of the
building. Through out the show they show a camera crew outside waiting on the arrival of Flair. At the end of the show, Flair
shows up in jeans and a T-Shirt carrying a 2 by 4. Flair tries to make his way into the building but security is holding him
back. Flair is screaming for Heyman to come outside and face him like a man. The show goes off the air showing security
holding Flair back from getting into the arena while he's screaming for Heyman.
On the following Smackdown, they tease through out the show that Ric Flair has a major announcement to make. Flair comes
out and talks about his legacy in the wrestling business and everything that he's done for it. He mentions all of the titles he's
won and all of the big name opponents that he's wrestled. He said he wanted to wait until the right time to announce this to the
world, but now that Heyman and crew are destroying his life, there isn't a good time to announce it. Flair says he's at the end
of his road and plans to retire from the ring at WrestleMania 24. Flair begins crying and tells the fans how much he loves
them and how much they mean to him. He then flips out while crying.
"Dammit Heyman! As I stand in this ring, sharing perhaps my most special moment ever with my fans, I still can't get you out
of my mind. I'm going to show up to ECW again this Tuesday night. Be a man and let me into your building to face you guys
face to face. Let me look you and your punks into your eyes and tell you what I think about what you're doing. And if
security doesn't let me in, guess what? I'll come back the next week. If I get thrown out, I'll come back the following week. I
will continue to show up to ECW week in and week out until I get my hands wrapped around your neck. And Morrison, who
the hell do you think you are? My friend, I was selling out buildings while you were playing with my action figure. And now
you're going to call yourself "The Nature Boy." Over my dead body you are."
On the following ECW, Flair shows up again to the building with a baseball bat and storms towards the arena door. Security is
there to meet him again. Flair begins screaming to let him into the building. Heyman walks out of the building with a police
officer and tells the officer that "that's the guy." The police officer arrests Flair and takes him away in a police car. As the car
is driving away with Flair's face pinned to the window looking down Heyman, Heyman simply says "Wooooooooooooo" as
the show goes off the air.
On the following Smackdown, Teddy Long comes to the ring and calls out Ric Flair. Long says he's been thinking long and
hard about Flair's situation with Heyman and company. Long said while he still can't let Flair walk away from Smackdown, he
can offer Flair a solution on how he could get his hands on Heyman and company. Long says coming up is the Royal Rumble,
where the winner gets a title shot at WrestleMania 24 against any champion he chooses. Long tells Flair to look at the picture
he's painting for him. It's WrestleMania 24, the biggest event of the year and Ric Flair's retirement match. Flair is standing in
the ring challenging John Morrison for the ECW Championship, a title that Flair has never held before. Long tells Flair if he's
going to go out, it's got to be on top. Long says what a way to end your career, winning the ECW Championship in your very
last match, retiring a champion. Long says "Can you feel that, player?" Flair says he certainly can.
While all of this is going on, CM Punk is still in a heated weekly feud with Morrison. Elijah Burke is in a little program with
Stevie Richards, while The World's Greatest Tag Team are working with The Major Brothers. Since The Horsemen are the
top focus of the company, it'll elevate Stevie Richards and The Major Brothers by working with them every week. If done
correctly, The Major Brothers could become a current version of the Rock & Roll Express. It could lead to an eight man tag
match at the Rumble with The Four Horsemen against C.M. Punk, Stevie Richards, and The Major Brothers.
On the ECW show before the Rumble, The Horsemen come out and cut a promo. Heyman asks Flair if he really thinks he's
going to win the Rumble? He tells Flair that he's an old man and he's making the right choice by retiring at WrestleMania. He
says for his last match he needs to be in the ring with someone like Dusty Rhodes, not the modern day Nature Boy John
Morrison. He tells Flair the only way he's going to get a shot at Morrison is if he wins the Rumble, so there is nothing for him
to worry about. He says, "Do you think all of those young, hungry wrestlers are going to sit back and let you take away their
dream of headlining WrestleMania? Do you think you're still good enough to defeat twenty nine of the greatest, and much
younger by the way, wrestlers in the world today? Face it Flair, your time is over in this business. It's time to move over and
let guys like John Morrison, guys like Elijah Burke, and guys like The World's Greatest Tag Team take over. The end of the
line is coming very soon for Space Mountain."
At the Rumble, it comes down to C.M. Punk and Ric Flair. The crowd is torn. They love C.M. Punk and want him to win the
biggest match of his career, but at the same time they know how important it is for Flair to get his hands on the Horsemen
and have a chance to win one final championship before he retires. The two go back and forth, and in the end, C.M. Punk
eliminates Flair to win the 2008 Royal Rumble.
On the following Smackdown, you see Flair backstage getting dressed for his match. Long approaches Flair and congratulates
him at coming so close to winning the Rumble. Flair gets up and throws Long up against the wall. Flair says that close doesn't
cut it and he's blown his final chance of getting his hands on Heyman and Morrison. Flair says when Long painted him that
picture a few weeks back about winning the Rumble and going to WrestleMania for revenge and challenge for a title he's
never had before, he loved the idea. He thought it would be a hell of a way to go out. He said now he can't have it that way.
Flair said he's decided to not retire at WrestleMania. Long is happy, thinking Flair will continue to compete. Flair tells Long
he's decided to retire next week on Smackdown in the middle of the ring.
On the following ECW, Heyman tells The Horsemen that there is no way that they couldn't see Flair retire from the wrestling
business, so he's purchased five front row seats for Smackdown on Friday to see it live and in person. Heyman acts like he's
sad about the situation. He sits down and starts talking about seeing Flair wrestle when he was a kid. He says Flair was
always one of his favorite wrestlers growing up. He puts his hands over his head and asks himself why would he do that to
someone he's looked up to his entire life? He then looks into the camera and says "Because you have overstayed your
welcome in this business, Flair. It's time to move over and let the next generation of superstars take over. You will never have
the chance to step in the ring with my Nature Boy. We will be there this Friday night at Smackdown to witness you retiring
from a business you know deep down you don't want to retire from. You're retiring because we are forcing you to retire."
That Friday on Smackdown Flair comes down to the ring for the final segment on the show to retire. The Four Horsemen are
in the front row and give Flair a standing ovation when he enters the ring. Flair runs after them to attack them but security
keeps Flair back. Heyman and company are flashing their tickets at Flair to let them know that they paid for their seats. Before
Flair has a chance to speak, the entire Smackdown locker room comes out and and gets around the ring. They all start
clapping. The entire crowd then begins clapping. Flair looks around the ring and begins crying. Flair is crying and says, "That
son of a bitch right there (pointing to Heyman) and that son of a bitch right there (Morrison), don't deserve to be here to
witness this moment." Flair says "this is my moment, this is your moment."
Flair said he wanted to retire at WrestleMania, but he says he can't face anyone that isn't John Morrison, because his heart will
just not be into it. Flair says that since he couldn't win the Rumble and earn a shot at facing Morrison, he's never going to be
able to get a title match against the ECW Champion while he's on another show. Long gets in the ring and tells Flair he doesn't
want him to retire this way and grants him his release so that he can go to ECW. Heyman somehow gets a microphone and
says "It doesn't matter, Long. Morrison is already scheduled to defend the ECW Championship at WrestleMania against the
winner of the Royal Rumble, C.M. Punk. He'd just be coming to ECW for nothing, let him retire." Flair then says "He's right,
Teddy. Punk has earned the chance to challenge for that title at WrestleMania, not me. Maybe Heyman is right, it's time to
move over and let the new guys break through. So on that note, I'd like to announce that I'm offic.....<C.M. PUNK'S MUSIC
HITS>
Punk comes out and tells Flair that like many other wrestlers in the locker room, Flair was his idol growing up. He says he's
sat back for weeks now on ECW and watched what Heyman and The Horsemen are doing to Flair. He says it makes him sick
to his stomach. He tells Flair what an honor it was to be able to say he eliminated him to win the Royal Rumble. He tells him
that means way more to him than being able to get a title shot at WrestleMania. Punk tells Flair that the tradition in the
wrestling business is how the older guys give back to the new guys. Punk says he wants to do something that's never been
done before, which was for the new guy giving something back to the old guy for paving the road for him. Punk hands Flair a
paper. Flair looks at it and looks at Punk. Flair asks Punk if he's serious. Punk shakes his head. Flair hugs Punk. Punk
announces to the crowd that he's given his WrestleMania title match to Ric Flair to take on John Morrison. The place is going
crazy. The wrestlers around the ring are celebrating. Heyman and The Horsemen are irate.
On the following ECW, Heyman is promoting a major video that he will air at the end of the show. He says, "Flair, if you're
out there watching this right now, you better not change the channel. This video is a special message for you. If you are
someone out there right now watching this that knows Flair, call him up and tell him to turn on ECW. I hope you enjoy the
video Flair, we give it two thumbs up." At the end of the night you see the Horsemen sitting around a television eating popcorn
and laughing. Heyman looks into the camera and says "This is for you Flair." The video shows the Horsemen walking up to
someone's front door and ringing the door bell. When the door opens it's Arn Anderson and the Horsemen force their way into
his home. They begin beating Anderson down really bad while his wife is screaming. She goes to call 911 but Heyman grabs
her away from the phone and wraps his hand around her mouth. The Horsemen lay a beating on Anderson. As The Horsemen
are leaving, Heyman says "You can thank your best friend Flair for this beating, Arn. Your boy should have just retired instead
of accepting Punk's title shot at WrestleMania." Heyman then looks into the camera and says, "Flair, you see your best friend
laying there in a pool of his own blood? And we like Arn Anderson. However, we don't like you. Now if we would do
something like that to someone we liked, can you just imagine what we are going to do to you come WrestleMania?"
On the following Smackdown, they show a vignette of Flair visiting Anderson at the hospital. Flair begins crying at Arn's
bed. Anderson tells Flair what's done is done and there is nothing you can do by sitting there and crying about it. Anderson
tells Flair that he's the greatest wrestler to ever step foot in a wrestling ring and it's going to be an honor to watch him
compete for the ECW Championship in his final match ever at WrestleMania. Anderson tells Flair that it doesn't matter if he
has to crawl there from his hospital bed, he wouldn't miss it for the world. He tells Flair that's the way every single wrestler in
the locker room feels. He says that's how every single fan sitting in the audience feels. He says that's how every single fan
sitting at home feels. They want him to win the big one. He says if Space Mountain is closing after WrestleMania, that he
should give us all one last great ride. Anderson tells Flair that the only way fitting for Flair to retire is as a champion. Anderson
tells Flair not to do it for him. He tells him to not do it for the fans. He tells Flair to do it for himself, because it's how he
deserves to go out, a champion.
WWE should induct Ric Flair into the Hall of Fame the night before WrestleMania 24. The entire weekend should be built
around him. During Flair's speech, The Horsemen are in the audience screaming and trying to ruin Flair's night. Triple H, who
is sitting in the front row, gets up and goes after them to try and put it over as a shoot. Security breaks them up and Triple H
is screaming that this is Flair's night and how dare they disrespect the greatest wrestler ever on his most important night. John
Cena, Shawn Michaels, Batista, and other top babyfaces stand next to Triple H and are ready to do battle with The Horsemen.
The Horsemen are removed from the building and Flair finishes his speech. He goes on to say whether he wins or loses
tomorrow night, he's lived his dream and is so proud to have been in the wrestling business for so many years. He says
tomorrow night is his last match ever. He says there's no looking back.
Finally, at WrestleMania 24, Flair finally gets his hands on John Morrison and Paul Heyman. By this point the fans are so into
this storyline that they will be sitting on the edge of their seats for the entire match. There will be so much hype and emotion
in this match. This match could have ref bumps, run ins, tons of false finishes, and more. It could be that one last classic Ric
Flair match that the fans will always remember. And when it's all said and done, Ric Flair captures the ECW Championship in
the middle of the ring at WrestleMania. The entire locker room empties and puts Flair on their shoulders. The entire crowd is
going nuts watching Ric Flair retire as ECW Champion. That will be a WrestleMania moment that fans will remember forever.
So there you have it, that's how I would book the final months of Ric Flair. It would not only have him go out on top the way
he deserves to go out, but it would elevate new superstars while doing so. The fans love Ric Flair. They want to get behind
him, they just need a reason to. This is far more than a reason to. Every fan around the world will get behind Flair to see him
try and win one more title and get revenge before he retires from the ring. Booking it this way would really make Flair's last
match special. After all he's done for this business, it's the least WWE could do for him. That's how you should book the final
months of Ric Flair!
FEEDBACK: So what did you think of this storyline idea? Please let me know by E-Mailing me at:
feedback@bookingwrestling101.com or leaving a message on BookingWrestling101's official Myspace page at:
myspace.com/bookingwrestling101
ing brilliant IMO. I was REALLY into that. Lol. And I agree, it would be a very emotional match. Definately, on-the-edge-of-your-seat stuff.
