MONTEL VONTAVIOUS PORTER VS. RIC FLAIR

 If Ric Flair loses this match, or any match for that matter, he will have to retire. Cole mentions that Ric Flair debuted back in 1972 and hypes up Madison Square Garden as a venue to retire in. Flair has a microphone and he says he’s thankful to have wrestled in MSG, having first wrestled here in ’76. MVP cuts the appreciation speech short with his entrance, he’s the United States Champion, but the title isn’t on the line.

Michael Cole and Jonathan Coachman are on commentary for this match.

MONTEL VONTAVIOUS PORTER VS. RIC FLAIR

(Career Threatening match)

WWE Royal Rumble 2008 (27^th January 2008)

  They circle and Flair stalls before locking up with MVP. Montel Vontavious Porter grabs a headlock, he’s sent off the ropes but knocks Flair down with a shoulder tackle.

  They lock up again as Coach talks about the pressure Flair’s under now every match threatens his career and Flair is backed into the corner for a clean break. Ric Flair controls the arm from another lock up, he puts on the hammerlock and MVP uses the ropes to get out of it. MVP slaps Flair in the face but is chopped back into the corner. Ric Flair connects with punches and knocks MVP down with another chop. MVP is chopped back into the ropes, Flair grabs the headlock and is sent into the ropes, he knocks MVP down with the shoulder tackle but gets caught with a drop toehold. MVP boots Flair in the side of the head and brings him down with a neckbreaker, but Flair kicks out at 1. MVP with some ground and pound as we see a replay, covering Flair who kicks out again. The crowd tells MVP he sucks as he keeps Flair on the mat. Ric Flair gets to his feet but is backed into the corner for strikes from MVP. He sends Ric Flair across the ring into the turnbuckles but runs into a back elbow. MVP is cut down with a chop block but he kicks off the Figure Four attempt. Flair chops away and MVP again, MVP puts on a headlock but it’s reversed into an atomic drop, Flair trips MVP going for another Figure Four but MVP rolls Flair up for 2. Flair chops at MVP but eats a back elbow and a right hand, he gets in another chop but MVP gets in an onslaught of offence before Charles Robinson backs him away.

  MVP sends Flair into the turnbuckles and he stumbles out into a backdrop. Ric Flair uses the ropes to get to his feet and MVP hits a running boot in the corner. Flair Flop, MVP rolls him over and covers. Ric Flair gets his foot on the rope but the referee counts 3, so MVP thinks he’s won. Ric Flair rolls MVP up with a schoolboy but only gets 2, MVP takes back control with a clothesline and punches Flair before covering again, forcing Flair to kick out this time. A butterfly suplex gets MVP another nearfall and he sets Flair up on the top rope as we see the false finish again. MVP hits a superplex and gets 2, Cole is really pushing how it could be Flair’s last match tonight, so we pretty much know it won’t be. MVP slaps Ric Flair around but Flair kicks his way down from MVP’s shoulders, he lands on his arse but gets to his feet quickly enough to chop MVP, they both connect with clotheslines and Flair has to get back to his feet using the ropes. He connects with a chop and a kick before rolling MVP up in a small package! MVP kicks out at 2 again. MVP kicks out at 2 on the backslide so Flair goes back to chops and right hands. MVP kicks Flair in the midsection after he celebrated too early and hits the face smash onto his knee.

  MVP goes for the Playmaker since he beat Flair with it back at Night of Champions, but Ric Flair counters into the Figure Four! He gets it locked in and MVP taps out.

WINNER: RIC FLAIR

The result of this match wasn’t in any doubt, even with commentary laying it on thick, but it was a good story of survival for Ric Flair and his limited move set at this time. Very strike heavy with some back bumps in the match. It wasn't the worse stepping stone to WrestleMania [**] 4.5/10