Undertaker attacked The Rock in the build up to their match at No Way Out the previous month, which Flair publicly criticized. Ric Flair then interfered in Undertaker’s match with The Rock and hit Undertaker with a lead pipe. Undertaker persuaded Flair into a match by attacking his son David Flair, and his long-time friend, Arn Anderson. Due to Ric Flair participating in the match, Vince McMahon was given 100% control over the company temporarily, with the matter being reviewed after WrestleMania. It also included Ric Flair hitting a plant while brawling with Taker in the crowd.
Before the match, The Hurricane is trying to find
somewhere to hide, he finds the women’s locker room and scares some of the Godfather’s
Hoes. We hear Undertaker making his way to the entranceway on his motorcycle before his music hits.
UNDERTAKER VS.
RIC FLAIR
(No Disqualifications)
WWF Wrestlemania 18 (17th March 2002)
They exchange right hands to start, Ric Flair gets the early advantage with right hands and the occasional chop knocking Undertaker out of the ring.
Undertaker shakes the cobwebs and meets Flair with a right hand, but gets knocked back into the announce table. Ric Flair pounces at Undertaker sending them both over to where JR and King were sat seconds ago. Ric Flair rains down punches on Undertaker as a fan in the front row cheers him on and allows Taker to his feet. Undertaker goes for a walk and again cuts Flair off with a right hand of his own. Flair fires back but is knocked down with what looked like it should have been a back elbow but ends up being a hip attack from Undertaker, who gets back in the ring. Ric Flair catches Undertaker trying to leave the ring on the other side and gets in some boxing practice, knocking Undertaker through the ropes again. Undertaker catches a diver from the apron and sends Flair’s back into the ring post. Ric Flair is knocked down with a right hand and then sent into the ring steps. Undertaker throws Flair into the ring but wastes too much time on the floor and is met with more punches from Naitch. Undertaker eats the shots and throws Flair into the corner for his receipt before changing things up with a headbutt.
Ric Flair is sent into the corner and it looks like he wanted to flip over, but couldn’t get the momentum as he hits the turnbuckle hard. Undertaker sends Flair into the corner again and he gets it, going over to the apron and getting knocked to the floor by an Undertaker Big Boot. My WWE Network decides to buffer but I think Undertaker sends Flair into the announce table. We come back as Flair is sat in Fink’s chair and Undertaker throws punches for fun at Flair’s head. Ric Flair is busted open so Undertaker uses the cut for a target, Ric Flair tries to fight back but it’s just a nuisance for Undertaker as he leans Flair against the ring. Undertaker knocks Flair down again before bringing it back to the ring for a running boot. Undertaker knocks Flair down in the corner with more punches and intimidates Charles Robinson for a second, giving Flair the chance to fight back with a chop, then another 4 to knock Undertaker back across the ring. Undertaker reverses an irish whip and crushes Flair in the corner with a clothesline.
Undertaker connects with a boot and some punches before bringing Flair back to his feet in the corner. Ric Flair goes for a run into the turnbuckle, Undertaker clotheslines him and perches Ric Flair on the top rope to hit a superplex for a nearfall. Ric Flair desperately chops Undertaker but falls to the ground, where he’s an easy target for a boot and fist drop. Seriously, when have you ever seen Undertaker break out the fist drop? Ric Flair is dragged under the bottom rope to drape over the apron and Undertaker hits an elbow drop before rolling Flair over for a leg drop across the back of Flair’s neck. Undertaker gets back in the ring and covers but brings Ric Flair’s shoulder up at 2 before continuing the assault. Undertaker knocks Flair down but misses the elbow drop. Ric Flair fights back to his feet and chops Undertaker back to the corner. Undertaker knocks Flair down with one shot and sets up the Old School as King is trying to find out what a Booger Red is. Yet again, Undertaker wastes too much time and he’s jerked off…. The top rope.
Ric Flair chops at Undertaker but runs into a sidewalk slam. Undertaker covers but gets 2 as Flair gets his shoulder up. Ric Flair avoids the running Big Boot and chops at Undertaker, a right hand knocks Undertaker to the floor and Ric Flair follows to grab at Undertaker’s face. Ric Flair takes the lead pipe from Undertaker’s bike and hits Taker across the head with it. Undertaker gets to his feet in the way of the camera and he’s bleeding too. Ric Flair attacks Undertaker’s midsection with the lead pipe but is driven into the side of the ring. The lead pipe rolls all the way across the ring as Undertaker sends Flair into the barricade on the entrance ramp. Ric Flair hits Undertaker with a “keep off” sign because fuck that sign, every sign and the damn nanny state! Anyway, slight tangent. More shots from the sign bring the action back to the ring, Ric Flair stands above Undertaker and connects with more right hands before strutting. Ric Flair gets another shot in and hits the ropes, but runs right into a goozle. Flair breaks the goozle by swinging for Undertaker’s balls and trips Taker over to put on the Figure Four Leglock.
Undertaker fights it until his shoulders drop, 1, 2, Undertaker sits up! He grabs Flair by the throat and they get to their feet as Flair lets go of the hold. Undertaker hits a weak Chokeslam whilst selling the leg and crawls over to cover, Ric Flair’s shoulder is up at 2 so Undertaker throws some more right hands. He still only gets a nearfall, but on the plus side, we get a really good replay of him sitting up. Undertaker decides the match needs a ref bump before grabbing the lead pipe from earlier, Ric Flair is able to cut Undertaker off as he gets back in the ring, with a kick to the midsection and chops. Undertaker is sent off the ropes as Arn Anderson appears from nowhere! Undertaker runs through Flair’s chop into a Double A Spinebuster! Ric Flair covers 1, 2, NO! The crowd bit on that 2-count. Ric Flair is launched out of the ring and Undertaker goes for a chat with Anderson. Arn Anderson gets juice after a right hand but is sent into the ring for a Big Boot too. Undertaker puts Arn Anderson in the standing Dragon Sleeper (I think he called it “Takin’ Care of Business” or something for a short while.) Ric Flair has a chair and he hits Undertaker across the back as we’re reminded for the 5th time that it’s a no DQ match. Ric Flair connects with more chair shots but is knocked down with a Big Boot.
Undertaker struggles to get Ric Flair up for the
Last Ride, he tries a second time and Flair just faceplants to the floor before
he can leave the floor. Undertaker hits a Tombstone Piledriver for the win.
WINNER: UNDERTAKER
This match had more awkward moments than I remembered going in and unfortunately one of them was the finish. Getting a variation of the “Ric Flair can’t hit a move from the top rope” using the apron and Arn Anderson’s cameo drag the match back slightly, but not by much. [**¼] 5/10
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