Legendary wrestler Ric Flair is set to come out of retirement for one final match, 11 years after his most recent one, although one rival has already turned down the chance to face him.
Flair last fought against former WCW rival Sting, for Impact back in September 2011, but fans will be given one last chance to see him compete.
The 73-year-old took to Twitter to reveal that he'll be appearing on SummerSlam weekend, at the end of July, to compete in Jim Crockett Promotions, part of the wrestling convention Starrcast.
A press release from Starrcast then added more information to Flair's social media reveal, saying, "On July 31, at 6.05pm EDT, 'The Nature Boy' Ric Flair, who many consider the greatest professional wrestler of all-time, is set to return to the ring, one final time, as part of 'Jim Crockett Promotions Presents: Ric Flair’s Last Match' wrestling event.
"Taking place at the world famous Nashville Fairgrounds, the 16-time former World Heavyweight Champion will don a new custom-made robe and bring the one-of-a-kind showmanship that has made Flair a cultural icon for his over-40 years in the professional wrestling business."
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Flair added, "I’m going to walk that aisle, one last time to prove once and for all, that to be the Man, you’ve got to beat the Man."
It's expected that the two time WWE Hall of Famer will be part of a six man tag team match in the show, although it's not been confirmed.
AEW tag team FTR have been rumoured to be the duo that Flair will team up with and Rock N Roll Express, a tag team with an average of 64, supposedly the opponents.
Rock N Roll Express would also need a third man and it was rumoured to be Ricky 'the Dragon' Steamboat who would team with them.
However, Steamboat has ruled out getting back in the ring, though he did confirm he was approached, "I was approached and [I’ve] given it some really serious thought," the 69-year-old told Highspots.
"A lot of respect for the guy in the ring. Both of us are night and day when it comes to stuff out of the ring.
"I thought about it for a week and just recently declined on it. I know when I wrestled Jericho at WrestleMania 25 [in 2009] and then we had the return match at Backlash in a singles.
"At 69, and I know it’s a six man tag and I can get a little this and that in, but with all due respect to our fans, I want them to remember me that last time I was in there with Jericho when they chanted, ‘You still got it!’ I don’t want to scar that phrase.
"It would be a great payday, sure, but I don’t want them thinking ‘maybe he should have stayed retired."
Flair and Steamboat had a trilogy of classic matches back in 1989 for the NWA World Heavyweight championship and a reunion between the pair would have made huge sense.
Sting would be another who makes sense as an opponent, considering the pair's history and that the WCW icon is also competing in AEW, along with FTR.
As well as his final fight, 16 time world champion Flair is also set to be reunited with other members of the Four Horsemen faction he was part of.
The Nature Boy, alongside Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Barry Windham, Lex Luger, and JJ Dillon, will talk about their time as a group in the first and last time this particular group of the Horsemen will be together.
Topics: Wrestling, WWE, Ric Flair, Summerslam
Ryan Sidle