On the night Mr. McMahon threw down the Win-or-Retire gauntlet, Flair prepared for what looked to be his final curtain call. His opponent was his former protégé, WWE Champion Randy Orton, a man eager to take out his former Evolution mentor. Even as the Charlotte, N.C., crowd tried to rally their native son, Flair seemed on the verge of falling to the self-proclaimed "Legend Killer." But the veteran wasn’t ready to throw in the towel just yet.

Watch how Flair survived

There were moments during Flair’s Career Threatening Match with Umaga that were, to be blunt, painful to watch. Each blow absorbed by Flair looked as if it would shatter his staggering frame. But something happened beneath the lights of Buffalo, N.Y.'s HSBC Arena: The "Nature Boy" refused to quit.

See how Flair outlasted the 348-pound Samoan Bulldozer

New Year’s Eve is usually a time to celebrate. But for Flair, putting his career on the line that night against Triple H proved gut-wrenching. Were he to lose, his career would be over. Were he to win, he would eliminate his friend and protégé from the Royal Rumble and ruin his title dreams. Still, both had a classic, hard-fought match in that Greensboro, N.C., ring. In the end, however, Raw GM William Regal was the surprising decisive factor in the match.

Watch the battle

In his fourth do-or-die match, Flair clashed with the man who helped save his bacon two weeks earlier, William Regal. The Raw GM was eager to please his boss, Mr. McMahon, by shutting down the "Nature Boy" and ending his career once and for all. But Flair had other ideas and reminded Regal why he is the "Dirtiest Player in the Game."

Watch Flair's "clean" getaway from Regal

At 2007’s Vengeance: Night of Champions, MVP eked out a victory over Ric Flair after hitting the 16-time World Champion in the groin. But with his career in the balance at the 2008 Royal Rumble, Flair wasn’t about to allow a repeat. During their Career Threatening Match, Flair and the United States Champion were both laid out simultaneously at one point before the legend rallied to lock  the figure-4 onto MVP for the win and a chance to fight another day. 

Flair vs. MVP Royal Rumble photo gallery

Less than 24 hours after his decisive victory over MVP at Royal Rumble, the "Nature Boy" accepted a challenge from Mr. Kennedy on Raw. Flair had good reason to feel confident, until he and the United States Champion met in a Career Threatening Rematch on Friday Night SmackDown. Flair once again earned the victory, but at great cost. Disqualified for refusing to break his reversal of the Figure Four Leglock, MVP would nearly break Flair's knee in the process.

Witness MVP's assault | Watch exclusive post-match footage | Photos

Against Mr. Kennedy at No Way Out in Las Vegas, Flair rolled the dice and won the opportunity to fight another day. In many ways, the match pitted WWE's past against, as Mr. Kennedy calls himself, "the future of sports-entertainment." The loudmouth from Green Bay, Wis. punished Flair's previously injured knee. But it was the legend who would administer the final punishment.    

Flair vs. Mr. Kennedy No Way Out photo gallery 

To paraphrase an old adage--if you want something won, you have to win it yourself. Maybe that was the thinking behind Mr. McMahon challenging Flair to a Career Threatening Street Fight. The Chairman bloodied "Naitch" with a series of weapons, including a garbage can, a kendo stick and a folding metal chair. The Dirtiest Player in the Game, however, would not be denied.

Watch Flair survive the Chairman's challenge

Shawn Michaels didn't want to be known as the man who ended Ric Flair's career. After all, he idolized the "Nature Boy." But Flair challenged him to a match at WrestleMania and the only way HBK could keep the legendary Hall of Famer's respect was to give him his very best. And with a heavy heart, HBK gave Flair his best - and ended his career on The Grandest Stage of Them All.

Story | Photos | Video: Salute to Flair | Backstage Photos