Pro wrestling is a “never say never” business. Look at what’s about to main event WrestleMania. Go back five years and tell fans leaving Royal Rumble 2021 that Roman Reigns would be challenging CM Punk for the World Heavyweight title in a feud at least partially built on “make Roman look strong”. They’d probably think you were experiencing some new symptom of long COVID.
So it’s the expected answer when a retired wrestler is asked about the proverbial “one more match”, especially if they retired early
due to injury. We’ve seen Bryan Danielson, Adam “Edge” Copeland, Nikki Bella and others get medically cleared after being told years earlier to never take another bump. Which is why “never say never” has long been an implied part of Big E’s answer when the former WWE champ is asked about returning to the ring after suffering a broken neck in a 2022 match — along with E (real name Ettore Ewen, and forever Large Epsilon to this writer) consistently saying that he’s not cleared, is at peace with that, and happy with his life as-is.
E just went ahead and said it on Media Row at Super Bowl week, when he was asked if he ever gets the itch to wrestle by Compas on the Beat:
“I’m content. You know, in wrestling they always say ‘never say never.’ But right now I’m retired, and that for me is it. So I’m focused on other things right now.”
Meanwhile, someone we’d expect to say “never say never” actually said “never” this week. Ric Flair famously diminished his iconic farewell match with Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 24 by wrestling on a Hulk Hogan tour less than two years later, and working several matches for TNA after that. The Nature Boy had his own Last Match event in 2022, which he claims to have had a heart attack during.
And that seemed like what Flair was doing at a virtual signing for K&S WrestleFest yesterday (Feb. 5), mentioning that “somebody” wanted to book him for another “last” match, this one against Ricky Morton. The 76-year-old Naitch didn’t say he’d do it, but adding that the unnamed promoter was ere “way off on financial terms” with their offer led to speculation Flair was considering it.
He hopped on social this morning to shoot that down, in his signature Title Case-style — and with a plug for his next appearances, of course…
First, Let Me Clear Something Up! I Will Never Wrestle Again. I’m Heading To Flair Country. Charleston, South Carolina Get Ready! The Nature Boy And @FitermanSports Are Taking Over @SpookyEmpire This Weekend! If You Want To Be The Best, You Gotta Be With The Best! Come See Me Saturday & Sunday!
We know which of these guys we believe. Let us know what you think about the wrestling futures of Large Epsilon and The Nature Boy in the comments below.
