WWE icon refused to headline WrestleMania ahead of Edge and The Undertaker

Ric Aptitude not too long ago recalled how he rejected the chance to interchange Edge and The Undertaker in the primary occasion of WrestleMania 24.

Aptitude retired from in-ring competitors in 2008 after dropping an emotional match in opposition to Shawn Michaels. The 20-minute contest was the fifth bout on the nine-match card, with Edge and The Undertaker’s World Heavyweight Championship encounter occurring final.

Talking on his To Be The Man podcast, the 16-time world champion revealed that he and Michaels have been provided the possibility to main-event that night time.

“They really requested me if I needed to go on final in Orlando and I stated, ‘God, completely not,’” Aptitude stated. “I liked the eye I used to be getting however I wasn’t gonna ask the World Champion, whoever it was at the moment, to go over and say, ‘Hey, thanks for this [main-event spot].’” [34:11-34:33]

Edge held the World Heavyweight Championship heading into the occasion. The Rated-R Celebrity misplaced the title to The Undertaker, who prolonged his WrestleMania undefeated streak to 16-0.

Ric Aptitude’s opinion on his WrestleMania farewell

Is Shawn Michaels vs Ric Aptitude from wrestlemania 24 one of many biggest matches of all time? https://t.co/SPfsjMibuB

WWE paid tribute to Aptitude’s profession all through WrestleMania 24 weekend, beginning together with his Corridor of Fame induction one night time earlier than his remaining match. The corporate additionally held a celebration for the 73-year-old on the post-WrestleMania episode of RAW.

In hindsight, Aptitude nonetheless believes he made the proper name by refusing to go on final with Shawn Michaels.

“I’d moderately know that it’s one of many biggest moments, I believe, within the historical past of the enterprise, as a result of it was very actual… primary,” Aptitude continued. “Quantity two, I used to be working with one of the best employee within the historical past of the enterprise. And quantity three, it was my life.” [34:35-34:49]

Whereas Aptitude wouldn’t change something about his remaining WWE in-ring efficiency, he nonetheless has regrets about wrestling for TNA/IMPACT Wrestling in 2010 and 2011. The Nature Boy added that he solely returned to the ring for monetary causes after a divorce.