Time defeated him first – everything followed.

__________________________

Eventually, “I ain’t as good as I once was, but I’m as good once as I ever was” turns into “I can’t do that anymore.” It’s hard to know when that happens, though, unless you continue trying.

I’ve always enjoyed the genre of story where the old gunslinger, the old boxer, the old dog, etc., gets up for one last fight and goes down in a blaze of glory. If the old character wins decisively, then he/she isn’t at the edge, yet. There’s more story left to be told. If they lose decisively, then he or she is way beyond the edge and it’s more of a sad and tragic ending (and it’s probably a moment in someone else’s journey.) For the story to work, you need to dance around on that line.

Pro Wrestling handles these stories better than any other medium. Who among us doesn’t remember Shawn Michaels, with tears in his eyes, taking out Ric Flair and ending his career… then sobbing over him after. Give them both an Academy Award.