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It's All Good For Ric Flair These Days

It's All Good For Ric Flair These Days

Posted: Dec 3rd 2009 By: CMBurnham

Let the bidding war begin for pro wrestling's hottest free agent: Ric Flair.

The "Nature Boy" is officially back on the market, having just returned to the ring for the first time since a ballyhooed World Wrestling Entertainment "retirement" in March 2008. The 61-year-old Flair drew rave reviews for his work carrying a fellow graybeard -- Hulk Hogan -- in main events on a four-show "Hulkamania" tour of Australia.

Flair said he rekindled an old friendship with Hogan that had frayed when both worked under Eric Bischoff in the now-defunct World Championship Wrestling during the 1990s.

"It was great," Flair said Wednesday night shortly after returning stateside. "Everything is good between us now, like nothing ever happened.
"Standing there in the ring watching Hogan come down (the aisle), you can never get too much of that. It made every crowd feel like it was sold-out. He has that magic. It's just fun being in the ring with him."

The big question now is whether Flair and Hogan will re-create that magic in TNA Wrestling.

For the first time since the company's inception seven years ago, Flair said he would seriously consider joining Hogan in TNA because of a strained working relationship with WWE.

"I haven't entertained the idea of working there because I've been so loyal to WWE, but you never know what's going to go on," Flair said. "I don't want to make any predictions, but I've certainly got a lot left to offer. I think I would be a good addition to (TNA's) program.

"Everything is about money, timing, what they want me to do and the job description. There's a lot up in the air. I haven't talked to (TNA ownership) yet, but I've had conversations with people who work there. I've stood by WWE, but if they're not going to use me anymore, I'm ready for any kind of action."

No grappler had ever received as celebrated a send-off as WWE gave Flair during a legitimately touching "Monday Night Raw" telecast 19 months ago. Flair, though, quickly grew bored with WWE public appearances, autograph-signings and fan conventions. He also was under the gun for more income because of massive alimony payments to two ex-wives.

Flair wanted to wrestle again, but WWE was reticent to use him as a full-time talent. WWE owner Vince McMahon thought it was time for the greatest performer in wrestling history to call it a career after 37 years.

Flair began working this spring for the Philadelphia-based Ring of Honor in a figurehead commissioner role. WWE, though, quickly brought back Flair because they didn't want him appearing on ROH telecasts that air Monday nights before "Raw" on HD-NET.

This is where things get weird. Flair returned to "Raw" in June and was involved in a well-received brawl with WWE champion Randy Orton. WWE, though, never followed through and the story line was abruptly dropped.

Flair said he was told by company officials that he was yanked from television because he had signed an agreement to wrestle for a rival touring group in China, which is a country where WWE wants to expand its product. Asked whether he truly believes such an implausible excuse, Flair chuckled and said, "It sounds flimsy to me, too."

Frozen out of wrestling by WWE, Flair agreed to work the Hulkamania tour before Hogan and Bischoff signed with TNA. That duo is expected to debut on "TNA Impact" (9 p.m. EST Thursdays, Spike TV) in January and help run the company behind the scenes.

"I'm not sure where that leaves me with (WWE) now," said Flair, whose non-compete clause that he had signed with WWE has lapsed.

Flair is perfect for TNA because of his name recognition and that company's emphasis on veteran performers from WCW's halcyon days. Flair would have ready-made feuds with his two biggest career rivals in Hogan and Steve "Sting" Borden. Such bouts would help TNA make significant business inroads against WWE, especially if "TNA Impact" telecasts eventually move opposite "Raw" (9 p.m., USA) in an attempt to re-create the Monday-night wrestling "wars" of the 1990s. The possibility of that happening also could spur McMahon to reconsider and make Flair a lucrative offer to return to WWE's active-talent roster.

Whatever happens, Flair is capitalizing on his celebrity outside of wrestling. The Ric Flair "Woooooooo!" scratch-off lottery tickets being sold in his home state of North Carolina are so popular that he is close to signing an expansion deal to five other Southern states. Flair continues to make Coke-sponsored public appearances for Wal-Mart and Sam's Club. A chain of 10 sports-themed restaurants bearing Flair's name is set to open in North Carolina.

Plus, Flair was married last month for the fourth time. He and Jackie honeymooned in Australia while on the Hulkamania tour.

"I'm at a good place in my life -- finally," a laughing Flair said.

Flair admits to being self-conscious about "cosmetic issues" wrestling at his age. But the positive feedback from his matches with Hogan have given Flair a renewed confidence about doing his trademark "styling and profiling" once again in the U.S. whether for TNA or WWE.

"I'm just going to sit back and see what goes on," Flair said. "Until then, I've got plenty of good stuff to focus on."

 

Tags: Ric Flair, WWE, WCW, TNA, Sting

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Spotlight in History

  • 1971 Bill Watts became the TSW North American Champion
  • 1978 Jose Lothario def. Assassin 1 for the TSW Louisiana Champion
  • 1985 The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) def. The Dynamic Duo (Gino Hernandez & Chris Adams) for the WCCW American Tag Team Champion
  • 2008 Michael Barry def. Angel Williams for the IZW Heavyweight Champion
  • 2008 New Canada (The Canadian Red Devil & The Canadian Luchadore) became the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 2008 The Gentlemen Thugs (Cast-Iron Cothern & Shane Morbid) def. New Canada (The Canadian Red Devil & The Canadian Luchadore) for the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 2009 Jermaine Johnson def. Ky-ote Joe for the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 2013 Mike Foxx def. Tim Storm for the NWA-TXO Heavyweight Champion
  • 2013 Genesis (Carrion Arcane & Kristopher Haiden) def. The Rock Star Mafia (Dane Griffin & Armani) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Champions
  • 2013 The Rock Star Mafia (Dane Griffin & Armani) def. Genesis (Carrion Arcane & Kristopher Haiden) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Champions
  • 2014 Kevin Morgan & became the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 2014 Jordan Jacobs def. Drake Gallows for the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 2014 Claudia def. Bree Ann for the NWA-TXO Rose Champion
  • 2014 The Brotherhood (Kyng Benjamin & Akuma Jones) def. A. C. Slaughter (Aaron Anders & Clint Cassidy) for the UWE Tag Team Champions
  • 2014 Fuel def. Tim Rockwell for the UWE Heavyweight Champion

Week of Sun 09-15 to Sat: 09-21

  • 09-15 1969 The Medics (Medic #1 & Medic #2) def. Alberto Torres & Ramon Torres for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 09-15 1980 Junkyard Dog & Terry Orndorff def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy & Buddy Roberts) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 09-15 1986 Black Bart def. Chris Adams for the WCCW World Champion
  • 09-15 2007 Sudden Impact (Sudden Impact 1 & Sudden Impact 2) def. Texas, Inc. (Bernard Funk & Tim Rockwell) for the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 09-15 2007 Anthony Jackson def. AWOL for the ComPro Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-15 2007 Shane Morbid def. Justin Lee for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 09-15 2012 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-15 2018 Chavo Guerrero, Jr. def. MVP for the WCR Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-15 2019 Chaz Sharpe def. James Southard for the ASP Inter-County Champion
  • 09-15 2023 Jastin Taylor def. Sam Stackhouse for the BCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-16 1975 John Tolos def. Al Madril for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-16 1988 Michael Hayes & Steve Cox def. The Samoan SWAT Team (Fatu & Samu) for the WCCW World Tag Team Champion
  • 09-16 2005 Lily McKenzie def. Chiquita Suzuki for the SRPW Womens Champion
  • 09-16 2006 Michael Barry def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-16 2006 Ryan Davidson became the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 09-16 2017 Paige Turner def. Erica for the IZW Womens Champion
  • 09-16 2017 Skyler Fayden def. Riker for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-16 2017 Big Smooth & Zakk Sinizter became the UWE Tag Team Champions
  • 09-16 2022 Shane Taylor def. Johnny Bedlam for the TexPro Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-16 2023 Red James def. Ozzy Hendrix for the EPW Internet Television Champion
  • 09-17 1979 The Spoiler & Mark Lewin def. Kerry Von Erich & Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Champion
  • 09-17 2004 Bobby Dalton def. Shane Morbid for the SRPW Hardcore Champion
  • 09-17 2008 Michael Faith became the TCB Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-17 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the TCB Dual Kombat Champion
  • 09-17 2008 Michael Faith became the TCBW Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-17 2008 High Society (Al Farat & Thomas Trump) became the TCBW Dual Kombat Champion
  • 09-17 2010 Dane Griffin def. Cody Jones for the NWA-OK Texoma Champion
  • 09-17 2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Montego Seeka) became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 09-17 2010 Michael Faith def. Dane Griffin for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-17 2016 Mr. Nasty def. Brian Breaker for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-18 1967 Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma def. Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 09-18 2005 Lance Cade & Trevor Murdoch def. The Hurricane & Rosey for the WWE RAW World Tag Team Champion
  • 09-18 2005 Ric Flair def. Carlito for the WWE Intercontinental Champion
  • 09-18 2015 Sons of Texas (Moonshine Mantell & Killer McKenzie) def. The Imperialists (Charlie Haas & Griffin) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Champions
  • 09-18 2021 Thrash def. Jermaine Johnson for the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
  • 09-18 2021 Reed def. Thrash for the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
  • 09-18 2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-18 2022 Fuel def. Koko for the UWE Apex Champion
  • 09-19 1979 Mike Sharpe, Jr. def. Mike George for the MSW Mississippi Champion
  • 09-19 1982 David Von Erich def. Bill Irwin for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-19 1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. Michael Hayes & Steve Cox for the WCCW World Tag Team Champion
  • 09-19 2014 Simply Irresistible (Matthew Palmer & James Johnson) def. The Dark Circle (Mace Malone & Apoc) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Champions
  • 09-19 2015 Loaded Guns (Jon Cross & Brandon Walker) def. The Rising (Riker & Abel) for the UWE Tag Team Champions
  • 09-19 2015 Brian Breaker def. Clint Cassidy for the UWE United States Champion
  • 09-19 2015 Zakk Sinizter def. Anarchy [2nd] for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-19 2015 Jon Cross became the WFC Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-19 2019 MVP became the WCR Imperial Champion
  • 09-19 2020 Pastor Brent became the WAH Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-19 2021 Maui Mike def. Thrash for the ASP Mid-American Champion
  • 09-19 2021 Brixton Barricade def. Brandon Barricade for the ASP All Time Champion
  • 09-19 2021 Malik Mayfield def. Jerome Daniel Griffey for the ASP Livestream Champion
  • 09-19 2021 Double D def. Jerome Daniel Griffey for the ASP 5-Star Champion
  • 09-20 1971 Bill Watts became the TSW North American Champion
  • 09-20 1978 Jose Lothario def. Assassin 1 for the TSW Louisiana Champion
  • 09-20 1985 The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) def. The Dynamic Duo (Gino Hernandez & Chris Adams) for the WCCW American Tag Team Champion
  • 09-20 2008 Michael Barry def. Angel Williams for the IZW Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-20 2008 New Canada (The Canadian Red Devil & The Canadian Luchadore) became the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 09-20 2008 The Gentlemen Thugs (Cast-Iron Cothern & Shane Morbid) def. New Canada (The Canadian Red Devil & The Canadian Luchadore) for the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 09-20 2009 Jermaine Johnson def. Ky-ote Joe for the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 09-20 2013 Mike Foxx def. Tim Storm for the NWA-TXO Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-20 2013 Genesis (Carrion Arcane & Kristopher Haiden) def. The Rock Star Mafia (Dane Griffin & Armani) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Champions
  • 09-20 2013 The Rock Star Mafia (Dane Griffin & Armani) def. Genesis (Carrion Arcane & Kristopher Haiden) for the NWA-TXO Tag Team Champions
  • 09-20 2014 Kevin Morgan & became the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 09-20 2014 Jordan Jacobs def. Drake Gallows for the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 09-20 2014 Claudia def. Bree Ann for the NWA-TXO Rose Champion
  • 09-20 2014 The Brotherhood (Kyng Benjamin & Akuma Jones) def. A. C. Slaughter (Aaron Anders & Clint Cassidy) for the UWE Tag Team Champions
  • 09-20 2014 Fuel def. Tim Rockwell for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-21 1954 Johnny Valentine def. Joe Christie for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 09-21 2002 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Champion
  • 09-21 2012 Tim Storm became the NWA-TXO Heavyweight Champion
  • 09-21 2012 Kyra Maya became the NWA-TXO Rose Champion
  • 09-21 2013 Nasty Swag (Robert Lee & Ace Archuleta) became the UWE Tag Team Champions
  • 09-21 2019 Slice & Kill (Skylar Slice & Killista) def. The Proclamation (Ethan Cole & Reed) for the UWE Tag Team Champions
09-20
  • Justin Lee Sep 20th Today!
  • Joey Stixx Sep 20th Today!
  • Boz Sep 20th Today!
  • Pepper Martin Sep 20th Today!
  • Ethan Page Sep 20th Today!
  • Chuck Singer Sep 20th Today!
  • Jason Simon Sep 20th Today!
  • Greg Valentine Sep 20th Today!
  • Randy Rhodes Sep 20th Today!
  • Ricky Morton Sep 21st
  • Connor Jones Sep 21st
  • Jack Brisco Sep 21st
  • Mike Chacoma Sep 22nd
  • Doug Somers Sep 22nd
  • Harley D Sep 22nd
  • Cole Crittenden Sep 23rd
  • Rocco Valentino Sep 23rd
  • O'Malley Sep 23rd
  • John J. Bishop Sep 24th
  • Kai Fayden Sep 24th
  • Jason Bruce Sep 24th
  • Clayton Bloodstone Sep 24th
  • Joe Jones Sep 24th
  • Connor Crunk Sep 24th
  • Len Rossi Sep 24th
  • Angel [2nd] Sep 25th
  • Toots Estes Sep 25th
  • Jimmy Garvin Sep 25th
  • Chief Mike Sep 25th
  • Chris Matthews Sep 26th
  • Clifton Clinstock Sep 26th
  • BB Sep 26th
  • Lone Eagle Sep 26th
  • Kendo Nagasaki Sep 26th
  • Angel Camacho Sep 27th
  • Alec Bisogno Sep 27th
  • Tyler Cordingley Sep 27th
  • Tommy Prince Sep 28th
  • Kamille Sep 28th
  • Scott Lee Sep 28th
  • Billy Ray [2nd] Sep 28th
  • Rip Tyler Sep 28th
  • David Sammartino Sep 29th
  • Ann Casey Sep 29th
  • Skandar Akbar Sep 29th
  • Lady Starwind Sep 30th
  • Marlboro Slim Sep 30th
  • Raymon Downey Sep 30th
  • Fred Urban Sep 30th
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  • Seth Coburn Sep 30th
  • Hector Guerrero Oct 1st
  • Waldo Von Erich Oct 2nd
  • James Southard Oct 2nd
  • Funnybone Oct 2nd
  • Abilene Maverick Oct 2nd
  • Mike Foxx Oct 2nd
  • Abilene Maverick Oct 2nd
  • Cold Blooded Chris Oct 2nd
  • Don Fargo Oct 3rd
  • Johnny TV Oct 3rd

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