Review of Ric Flair/Charlotte Flair Biography
Posted: Sep 19th 2017 By: Alan Wojcik
“I cannot say enough times over this is the best wrestling book of 2017 and thanks to Mr. Shield’s guidance, is a near perfect biography of any genre.”
(Writer’s note: this review was written before Ric Flair’s health scare. It was embargoed at the publisher’s request.)
What if I told you that someone’s current WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) wasn’t supposed to happen, that her brother Reid was the one already on the promotion’s radar. She already had a college degree and was running a successful personal training company. Thanks to a family dinner during the 2008 WrestleMania 24 weekend that the head of talent relations happened to attend, Ashley Fleihr AKA Charlotte Flair has been on your TV screen entertaining you and millions around the world. That dinner was to celebrate her dad’s “Nature Boy” Ric Flair’s induction into the WWE Hall of Fame & his last match against Shawn Michaels. Join co-author Brian Shields (WWE Encyclopedia) on a fantastic
journey with both people in the new book SECOND NATURE: THE LEGACY OF RIC FLAIR & THE RISE OF CHARLOTTE (St Martin’s Press, $25.99, 320pp).
The book is split into two parts. The front picks up close to where Ric Flair’s first book TO BE THE MAN left off when it was released in 2004. It has several highs and lows as we get his first-hand account of the “retirement” match with Michaels. Also covered is his tumultuous life after WWE that
saw his second marriage end along with marriage three & four plus a stint with TNA Wrestling (now called Global Force Wrestling) during which his legendary faction the Four Horsemen were inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012. He also holds nothing back on his love for his children Megan, David, Ashley & Reid who as aforementioned was training for a career in wrestling.
At the point the family was heading to WrestleMania 29 in New York/New Jersey is where Ashley takes over with her life journey with her sidekick Reider (her nickname for Reid.) Growing up in the Flair household on paper reads like a perfect situation because your dad is a legendary wrestler with a bottomless bank account. Like her dad, Ashley holds nothing back in regards to her athletic highs as an All American volleyball & cheerleading star to the lows of an abusive first marriage that left her mentally lost. Which takes us back to the aforementioned dinner with John Laurinaitis where she thought about joining WWE. Ashley takes us through the breaking in phase of wrestling training, plus going through the NXT developmental system, the “diva’s revolution” and backstage issues she faced being Ric Flair’s genetically gifted daughter. Both reunite for the final chapters where they address the death of Reid and its last effect on both of them to this day.
I cannot say enough times over this is the best wrestling book of 2017 and thanks to Mr. Shield’s guidance, is a near perfect biography of any genre. This needs to be in your collection as well as all wrestling fans around the world. Speaking of Mr. Shields, hear him talk about the book here
http://outsideinterferenceradio.com/2017/09/05/brian-
shields/
Supplemental Information
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Spotlight in History
- 1937 Hugh Nichols def. Bobby Chick for the NWA World Light Heavyweight Champion
- 1980 Gino Hernandez def. Kevin Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
- 1984 The Super Destroyers (Super Destroyer 1 & Super Destroyer 2) def. The Rock & Soul Connection (Buck Zumhofe & King Parsons) for the WCCW American Tag Team Champion
- 1989 Super Zodiac & Cactus Jack def. Jeff Jarrett & Kerry Von Erich for the WCCW World Tag Team Champion
- 1989 Super Zodiac def. Eric Embry for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
- 2007 Brent Albright def. Rocco Valentino for the NWA-U Universal Heavyweight Champion
- 2007 Texas, Inc. (Tim Rockwell & Bernard Funk) def. Mass Destruction (Spoiler 2000 & The Bounty Hunter) for the NWA-U Universal Tag Team Champion
- 2012 Ignition def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Champion
- 2012 Super Skunk Ape, Jr. def. Se7en for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
- 2018 Jerry Dean/Jerry Storm became the BPW Lion Heart Champion
- 2018 Aaron Anders def. Michael Wolf for the ComPro Heavyweight Champion
- 2023 Brody Wortman def. Skidz for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion
- 2023 Skidz def. Brody Wortman for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion
- 2023 Jason Simon def. Skidz for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion
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Week of Sun 05-19 to Sat: 05-25
- 05-19 1937 Hugh Nichols def. Bobby Chick for the NWA World Light Heavyweight Champion
- 05-19 1980 Gino Hernandez def. Kevin Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
- 05-19 1984 The Super Destroyers (Super Destroyer 1 & Super Destroyer 2) def. The Rock & Soul Connection (Buck Zumhofe & King Parsons) for the WCCW American Tag Team Champion
- 05-19 1989 Super Zodiac & Cactus Jack def. Jeff Jarrett & Kerry Von Erich for the WCCW World Tag Team Champion
- 05-19 1989 Super Zodiac def. Eric Embry for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
- 05-19 2007 Brent Albright def. Rocco Valentino for the NWA-U Universal Heavyweight Champion
- 05-19 2007 Texas, Inc. (Tim Rockwell & Bernard Funk) def. Mass Destruction (Spoiler 2000 & The Bounty Hunter) for the NWA-U Universal Tag Team Champion
- 05-19 2012 Ignition def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Champion
- 05-19 2012 Super Skunk Ape, Jr. def. Se7en for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
- 05-19 2018 Jerry Dean/Jerry Storm became the BPW Lion Heart Champion
- 05-19 2018 Aaron Anders def. Michael Wolf for the ComPro Heavyweight Champion
- 05-19 2023 Brody Wortman def. Skidz for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion
- 05-19 2023 Skidz def. Brody Wortman for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion
- 05-19 2023 Jason Simon def. Skidz for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion
- 05-19 2023 Drake Gallows def. Jason Simon for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion
- 05-19 2023 Punk Synister def. Drake Gallows for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion
- 05-19 2023 Jason Simon def. Punk Synister for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion
- 05-19 2023 Brandon Groom def. Jason Simon for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion
- 05-19 2023 Punk Synister def. Brandon Groom for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion
- 05-19 2023 Jason Simon def. Punk Synister for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion
- 05-19 2023 Nibira def. Jason Simon for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion
- 05-19 2023 Mikey O'Shea def. Nibira for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Champion
- 05-20 1980 Junkyard Dog def. Terry Gordy for the MSW Louisiana Champion
- 05-20 2006 Impact Inc. (John Zorthos & Bernie Donderwitz) def. The Old School Assassins (Brad Michaels & Seth Allen) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
- 05-20 2006 John O'Malley became the IZW Cruiserweight Champion
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- 05-20 2017 Beach Bod Gods (Angel Camacho & Ray the Bae) def. Nemesis (Rage Logan & Damien Morte) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
- 05-20 2017 Kevin Morgan def. Johnny Z for the IZW Heavyweight Champion
- 05-20 2017 Riker def. Mr. Nasty for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
- 05-20 2022 Wesley Crane def. Anarchy [2nd] for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
- 05-20 2023 Royal Pimpin' (Alex Royal & Mr. Nasty) def. Southern Aristocracy (Eddie LeVaughn & Anthony Wild) for the UWE Tag Team Champions
- 05-20 2023 Cappuccino Jones def. Dan Webber for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
- 05-21 1971 Dusty Rhodes def. Bill Watts for the TSW North American Champion
- 05-21 1984 Kevin Von Erich def. Killer Khan for the WCCW Television Champion
- 05-21 2004 Cade Sydal def. X-Cal for the SRPW Light Heavyweight Champion
- 05-21 2004 Michael Faith def. Butch Dalton for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
- 05-21 2004 New Canada (AWOL & Jon Davis) def. Sexy Bologna (Anthony Jackson & Sudden Impact) for the TPW Tag Team Champions
- 05-21 2016 Skylar Slice def. Athena for the IZW Queens Champion
- 05-21 2017 Von Erichs (Marshall Von Erich & Ross Von Erich) def. The Arrow Club (Kyle Hawk & Ky-Ote) for the IWR Tag Team Champions
- 05-21 2017 Von Erichs (Marshall Von Erich & Ross Von Erich) def. The Arrow Club (Kyle Hawk & Ky-Ote) for the TCW Tag Team Champions
- 05-22 1955 Mike Clancy def. Ricki Starr for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
- 05-22 1985 The Nightmare [1st]/The Masked Champion/The Champion def. Terry Taylor for the MSW North American Heavyweight Champion
- 05-22 2009 Texas Outlaws, Inc. (Tim Rockwell & Bernard Funk & Bobby Burns & J. W. Hardin) became the TAP Tag Team Champions
- 05-22 2021 DNR (Drake Gallows & Revan) def. Rejecs LM (Elijah Sparks & Dr. Corvus) for the EPW Tag Team Champions
- 05-22 2021 Father Padge def. Revan for the BCW Buzzsaw Champion
- 05-22 2021 Paul Puertorico became the XDWF New GenX Champion
- 05-23 1984 The Midnight Express (Dennis Condrey & Bobby Eaton) def. The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
- 05-23 2004 Se7en & Li'l Joe def. Bernie Donderwitz & Mr. Brown for the ACW Tag Team Champions
- 05-23 2004 Li'l Joe def. Bernie Donderwitz for the ACW Hardcore Champion
- 05-23 2009 Maniac Mike def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
- 05-23 2009 Sage def. Rage Logan for the SWCW Cruiserweight Champion
- 05-23 2010 Damien Morte def. Crisstopher Crow for the SWCW Cruiserweight Champion
- 05-23 2015 Brad Michaels def. Jermaine Johnson for the IZW Heavyweight Champion
- 05-23 2020 Cody Burns def. Drake Gallows for the BCW Heavyweight Champion
- 05-23 2021 Luke Savage def. Garcia for the ASP Mid-American Champion
- 05-23 2021 Malik Mayfield became the ASP Livestream Champion
- 05-24 1954 Rocco Perez def. Frenchy Roy for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
- 05-24 2020 Shawn Sanders became the ASP Mid-American Champion
- 05-25 1986 Terry Taylor def. Buzz Sawyer for the UWF Television Champion
- 05-25 2013 Brock Landers became the SWCW All-American Champion
- 05-25 2013 The American Pitbulls (Craig Stevens & Jason Jaxon) def. The Investment (Jason Noal & Jay Sinn) for the ACW Tag Team Champions
- 05-25 2019 Zakk Sinizter def. Anarchy [2nd] for the UWE Apex Champion
- 05-25 2019 Simply the Future (Alex Royal & J. D.) became the UWE Tag Team Champions
- 05-25 2019 Proclamation (Ethan Cole & Reed) def. Simply the Future (Alex Royal & J. D.) for the UWE Tag Team Champions
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- Dick Slater May 19th Today!
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- Donna Christanello May 23rd
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- Slash May 23rd
- Gemini [2nd] May 24th
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Current Champions
Wrestling For a Cause
Prime Champion
Alex Royal
- Heavyweight Champion: Tim Rockwell
- Tag Team Champions: Eddie LeVaughn & Mr. Nasty
- Hometown Heroes Champion: Wesley Crane