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Ric Flair Done with TNA? Was WWE's Hall of Fame a Factor?

Posted: May 22nd 2012 By: mikeiles

Over at PWInsider, Mike Johnson has noted that Ric Flair and TNA Wrestling are currently at odds with each other, and it's increasingly looking like Flair is done with America's No. 2 promotion.

Noting that he has been asked recently by many fans why Flair has not been making appearances for the company, either on house shows or at television tapings, Johnson writes:

Sources close to Flair and TNA have confirmed that the two sides are at a major impasse as there is a ton of heat on Flair for conduct outside the ring. It was described to me by one TNA source as, "being at the point it's not worth keeping Flair around."

Johnson goes on to note the problems stem mainly for Flair's outlandish behavior outside of the ring (rest assured: the crazy, party-loving "Nature Boy" character you see on television is an exact reflection of his real-life personality) and TNA's growing frustration with the veteran:

There have been a number of incidents involving Flair at local establishments and bars in Orlando since coming to the company. At one point, sources indicate Flair was banned from drinking at the Hard Rock Cafe in Citiwalk due to an incident with him "acting inappropriate", according to one source, leading to venue management banishing him.

He goes on to explain that one big issue is the cash-strapped Flair not being able to cover his bar tabs in and around Orlando, leading to the company frequently getting calls from annoyed bar owners, whom they then have to appease.

Notably, TNA and Flair had a major and well-publicized argument early last year (which resulted in Flair temporarily leaving the company's high-profile European Tour) regarding the star's inability to pay a large bar tab that his partying incurred.

Per the report, there is also apparently some lingering heat from Flair's involvement at WWE's Hall of Fame ceremony this year. Some people in TNA feel that WWE and Flair painted them into a corner by announcing Flair for their 2012 HOF. They feel that they had no choice but to acquiesce and allow Flair to attend the ceremony, or risk looking like the bad guys, denying Flair his moment of glory in front of the fans.

Johnson notes that the story currently doing the rounds in the company is that Flair is done with TNA, but he refrains from confirming that as fact.