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ESPN to air 30 for 30 on Ric Flair, ?cleaning up? quotes, more

Posted: May 23rd 2016 By: Richard Dietsch

One of the best promos ever cut by professional wrestler Ric Flair came in 1985 when Flair was the signature star of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). With his flowing head of bleach-blond hair, oversized sunglasses and a suit straight out of the prop department from the movie Scarface, Flair explained to the audience just who they were watching.

?You are talking to the Rolex-wearing, diamond ring-wearing, kiss stealing ? Woooooo! ? wheelin dealin, limousine riding, jet flying son of a gun ? and I?m having a hard time holding these alligators down! Woooooo!?

What is always interesting about professional wrestlers?and particularly the stars of the 1980s and 1990s?is to decipher where the distinction lies (if any) between the in-ring character and the real man. The terrific journalist David Shoemaker examined this duality in his sensational piece on Randy (Macho Man) Savage, and if ever someone?s on-screen ?Nature Boy? persona blended into his real life, from self-destructive behavior to high living to repeated bouts with legal authorities, it would be Ric Flair, born Richard Morgan Fliehr in 1949.

Recklessness is often the stuff of an excellent sports documentary and sometime in the next 12 months, possibly as early as the fall, ESPN?s critically-acclaimed 30 for 30 series will air ?Nature Boy,? a documentary on the life and times of Flair directed by Rory Karpf, who has directed multiple 30 for 30 documentaries including ?I Hate Christian Laettner? and ?The Book Of Manning.?

?In the wrestling world, the viewer isn?t sure what?s real or what isn?t, but 'Nature Boy'?Ric Flair wasn?t just a character,? said Karpf in an interview this week. ?He was real. The wrestler he portrayed in the ring was also the man he was outside the ring. I found that to be fascinating. He?s led a crazy life that?s a natural for a 30 for 30. Plus I just love pro wrestling.?

Karpf said the documentary, which will run at either 90 or 120 minutes, is currently in the editing stages with some interviews left to shoot and a few archive materials still to procure. The interview subjects for the film include Flair, all three of Flair?s living children including daughter Ashley, who wrestles in the WWE under the name of Charlotte and is the current WWE women?s champion, and a host of retired wrestlers including Sting, The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, Mick Foley and Ricky Steamboat, along with Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard, the pair who with Flair and Ole Anderson formed The Four Horseman. Other interviews include Hall of Fame announcer Jim Ross, former WCW head Eric Bischoff, as well as Flair?s first wife, Leslie.

On the issue of how much wrestling footage will air, ESPN Films vice president and executive producer John Dahl said ESPN has a great relationship with WWE and that Karpf pursued footage agreement before they started shooting. Karpf said the WWE has been very supportive with his requests.

There?s a lot to digest on Flair?s life, and much of the underbelly was covered in this Grantland feature by Shane Ryan in 2011 under the header of ?Ric Flair?s long, steady decline.? On the subject of Flair?s openness in answering questions, Karpf said Flair answered all his inquires and that he found his lead subject ?very open, for the good, the bad and the ugly. I?ve seen a lot of Ric Flair interviews. And in my opinion, I've never seen a better one than the one he did for our film.?

Karpf said the 1980?s will be the main era of the doc to coincide with the prime of Flair?s career, as well as the explosion of pro wrestling into the pop culture. ?Hulk Hogan and Wrestlemania had become household names and meanwhile, Ric was in a rival organization,? Karpf said. ?I wanted to explore what specifically made Ric so great and what specifically makes for a great pro wrestler. Why is he considered the greatest of all time? How is that determination made? Unlike the NFL or NBA there really aren?t stats and metrics we can use like touchdowns, points scored or championships to determine greatness. Wrestling is pre-determined. But it is very athletic and the performers are definitely athletes. I wanted to give wrestling its just due in comparison of other sports.?

Karpf said one of his filmmaker dreams was to do a wrestling-based 30 for 30 for ESPN, and Karpf said one of the reasons it happened was that Flair?s interview for his Laettner doc really resonated on social media, according to ESPN?s research. That helped convince Dahl to give the standalone Flair project the greenlit.

What does Karpf want viewers to come away with from the film?

?Hopefully they?ll have an emotional, visceral reaction,? he said. ?I think this is a film where the viewer can laugh, cry and hopefully ?Woooooo!? I try to make my films accessible for everyone, so my ultimate goal is to make a film enjoyable for wrestling and non-wrestling fans alike.?

Supplemental Information

Spotlight in History

1957 El Medico def. Duke Keomuka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
1958 Angelo Savoldi def. Dory Funk for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
1963 The Bolos (The Great Bolo [1st] & The Mighty Bolo) def. Bill Watts & Jerry Kozak for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
1967 The Von Erichs (Fritz Von Erich & Waldo Von Erich) def. Brute Bernard & Mike Paidousis for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
1967 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar def. Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
1968 Danny Little Bear & Kit Fox def. Jack Dalton [1st] & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
1978 Bruiser Brody def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
2010 Ryan Reed became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
2010 The Unknown & Yoshi became the NCW Tag Team Champions
2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Eric Rose) def. The Future Hall of Famers (Dane Griffin & Shane Rawls) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
2010 Team Shake It (Josh Evans & Martin Casaus) def. The D-Stinguished (Elias Castaneda & Arik Angel) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
2021 Warren Powers def. Drake Gallows for the EPW All-American Title
2021 Drake Gallows def. Warren Powers for the EPW Internet Television Title
2021 Revan became the RDW Iron Man Champion
2021 Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese & T-Arsenal) def. The Rejecs LM (Dr. Corvus & Elijah Sparks) for the WAH Tag Team Titles

Week of Sun 09-06 to Sat: 09-12

09-06 2008 The New York Express (Thomas Knight & Jeff Knight) def. The Untouchables (J. D. Rebel & The Enforcer) for the SECW Tag Team Titles
09-06 2008 Martin Justice became the SECW Cruiserweight Champion
09-06 2014 Spanish Wolf (Nathan Estrada & Michael Wolf) def. The New York Express (Jeff Knight & Thomas Knight) for the OECW Tag Team Titles
09-06 2025 Butcher def. Riker for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
09-06 2025 Iron Mountain (Duke Blanchard & Jack Davenport) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
09-06 2025 Phil Shark def. Franco D’Angelo for the TexPro Texas Title
09-07 1979 Mark Lewin def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-07 1980 Terry Gibbs became the TSW Tri-State Champion
09-07 1981 Frank Hill & Eric Embry def. Joel Deaton & David Deaton for the TSW Tag Team Titles
09-07 2004 Kenzo Suzuki & Rene Dupree def. Paul London & Billy Kidman for the WWE Smackdown World Tag Team Titles
09-07 2012 Brandon Walker def. Tim Rockwell for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
09-07 2014 Robert Lee def. Striker for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
09-07 2018 Nikki Knight def. Erica for the MSWA Ladies Title
09-07 2019 Brian Dixon def. Tommy Dean for the BPW Oklahoma Title
09-07 2019 Luke Langley def. Brandon Groom for the BPW Lion Heart Title
09-07 2019 James Southard def. Lake Hefner for the ASP Inter-County Title
09-07 2024 The Subject (Cade Fite & Derek James) def. Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
09-07 2024 Wrangler Rhett def. Alex Royal for the WFC Prime Title
09-08 1947 Leroy McGuirk def. Buddy Rogers for the NWA Midwest World Title
09-08 1958 Danny McShain def. Mad Man Martin for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-08 1974 El Gran Markus def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-08 1978 Rocky Johnson def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-08 2006 The Patriots (Bad Boy & Glen Steel) def. Aaron Neil & Alexander Lucas (Subbing for Se7en) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
09-08 2007 Al Farat became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
09-08 2013 Robert Lee became the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
09-08 2017 The Cursed (Blade [2nd] & Kuda) def. The Cub Scouts (Brock Landers & Grizzly Gates) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
09-08 2018 Anarchy [2nd] def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
09-08 2018 Garrett Murphy def. Big Smooth for the NAW Heavyweight Title
09-09 1970 Waldo Von Erich def. Jack Curtis for the TSW Mississippi Title
09-09 1980 The Grappler def. Ted DiBiase for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
09-09 2002 Papa Voodoo def. HIMM for the ACW Hardcore Title
09-09 2002 HIMM def. Papa Voodoo for the ACW Hardcore Title
09-09 2011 Michael Barry def. Dustin Heritage for the MWA MAX-Division Title
09-09 2016 One Man Sam def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
09-09 2017 Ray Martinez def. Brandon Groom for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
09-09 2017 Tristan Thorne became the ASP 5-Star Champion
09-09 2017 Michael Wolf def. Aaron Anders for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
09-09 2017 Michael Duplanti def. Garrett Murphy for the NAW Lightweight Title
09-09 2023 Johnny Lightning became the WFC Prime Champion
09-09 2023 Tino Valentino def. Derek James for the UWO Heavyweight Title
09-09 2023 Manico became the NAW Openweight Champion
09-09 2023 Manico def. Ryan Reed for the NAW Heavyweight Title
09-09 2023 Martin Justice def. Thomas Knight for the XDWF New GenX Title
09-09 2023 Thomas Knight def. Martin Justice for the XDWF New GenX Title
09-10 1968 The Spoiler & Gary Hart def. Fritz Von Erich & Grizzly Smith for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
09-10 1971 Ramon Torres def. Roger Kirby for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
09-10 1978 David Von Erich def. Bruiser Brody for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
09-10 1979 Oki Shikina & Sugar Bear Harris became the TSW United States Tag Team Champions
09-10 2011 Drake Gallows became the BYEW Entertainment Champion
09-10 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Ray Martinez for the SRPW Heavyweight Title
09-10 2016 Psycho Sawyer def. Spyder for the SRPW United States Title
09-10 2021 Legend Has It (Thrash & Killbane) def. Two Man Sam (Sam Stackhouse & Samuel Savage) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
09-10 2022 Team Boner (Drake Gallows & MLP) def. Psychotic Messengers (Maniac Mike & Malachi) for the AIWF Tag Team Titles
09-10 2022 MLP def. Duncan Kincaid for the RDW Iron Man Title
09-10 2022 Nashoba def. Al Farat for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
09-11 1957 El Medico def. Duke Keomuka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
09-11 1958 Angelo Savoldi def. Dory Funk for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
09-11 1963 The Bolos (The Great Bolo [1st] & The Mighty Bolo) def. Bill Watts & Jerry Kozak for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
09-11 1967 The Von Erichs (Fritz Von Erich & Waldo Von Erich) def. Brute Bernard & Mike Paidousis for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
09-11 1967 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar def. Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
09-11 1968 Danny Little Bear & Kit Fox def. Jack Dalton [1st] & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
09-11 1978 Bruiser Brody def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
09-11 2010 Ryan Reed became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
09-11 2010 The Unknown & Yoshi became the NCW Tag Team Champions
09-11 2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Eric Rose) def. The Future Hall of Famers (Dane Griffin & Shane Rawls) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
09-11 2010 Team Shake It (Josh Evans & Martin Casaus) def. The D-Stinguished (Elias Castaneda & Arik Angel) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
09-11 2021 Warren Powers def. Drake Gallows for the EPW All-American Title
09-11 2021 Drake Gallows def. Warren Powers for the EPW Internet Television Title
09-11 2021 Revan became the RDW Iron Man Champion
09-11 2021 Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese & T-Arsenal) def. The Rejecs LM (Dr. Corvus & Elijah Sparks) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
09-12 1982 King Kong Bundy & Bill Irwin def. The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
09-12 1983 Butch Reed & Jim Neidhart def. Magnum T. A. & Jim Duggan for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
09-12 1988 The Samoan SWAT Team (Samu & Fatu) def. John Tatum & Jimmy Jack Funk for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles
09-12 2004 Chris Matthews def. Brandon Bishop for the ACW Heavyweight Title
09-12 2009 Bobby Starr def. Kevin James Sanchez for the BYEW Entertainment Title
09-12 2010 Xavior def. Kevin Morgan for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
09-12 2015 Double D def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Impact Division Title
09-12 2015 Erica def. Paige Turner for the IZW Queens Title
09-12 2015 Brad Michaels def. Johnny Z for the IZW Heavyweight Title
09-12 2015 Richie Adams def. Jake O'Brien for the ComPro Heavyweight Title
09-12 2015 Shawn Hernandez became the DI2IW Intercontinenal Champion
09-12 2015 What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. Impact, Inc. (Damon Windsor & Johnny Z) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
09-12 2015 The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) def. What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
09-12 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Clover Botello for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title

09-11

Summer Thunder Sep 11th Today!
Vic Nichols Sep 11th Today!
Bash Sep 12th
Adrian Dell Sep 12th
N'Zane Lee Happy Sep 12th
Danni Bee Sep 12th
Bob Kenaston Sep 12th
Montego Seeka Sep 12th
Bounty Hunter Sep 12th
Animal Sep 12th
American Anarchy Sep 12th
K. P. Moore Sep 13th
Poder Oriental Sep 13th
Bobby Starr Sep 13th
Danny Little Bear Sep 13th
Angelina Love Sep 13th
Bernie D Sep 14th
Lunatic Lennie Sep 14th
Eddie LeVaughn Sep 14th
Kelsie Mae Sep 14th
Waddy Young Sep 14th
L. C. Green Sep 15th
Korvin Sage Sep 15th
Spoiler 2000 Sep 15th
Daniel King Sep 15th
Haru Sonada Sep 16th
Colton Kinnamon Sep 17th
Jake Swayze Sep 17th
Dick Brower Sep 17th
Rex Mori Sep 17th
Jim Cornette Sep 17th
Bill Irwin Sep 17th
Titan Yin Sep 18th
Angel Reed Sep 18th
Cisco Grimaldi Sep 18th
Billy Robinson Sep 18th
Mr. Nabors Sep 18th
Adam Asher Sep 19th
Jerry Brisco Sep 19th
Yoshiaki Yatsu Sep 19th
Joey Stixx Sep 20th
Chuck Singer Sep 20th
Greg Valentine Sep 20th
Bishop Simon Sep 20th
Pepper Martin Sep 20th
Randy Rhodes Sep 20th
Ethan Page Sep 20th
Boz Sep 20th
Justin Lee Sep 20th
Connor Jones Sep 21st
Ricky Morton Sep 21st
Jack Brisco Sep 21st
Satine Sep 22nd
Mike Chacoma Sep 22nd
Red River Brawler Sep 22nd
Doug Somers Sep 22nd
Harley D Sep 22nd
Rocco Valentino Sep 23rd
O'Malley Sep 23rd
Cole Crittenden Sep 23rd
Clayton Bloodstone Sep 24th
John J. Bishop Sep 24th
Connor Crunk Sep 24th
Jason Bruce Sep 24th
Kai Fayden Sep 24th
Len Rossi Sep 24th
Joe Jones Sep 24th

1957 El Medico def. Duke Keomuka for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
1958 Angelo Savoldi def. Dory Funk for the NWA World Junior Heavyweight Title
1963 The Bolos (The Great Bolo [1st] & The Mighty Bolo) def. Bill Watts & Jerry Kozak for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
1967 The Von Erichs (Fritz Von Erich & Waldo Von Erich) def. Brute Bernard & Mike Paidousis for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
1967 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar def. Chati Yokouchi & Togo Shikuma for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
1968 Danny Little Bear & Kit Fox def. Jack Dalton [1st] & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
1978 Bruiser Brody def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
2010 Ryan Reed became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
2010 The Unknown & Yoshi became the NCW Tag Team Champions
2010 Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Eric Rose) def. The Future Hall of Famers (Dane Griffin & Shane Rawls) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
2010 Team Shake It (Josh Evans & Martin Casaus) def. The D-Stinguished (Elias Castaneda & Arik Angel) for the ACW Tag Team Titles
2021 Warren Powers def. Drake Gallows for the EPW All-American Title
2021 Drake Gallows def. Warren Powers for the EPW Internet Television Title
2021 Revan became the RDW Iron Man Champion
2021 Most Wanted (Dan Webber & Reese & T-Arsenal) def. The Rejecs LM (Dr. Corvus & Elijah Sparks) for the WAH Tag Team Titles

More Look Back In History

Card Results

Current Champions

Red Dirt Wrestling

Iron Man Champion
Nate Bourne

Openweight Champion: Bang Bang Bennett
Tag Team Champions: Tuff Love
Na'Cho Momma's Hardcore Champion: Ronnie Morton

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