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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