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WWE legend Ric Flair ready to meet fans in the East Midlands for the first time in no holds barred show

Posted: Apr 13th 2015 By: Nottingham Post

Ric Flair insists he is an open book ? and what a read it is when it comes to the dirtiest player in the wrestling game.

While the stars of the WWE are in action at the Capital FM Arena today, The Nature Boy is preparing to come to the East Midlands for the first time on his Limo Riding Jet Flying Tour to be grilled by fans.

Nothing is off limits and that is some carrot from a man who has been involved in some of the most incredible feuds ever inside ? and outside ? the ring, never mind a personal life which has included a plane crash, divorces, financial challenges and the death of son Reid at the age of 25.

"It's an open forum. There's no agenda with The Nature Boy," he told the Post from his home in Charlotte, North Carolina.

"I don't usually do Q&As over here so I'm looking forward to it. It's the first time I've come to the UK to do one.

"It's something I wanted to do, but there are a whole of lot of dollar signs needed to make it happen, so I'm pleased it is. UK fans are awesome.

"I've never seen a more respectful group. Number one, they understand the business and number two they respect it."

Fans should have little worry on whether he will deliver when he comes to the iPro Stadium in Derby on May 27 and the King Power Stadium in Leicester a day later for a 90 minute Q&A and photos with lucky fans.

Known as one of the greatest talkers in the industry, he joked that he puts the likes of The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin in the shade, before citing Dusty Rhodes as the man who inspired him on the microphone.

Flair openly admits to living the high life and with that in mind he says he might not have made it in the modern WWE after the world's biggest promotion became far more family friendly in the last few years.

The territories where he made his name ? the AWA and the NWA ? have been decimated with the main route to the top provided by WWE training programme NXT.

"It was the Wild West when I started out," he said. "It's so different now from when I was with Turner (WCW owner Ted Turner) or even in my last run in WWE from 2001 to 2008. You're under so much scrutiny now from things like social media.

"I had to tone it down even in my last run with WWE. Anyone with any kind of notoriety is extremely scrutinised. I don't think Ric Flair would've made it if he was starting out now. I'd have struggled with the restrictions because I march to the beat of my own drum."

Like so many sporting stars, Flair appears to be another who could not step away without longing for more. He 'retired' in 2008 after one of the great matches with Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania, but soon moved on to TNA for a spell.

Now 65, he admits the 'wild west' days are not necessarily ones he misses, even if he may occasionally long for the buzz of wrestling in front of sold out arenas.

"I was working for 365 days a year but life changes. It's like the pro footballer who plays for 15 years and then retires. What do you do?

"For me, I'd been doing it for 40 years. We drove a hundred miles an hour drinking 30 cans of beer a night. I miss those days of wrestling, but I don't miss all the driving!"

While Flair is no longer an active wrestler, he is still an occasional part of WWE's flagship broadcast Monday Night Raw.

"I'm as close to some of the young guys now as I was to the guys back then. Dolph Ziggler, Miz, John Cena, Seth Rollins," he said. "I love those guys. I've just got to know Roman Reigns as well. He's a great guy."

And the next generation are ready to make their mark. Daughter Charlotte has been touted as a sure fire star, but Flair says he lets her forge her own path from NXT to the main roster.

"She'd never even entertained the idea of wrestling until someone asked her why she wasn't doing it at the Hall of Fame ceremony in 2012. She was making a good living as a personal trainer but I knew she could be good," he said. "Wrestling is something we have to learn on our own. I don't get too involved as I wouldn't want to say something that goes against what her trainers tell her, even though I've got lots of opinion."

Fans will get to hear those opinions if they come along. Tickets are priced from ?40 and are on sale via www.mdapromotions.co.uk or email info@mdapromotions.co.uk.