Ric Flair
News (Page 2)

Remember that whole Ric Flair retirement angle from two weeks ago? Notice how it wasn't mentioned at all this week on WWE RAW?

Reportedly, something happened over the past week that has resulted in the angle being put on hiatus. WWE was expecting Flair's return on 11/26 to produce a strong rating, but the show drew a typical 3.5.

Meanwhile, WWE has been hyping some of "biggest names of all time" to appear on next week's 15th Anniversary RAW special... but there's ben no mention of the Nature Boy. It's likely that Flair and his retirement angle will be moved over to SmackDown in the next few weeks.

Think this is a good idea? 

Did Ric Flair ever actually drop out of WWE? No, according to a recent interview The Nature Boy did with WQTM 740 in Florida:

“It was never where I quit and anything like that. They were trying to figure out what to do with me in terms of the wrestling part of it. This part of what I’m doing now for the company has always been factored in. I think they were just trying to figure out what to do with me wrestling-wise because I still can wrestle.

I still enjoy it but it’s very hard for them to build a lot around me because of my age. I get that. I don’t get it but I get it.”

Even though he's 58 years old, Flair knows that many fans still enjoy seeing him out there in the ring.

“I’m still at that point in my life where I think put me out there. If there’s somebody better, fine. If there’s not, keep me out there. And I don’t see a lot of guys better. We make two hours of television…there’s 10 minutes for the Naitch somewhere man.

I’m really proud to be a part of the product. It’s an awesome company and an awesome show and [Wrestlemania 24] on March 30 will be phenomenal as usual.”

Ric Flair is suing a car dealership in Columbia, S.C., claiming it is using his name, slogans and likeness in radio and TV ads without his permission.

According to a lawsuit filed in federal court, Freedom Suzuki is using a character named Captain Freedom, who bears a resemblance to Flair and even mentions him by name. The character uses two of Flair's signature slogans - "Woooo!" and "to be the man, you have to beat the man."

According to TMZ.com, the lawsuit goes on to say that the company approached Flair earlier this year about a deal to use his name and likeness in advertising, but an agreement was never reached - and Flair never agreed to have his name or image used.

Flair is now asking for the dealership to pull the ads and is seeking unspecified damages.

Ric Flair was on local sports talk show "Prime Time with The Packman" this morning on WFNZ in Charlotte. He said he will be opening a new business in Charlotte this week called Ric Flair Finance.

He also responded to WWE rumors that claim he's quitting "No, it's not true," he laughed.

He didn't seem too sure of himself, but he said he would talk more about everything next week on the same show.

Thursday's edition of the Palm Beach Post features comments from an employee of a Tampa medical clinic, who alleges that WWE wrestlers purchased drugs from the facility.

In 2003, Lordsofpain.net reports, authorities arrested John Todd Miller, who they alleged posed as a doctor and supplied wrestlers, law enforcement officers and businessmen with anabolic steroids. The case was thrown out due to a lack of evidence.

Misty Waldo, who was employed by the clinic, says she shipped overnight "packages" to Big Show and Ric Flair in 2003. Waldo said that upon starting the job, she was informed that professional wrestlers frequented the clinic.

Investigators did not reveal what drugs were in the packages she allegedly shipped to Flair and Big Show. Neither of the accused customers had commented on the story at press time.

Ric Flair gave notice to WWE sometime around August 21 that he no longer wished to be part of the company.

This decision to quit is related to Flair's lack of a push; the recent drug scandal apparently had nothing to do with his giving notice.

WWE reportedly offered Flair a "major program" in exchange for his agreement to stay on board. At press time, however, the two sides had not worked out a deal and, as the Wrestling Observer says, "nobody except perhaps Flair knows where things stand at this moment."

Where do you think Flair ranks among the all-time greats?

Randy Friedberg is still beaming about what he calls the best two hours of his life.

The Mount Pleasant resident, along with five friends, recently dined with pro wrestling icon "Nature Boy" Ric Flair at a restaurant in the champ's hometown of Charlotte.

It was, says Friedberg, much more than a lunch. It was a life-changing experience.

"Six men realized firsthand that some certainties in life still remain: death, taxes and that Ric Flair is still and always will be 'The Man,' " gushes the lifelong fan.

The lunch engagement came about when a friend, Heath Knott of Charlotte, attended the inaugural Patriot Gala in Charlotte last December. The event supports programs for wounded U.S. military personnel and their families. One of the items up for bid was lunch for six with the 16-time heavyweight champ.

"Heath immediately thought of his brother and quickly entered a bid. Luckily for us, he was the high bidder," says Friedberg. "He awarded the prize to his brother, Trey Knott (of Mount Pleasant), on Christmas morning. It would be the best present he ever opened."

After considerable thought, says Friedberg, Knott assembled his list of five friends whom he considered the "biggest wrestling fans." That list, in addition to brother Trey, consisted of Benjy Cooke of Mount Pleasant, Ryan Broadwater of Charleston, Stuart Godfrey of Mount Pleasant, Mark Bishop of Columbia and Friedberg.

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The following news is courtesy of the Wrestler Observer Newsletter ...

Carlito has a massive amount of heat on him backstage right now after he voiced his displeasure with the decision to remove his match with Ric Flair from WrestleMania to make room for Melina vs. Ashley and Kane vs. Khali.

The feeling at the office was to send him on a permanent vacation from WWE RAW to Heat until he faded away from the fans. Carlito was telling friends that he expected to be fired and was already making plans for his life should it happen.

The plan was for the Flair/Carlito angle to go well past WrestleMania 23, but it has been put on the backburner for now. Ric Flair was also feeling down about not being on the show, especially since in his mind he only has one or two WrestleManias left in him. Flair didn’t speak publicly about it, but definitely did not hide his disappointment when talking to people throughout the week about it.

The feeling within WWE is that nothing will really happen to Carlito, but management definitely put the fear into him that it will.

Today on FresnoBee.com, there is an interview with Ric Flair.

In it, the Nature Boy hints that retirement may not be too far in the future: "To me, I'd like to wrestle for another year. I'd like to walk away with my head held high and know that I had the most illustrious career of anybody alive, in the history of our business. And I think I already have that."

Flair turned 58 years old yesterday. Sounds like he may hang up his tights after Wrestlemania 24. That would be our guess.

We recently reported that Ric Flair would be absent from Monday Night RAW for awhile. Boy, were we wrong!

Turns out The Nature Boy settled his divorce case before it turns public and messy. Therefore, he was able to return to the road sooner than expected and re-join fellow WWE wrestler on RAW.