Has Ric Flair Truly Burnt His Bridge With WWE?

[CM Steel]

In an recent interview by the Nature Boy Ric Flair he stated that he'll truly "Never Retire from wrestling"...not in those words. But at the age of 60 Ric Flair has been around in wrestling. NWA, JCP, WCW, WWF/E, TNA/Impact.

But we all remember a few years ago when Ric Flair "retired" from wrestling while in the WWE. The big send-off celebration on RAW the night after Wrestlemania 24 in Orlando, Florida. And in less then two years, Ric Flair was back wrestling at the Hulkmania tour in the down under, and full-time...in TNA/Impact Wrestling in Orlando, Florida. So there was alot of egg on chairman's Vince McMahon's face as well as the company's. And Ric Flair had went back on his word to the man who "retired" the Nature Boy, Shawn Michaels.

So if Ric Flair had to leave TNA/Impact for anykind of reason. Could you see Ric Flair coming back to the WWE after what he had did on the way out? Flair broke promise's, trust, and bonds. So really could you see Vince McMahon re-signing Ric Flair back to the WWE (under a legends contract)? Ric Flair has proven in the past that money does talk!

 

[BigDaddyKewl]

I could see him maybe making sporadic appearances. They could also put him on a show on the new channel like Legends House. Flair still is over and can still talk on the stick and take bumps. As far as I know he's still on good terms with WWE, he attended this years Hall of Fame.

 

[conrad405]

alot of people say crap about him not retiring but wrestling for so many years then just stopping would be so hard to just leave. its like someone saying i will never watch wrestling again or i will never watch WWE again you may be able to leave it/stop watching for a while you will come back and watch/wrestle again. its easier said then done.

 

[itbewilly]

Flair is the type of performer that doesn't really have to retire. Perhaps people are taking his statements out of context? Has he really been a full time in ring performer in TNA? I know hes had a few matches but most of what Flair does is more of a mentor role like he was doing with A.J. He could for sure pull off becoming a manager or gm type role without having to quit just because hes old. The man can still control a crowd and is still one of the most under-handed dirty wrestlers in the game. A Heel Manager is more then in the realm of possibility for Flair.

I doubt WWE cares much for Flair wrestling anyways. Didn't he go through a divorce around/after his WWE departure? The man has to make money and that's all he knows really.

 

[TUFFY54]

I don't think he's burnt his bridge with the WWE. HBK was asked about Flair wrestling in TNA during an interview a few months ago. He said he had no problem with it. The man needs money and wants to wrestle, retiring isn't an option.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

Not really. Ric Flair just simply wanted to do something different than what WWE had in mind for him. To my knowledge, Flair hasn't taken the route of most other former WWE talents in slamming WWE for one thing or another. I haven't read anything online or heard any interviews in which he insults the company or tries to make them look bad in any way. Mick Foley was the same way. Even though his falling out with WWE was fairly rough, you never heard or saw Foley try to drag WWE through the mud or come off as ungrateful for the opportunities he had in WWE even when he was front & center in TNA.

If Ric Flair wanted to come back to the WWE, I don't think there'd be much of a problem unless Flair wanted to wrestle. The WWE has made it pretty clear that it's intention is to put focus on younger guys right now. Kevin Nash has been back on WWE television for a few months now and while he'll always be a big star, he hasn't been anywhere near the center of attention that he probably would still be in TNA. He and his program with Triple H aren't dominating air time or being shove down our throats. Nash has only actually wrestled one match and it was a 2 minute squash match against Santino and he'll meet Triple H at TLC. Nash, I think, will wrestle very occassionally and only if the WWE is comfortable enough with his overall health to allow it to happen. I don't think they'd be as comfortable with Flair, not nearly as comfortable. He has roughly 10 years on Nash and we can only guess what, if any, medical issues Flair might have going on that we have no clue about. I know the last two times he's wrestled matches in TNA that he's severely injured the same shoulder both times.

Flair can be a contribution by his name and by his mind. At this point in his life, Ric Flair would be much more of a benefit to WWE, or any company for that matter, in a creative role, managerial role or even maybe as a commentator than he would as an active, in-ring competitor. Until/unless Flair would agree to roles such as that, I doubt you'll see him back in WWE for a long while.

 

[DirtyD79]

Nope, as long as WWE still thinks they can squeeze a few more dollars out of him he'll be back with open arms.

 

[Ricky]

I don't think Flair's burnt his bridge with WWE totally. I'm sure Vince and the company understand Flair's money problems and why he has to continue to work. I still consider Flair semi-retired. He's only had a couple of matches in TNA anyway....I'm sure he'll pop up in WWE in the future in some capacity. Everyone comes back. Also, I personally don't like Flair the person. He's an egomaniac.

 

[dark_heart1983]

I didnt like it cause to me a man's word is everything. They gave Flair an amazing send off but he ruined it. If I were vince i wouldnt re-hire him even for back stage. Its also a thing of health. Its not gonna look good if Flair is in the middle of a match and keels over from a heart attack. Flair, Hogan and the like were really good back in their hey day but their gettin up in their age. I respect Taker cause he's willing to put the younger talent over or help them make a name for themselves...example A:Randy Orton. He was just in Evolution but I feel it wasnt till his feud with Taker did the fans really open their eyes to him. To me Flair having the good bye ceremony then working for the competition was a slap in the wwe's face and shawn's face. I feel Shawn will be different as in he'll make sporadic appearance and not hesitate to kick someone's teeth down their throat but unlike flair he wont officially wrestle.

 

[dark_heart1983]

I don't think Flair's burnt his bridge with WWE totally. I'm sure Vince and the company understand Flair's money problems and why he has to continue to work. I still consider Flair semi-retired. He's only had a couple of matches in TNA anyway....I'm sure he'll pop up in WWE in the future in some capacity. Everyone comes back. Also, I personally don't like Flair the person. He's an egomaniac.

precisely...he & hogan r in the same boat...they could easily work in the back with the younger talent much like Dean Malenko & Road Dogg r for WWE. But nope they have to have air time. The only person to have a bigger ego than Flair is Hogan. If I were TNA officials Id hire both but only bring them out on TV if ratings were dangerously low. Im talking have network threatening to cancel the show. Then Id have Flair/Hogan make a surprise appearance to spice things up. Keep them on for a couple months then fade off into the back ground.

 

[H33LTurn]

I dont think WWE would put him in another match due to the fact that they invested a lot in his retirement angle. They most likely wouldnt have a problem with him making appearances here and there but I dont think we'll ever see Ric dawn another robe in a WWE ring again.

 

[One to Remember]

how the hell can he be penalized for wrestling post retirement in an orginization WWE does not recognize? From WWE's standpoint Flair broke no word because he had no matches because the ones he did took place in a company that from WWE's standpoint TNA does not exist in any context.. And plus alot of ppl in WWE don't watch TNA so they might not have cought him in the ring after retirement.

 

[Best in the World 79]

Egg on McMahon's face? Not a bit amigo. He probably made more money off that match he had with hbk then tna makes in a full calendar year.

Ric Flair. Perhaps the greatest. But since he's been in tna. It's ruined it for me. The match against sting. It was awful. But burned a bridgle? No. At least I think.

Should he ever be back? No. He's had his "last" match with wwe. He's in the hall of fame. He's very old. And he looks like meat hanging off a coat hanger. It's gross. He'd be useless almost and that's a terrible thing to say about the nature boy. But that's just what happens when you can't let something go...........

 

[Dagger Dias]

What Flair did rubbed a lot of people the wrong way, both fans and WWE employees. They gave him a huge sendoff for his retirement and he had supposedly promised Shawn Michaels that it would be his last match. That was nearly 3 years ago though at this point. If WWE needed the money and Flair showed interest in returning under a legends contract, I'm sure an agreement could be reached between the two. While he certainly did burn some bridges, time can mend broken bonds. I would rather Flair stay in TNA to help guys out over there, but if it came down to it he would return to WWE for more money if both sides reached an agreement. Anything can happen.

 

[One to Remember]

this is like the tree falling in the forrest situation. if no one was there to hear it did it make a sound some have asked. if no one is watching TNA, did his matches on TNA even happen? When he comes to WWE they will just pick off from there and Flair himself won't aknowledge TNA. Besides hes not done alot of wrestling in TNA for a guy who can't stop.. I think he honored his send off well ENOUGH for it not to be regarded as a reneg.

 

[Mustang Sally]

For a long time after his retirement match against HBK, I presumed WWE had a place in the organization for Flair, and that Nature Boy left of his own volition because he wanted to book himself for appearances outside the company, which Vince wouldn't allow. It was only last year we learned that WWE apparently had nothing for Flair after he retired from the ring. That being the case, he had every right to join TNA and do whatever he wanted to do, which included engaging in wrestling matches.

Face it, if he wasn't in such financial difficulty, he might very well be living in retired bliss right now, making occasional non-wrestling appearances befitting his legendary status. But his having to pay alimony to 163 different wives precludes his being able to leave the wrestling business. It's sad and strange, especially when he competes in the ring at his age and physical condition.

Still, he could be an asset to WWE in a non-wrestling capacity. He could keep his shirt on (thank God!) and treat us to the state of apoplexy he does so well when he's mad at something. Let him manage. Let him general manage. Let him provide commentary. Whatever.

But is Vince McMahon so resentful that he'd never hire Flair again? Personally, I think if Vince perceived that losing Flair would hurt TNA, Vince would take him back in a minute. If Vince felt Flair's presence wasn't helping TNA at all, maybe he'd pass on Ric.

Burned bridges? Who knows?.......in the end, a possible return probably comes down to simple economics.

 

[Skinsley]

Absolutely not. Flair wanted to wrestle so he did.... who are WWE to say "you lied" ?

When Flair does eventually retire he will be making back stage appearances all day long and will be treated like a GOD. HHH uses a figure four in referance to The Naiture Boy and he used it Sunday Night at TLC.

WWE knows that Flair just hasnt lost the URGE and they also know that he has friends and long time acquantances at TNA such as Hulk and Bischoff.... so why would'nt he help them out a little? TNA is no competition for WWE and WWE know that Flair could be a financial commodity if he ever got himself a Legends contract and made appearances.

WOOOOOH!!!!

 

[Xumer]

The fact that he is clearly shown in the commercials for the WWE network says to me that the WWE has no problems with Flair whatsoever and when the time is right for both of them, he will be welcomed back. As far as the "omg he was supposed to be retired" argument, do you have any idea how many people "retired" in pro wrestling and then went back to it?

 

[Scofield]

I know my post here will get alot of heat but it's my opinion. I didn't mind from what I had seen documented of Flairs earlier career. But from when he returned back with the WWF in 2001 after the Invasion was over, I lost all respect for the wheeling dealing son of a gun 16 time World Champion. The only exception that I feel he really contributed to something was his part in Evolution.

Not that I am a WWE mark by all means but after an amazing send off from WWE and the "WWE Universe" he turns around and trys to be the poster boy of TNA? Ok maybe not quite poster boy. But guys like Flair & Hogan need to know the meaning of retirement instead of shitting over the meaning of retirement from professional wrestling. You don't see guys like Harley Race making comebacks all the time? You don't see HBK chomping at the bit to get back into the business. Those are true Hall of Famers who I truly respect.


Plus to go with it to...not that I know Ric Flair personally but from the number of marriages & divorces the guy has aswell as alimonies to go with the lifestyle the guy leads....not something or someone who I would pay true homeage to. Yes he has done alot for the industry bar none but not someone whom I am a fan of.

As much as I hate Cena, if WWE's goal is to have him eclipse Flairs record of 16 title wins then I support that. If he can't respect the word retirement and the send off WWE gave him then why should they respect his 16 time accolade. Not like the belts mean much these days right?

 

[jacdnwarrior]

Rick Flair has no loyalty to any one. He showed that a long time ago.

He needs money and he went to the one industry that his name means something, professional wrestling. I find it more sad than anything else to see this guy who should have more money (saved up or invested) than a beach has sand, is desperate to earn a living, but that's the choice he made.

The other problem is Flair wants to be in front of the camera and still wrestling. I don't mind him in front of a camera (on a limited basis) but in the ring as a wrestling competitor, fuck no !!! Keep his old ass out of the fucking ring. At the time he left WWE, (if what I heard about his departure is true, again I say if) he had other business ventures he was trying to do and he was being put in a job that was away from the ring and the spotlight. SO I believe that's where the problems arose between him and WWE.