Tag: Ric Flair

Ric Flair on in-ring return: ‘I don’t need the money but I do like the glory’

Ric Flair said his upcoming and supposedly final pro wrestling match is about the glory, not because he needs the money.

Ric Flair’s Last Match isn’t a cash grab. Source? Ric Flair himself.

The 73-year-old wrestling icon cleared up one common notion about what is being called his final professional wrestling match, which will take place in Nashville on July 31. On the latest episode of his To Be The Man podcast, Flair insisted that he is in a good place financially and it’s the allure of the crowd reaction, not the chance to make more money, that has led him to this moment (h/t to Figure Four Online for the transcription).

“If you don’t see how much money I make from Cameo, that alone I can live on for the rest of my life,” Flair said. “I just made a commercial for Nu Image Rejuvenation Clinic, another commercial for Car Shield. My life is good, I don’t need the money but I do like the glory. I’m never going to walk away from it. If I have a chance to get myself over, I’m going to do it. It’s what I’ve been doing my whole life.”

Flair also spoke about being in great physical shape for the match, working with “John Cena’s personal trainer” and getting his cardio where it needs to be. His cardiologist has apparently given his blessing as well, which is no small deal — Flair had a pacemaker implanted in 2019 as a result of ongoing heart issues, and has had additional health scares over the past five years.

One question still unanswered is who will join Flair in the ring. The match will reportedly be a six-man tag team match, giving other wrestlers the opportunity to work both with and against the Nature Boy. One popular name thrown around was Ricky Steamboat, who had one of the greatest pro wrestling matches of all time against Flair in 1989, but Steamboat recently said he declined an offer to participate.

Tickets for Flair’s Last Match go on sale Friday, May 27 at 12 p.m. ET, and the event will be broadcast live on FITE TV.

Ricky Steamboat says he won’t be part of Ric Flair’s last match

Ricky Steamboat is willing to let the magic of his iconic matches with Ric Flair remain in the past.

Ricky Steamboat is willing to let the magic of his iconic matches with Ric Flair remain in the past.

The Dragon confirmed he was offered a chance to be part of what is being billed as Flair’s final pro wrestling match, slated to take place in Nashville on July 31. But as he explained during a signing for Highspots, after pondering the opportunity, he decided to decline (h/t to Figure Four Online for transcribing).

“I was approached and [I’ve] given it some really serious thought,” Steamboat said. “A lot of respect for the guy in the ring. Both of us are night and day when it comes to stuff out of the ring.

“I thought about it for a week and just recently declined on it. I know when I wrestled Jericho at WrestleMania 25 and then we had the return match at Backlash in a singles. At 69, and I know it’s a six-man tag and I can get a little this and that in, but with all due respect to our fans, I want them to remember me that last time I was in there with Jericho when they chanted, ‘You still got it!’ I don’t want to scar that phrase.”

Steamboat added that it would be “a great payday,” but that wasn’t going to be reason enough to participate.

Flair and Steamboat have shared the ring 14 times throughout their storied wrestling careers, though not since a tag team match in WCW in 1994 — where Flair’s partner was Steve Austin, and Steamboat was paired with Sting. Their most renowned bouts came in 1989, when they met several times for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, with Steamboat winning the title at Chi-Town Rumble and Flair regaining it at WrestleWar ’89.

Considering the final match in that series is often named at or near the top of the greatest pro wrestling matches of all time, Steamboat has a bit more to think about than most people when it comes to his legacy with Flair. It would have been cool to see the Dragon and the Nature Boy one more time, but it’s also perfectly understandable why he’d want to let their rivalry stay the stuff of legend.

Ric Flair sets date, location for last wrestling match

Ric Flair confirmed an ESPN report that his final pro wrestling match will take place during SummerSlam weekend in Nashville.

When it comes to “one more match” for the legendary Ric Flair, we now know when and where that will be.

ESPN’s Marc Raimondi reported Monday morning that Flair would wrestle one final match at the Nashville Fairgrounds on July 31. The independent card will be produced by Thuzio in conjunction with Jim Crockett Promotions, and  streamed live by FITE TV.

That announcement was quickly confirmed by Flair himself on Twitter.

The date and location for Flair’s last match are significant: WWE is in Nashville for SummerSlam, which will take place July 30 at Nissan Stadium. It’s also the site for the Starrcast V wrestling fan convention, which will take over the Nashville Fairgrounds from July 29-31. With no opponent named yet for Flair, speculation is certain to center on the Starrcast guest list for this year and any notable names from the Nature Boy’s past.

The 73-year-old Flair hasn’t been seen in a professional wrestling ring for more than a decade. His most recent bout took place against Sting on a TNA IMPACT taping on Sept. 12, 2011. Flair’s iconic WWE retirement match came at WrestleMania XXIV in 2008 in a memorable loss to Shawn Michaels, though he returned one more time a year later and faced Randy Orton in an unsanctioned match on Raw.

It’s always difficult to say for sure if wrestling retirements will stick, but if this is indeed the last time Flair walks that aisle, it would make for some nice career symmetry for Flair as it would come 50 years since his pro wrestling debut in 1972. Considering he’s had a number of health issues over the years, many wrestling fans and friends of Flair would undoubtedly prefer if he truly leaves his boots in the ring this summer.

Tickets for Flair’s final match go on sale Friday, May 27 at 12 p.m. ET at RicFlairsLastMatch.com.

LOOK: Michigan fan Ric Flair calls out Penn State football on Twitter

Ric Flair called out Penn State football on Twitter before kicking off against Michigan

One of professional wrestling’s biggest stars of all-time called out Penn State prior to Saturday’s home game against Michigan. Within hours of Penn State kicking things off against Michigan in Beaver Stadium in week 11, the one and only Ric Flair fired off a tweet to get his fellow Michigan fans excited, and draw the stinkeye from Penn State faithful.

“You’re going down today,” the Nature Boy proclaimed on his Twitter account. “Two claps and a Ric Flair WOOOOO!”

With all due respect, Penn State fans are likely hoping the Nittany Lions can give Michigan’s Big Ten title and College Football Playoff hopes a Shawn Michaels superkick to the face.

Flair’s adopted parents were from Michigan, and Flair says the Wolverines once attempted to recruit him to play football. Obviously, Flair went on to pursue a career in professional wrestling, and it is safe to suggest that worked out quite well for Flair in the long run. But Michigan has been smart to keep ties with Flair at every opportunity, and Flair seems receptive to shouting out his Wolverines and letting everyone know about it.

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Wrestling legend Ric Flair ripped for not wearing a mask during Starbucks run

The “Nature Boy” Ric Flair got the NYC tabloid treatment from the New York Post for not wearing a mask during the pandemic.

Pro wrestling legend Ric Flair was left in tatters by a New York Post article after he was seen not wearing a mask despite the COVID-19 pandemic raging in Georgia.

In fact, Flair’s wife, Wendy Barlow,  is currently sick with the virus, Flair told The Post — just days after photographers spotted him at a Georgia Starbucks drive-through Friday without a mask.

Per The Post:

My wife does [have the virus]… we live in a 5,000 square foot home. I live in the basement. She lives upstairs on the third floor and she got sick.”

The Hall of Famer hung up before The Post could ask questions about the Starbucks run, and when probed further via text message, he insisted his “health is excellent,” denying a report he tested positive for it Wednesday.

Flair has battled numerous health issues in recent years. At times, the wrestling and sports entertainment universe has feared for the “Nature Boy’s” life.

Not wearing the mask, was surprising given how strongly Flair has come out in favor of being safe during the pandemic.

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=3170328999667548

This also won’t help business on Ricflaiship.com, where an assortment of gaiter masks are offered for purchase.

Now, that’s quite the heel turn — swerve — from the self-proclaimed “Dirtiest Player in the Game.”

 

Ric Flair trolls Alabama in hilarious Tweet

The Alabama Crimson Tide can’t catch a break following their 48-45 defeat at Auburn. Alabama has been at college football’s top for a decade, but they’ve had a rocky couple of endings to their past two seasons. Alabama won’t be playing in the SEC …

The Alabama Crimson Tide can’t catch a break following their 48-45 defeat at Auburn. Alabama has been at college football’s top for a decade, but they’ve had a rocky couple of endings to their past two seasons.

Alabama won’t be playing in the SEC Championship for the second time in three years. Instead Georgia and LSU will face off in what should be a classic. Not a soul feels bad for Alabama, especially Auburn fans.

Ric Flair is notorious for bouncing from team to team, but he’s evidently not a fan of Alabama:

For Crimson Tide fans and players their bowl game can’t come soon enough.

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