Inside The Wrestler’s Studio: Is It Worth It?

Ric Flair (image credit: World Wrestling Entertainment)

I kind of feel bad for Ric Flair these days.

As most of you know, right now the “Nature Boy” is headlining the big “Hulkamania” tour in Australia, wrestling the Hulkster himself in the main events. I’m fairly certain these shows mark the first time Flair has officially wrestled since his “retirement” match against Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 24, which was voted “Match of the Year” by the readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated. That was supposed to be Ric Flair’s last match. The final chapter in one of the most storied careers in the history of professional wrestling.

But now Flair is back.

*head on table*

Part of me wants to be hard on Flair for this, but I guess I can’t. I recall hearing that he’s got some financial issues in his life (alimony and what not), and that he’s used to living with a certain level of luxury in his life, and supposedly he can’t do that without actually getting in the ring and wrestling. From an outsider’s perspective, I’m not sure I buy that. I’d wager both WWE and TNA are willing to throw a good chunk of change at Flair to fill a non-wrestling role. But again, I’m an outsider. I don’t know for sure.

It just seems like such a crying shame. The folks in WWE went out of their way to give Flair that perfect “ride into the sunset.” He was the final inductee at the Hall of Fame that year. He and HBK had one of the most emotionally charged matches I’ve ever seen at WrestleMania. Then the following night he’s got friends old and new patting him on the back and celebrating his amazing career on national television.

How can coming back and wrestling again NOT tarnish those great moments?

The fact that he’s wrestling on this Hulk Hogan tour doesn’t help matters either. Let’s be honest, folks. This little tour is just a way for Hogan to cash in, and possibly cast himself in a positive light again following the Graziano tragedy, and his hellacious divorce.

Need proof? Look at the other guys on the tour. Aside from his usual posse (Jimmy Hart, Brutus Beefcake, the Nasty Boys), you’ve got Ken Anderson (Mr. Kennedy), Solofa Fatu Jr. (Rikishi), Edward Fatu (Umaga), Sean Morely (Val Venis), and Nick Dinsmore (Eugene), just to name a few. No disrespect to these men and their talents, but these are all ex-WWE guys who are on the tour solely because of their mainstream name-value, and the fact that the Australian fans, who rarely get to see American wrestlers in a live show, will pay to see them.

Is that smart from a business standpoint? Absolutely. But it doesn’t necessarily make for the most dignified wrestling show.

Plus, as much as I hate to play this card, Ric Flair is 60 years old, and Hulk Hogan is 56. They main-evented a WCW pay per view in 2000, and looked past their prime THEN. I’ll argue that Flair can still get around in the ring pretty well. He’s the original “icon that can still go.” But factor in Hogan’s notorious immobility, and well…they’re not going to get fillet mignon with this one. In fact, they’ll be lucky to get hamburger, and will probably end up with sloppy joe.

If Flair is going to renege on such an amazing farewell, he should at least find an opponent that can do more than Hogan’s usual point/punch/leg drop routine.

I’m sure the fans in Australia will be awesome, and no doubt the pay day will be hefty. I just hope Ric isn’t doing something he’s going to regret, because that grand exit isn’t something he’ll be able to get back. And Lord knows, if anybody ever deserved a grand exit, it’s him.

I hope it’s worth it Naitch, I hope it’s worth it.

FOR A GREAT INTERVIEW WITH FLAIR’S FORMER MANAGER, J.J. DILLON, CLICK HERE!