Ric Flair was interviewed in the Long Island Press this week. Here are some key excerpts along with my thoughts:
-On facing a top respected opponent such as Shawn Michaels at what might be his last match before retirement: "It's one of the biggest things if not that biggest thing in my life, that in connection with the Hall of Fame. I can't tell you anything different than that. It's huge."
-On Shawn Michaels lobbying to face him at WrestleMania: "I don't have the words to describe it, if you want the truth. It means that much, is what I'm saying."
WK: Flair, in these types of mainstream interviews, tends to gush a bit with hyperbole. Flair has had two or three "biggest moments of my life" every year, it seems, and this is just the latest. Not that he doesn't feel positive about Michaels and the Hall of Fame, but the tone as usual with him is a bit much.
-On the possibility he would have gone to TNA had his contract dispute with WWE not gotten resolved last year: "No, I wouldn't have.... It's nothing slighting the other organization. I'm extremely loyal to the people I work for, I'm more than loyal to the McMahons, and that never crossed my thought process at all. Sting's not my greatest opponent. My greatest opponent is Ricky Steamboat. I have a lot of respect for [Sting], but he's not my greatest opponent."
WK: I believe (and was told by insiders) that Flair would have considered TNA (or perhaps better put, "did consider TNA") at least to the extent that if WWE completely disrespected him, he knew he had a soft landing where he could better call his shots and be welcome for the legend he is. He is also smart enough to not let on to Vince McMahon that he would ever consider "betraying" WWE by even thinking of signing with TNA, no matter how shabbily he was treated by WWE. Mick Foley learned that lesson. There is a history with McMahon of him saying "no hard feelings" but holding a grudge and finding a way to pay you back once you're back under contract. As for Flair's greatest opponent, Rick Steamboat is ahead of Sting for sure. I'd say Barry Windham was my favorite Flair opponent, but that's personal preference. Steamboat without a doubt had more significant high-profile matches over a longer stretch of time that were of top-shelf quality than anyone else.
-Regarding Sid taking a dig at Flair's money-management skills forcing him to wrestle as long as he has: "Saving my money and what I've done in my personal life has got nothing to do with my wrestling accolades and where I've been."
WK: Flair's right - his career achievements are neither tainted nor enhanced by his bone-headed, short-sighted money-management decisions over the years. Would he have retired earlier or cut back on his schedule sooner if he had saved $10 million? I don't believe so. I think, though, he would have had more pull to get his way over the years when being mistreated if he had well-known financial security. The fact that he needed the money came through in his compromises and inability to take tough contract stands with any credibility over the years.
-On making cameo appearances for WWE after retirement like Mick Foley and Steve Austin have: "Yes, of course. If the opportunity presents itself, I'd love to do stuff like that going forward."
WK: Boy are those two bad examples. Both Foley and Austin have had their reputations hurt by how they've been used since they stepped away from full-time wrestling. They were exploited recklessly for their name-value and used in ways that hurt their reputations. Flair needs to be very selective in how he's used, but he's used to be abused and misused as an active wrestler, so perhaps he'll be a rare case of a legend who's used better in small, selective doses.
