Ric Flair's on-line Chat

[PureHatred]

The link below will let you read the entire transcript of his recent chat with The Sun.

CLICK HERE!!!!! (beware pop-ups)

Here are some excerpts:

On WCW's final days:

Your promo and match with Sting at the last ever WCW Monday Nitro in 2001 were very moving for a lot of fans. What emotions did you go through?
Navdeep Rehill

I was glad to see WCW close down! The company was an embarrassment to anything I'd ever known or been part of. Vince Russo had turned it into a circus.

I was emotional to be involved in the show but I wasn't prepared to wrestle and I didn't want to wrestle. I was honoured to be there with Sting and I understood what they were doing, but they made me fight. The interview was just something I've always been able to do.

It was such a sad day for the 150 individuals who lost their jobs – with relatively small compensation packages – and the people responsible for that happening should be dead.

I totally blame Eric Bischoff, Russo was just another add-on. The management didn't take into account anyone's feelings, they kept hiring the wrong people and there were no controls in place.

Instead of concentrating on making our product better, Bischoff was consumed with beating Vince. Any success he and the company enjoyed, Eric bought. There was no creative genius.

And he needlessly spent millions of dollars. If Vince bought an aeroplane we had to have an aeroplane, if Vince had ten limousines then we had to have ten limousines. At least when Vince spends money, it's his money.

On Eric Bischoff:

Is there still any real-life animosity between yourself and Eric Bischoff? Is it hard working with him every week on Raw?
Edwin Bear

I tolerate Eric and he tolerates me. I'm sure he knows how I feel.

I'm not the only one, there are 10 guys in there who want to kick his a*** every time they see him. But we're in a controlled environment and we have to get along.

He's a strange guy and the sad thing about Eric is that everyone who know him knows that if he could go away and get a millionaire to go into business against Vince he'd do it tomorrow. Take my word for it.

On the current roster:


Hi Ric, who on the current WWE roster do you think has the brightest future ahead of them? And who can wear your old tag as the "greatest professional wrestler alive today"?
Ben, Southampton

Triple H is by far the greatest professional wrestler alive right now, and Shawn Michaels is too when he wants to be. Shawn was the best and then along came Triple H, who is now finally getting his due.

And Kurt Angle is the WWE's Alex Rodriguez, if he can get healthy again he could be the top wrestler of all-time.

I think Randy Orton and Dave Batista have the best shot of making it big, and John Cena is in the top five. Randy and Dave have improved a lot working with Hunter and myself in Evolution.

When Dave and I go on the road as tag team partners – and much to my dismay they're making me work more than I want to – it's great experience for him. He gets to wrestle Shawn Michaels and Chris Benoit, and when you're working with guys like that you going to learn your craft.

Randy is a phenomenal athlete, and his dad was a great performer.

It is just going to take a little bit of time for both of them to find their niche, get their own style and become better talkers.

On the sexual harassment allegations:

How are you responding to the charges of sexual harassment that have recently been made against you, Scott Hall and Dustin 'Goldust' Runnells by two female flight attendants on the "WWE flight from hell" in May 2002?
Brian Nisbet

I don't even know what they're talking about, none of that happened. I really don't have a comment as there is no truth there.

And the claims have been made two years later. If it was bad then, why didn't something happen then?

On the NWA, hardcore wrestling, and some surprising stuff about Mick Foley:

Do you ever watch NWA:TNA and how do you feel they are continuing your legacy?
Ali, Southall

I've watched it a couple of times and what I saw of it was terrible. Anything that Vince Russo is involved with is going to be bad, I'm sorry but he's a cartoon character.

Jeff Jarrett is a good performer, but some of the stuff they've had on it with Raven and others wasn't enjoyable. I wouldn't pay a dollar to see Raven headline.

I've never seen a good match on NWA:TNA. People talk about the high-flying stuff but that's not wrestling. That's just raising the bar and one of the reasons the WWE has toned back down is those guys won't last five years.

It doesn't translate into money and when someone gets jumped on from a guy on a ladder, how does he come back? That's why people say wrestling is fake, because they say nobody could do that and they're right. I respect the fact those guys can do it, but so what.

It is like Mick Foley – falling off a building does not make you a wrestler. Where would he be if he hadn't fallen on a bed of thumb tacs?

I get along with Mick, he's drawn a lot of money and been very successful - but he's not a great wrestler by any means. He's a stunt man. He couldn't have even got started when I started in the business.

Could Mick wrestle for an hour? Does anyone think he could go for 60 minutes tomorrow against Chris Benoit or Eddie Guerrero? You're kidding, he's out of shape. I'm just telling it how I see it.

They'll replay that bump Mick took off the cage and through the table forever, but where do you go with that? He can only wrestle one style of match.

Look at Steve Austin, probably the biggest star the WWF/E has ever had, did he do any hardcore wrestling? Did Hogan, The Rock, Hunter or Shawn Michaels? No.

You've got to build your company around guys who can wrestle. Hogan was not a great wrestler but he brought everything else to the ring.


Hi Ric, when is your autobiography coming out and will it be as good as Mick Foley's?
Stu, Blackpool

It's out on June 28 and everyone who has sent in questions should read my book, you'll all love it.

I've not read a wrestling book yet, but I can't imagine Mick Foley's life story after being in the business for 10 years is anywhere near as good as mine.

[TazroK]

Interesting.....he speaks the truth though. =D

[PureHatred]

My own personal thoughts:

If you read the transcript, he loves him some Triple H. He can't say enough about the guy and even admits that Hunter (and Shawn, of course) has some influence over Vince, but that its a good thing.

I loved his comments about Kurt...really accurate IMO.

His animosity towards EB is understandable, but I've read just as many nasty things about Ric when he had the book. Basically, Ric's favorite talent was Ric...NWA had that problem a lot with their bookers.

And I guess Ric is just a crotchedy old **** when it comes to hardocre/aerial wrestling. Mick just seems to represent an era of wrestling Flair just doesn't "get." It's sad, because Mick has just as much if not more passion for the business than any of these other all-time greats that Flair talks about. But Ric can't (or won't) see that because the style isn't his.

Which only goes to prove.....old people suck.

[Rock Bottom]

How are you responding to the charges of sexual harassment that have recently been made against you, Scott Hall and Dustin 'Goldust' Runnells by two female flight attendants on the "WWE flight from hell" in May 2002?
Brian Nisbet

I don't even know what they're talking about, none of that happened. I really don't have a comment as there is no truth there.

And the claims have been made two years later. If it was bad then, why didn't something happen then?

-------------------------

I asked that question. Brian Nisbet should die.

[Evil Vito]

Originally Posted by Ric Flair Triple H is by far the greatest professional wrestler alive right now

[CBright7831]

@ Batista actually becoming a main eventer.

Wait, that may actually happen.

[CBright7831]

I can also see he likes Foley & Raven. He must have loved ECW, CZW and the like.

[Scarface]

I'm not sure I agree with what he said about Mick Foley, but Flair is the man regardless. Some of that stuff was really interesting. Thanks for making the topic.

[Moongoose Mcqueen]

He does make some good points, but I disagree with his comments about Foley and a few other things.
Like said, I just don't think he gets it and is one-dimensional about many views. HHH and Shawn have wrestled hardcore matches, many with Foley and from what I know those 2 have a lot of respect for Mick, so why not Ric.

[CBright7831]

Probably because Flair has been wrestling for about four decades and Shawn and Trips have only been about wrestling as long as Mick has.

Flair didn't appreciate Foley spitting on the WCW Tag Title during an ECW promo from what I read once.

[Scarface]

Hey Ric, every match I see you in nowadays you go to the top rope and always get thrown off. When was the last time you hit that move? Kyle, Philadelphia Thirty years ago! And I think I got it once in 1991.

That made me crack up.

[Azriel]

wow, I just got done reading the whole thing. Great reading.

[Cactus Sid]

He certainly has it in for Foley.

I guess Ric never really paid attention to Mick's career, much like he didn't give a shit about him when he was in WCW.

[Boondock Saint]

"The worst guy I ever worked with was the Ultimate Warrior, I just couldn't get a match out of him. He was a huge player and a very nice guy, but I can't tell you with a clear conscious that he was a good wrestler."




Good read

[PureHatred]

Originally Posted by Ric Flair Look at Steve Austin, probably the biggest star the WWF/E has ever had, did he do any hardcore wrestling? Did Hogan, The Rock, Hunter or Shawn Michaels? No.

Every single guy Ric mentions there has been in a hardcore match. Most of them, as Mongoose noted, with Mick Foley himself. Sort of wish the people doing the interview had mentioned that at the time.

[Ferocious]

After the Foley Comments and Flair thinking HHH is the best wrestler in the business today I have to say he's gone down in Mark ratings with me. :foc:

[CBright7831]

I know they didn't in WWE/F but did Hogan and Foley ever wrestle?

[Moongoose Mcqueen]

Not that I know of, even though I think they were in WCW at the same time the big shots were segregated from the backbone of the company, so they probably never even made eye contact out back, let alone wrestle a match. I could be wrong though...

[Tornado]

Jesus Christ Ric, pull your tounge outta HHH's ass will ya?

[The Ravishing One]

Originally Posted by TazroK Interesting.....he speaks the truth though.

[HHHsucks929]

Everything Ric said was fine, except for when he basically ripped Mick Foley apart. As much as wrestling is involved in this business, this isn't just wrestling. This is sports entertainment. Mick Foley is one of the greatest entertainers this company has ever had, and if he entertained us by getting hit with chairs and thrown off cells than so be it. I'm pretty sure Ric Flair has never been thrown off a cell through an announce table onto concrete. I understand he's been in the business much longer than Foley, but come on. He also says Shawn Michaels and The Rock have never done any hardcore wrestling? That's just a ridiculous statement.

[CBright7831]

HBK/Mankind is one of my personal favorites.

Rock/Mankind had to many to mention.

[Rob]

Can't believe he even thought about dogging Foley's books. If he tells the 100% honest truth in his books then they might hold a candle to them. But he won't and that's the facts. Too many people would be in serious trouble if he did.

[SeanMC]

His credibility went down for me when i heard about him meeting George Bush. Yes i agree the interview was a good read, but f-uckin hell, has Flairs ego got to him? Well actually i think that happened a long ass time ago, but yeah i can see why Flair says what he says, but this is sports entertainment, and we need variation of hardcore wrestling/high flying cruiserweights and technical wrestlers and we don't have that now cos the wwe is taking Flair's view on things and it's no surprise the ratings are down now because of that. The CW division/ hardcore division should be brought back to it's proper status, would Backlash have drawn as good as it had without the no holds barred match?I don't think so because that match was the one reason why i was gonna order that PPV, then is aw the price had doubled to £15 so i thought f-uck it, atleast im getting the tape off a friend on friday though!
Also im surprised he didn't mention shelton benjamin....

[PureHatred]

Originally Posted by SeanMC His credibility went down for me when i heard about him meeting George Bush.

His credibility as a wrestler went down because of his personal political views? WTF?

[SeanMC]

Have you heard of the word sarcasim?

[PureHatred]

Sorry..you're so chock full of wit, I should've known it was "sarcasim."

[The Mackem]

That was a good read

[SeanMC]

Originally Posted by PureHatred Sorry..you're so chock full of wit, I should've known it was "sarcasim."

Hey man why you getting on the defensive? Your taking things too seriously i think, besides i don't think sarcasim was the word i was looking for actually i can't think of the word right now but anyway it was late when i posted that so you can't expect me to be making PERFECT sense at that time!

[Lara Emily]

Nevermind