Jim Cornette on Ric Flair Wanting To Return To The Ring

From Episode 431 of the Jim Cornette Experience
Artwork by Travis Heckel!
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[@ThaRealWorld]

I guess nobody is taking this man seriously when he’s saying he wants to die in the ring

[@Jayce_Alexander]

Well if he keeps this up he will.

[@ThaRealWorld]

@@Jayce_Alexander that’s the plan I think

[@robertnapier624]

Will last word be his signature “woo!”?

[@markfroman738]

He craves the lifestyle more than anything

[@MarsofAritia]

would be a kino af death though. like shibata's last match

[@azapro911]

Flair didn't like being made to retire by WWE in 2008, but everything he's done in the ring since proves Vince called that one exactly right.

[@SpiralPoliFemboy]

Agreed. 2008 was the perfect time. He was slowing down a lot by then but in 2008 he could still work a competent match. Watch his match at Rumble 2008 against MVP and his Mania 24 classic with Shawn Michaels. That last match was the PERFECT send off to him. He never needed to wrestle after. Of course he could still be in stories as an important factor and could get physical now and then but his final bell to bell match should've been Mania 24.

[@karlm641]

Could have had the greatest post wrestling career of all time as an ambassador for WWE, do some public speaking, podcasts etc… instead he can’t stay away from the limelight.

[@brandonritchey484]

Terry funk he is not

[@leelohaskin7941]

@@karlm641 the problem is is that this is the social media wra were folks getting attention for doing anything so he probably feels he needs to stay or be even more relevant by doing something he doesn't need to be doing, which is wrestling

[@kenrickeason]

I don't agree with everything Vince McMahon does but made the right call seeing how Ric Flair's clock was ticking down.. Vince Mcmahon tried to send him away in a great way... Ric Flair couldn't let go because of the love for the business and the love of money.. Nothing wrong with that! Ric just needs to know he can't do it anymore cause his age and health is a factor now..

[@sbz88]

The way they sent him off in 2008 with Shawn Michaels was perfect. Wrestlemania, the grand entrance, he got all his stuff in one final time and the finish with Shawn hesitating to superkick him was an iconic moment. It should have ended there for him.

[@justin7409]

Yup 👍💯 agree!

[@ZealKingdom]

"I was wrestling IN '73, and I'm wrestling AT 73. Woo!"

[@shawnschaitel838]

I'd pay to watch that promo

[@RELopez-mk4ic]

LOL Wooo!

[@JaneDoe-wk2qs]

Nature Boy going for "The Wrestler" finish.

[@ianrocco8453]

Lol

[@MrRjh63]

I have always thought that might be how he would end his days.

[@dorianj74]

A while ago, Grantland had an article about Flair called "'The Wrestler' in Real Life". At the time, I didn't think it would come full circle.

[@zachscott5420]

Don’t bring the wrestler up in front of jim

[@rollingthunder8223]

What else would you expect this guy became ric flair

[@leemcandrew]

My niece walked in on me watching Flair's Wrestlemania match against Shawn Michaels; she didn't know who they were. She was worried about 'the old man' getting hurt.

[@briankenney9827]

That was 2008. That tells you a lot lol

[@Subhan______]

yo that match was sick tho

[@christopheriverson7103]

Cool story😅👍🏾

[@toddpace4588]

How would she not know who they were?

[@Comrade2261]

@@toddpace4588 Probably doesn't watch wrestling.

[@sirnetflix7162]

Reminds me of this interview with Rob Van Dam. It was years ago at this point, I believe after he left the WWE in 2007 but before he went to TNA, and he was asked when he would retire. His answer basically amounted to, “When I can’t do the moves I’m known for, I’ll stop. When I’m doing a half-baked version of those moves, that’s how I know I shouldn’t go on.”

[@georgemaranville3305]

Rob. Never half-baked.

[@ModernDayRenaissanceMan]

Well that was 2008.

[@CactusInsane]

Well he can still do the moves, not as fast in his younger days but at least it still looks smooth and safe when he performs them unlike the hardys

[@sirnetflix7162]

@@CactusInsane Yeah, they still look good. If anything, it’s even more impressive since he’s older than Jeff and Matt.

[@CactusInsane]

@@sirnetflix7162 that and the fact that he came from ECW and was in that hardcore environment in wrestling longer than the hardys is also proof that RVD takes better care of himself

[@lee-ur7nt]

Flair was pushing it when he was wrestling in the 2000s

[@theyliveinthematrixofthefa4437]

Not really. At least not early 2000s

[@jonmitchell9019]

@@theyliveinthematrixofthefa4437 He was good. He did some great work in TNA. Jay Lethal was great. People don't know what thay are talking about. If he wrestles it will be a full stadium. Let the other guys do the work. And Ric get on the mic before the match.

[@bonechip01]

I though he was great to be honest

[@theyliveinthematrixofthefa4437]

@@jonmitchell9019 well now in 2022 he'd definitely be pushing it lol. I just thought he was relatively healthy enough for his age at ruthless agreesion era. Now ? Hell nawe

[@jonmitchell9019]

@@theyliveinthematrixofthefa4437 It would be pushing it if it was in a WWE ring. And if it was a return not a one off like this will be yeah I understand but it will be some 3 on 3 tag match and two old guys get in at the end and do one move and get out. Give Ric the mic and make the fans happy. It will be in Nashville on a off show. It will probably be packed.

[@richardpreston7333]

The fact that Jim talks about Ric these days with such pity in his voice speaks volumes

[@IceDragon1377]

Maybe not so much pity as it is genuine concern for a living legend of the business.

[@coburgerj1993]

The only thing that scares me is how close to death's door he was a few years ago... He's in better shape today but he has been in scary bad shape at his worst. I've been under the impression that his health was very fragile

[@ohsweatbret]

Yea, and he’s also at the age where a relatively minor injury could lead to lethal pneumonia. No one will want to be the wrestler or promoter who killed Ric Flair

[@shawncollins7130]

He drank himself to near death, 'saw the light' for about a year and now his IG is now full of him boozing it up again.

[@juanurbina3697]

I couldn't agree more. I love Ric Flair and will always be a big fan but I would not want him to return to the ring. Honestly, I don't want to see him get seriously injured. I understand that wrestling is his passion and has made him a legend but Ric has nothing left to prove.

[@wake6937]

I’m praying that happens I’m gonna have a celebration with cake and champagne while that pervs on his deathbed

[@segagenesis7708]

The harsh truth is that Ric Flair has always wanted to die in the ring (He has talked about this in the past), because everything else in his life is a wreck. His marriages have all failed and they were down to him. His relationships with his children have wavered between varying degrees of awful. David no longer talks to him. Most of his old friends no longer talk to him and while Ric tries to play the victim in that regard, those guys are composed enough to not put all of the real issues behind the fracture, out into the public (Though one issue is that one of Flair’s ex-wives was a good friend of Arn’s and Flair treated her like utter crap). HHH doesn’t even talk to him anymore. He’s was once a known racist (I think he did apologize for past statements, but cannot confirm), and he’s always had a reputation for being a guy who acts like your friend, as long as he can get something out of you or as long as you kiss his backside. He is also a guy who has a reputation for helicoptering and cornering female employees to grab his dick, that goes back decades (I first heard about it in the 90s). The woman who stood by him and darn near nursed him back to life, he separated from so that he could still be, the Nature Boy, because that’s all he has. This is why he has never made it a secret that he wants to die in the ring. It’s all he has left in his sad, pathetic, sack of *Expletive* life.

[@kidray7818]

Flair is a shell of himself and he should be. He's 73 yrs old. Just bow out gracefully💯💯💯

[@derpderpin1568]

Sometimes staring your own mortality in the face just isn't that easy. He knows he doesn't have much time left. For all the entertainment he gave me in my life I think it's alright to let the man live it out how he wants to.

[@Drollpanther]

He doesn’t look a day over 110

[@DLRX]

@@Drollpanther Alcohol will do that to you, and the constant blading over the years.

[@mattst.germain4023]

@@derpderpin1568 couldn’t agree more. Don’t understand why people are ripping him. It’s his life, his choice. He knows he can’t go have some great match, it’s just the addiction of wanting to be around the greatest love of his life. I get it, and hope it goes well for him.

[@MilMaska]

"I will never retire. I will only retire. When Im dead in this ring" - Ric Flair

[@jakeshaffer9176]

You made a good point about Ric going easy with Lethal and trusting him to do safe maneuvers, but not everybody can do what Lethal does and make sure shit doesn’t get out of hand. Flair will always be the man but he doesn’t need to cripple himself in the ring

[@tolkienist7905]

For a man Flairs age he really needs to grow up.

[@DLRX]

That is Flair's biggest issue, he refuses to grow up and act his age, and now people who once loved him are just embarrassed by him.

[@greenonions7492]

He's living his life. Not satisfying other people's expectations. He is not one to erect concrete limitations upon his self.

[@theyliveinthematrixofthefa4437]

@@greenonions7492 exactly. He's has Charisma 60year olds wish they had

[@herzkine]

​@@theyliveinthematrixofthefa4437 he still has a drug, Sport and Party battered body of an over 70 year old.

[@countof3everybodyOD]

Spoken like a man who isn’t having trouble holding down these alligators

[@lennylennardson6115]

Flair got the greatest and best retirement match of all times at Mania vs Shawn. Every wrestling fan was crying but although enjoying this. With Shawns SCM and the 123 loss, Ric was the king of the world one last time. And since then? Ric does everything to destroy his legacy and his body.

[@Utubesanarc]

Best damn comment on this mixed up fan boy rant comments

[@antfrancis9941]

Just let him come in & manage Andrade, that's all we need from Flair. & maybe one more promo with jay lethal.😏

[@blade5883]

That's what Ric Flair should be doing not wrestling

[@royalty843]

Flair: THATS MY LINE Lethal: NO THATS MY LINE

[@antfrancis9941]

@@royalty843 don't you start that with me ol man, oldest ride longest line.😁

[@royalty843]

@@antfrancis9941 : "Big talk for a man, who can't even control Chelsea. Hey, Chelsea told me-You wanna know, what she told me? She said, hey I tried the old guy, young guys are much faster, stronger and hey they are sixty minute-man, baby."

[@Fernando_Tatis_Jr_propaganda]

Gets to come back to Wrestling and hang out with his son in law, and become the mouthpiece that Andrade desperately needs since he can’t speak Spanish or English. Perfect

[@TheJoaniejoancansew]

I would love to see him in a manager's capacity

[@christopheriverson7103]

That would be nice....I wanted him to manage dolph Ziggler forever and it never happened, missed opportunity...

[@technoturnovers7072]

ric flair would be an S tier heel manager, I can just imagine the dirty tricks and shenanigans and promos he could get up to

[@AnArchyRulzz]

The problem is he is such a star he will diminish anyone he is managing by comparison

[@christopheriverson7103]

@@AnArchyRulzz: he didn't with fortune in impact....

[@rollingthunder8223]

Whoever ric signed a deal with when he survived that plane crash gave him a deal of a lifetime

[@colbynichols250]

God

[@rollingthunder8223]

@@colbynichols250 whoever it is did has lead a crazy life nearly died like 3 Times

[@anthonynorman7545]

I agree Brian. Those Flair matches in TNA made me VERY uncomfortable. I can't imagine watching him now...

[@DLRX]

The match where Jay Lethal tears his clothes off comes to mind, not funny, just embarrassing.

[@Saddler1944]

@@DLRX I loved the back and fourth on the mic him and Jay Lethal quality entertainment from 2 guys great on the mic. Then it went in the ring and was just sad.

[@jeffmiller4845]

He bled sometimes without people even touching him

[@anthonynorman7545]

@@jeffmiller4845 after all the blading I'm sure his forehead is a thick as Kleenex

[@heatherwright3981]

Flair probably got this crazy idea from Vince... Vince had his big WM moment this year with Austin, and he's 76. But that moment was awful, Vince "taking" the stunner was awful, and yet Flair wants that same moment in the sun again= BAD IDEA.

[@michaelrose5614]

1000 percent correct.

[@thekornreeper]

True

[@drexlspivey5828]

I never saw that, but I would never feel comfortable giving a 76 year old man a stunner, no matter how safe I was and how experienced they were

[@josephmitchell5365]

@@drexlspivey5828 that’s too bad they were just about to offer you $500k to do so

[@joeboggio4002]

I started watching in 1994. I got to see a little bit of Flair in WCW and remember that stuff as being good. His time in WWE was enjoyable. I eventually saw his stuff from the 80s and it was great. Everything after WM24...is just bad.

[@tobiasfarragut292]

Sad but true

[@maxxxmodelz4061]

It's hard to believe all his WCW stuff from the NWO era, Flair was almost in his 50s then!

[@BishopWalters12]

Ric was boring as s@@@ by the mid-90's.

[@fredbergstrom4866]

Flair was the best in the 80s. Everything a champion should be, but it's 2022

[@Jhontay84]

Not the woo off in TNA

[@jameswinchester9405]

Thank you very much Brian for not letting Jim get away with billy gun 😂😂 I met the dude and he’s def on roids lfmao

[@DannieRay23]

Wasnt he fired from his trainer role in 2015 for being on medical testosterone replacement? That shit is for life, and they always add more that it would be normal for their age.

[@jimmyg5772]

Ric never wants to let go of the spotlight. He's been clinging on to his glory days in the wrestling business and it's going to get him killed. People eventually move on, whether it's a different position in the business, a whole different business, or simply just want to relax and enjoy their life and spend time with their families, people will always end up wanting to move on. But not Flair. You can see that from how much he was crying at Wrestlemania vs Shawn Michaels, from the 3 hour speech he had prepared at the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, and even now trying to compete at the age of 73 with all his health issues. And the reason is, Ric LOVED the life he had as a main event wrestler in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Those days were his best days; the spotlights, the championships, the money, the women, the drinking, the drugs. That's the life Ric wishes he still had and is doing everything to recapture even a fraction of that lifestyle.

[@emobassist]

Hes said at many times he loves the business ig more than his own family

[@siqaraminmassaquoi1999]

The limousine ridin, jet flyin, rolex wearin, kis stealin, wheelin, dealin son of a gun! Wooooooooo!

[@henrygvidonas9573]

I'm not sure Flair even knows where he is half of the time, these days. This is beyond absurd. He has the worst case of arrested development and not knowing when to say "when" in the entire history of the business. And that's really saying something! He should have never been seen in tights again after 2008. Quite honestly, I thought even back then, he should have retired with the final WCW match. No more WCW - no more Flair in the ring! End of an era, landmark moment for wrestling, incredible legacy to market in other ways than taking bumps until the cows come home. _Woo!_ Somebody needs to sit him down and make him watch the absolute garbage from the "Hulkamania Tour" and his time in TNA for a few hours, until he sees the light through the dense fog wafting in whatever is left of his brain! But he's probably too busy hitting on some twenty-somethings somewhere, who can't decide whether they want to laugh their butts off about the creepy old clown first - or after they've thrown up because they're too disgusted by the liver-spot-adorned gig marks in his botoxed forehead. As Henry Rollins likes to say: "That was a very mean thing to say - and sometimes the truth hurts..."

[@josephmitchell5365]

Ok that’s good…I’m sure he will consult you soon on how to conduct his affairs

[@ericscott3997]

I saw Ric Flair wrestle for TNA when they were shooting shows at Universal in Orlando. I'm a huge fan, but damn it was just sad to see him doing/trying the same bumps he did back in the 80's. I knew it was because he needed the $$ and sadly he still needs to be "The Nature Boy".

[@andyelford3967]

Even Evil Knievel knew when it was time to give up jumping motorcycles

[@giancarlocrumps7564]

I've come to realize that a wrestler is only retired when they are dead. But once they breathing they always get the itch

[@herzkine]

..and the ones who resist the itch lead a happy life

[@josephmitchell5365]

@@herzkine oh yea I’m sure that statement is right at least 30% of the time

[@PentagramDave]

like when Randy "The Ram" Ramsey decided to take that final leap from the turnbuckle

[@TribalThief]

Flair vs Darby vs Jeff hardy, first not to die, bets on flair

[@newageassholes]

😂😂😂😂yeah probably a good idea to keep Jeff and Darby away from each other.

[@nafost]

Can you imagine the emptiness in the life of ric flair that drives his behavior? Poor guy. I hope he finds what he is looking for before meeting some disastrous ending.

[@TheOmegaRiddler]

I think if anyone books Ric Flair, that promotion should be blacklisted. Triple H himself has a pacemaker, and he retired.

[@adamluce1901]

His own son in law is promoting it though

[@cul-de-sacblac8712]

Well…Rick Flair said: “…I’m either going to die in the ring or on top of a beautiful woman.”

[@paul4253]

He looked bad in the ring 20 years ago i cant imagine how bad he will look now. Sad he couldnt manage his money better that its come to this.

[@chrischar9428]

JFC money has shit to do with this

[@TRoller927]

​@@chrischar9428 You don't think so? He's approaching divorce number 5. I don't think he's doing it for free.

[@chrischar9428]

@@TRoller927 it's all he knows

[@natmason5528]

Glad that Ali was mentioned. I grew up watching him in his prime. Those last couple of fights with Holmes and Trevor Berbick made me cry.

[@justaguy214]

Tyson took care of Berbick

[@shahsaud2625]

@@justaguy214 Holmes too

[@aaronjohn4964]

Never liked that Holmes took that fight, never loved Holmes because of that

[@LINKMASTERX]

@@aaronjohn4964 someone else would've..it was business, man

[@natmason5528]

@@aaronjohn4964 He was begging for the ref to stop it.

[@brownmut5518]

I saw Ric wrestle live in 1978. He was in the opening match. I can't believe he's going to do it one more time. I'll watch just because it's him and I can stream it for free. Good luck Ric if you make it out alive, great. If you don't , congratulations you went out the way you wanted.

[@christopheriverson7103]

Beautifully worded👍🏾👍🏾

[@haydenmillholland4496]

I have been a die hard Ric Flair fan since 1979 and I don't wanna see him wrestle anymore

[@robgreene1776]

Flair would be best as a Manager/mentor at this stage of his life and career. You can't let it go, when it's got you, and it's in your Blood.

[@Caolan114]

I mean why did Bret Hart return In 2009? He had a serious concussion, couldn't fight legally But his reason for returning was he saw Trump tackle vince and said "If he can do that of course I can" "Wrestling" Is Just a word these days, they could have ric hobble around the ring In a tracksuit while two younger guys fight and throw babies In the air saying "Ric flair won his return match!"

[@mramos1126]

2010

[@Schmuddel]

Bret's return "match" against Vince went over like a fart in church, not a great comparison.

[@henrygvidonas9573]

@@Schmuddel Yeah, that barn burner really had the babies flying in the air... Most people who saw it prefer to pretend it ever happened.

[@ladistar]

@@Schmuddel dude that match was a total brawl it was great

[@bootsthecat6718]

I'm really glad that Ric Flair made it through his final match okay

[@haasteagle2750]

Huge Announcement:Ric Flair will join AEW and have an exploding barbed wire mimosa death match against Orange Cassidy.

[@stevegyles3190]

Now that I'd buy a ticket for. But only if I was convinced that Cassidy was going to do the job and actually die.

[@ModernDayRenaissanceMan]

At least Orange Cassidy barely touches his opponents with his spots. Probably the safest guy for Ric to work with.

[@P4nnu_]

I hope this match doesn’t happen, not only for the issues with Flair’s health but also fear of his current standing in the wrestling world rubbing off on FTR. They’re as over as they’ve ever been, and I don’t want their love to be diminished by association

[@tobiasfarragut292]

Neither Dax or Cash “Helicoptered” their shit around an uninterested flight attendant, they’ll be fine

[@TheWillisShow]

Won’t hurt FTR at all or anyone else involved.

[@elpresidente3025]

@@TheWillisShow The only one it will hurt is Naitch.

[@TheWillisShow]

@@elpresidente3025 I've come to the conclusion that Ric is Ric and is probably gonna do what he wants regardless. He's lived in Ric Flair world for too long.

[@pedrorivera4564]

Invader 1 in Puerto Rico just became IWA "World Champion" at age 76. People completely bought into it. But Invader is in excellent health and uses a mask. Before he wrestled, a large amount of people were worried he will have a heart attack in the ring or die. They even turn it into an angle for the match. I think the worry comes from the prior history of wrestlers dying in the ring. I would love to see Flair win a major title but not at the expense of his health. I hope he doesnt do it.

[@Jayce_Alexander]

I agree with Brian. I love watching Flair's old matches, but even before his retirement he was past the point of where I really wanted to see him wrestling anymore. There's a reason many great musicians like to ride off into the sunset while they're still good at what they do: because that's the image that sticks. Wrestlers aren't much different. I'd hate if people 20 years from now remembered Flair for the stuff he's done post-2009 or so instead of the Ric Flair of the 80s and 90s. If it's about the money, there should be other ways for someone like Ric Flair to make a comfortable living at this point in his life. Then again, with Flair you never really know if he's just burnt all his bridges and this is the only path still open to him. And it's not like he's got the attention span to start a business like a wrestling school or to get involved in creative somewhere.

[@randomname2308]

I think Abba once refused a billion dollars to do one more europe tour, coz they didnt want the fans to remember them as being old and desperate

[@razmatazz9310]

@@randomname2308 Yet they had a reunion just recently and are touring again.

[@gtagerry2896]

I would put undertaker in the stayed past his prime category, that match with roman was so sad.

[@MarsofAritia]

aren't the rolling stones still going?

[@eamonnmaccionnaith5761]

Even his WWE run shouldn't have happened.

[@adamlennard1828]

I remember back in about 2010 maybe 2011 I saw Flair wrestle Doug Williams at a TNA show in London everyone was loving until Ric bladed and a real uneasy feeling came over the crowd and it hit watching a man that age blade wasn’t entertaining, I’m not saying he’ll blade if he wrestles again but I can see it being equally uncomfortable.

[@mattadorno6452]

When Cody Rhodes left WWE, I saw him and Jerry Lawler at an indie show. The whole show was fun, the match was fun until Cody starts throwing chest punches, grabs a mic and starts yelling to Jerry, "Are you gunna quit or do I have to give you another heart attack" type stuff. It got pretty uncomfortable. No one wants to see the old legends in real or real-ish danger.

[@Narwhal_Re]

You know for a fact that Ric is going to blade, it's Ric and with this being his final match he's going to do all the classic Ric gimmicks.

[@fjccommish]

Ric is from an era in which wrestling was presented as real. Him in a ring wrestling beyond a workout, which is terrific, isn't consistent with the wrestling style of his career. It's completely unbelievable that he would be wrestling competitively. Participate as a manager - cut a promo, interfere, take a bump. That would be believable.

[@MixerMadness]

His chops and face flops and over the buckle walks never were real either

[@fjccommish]

@@MixerMadness Right, but it looked plausible. An 80 year old guy wrestling a professional match isn't plausible.

[@dexenationgracey1979]

Flair should've stayed retired after 2008, that was the perfect send off.

[@shawncollins7130]

Not only who wants to see it and who will promote it....what commission is going to license a 73 year old alcoholic who damn near died 2 years ago and has a pacemaker? Flair has become something terribly sad.

[@podcastlegendkillers3287]

Give flair a damn 30 second match that way he gets his match and we all don’t have to wince and cringe watching the match

[@iamcasihart]

I’m on the toilet peeing and the thumbnail alone has me crying and peeing so hard. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@RELopez-mk4ic]

"When his spleen explodes." LMAO, should have let him wrestle Scott Steiner for his last match.

[@dwade6322]

I met Flair about 12 years ago at a Nascar race in Darlington,SC..He wasn't in wrestling shape back then....NOW,oh my...🙄

[@shaunclifton5281]

Yeah, I hung out with him in Pensacola years ago and was shocked at how bad and old he looked, but had the Best time just talking with him. This is a Horrible, Horrible idea. Just say NO

[@taylork7530]

Again, Jerry Lawyler literally died on live TV. Flair’s matches in TNA were atrocious, so why 10+ years later.... Can someone get Ric to sit down and watch his Wife Swap episode he had with Piper? Particularly, in the end, when the two couples come together and talk.

[@shaunclifton5281]

I always think of Piper saying, " I'm Worried about you, man. "....and Flair outliving Roddy.

[@taylork7530]

@@shaunclifton5281 One thing I took away after that episode is how bad I felt for Piper’s wife when he passed. She was insanely nice and the grocery store part cracked me up.

[@shaunclifton5281]

@@taylork7530 Yeah, Kitty is Cool.

[@shaunclifton5281]

@@taylork7530 That was a good show. When I hung out with Ric in Pensacola before his near death experience, he had the same girlfriend from the show. They just recently broke up. She was very nice too.

[@taylork7530]

@@shaunclifton5281 By broke up, you mean separated or divorced, correct? They got married. I remember, because Ric came out to “Ric Flair Drip.”

[@tallglasscocoa6105]

Ric Flair retires more times than Cher and Kiss.

[@kennymike7937]

The man has just about done it all. He has nothing to prove.

[@jbrown59]

Honestly, I would be okay with guys like Flair and Hogan returning but only with smoke and mirrors to make it work. Like being in a tag team and letting the partners take the bumps, working with fit talent who can carry the match, or doing something pre recorded similar to Aj Styles vs The Undertaker Graveyard match.

[@steveaustin330]

In a statement, Flair said: ‘I’m going to walk that aisle one last time to prove once and for all that to be the Man, you’ve got to beat the Man.’

[@herzkine]

He saying the last time bit for 30 years now also :-D

[@chrismorgan7494]

I wish he'd retire from the bar, where he looks the most sad and ridiculous.

[@JohnDoe-ym5ly]

It''s time for Ric to just manage and do promos. From the beginning he was an amazing promo. The last 15 years were a joke.

[@Mr.BeastFacts]

Put him in the ring with Vince. It’d be the safest match in history.

[@mandybutler2846]

I cannot overstate the amount of times I have checked this channel to see if Jim has reviewed "Ric Flair's Last Match." PLEASE REVIEW IT. I'm dying to know what you thought!!!

[@fayezfawzi3255]

did we hear anything about why they didn't do flair? they talked negatively about it multiple times on the show including this one, so it isn't like they are ignoring it because of their friendship.

[@mandybutler2846]

@@fayezfawzi3255, agreed! I never heard anything about why they didn't cover it. It's a glaring omission, given that they talked about it beforehand.

[@VileDivinity]

He's officially been booked for a match on July 31st in Nashville fairgrounds. Will be an independent show.

[@BIGDAWGAJ]

I Heard Its Under The Jim Crockett Promotions Banner I Don't Know How That's Going To Work Doesn't WWE Own All The Trademarks for JCP and WCW

[@markterryonline]

The greatest TNA moment involved Flair an Jay Lethal. If Flair was in the right spot and it was limited, I would want to see it. It wouldnt need to be much longer than the Vince match at Mania.

[@billxmas889]

Mae Young was still going in her 80's flair still got a world title shot ?

[@JackTheripper911]

No flair doesnt have a title shot. Hell no.

[@justamutt5294]

too bad new jack passed away... i'd luv to see him vs flair, lol

[@HyperActive7]

Apparently this event with Flair is supposed to happen at Fairgrounds in his home state or somewhere else. Look, there comes a time when enough is enough and the pacemaker can only take so much.

[@drg5352]

Nashville, TN, actually. My brother's looking at getting tickets.

[@patrickdaly5068]

“It’s a floor wax!” “No, it’s a dessert topping!” “Relax! It’s a floor wax AND a dessert topping!”

[@madbrowniac7871]

And in the case of "SHIMMER" it's ALSO a Women's Pro Wrestling Company in Chicago! "SHIMMER, for the greatest SHINE...well, you can imagine."😏😂🎤🤼‍♀️B.W.

[@kylehayden4885]

I think 2006 was flairs last good year. Sure he had some matches here and there afterwards that were great (like wm24), but i feel like 2006 was the last year he was able to put on consistently good/entertaining matches

[@UncleScorch]

I absolutely love Ric Flair, been watching him since the Mid Atlantic days, but I think Jim is being kind: I’ve seen the footage with Lethal, like most folks have, and it’s uncomfortable to watch. I really don’t want to see this and hope for Flair’s health’s sake that someone will step in and say no.

[@adamluce1901]

His own son in law is promoting is

[@scottrjmatmsncom]

The add read at the end 😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Thepeopleschamp1983_]

What about vince McMahon, he stays working out and he's 70 something years old.

[@podcastlegendkillers3287]

Vince isnt wrestling

[@adam-thesportsguy6147]

No one has aged less gracefully than Ric Flair.

[@justamutt5294]

these guys are old enough they could tag with their kids and prolly grand kids

[@danielburger1775]

Pity Gorilla is gone. He could commentate, and call Flair "this youngster".

[@jonmichael3280]

Ric Flair vs. The Grim Reaper in a falls count anywhere match!

[@stevemoore6853]

Huge fan of Flair. So much so, that I can not find a single reason to say that this is a good idea to get in the ring. Half of the wrestling world thought he was gonna die a few years ago. I was one of them. Grateful to have him around still, but it hurts me as not just a fan, but as a human being who thinks what promoter thinks that this is gonna be a good idea. I fully understand that Richard Flier is dead and gone years ago and that Rick Flair is always going to be here. I just wish that he could enjoy his final years without taking the bumps he doesn't deserve.

[@XombieLejon66]

Even during those training vids with Lethal, I would squirm and wince when Flair would take even a (slowed down) body slam on the mat. I have no interest in seeing anyone over 70 wrestling a match ever.

[@chewybacaking]

I saw RnR Express maybe a month before covid hit and they were phenomenal. They were with NJPW. Ricky Morton hit a flawless Canadian destroyer and blew the roof off the place lol

[@swishbenoit4489]

Watched him and his son last week he looks amazijgn

[@madbrowniac7871]

Ricky Morton and Canadian Destroyer even with his aerial talent is not a sentence fragment that I ever expected to see. Especially in The 21st Century!🤔😮🎤🤼‍♂️B.W.

[@drexlspivey5828]

Flair said his biggest regret was coming out of retirement to wrestle in TNA instead of continuing an on camera backstage role, he said it tarnished his legacy a bit, so this would be that x 1000

[@jaylenjeongpark]

He told Sammy Guevara to bring it on lol

[@1Smooth1]

I’m a die hard Flair fan. I’ve watched him since the early 1980s as a kid to 45 years old. I love his passion for the business and willingness to come back. I think he would be better used in a Manager role; managing someone like Randy Orton in a Heel role. Orton doesn’t need a Manager at this point, but his promos are a little robotic. He’s much better than before having fun with Riddle in a Baby Face role, but Flair could talk, push Orton to break his 14 (possibly 16) time World Champion record. Flair is on record wanting Orton to break it. Flair can still take bumps at his age, which makes him perfect in a Manager role. Perhaps Flair is brought back to WWE to manage someone like Austin Theory. Young, well versed in the ring, can’t talk very well on the mic. Flair knows how to get him over as a Heel. Thou MJF needs know talker and is the best Heel in the business. I’d love to see MJF a throwback 1980s Heel and work with FTR. Bring Flair in as a JJ Dillion type role with the Pinnacle (4 Horseman). That would be great for Flair and everyone involved. Flair can get them over as Heels and interfere enough in matches along the way. AEW would be a good fit. It put Flair back on TV, involved with young wrestlers like FTR, MJF, etc. that relate to his 1980s Heel style. Just my thoughts, but I would only bring back Flair in a Management type role similar to Paul Heyman, but let him be more involved in matches taking bumps every so often. Flair is best as a Heel and having the freedom (AEW) to cut unscripted promos. WWE would force Flair to tone it down, which limits Flair a bit. I’d like to see Flair in AEW. They could use Sting 🐝 vs Flair in storyline to keep it interesting but indirectly through 2 prominent young wrestler stables. Pinnacle vs young Baby Faces and Sting backing them. Just a thought.

[@maturanita]

@Mark Pyle thank you for such an elaborated assessment. It’s nice to read a fellow old timer.

[@madbrowniac7871]

I'm always a trifle astounded that Ric Flair wishes anything well for Randy Orton let alone as a Protege and the guy to reign 16 times as World Champ. And it's all because of Kayfabe going back to 1981, the year that Ric Flair dethroned Dusty Rhodes in Kansas City to grab The Big Gold as NWA Kingpin. Kansas City native Harley Race was so annoyed that in 1983 he sent fellow Kansas Citian Cowboy Bob Orton and Dick Slater to claim a Storyline 💲25,000 Bounty in JCP with a Double Piledriver on the concrete to sideline Flair. He returned with a Baseball bat to chase away the henchmen and then dethroned Harley Race for The NWA Championship at the very first Starrcade Thanksgiving Night 1983 in The Greensboro Coliseum!🤔😂🎤🐴💎🤼‍♂️B.W.

[@maturanita]

@@madbrowniac7871 fun fact. The Funks, especially Dory, and Harley wanted David Von Erich to be the one defeating Harley Race that year

[@madbrowniac7871]

There's an urban legend that has risen around Harley Race's storied Promo as well. He delivered it in TWO takes. In the first he clearly says that "anyone in the world" is welcome to cash in to claim the bounty. That doesn't end well for Ric Flair emerging into a North Carolina supermarket parking lot only to be mowed down by Lord only knows who in the prime of his young life!😏😮 So Harley threw a changeup and converted the takedown to "anyone in Pro Wrestling."😂🎤🤴🐴💎🤼‍♂️B.W.

[@raidernationcali]

I dont care how old they are im gonna watch. Just like I will watch Cornette and the racket anywhere he goes. Preferably on national tv managing stables on AEW. Doesnt hurt no one to hope.

[@jbrown59]

Yeah a lot of people would just be happy to see him. He doesn't even need to bump, like Bret Hart in 2010-11.

[@leelohaskin7941]

But Cornette ain't trying to wrestle though...

[@xalandercarter6153]

Best plug for magic spoon I've heard 😂

[@fwef7445]

oxygen mask on a pole match

[@holdyscornertv]

Flair and Rock and Roll makes sense with the 6 man tag but him Robbie and Ricky out there working still concerns me

[@whatwelearned]

I say this half-seriously: let him do it. If he wants to die in the ring or during an event and the guys he might do that with are fine with it then let him have his wish.

[@QAZ-OMEN]

Televised manslaughter...... good idea hey?

[@whatwelearned]

@@QAZ-OMEN I didn't mean actually kill him, obviously. I meant let him wrestle. I believe you'll understand that legally those two things are very much not the same.

[@QAZ-OMEN]

@@whatwelearned I was about as serious as you were.

[@byroncumming5191]

I think if a match goes a head with Ric Flair the cops should show up and put a stop to it

[@brandtlego]

It’s going to be at Starrcast in Nashville. So I’m sure Conrad facilitated it and lined up the promoters. I say good luck and hopefully no one gets hurt.

[@zippymufo9765]

And the match turned out as pathetic as everyone predicted.

[@Jay-lz6uj]

I want to see Ric vs Tito vs Funk vs Ventura vs Hogan vs Hart the greatest match ever. Them up and coming stars are the future.

[@AWX_Wrestling]

The only problem is that the entire audience would die of oxygen deprivation with all the wind those guys would be sucking two minutes into the match.

[@Jay-lz6uj]

@@AWX_Wrestling not with these up and coming stars. As someone from the 1980's stated. " your wrong, we're friends, your wrong. "

[@fcv1967]

These thumbnail pics always crack me up, lol

[@ModernDayRenaissanceMan]

Mae Young took bumps into her 80s. If he wants to... who is going to stop him.

[@styxfan4022]

Ric lives, eats and sleeps and breaths wrestling. The passion and love for the greatest sport in the world is in his blood. I wouldn't expect to see flair turning flips on the turnbuckle or doing taking any high risk bumps. Nor would I expect to see Flair go 60 minutes in the ring. I wish him a safe and successful match. I predict a win by Flair using the old figure four.

[@kenanthompson2075]

How is it the greatest sport in the world if it is both fake and scripted? Lol. Anyway, I agree that Flair will likely avoid the big bumps in his return.

[@styxfan4022]

@@kenanthompson2075 I am just quoting Ric Flair. He always calls it that. Wooooooooo!

[@royalty843]

Arn Anderson accepts his age and limits where he can't wrestle again. Flair loves the business too much to where its not a good thing. It was nice to see him and Lethal have a sparring exhibition and a little bit of that Flair off from TNA. But Flair was sluggish in his movesets, his throws, etc. He can't position himself to take bumps like he use to.

[@leelohaskin7941]

Arn grew up, Flair didn't

[@DLRX]

@@leelohaskin7941 Which I feel is one of the reasons they no longer speak. It's likely a reason why many no longer associate with Flair.

[@leelohaskin7941]

@@DLRX it is, and if anything, Flair likes the attention that comes with this lifestyle, but he ignores the fact that it's expensive and he doesn't have the expenses to do live it anymore

[@kevindouglas5333]

Arn is also crippled neck so he literally can't go

[@royalty843]

@@leelohaskin7941 Arn wasn't all about flash. He was in your face.

[@fayezfawzi3255]

did we hear anything about why they didn't do flair? they talked negatively about it multiple times on the show including this one, so it isn't like they are ignoring it because of their friendship.

[@teller628]

Ad I saw said Jim Crockett Promotions is running the show. I didn't know they were still in business

[@nox7282]

Same here. Aren’t Jim Crockett and his son both gone? I wonder who runs it now

[@Chicagodog-tu1ek]

I'm kinda on the fence with this, I don't want him to put too much strain on his heart, but I would like to see his legendary chops.

[@LanceJ.]

That’s what KZbin is for

[@darrenwalters1257]

Maybe this is an unpopular comment, but what if this is the way Ric flair wants to go out as? That he wants to wrestle knowing how much of a risk with his pacemaker, with the erratic increase of his heart and blood pressure he could die. What if Ric knows that he could die, he wants it because its his wish and we should accept that. This is his life. Is it any worse than going out for example with bad health general decline, or sitting out your last moments in a nursing home?

[@SpaceGhost92]

He absolutely should do it if he wants to. Just don’t actually admit that or someone is going to prison for assisted suicide 😂

[@awesomecool3280]

Leave the memories alone 😂😂🤣

[@brandonalexander6881]

A drunk, a guy that couldn't keep his pants up, and how many people has he ripped off?? They just discussed it a few weeks ago of just what's known.

[@Deanation]

Oh hey mark living in the mom basement virgin!!!

[@brandonalexander6881]

@@Deanation hey invalid, I have my own home, and two vehicles at 35 as a male. I also depend on no one and I have no kids because humanity is nuts and loves fantasy like probably you. So yeah I'm not perfect but I'm also not one who has squandered life away in financial as well as ethical stupidity in real life, you know that thing past fantasy, a camera, or a monitor??. Get the facts before you run your about things you have no clue about like business model and human behavior. Ohhh and also I have no debt either, so mark uh hem I mean what else do you have ammunition based in fact and not opinion??

[@brandonalexander6881]

Pick better role models people, not fictional ones.

[@Deanation]

What a mark!!!

[@brandonalexander6881]

@@Deanation lmao. That's the best you got huh?? No I'm just a man that lives in reality, not smoke and mirrors like "marks" do. Come back with a better "shoot" "promo" when you can think of one kid.