WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair has been in the headlines this week for a well-documented dispute with a local restaurant in Gainesville, Florida.
The public first became aware of an issue between Flair and a Piesanos Stone Fired Pizza restaurant after the 75-year-old posted to social media on Sunday. He alleged that an interaction in the bathroom with the restaurant’s manager caused the dispute.
“I Spent $1500 At Piesano’s Stone Fired Pizza To Be Disrespected More Than I Ever Have In My Entire Life,” he wrote on X. “After Taking 20 Pictures With Customers And Staff, I Was Asked To Leave Because Of An Issue I Had With The Kitchen Manager Taking Too Long In The Bathroom. I Would Highly Recommend That Anyone Who Wants To Enjoy A Relaxing Time In Gainesville At A Nice Restaurant To Never Visit This Place! WOOOOO!”
In an interview with the Gainesville Sun, Flair said that the issue stemmed from a disagreement between him and restaurant staff. The veteran wrestler said he entered the washroom of the restaurant, but the stall was occupied by the establishment’s manager.
He claims that he saw between the cracks of the stall, allowing him to see that the manager was “texting away.” He recalls telling them to “‘Get your a– off there, I need to use the restroom.'”
After leaving the washroom, Flair alleged that a woman who worked for the restaurant called him a “peeping Tom” and “creep.” These comments angered Flair, triggering a verbal altercation between him and restaurant staff, which was caught on video and released online.
In the video, Flair is seen swearing at staff and claiming that all he intended to do was bring his family to the restaurant and “put the place over.” An unidentified worker for the restaurant is heard alleging that Flair was using profane language at staff.
To spite the restaurant, which he said he would never return to, Flair offered to pay a staffer a $1,000 tip. He also asked an employee to discuss the issue with him outside of the building.
During the video, there is also mention that Flair was being “cut off” from drinks due to intoxication.
Flair later mentioned in an interview with the Gainesville Sun that he is considering suing Piesanos, and flaunted that he has “the money to buy the restaurant.”
In a statement to the Gainesville Sun, Piesanos co-owner Jerry Roberts said that the video of Flair “speaks for itself.” While he claims that the tip from Flair wasn’t taken as “a matter of principle” to show that it’s unacceptable to disrespect their workers, they said the employee Flair was referring to was still paid $1,000 from the owners.
