Ric Flair reacts to the segment.
To build to the WWE Women’s Championship match between Tiffany Stratton and Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 41, the two talents had an in-ring segment on SmackDown in Chicago.
There came a point when they got personal with one another and Stratton brought up Flair making the media rounds and opening up about her divorce from fellow WWE talent Andrade. She then mentioned that Flair is 0-3 in marriages. When Stratton bowed out of the ring, Charlotte claimed that Stratton’s real-life boyfriend, Ludwig Kaiser, was in her direct messages on social media.
The segment was discussed by Ric Flair during his appearance on Busted Open. He stated that he did not like it and felt it was sensitive. Ric added that he understands wrestling is wrestling.
Well, I have an opinion but, I don’t really want to voice it. I can just say this… it’s very sensitive. I didn’t like it. But, wrestling is wrestling. I hate when they use me, but, Charlotte said it right, ‘You think that’s the first time I’ve heard my name?’ But, I wanna clarify this and you guys know this too. She is ten times the athlete I am. So much better a worker than I ever was. I mean, I know you guys, you’re always gonna think of me as being that — I can’t do half the things that she does, and it’s not like she’s 5’2 and 103 pounds. She’s 5’11 and weighs 145 or 50 pounds, whatever it is. She works so hard… Undertaker said it best, ‘The Queen came back and regained her crown.’ She deserved it. She’ll be the best worker in the business — female — until the day she decides to retire.
To follow up, Ric was asked if comments as such were off the table when he was in his prime years. He spoke about the ‘0-3’ comment and used his own personal life as a talking point.
We never talked about each other’s families. Does that make sense? We were in the entertainment business. I mean, you know, Terry (Funk) putting that bag over my head, we almost lost TV…
It never happened (comments like Stratton & Charlotte said to each other). I’m 0-4. But there’s a reason I’m 0-4 and it’s because when you’re gone six months at a time — people keep saying, ‘Why’d you get married when you’re gone?’
In regards to if there’s any positives coming out of the Flair/Stratton segment, Ric stated that people are talking about it.
Well, they’re talking about it (he laughed). I mean, they certainly are talking about it now. You know, at the expense of Ashley’s personal feelings but, once again, wrestling is a strange animal.
It has yet to be decided which night Flair and Stratton’s match is going to take place on at WrestleMania 41. It’ll be the first time they’ve shared the ring together in a sanctioned match.
If the quotes in this article are used, please credit Busted Open with an H/T to POST Wrestling for the transcriptions.
