Massive Heat On Ric Flair, Looks To Be Finished With Impact Wrestling

[Crayo]

A number of readers have asked why Ric Flair has disappeared from television and missed several TNA house shows since appearing in a Gutcheck segment on Impact Wrestling, judging Alex Silva.
Sources close to Flair and TNA have confirmed that the two sides are at a major impasse as there is a ton of heat on Flair for conduct outside the ring. It was described to me by one TNA source as, "being at the point it's not worth keeping Flair around."

There have been a number of incidents involving Flair at local establishments and bars in Orlando since coming to the company. At one point, sources indicate Flair was banned from drinking at the Hard Rock Cafe in Citiwalk due to an incident with him "acting inappropriate", according to one source, leading to venue management banishing him.

There are also stories aplenty within the company of Flair not being able to cover bar tabs and company management getting a call from the hotel and/or bar seeking payment. Most recently something similar went down at the hotel TNA utilizes for their wrestlers and staff, which the company has had a great relationship with for years, that was the final tipping point. At that point, Flair was pulled from several Louisiana house shows and the final TV Tapings before Impact Wrestling goes live on 5/31.

A similar issue led to Flair's meltdown last year on the European tour, where TNA's Craig Jenkins, after several days of fronting Flair money to cover a bar tab, refused to do so again. This led to Flair screaming at Jenkins in front of the entire crew and refusing to get on the TNA tour bus to head to the next date. Flair was left behind, missed a show and then returned to the tour the next day, apologizing to the locker room when he arrived. Publicly, Flair blamed the matter on the company not giving him "advances" like he would get when touring for WWE, citing that he was "used" to that treatment. Those comments upset people within the company because of the perception that the company "wasn't taking care of talents."

There have been a number of forces within TNA that have been against having him as a regular since he came into the company, noting that while he carries a high price tag, he hasn't translated into drawing money or ratings for the company - and now, his work in the ring isn't "Ric Flair level" anymore, but "Ric Flair level behavior" remains.

There are also some in the company that feel that Flair and WWE put them in a "no win situation" when Flair was announced for the WWE Hall of Fame, noting that the company had no choice but to allow him to go in, or else they would look like they were denying Flair and the fans. To be fair, Flair didn't know in advance he was getting inducted but he publicly told fans he would be there "on stage" before a deal was signed that would allow him to appear at Wrestlemania and the Hall of Fame.

Spike TV sources also note that there have also been a number of requests from the network end to keep Flair dressed and not have him "near nude" (i.e., in his wrestling gear) and bleeding at his age on TV.

Flair debuted for TNA on 1/4/10, the first episode of the Hulk Hogan/Eric Bischoff regime. He was made the mentor to AJ Styles and manager of Fortune with the idea of creating a modern day Four Horsemen style group. That led to Flair being part of Immortal and until the Gutcheck Judging role, he had most recently been managing Gunner and running with Eric Bischoff in their feud designed to get Garett Bischoff over.

Since departing WWE, there have been a number of issues with Flair. He signed for a number of appearances with Ring of Honor, then pulled out of them, citing his relationship with WWE (although it was more likely that he realized they weren't going to use Reid Flair following a drug arrest). When Flair didn't pay back an advance given to him, ROH filed a lawsuit against him. Flair also landed in court over money lent to him by Highspots.com and at one point, there was an order of arrest out for him if Flair did not pay the agreed settlement by a certain date. That order was issued because Flair had missed several agreed dates for payment of the settlement. The money was eventually paid and the NWA World title belt, which Highspots.com was holding as collateral, was seen displayed at WWE AXXESS this year, potentially pointing to WWE as having paid the debt and acquiring the title for their own archive.

There was word making rounds over the weekend that Flair was done with TNA, but we have not been able to confirm that.

When contacted today, TNA declined comment on the Flair matter, citing that he was still officially on their roster.

Interesting.

 

[Lockard 23]

Back to WWE? You can be almost certain they won't let him back as an active (or maybe even part time) wrestler on their roster. They were the ones who made him retire in the first place, and they might want to at least acknowledge that wonderful send off they did for him the night after Wrestlemania 24.

 

[Crayo]

Tbh how WWE is atm I wouldn't be surprised if he were to return.

 

[Stopspot]

If he returns to WWE it won't be as active ring talent. It will most likely be a behind the scenes role were WWE can keep tabs on him and still let him work his magic (Man does know the business.) If he appears on screen it will either be as a authority figure, manager or on commentary.

 

[Sage.]

I'd dig for a Flair on-screen manager or something. No matches, just him talking. His mic segments on TNA recently have been gold.

 

[I'll See Ya Kia]

It was nice of WWE to clear his debt for him. He should to the polite thing and give back to them

 

[Donald Trump_]

If he returns to WWE it won't be as active ring talent. It will most likely be a behind the scenes role were WWE can keep tabs on him and still let him work his magic (Man does know the business.) If he appears on screen it will either be as a authority figure, manager or on commentary.

Ric Flair will doing so promos. Like edge promo before ER to John Cena. He's probably come back and tell Triple H kick Bork Lasers ass. :dawg:

 

[Testify]

411Mania Wrestling:

-According to a source within TNA, a major issue which lead to tension between Ric Flair and TNA was the handling of the Gut Check segment on Impact featuring Alex Silva. Flair reportedly went off script when he chose Silva as the winner, which is now causing issues for TNA for two reasons. First of all Flair went into business for himself, which has upset people. Secondly, Silva is from Quebec, requiring TNA to spend more time and money getting him a US Visa if they want to use him regularly.

Credit: wrestlezone.com

Rofl.:yay:

 

[Crayo]

Lmao such a boss. ^^^

 

[Stopspot]

Like a work visa for Alex Silva would be that expensive. They are quite cheap if you have a guaranteed income. A friend of mine moved to the US this fall and can testify to this.

 

[Testify]

Bullshit!

We are talking about a TAPED Show. Why they didn`t taped the botched segment again? Because there was no need to do it, cause Silva WAS SCRIPTED to earn the contract. He has a permission to work in the US, too, cause he worked for OVW in the past.

I'm not buying it. If this were the case, I'm sure the writers would have found a way around it. Instead, Dixie Carter has welcomed Alex Silva to the company in interviews and claims to have spoken to him immediately following the segment to welcome him. I don't think she'd even mention it if the plan was not to sign him.

I think it's disgusting that Wrestlezone would even put out such a horrible rumor, particularly since it's about a young kid who's really just starting out in the business.

 

[Snowman1]

Well played, Testify. Speak the truth like that. :steiner:

 

[Crayo]

Liked. Wrestlezone are 100% the dirt in dirt sheet.

 

[Snowman1]

Testify, just realized: If the original plan was for Al Snow to continue to back him, then Silva cuts his passionate promo as Flair continues to stick to his guns and say no to Silva, then they build up to Bruce Pritchard's decision on whether or not Silva gets his contract, that could have been a little more dramatic than it already was. That wouldn't change how the segment came off on television very much, wouldn't change Silva getting the contract, but Flair not paying attention to the script and letting his ego get the best of him is sure to piss a lot of people off backstage.

So maybe there's a little truth to it after all.