The post-WWE hypocrisy of Ric Flair continues. I have learned from sources that Flair is currently negotiating a deal with TNA Wrestling. The deal could land the man that said he’d never wrestle again, never wrestle in TNA, never work with Eric Bischoff again, never work with Vince Russo again, and well you get the point. If all goes well, it is possible that TNA will counter WWE’s Bret Hart punch with the Nature Boy.

Sources tell me that Flair is negotiating a one-of-a-kind deal with TNA Wrestling. While I can’t get into specifics, there is one specific request by the Nature Boy that is currently holding up the deal. From what I am told, it is a serious sticking point on both sides. So much so, that neither side has budged and it could very well be a deal-breaker for both sides. However, the WWE’s acquisition of Bret Hart changes the stakes and I have a feeling that somehow or another TNA Wrestling will get the deal done and sign Ric Flair.

It has really been some ride for Ric Flair following his WrestleMania 24 match against Shawn Michaels. Flair retired and was given the send-off of a lifetime by the WWE. Shortly thereafter Flair quit a cushy job as a WWE ambassador to hit the convention circuit. Flair immediately started making noise about wanting to wrestle again. A subsequent divorce and reported financial problems turned his desires into a necessity. Flair put the tights back on for the first time last month for a series against Hulk Hogan and likely cut the cord in regards of any hopes of a WWE comeback.

The negotiations with TNA Wrestling are shocking, yet nothing surprises me anymore when it comes to Ric Flair. Flair has been extremely critical of Eric Bischoff, Hulk Hogan, and Vince Russo since WCW closed down. The idea that Flair go to work in a company that will be run by two if not all three of these guys is laughable. For a guy that talks for hours about honor and integrity in pro wrestling, Flair has shown little of either since the day he walked out of the WWE following his retirement ceremony.

After seeing the pictures of Ric Flair in Australia as much as I was a fan of him growing him, I don’t think he is somebody that needs to be featured by anyone right now. While I do think that Flair still can cut one of the best promos in pro wrestling, he is almost embarrassing at times in the ring. I think Flair would make a great on-air personality as a manager or G.M., but I can’t imagine him being any kind of a draw in his sixties in the ring. I also think that any value gained by making a big splash with Flair would be overshadowed by Hulk Hogan. Hogan didn’t put Flair over on a small international house show, so I have no reason to believe that he will let Ric Flair shine over him in TNA if he is running the show as he claims he will be.

As for TNA, this new direction featuring Hulk Hogan has disaster written all over it. To succeed, TNA needs to differentiate their product from WWE with younger, more athletic wrestling rather than come off like a WWE senior tour. There is no long term value of sacrificing your young stars to keep putting over guys that are short-term answers that won’t be there in 1-2 years. If TNA really wants to compete with the WWE, put on an X Division tournament, give the fans the most exciting wrestling they have ever seen, and keep these older ex-WWE stars at a minimum. But hey what do I know?

I can’t see any relationship between Flair and TNA Wrestling ending well. I can see it now. Flair signs, says TNA Wrestling is the place to be, the talent is great, and he is looking forward to fighting it out with the WWE. Once he leaves, it was a nightmare, the talent wasn’t up to snuff with the WWE, the writing was atrocious, he hates Hulk Hogan, and Vince McMahon is the greatest person ever to write a wrestling show.

It’s okay. At Flair’s age you kind of start to expect dementia.

Order WWE: Nature Boy Ric Flair – The Definitive Collection on DVD by clicking here.

Hear the story and see Ric Flair at his best on the WWE – The Ultimate Ric Flair Collection DVD collection by clicking here.

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Eric G. Eric is the owner and editor-in-chief of the Camel Clutch Blog. Eric has worked in the pro wrestling industry since 1995 as a ring announcer in ECW and a commentator/host on television, PPV, and home video. Eric also hosted Pro Wrestling Radio on terrestrial radio from 1998-2009. Check out some of Eric's work on his IMDB bio and Wikipedia. Eric has an MBA from Temple University's Fox School of Business. More Posts - Website Follow Me:

