Ric Flair interview
Courtesy: www.MondayNightMayhem.com
16-Time World Heavyweight Champion, WWE Hall Of Famer, one of TNA
Wrestling's newest acquisitions, & the current manager of the TNA World
Heavyweight Champion "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles, & one of TNA's newest
acquisitions, "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair, was one of the special guests
on the eight-year anniversary edition (02/08/09) of Monday Night Mayhem
(presented by ReelWrestling.com), hosted by The Big Mosh, Blade, "The
Chairman Of The Board" Todd Vincent, Chaz (MNM Original), & The Post &
Courier's Mike Mooneyham. You can feel The Mayhem live & in streaming
audio every Monday night (at 8PM ET/7PM CT), exclusively on The Monday
Night Mayhem Radio Network (www.MondayNightMayhem.com, www.ITunes.com,
www.AudioWrestling.com, www.Hybrident.tv,
www.Facebook.com/MondayNightMayhem, &
www.MySpace.com/MondayNightMayhem).
The highly-anticipated debut of "The Nature Boy" on The Mayhem is now
available for free in Windows Streaming Media, or via The Mayhem's
official Podcast on ITunes:
"The Nature Boy" Ric Flair/Monday Night Mayhem Interview (MNM Streaming
Audio): http://www.mondaynightmayhemarchives.com/waxfiles/020810.wax
"The Nature Boy" Ric Flair/Monday Night Mayhem Interview (MNM Podcast
On ITunes): http://www.mondaynightmayhemarchives.com/feb10/020810.mp3
Here are some of the highlights of Flair's exclusive interview,
provided by The Mayhem's official correspondent, Paterson From New
Jersey:
Coming off of the heels of "The Immortal" Hulk Hogan's return
appearance as part of Monday Night Mayhem's eight-year anniversary
special, who else but the one & only "Nature Boy" Ric Flair, one of the
greatest rivals of "The Hulkster" to follow suit on "Your Home Of
Wrestling Radio." Flair was welcomed by The Big Mosh, Blade, "The
Chairman Of The Board" Todd Vincent, & Chaz, and thanked his long-time
friend & colleague, The Post & Courier's Mike Mooneyham (who also
joined the program) for making this special night happen for The Mayhem
Nation. Mosh started things off by making mention of how Flair looks to
be having the most fun that he has had in a while, and asked about his
experience in TNA Wrestling throughout the past month thus far. "When
you said I was having more fun, that is a true statement. When I'm
having fun, I'm better at this business than anybody actively in this
business today, and I'm having a lot of fun. With me, I've had a
phenomenal career, I never took the business seriously until about 1989
or 1990, and even then I was having fun, but it got to be business, and
I didn't understand that. I'm having a ball with TNA, and I was a
little hesitant, not because of anyone from TNA, I think Dixie Carter
is phenomenal...it was leaving home again. After all those years with
WCW to go the WWE, it was just hard because I spent 25 years of my life
waving the banner of the NWA/WCW, and it was a difficult decision to
make. But I'm having a ball, I love the people I work with, I love the
role I have, and I really like this thing with AJ & I, and I think it's
gonna' be a really big factor professional wrestling business."
Throughout the past eight years, the current, reigning, & defending TNA
World Heavyweight Champion, "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles, has been a
focal point of many past conversations on the MNM airwaves, and Chaz
mentioned the fact that even back in 2002 that Styles had what it took
to be a big star in the industry, and how "The Nature Boy" is truly
bringing it out of him especially right now. Flair agreed with that
statement: "AJ has so much talent, and he's got a phenomenal attitude,
and he's a respectful guy that loves our business. As you can tell he
wants to give everything he has and does every time he's in the ring;
one: to prove that he deserves to be in the position that he's in &
two: to make sure the fans get every dime out of him they paid for, and
that's just the way life is." Chaz followed up his statement by asking
Ric if he sees AJ "taking the torch" and taking TNA & professional
wrestling into the next decade. "It's funny, because I think he's
gonna' be a phenomenal champion, but no one person in this day & age
can take a company to the next level. It takes a bunch of people...and
not just the people in the ring. It takes people on the Creative Team,
it takes the ownership group. It's just so many equations that fit into
that word next level. Certainly AJ will fulfill everything they ask of
him and be a huge part of their success, but I don't wanna' say that AJ
can turn the company around by himself. With me with him, it's almost a
done deal."
"The Chairman Of The Board" Todd Vincent asked Flair who in TNA has
impressed him the most thus far & who he believes has the best
potential. "I'm gonna tell you right now they probably have the best,
and I saying this with all respect to AJ, they probably have the best
wrestler I've been around in a long time...and I love my friends in the
WWE, and they would say the same thing: Kurt Angle. He is a machine
guys, and he's a different kind of cat. He lives & breathes a different
kind of oxygen than me, and he reminds me so much of me when I was
about 30 years old. He's relentless in his pursuit every night proving
he is who he is. And he has nothing to prove to anybody, he already won
a gold medal." He went to compare Angle to former NWA World Heavyweight
Champion/WWE Hall Of Famer, the late Jack Brisco, as two performers who
made the transition from amateur wrestling to professional wrestling
and became quite special along the way.
When "The Nature Boy" was being sent off for his "retirement," many
fans & critics alike believe that he was not given the time he deserved
to build up the storyline for his exit, and was not ever really called
upon/given the opportunity by World Wrestling Entertainment to
participate to the build-up for this year's WrestleMania (XXVI). Others
say that Flair joining TNA might taint his legacy in some capacity, so
The Big Mosh asked Flair for his reponse on the both of these topics.
"I think I would have been included in that (WrestleMania XXVI,) but I
had already decided that I would go work for TNA. The ultimate respect
I have for the people at the WWE, especially the performers, it was all
about the opportunity. When Hulk called me about Australia, I thought
'why not man?' I feel good. I'm not hurtin', I feel like a million
bucks, I work out everyday. I've got too much energy to be sitting
around at home...Ask my wife? Way too much energy...But I felt great so
when the opportunity came around, I kinda' just went 'Let's do it.' And
then from there, it evolved to this, but my legacy (after meeting Dixie
Carter & being there for two tapings), will be enhanced by being there,
and I'll guarantee you that. And if I haven't shown you guys that in
the last couple of weeks, something's wrong, because I'm juts getting
going. They still got me on a muzzle up there, but when I get going &
when they turn me loose in TNA, then we'll really get going."
Ric was asked if he would like to contribute to the TNA Creative Team
in any capacity, and in the process, put his "two cents" in regarding
other storylines in the company. Flair's answer was very
straightforward & showed that his role as being the mentor of "The
Phenomenal" AJ Styles is where his head & heart is currently. "I have
no interest in being part of any of the storylines or creative. If they
ask me a question, I'm gonna' give them an straight answer, because I
know a straight answer would be perceived as something I really feel. I
don't get involved in anyone else's business. I'm there primarily the
role is with AJ, to make our part of the show the very best it can be,
and he & I will compete together against everyone else on that
show...That's how I live my whole life."
TNA President, Dixie Carter, called in as a special surprise for Monday
Night Mayhem's eight-year anniversary celebration during Ric's
interview to take the time The Mayhem's crew (past & present) for their
support & dedication to TNA Wrestling since the company's inception.
"Every year, everyone said we wouldn't make it, and every year we
celebrate our anniversary together, and I'm so proud. First of all, I
would like to thank your listeners for keeping you guys on the air and
growing every year...You guys do a great job. You make wrestling proud,
and TNA is very proud to be working with you. On behalf of all the guys
here at TNA, we want to say congratulations on eight great years in the
business, and you represent wrestling so well, and we're proud to be a
small part of it." She did wish to take the time to have the fans
throughout the world know what it has been like working with "The
Nature Boy" in TNA Wrestling. "Very proud...a legend. How blessed we
are to have him with us." Mayhem Nation: Remember fans, the only place
you can hear Ric Flair & Dixie Carter together is exclusively on The
Monday Night Mayhem Radio Network!
More is contained in this exclusive interview with the legendary
"Nature Boy," including Flair's uncensored & candid thoughts on his
reasons for leaving World Wrestling Entertainment, the strengths &
weaknesses he currently sees in TNA Wrestling (and how he feels the
company can build & improve in the year ahead), the story behind his
friendship with The Post & Courier's Mike Mooneyham (one that has to be
heard if you are a true fan and/or "student of the game"), along with
his reactions to hearing a special message for him from his fellow WWE
Hall Of Famer, friend, & colleague, "Good Ol' J.R." Jim Ross. What are
Flair's comments on the rumors of TNA's interest in signing the
long-time voice of the WWE? How much would he like to see that happen?
Find out Ric's answer to this much talked-about question by listening
to the eight-year anniversary celebration of "Your Home Of Wrestling
Radio," Monday Night Mayhem! Don't forget to tune into TNA iMPACT this
Thursday night (beginning @ 9PM ET/8PM CT on Spike TV), and call your
local cable or satellite provider for TNA's Against All Odds, February
14th live & only on Pay-Per-View.
