Professional wrestling is not an old man’s sport. As wrestlers age, they move out of the spotlight and struggle to find their place in a sport that grows and changes with the times, becoming younger and younger.
Unless, you’re “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair. At 75 years old, Flair has remained in the spotlight for a series of innovations and creations, including his latest energy drink, Woooooo! Energy Drink, which he partnered with the Cleveland Cavaliers to create. I spoke with Flair over Zoom about the partnership and how his legacy permeates professional wrestling and culture.
JP Acosta (JA): One of the things we’ve been hearing a lot lately is that “pro wrestling is cool again.” Everyone is coming back to the WWE and AEW worlds and it’s becoming more and more popular. What do you think makes pro wrestling cool and why has it come back?
Ric Flair (RF): I think it’s always been relevant. I think it’s really picked up steam in the last six months with The Rock being involved. But this has always been something that the American public loves. People are going to love the good guys and hate the bad guys. It’s such great entertainment. I still love it.
JA: How amazing has it been to see the legend of Ric Flair and the Four Horsemen continue to live on not only in professional wrestling but in pop culture as well?
RF: It just came naturally. I didn’t seek it out. I had the opportunity to meet Offset and Metro Boomin and they reached out to me. I’ve worked with Bad Bunny, Rick Ross and Snoop Dogg. I’ve been friends with them for years. I don’t know how many songs I’ve been on with different artists that I wasn’t paid for, but it’s a big deal to have my name on there.
JA: What was it like being the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) Champion going from region to region and receiving both love and hate from the fans?
RF: It was a great experience. But it was a lot of work. When I was traveling back and forth overseas, I would travel 9,000 to 12,000 miles a week. I would go from Sydney to Auckland, then from Auckland to St. Louis, then to Atlanta, then back to Japan. I would wrestle for an hour every night. It was a long journey, but the gratitude was incredible. Back in the day, when I went to Japan in the 80s, there were like 500 people waiting for me at the airport. There was a press conference downtown, and we had fun and then we got ready for the next day.
JA: Who was your favorite wrestler to work with back then?
RF: My favorite is [Ricky] Steamboat and Sting. I loved Wahoo McDaniel when I was really young. Blackjack Mulligan. I’ve been fortunate enough to wrestle everybody. I loved wrestling. [Bruiser] Brody is in Japan and the US. We’ve had so much fun traveling the world and we’re so lucky to still be here.
JA: Have you ever had to change your style or the way you wrestle depending on the region you’re in?
RF: No, I never changed my approach. Unfortunately, I was playing a lot of matches with players who were not in good enough shape to play for an hour, so it was boring at times. But that’s how it was. Either the match lasts an hour or the champion wins, that was the golden rule.
JA: Wrestling seems like a very physically demanding sport, but it must also be very satisfying when the crowd gets excited. What was it like hearing the crowd get excited as the match progressed?
RF: That’s great. Once you know you’ve got the audience hooked, you can play along. It’s all about getting their attention. If you do, an hour will feel like 20 minutes. If you don’t, an hour will feel like two hours. Learning how to get the audience going is a big part of it. It’s easier said than done sometimes, but you want the audience to feel all the emotions you’re experiencing.
JA: One of the questions I wanted to ask you is about the storytelling during the match. How did that process go?
RF: Well, it just depends on who I’m wrestling with, it’s a different story with different opponents. I can’t really explain it, but with Steamboat we didn’t talk, we just knew we were going to go. We practiced together for hours. With Sting, it was kind of a teaching moment, but he picked up right away and it was a lot easier to practice together. We just had fun.
JA: What was it like being on TV and seeing wrestlers like Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard and Sting on TV and seeing that the love that they had is still there, not just with the fans but with current wrestlers as well?
RF: Oh, it’s great. It hasn’t changed. People are so respectful and it’s flattering. I’m involved in a lot of things now and I try to stay in touch with the world, which is rare at my age. I work for AEW, but I go to WWE shows and no one says anything. When my daughter comes back healthy, I have to see her. I’m going to see her and Tony. [AEW owner Tony Khan] I don’t care, that’s who Tony is and that’s what AEW is.
JA: Tell us a bit about your budding WNBA fandom.
RF: Well, I always liked that, but this [Indiana Fever G] With Caitlin Clark [Chicago Sky F] Angel Reese is doing great. I just wish they would pay the women more because the crowd is full when Caitlin is there. Look for Angel and you’ll find the same thing. There have been so many great women, and I’m glad they’re getting the recognition they deserve.
JA: What is your partnership with the Cleveland Cavaliers like?
RF: This is a sponsorship for my energy drink, Woooo Energy, and this year I’m also partnering with the Philadelphia 76ers.
JA: What does it feel like to see Ric Flair’s legacy still live on today in all walks of life?
RF: Well, I never take it for granted, I’m just grateful that it’s all happening. I think it’s unusual for someone my age to still get so much attention, but I don’t mind.
JA: Last question: out of all the wrestlers you watch right now, who is your favorite?
RF: Well, my daughter is my number one priority. But Randy [Orton]A.J. [Styles]I like a lot of guys like MJF. It’s hard to pick 4 or 5, but both teams have great talent. It’s hard to say who’s the best, but I have a favorite. The Young Bucks are just sensational. They gave Sting and Darby some great matches. [Allin]. (Laughter) Derby is awesome. Orange Cassidy is one of my favorites. They’re all great, great people.
