Insight with Chris Van Vliet - Ric Flair On His Legendary Career And Why He Wants One Last Match

Episode Date: July 27, 2022

"The Nature Boy" Ric Flair (@ricflairnatureboy) is an iconic professional wrestler and 2-time WWE Hall of Famer. He joins Chris Van Vliet to talk about his last match that is taking place on Sunday, July 31 at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium, why he decided to wrestle again after his retirement match at WrestleMania 24 against Shawn Michaels, his thoughts on Vince McMahon's recent retirement from WWE, who is on his pro wrestling Mount Rushmore, the catch phrase he is most proud of, his goals when he first entered the wrestling business in 1972, his thoughts on whether John Cena or Randy Orton will break record as the 16-time World Champion, the story behind his famous WOOOOO Off with Jay Lethal in TNA Wrestling and much more! For more information about Chris and INSIGHT go to: https://podcast.chrisvanvliet.com If you enjoyed this episode, could I ask you to please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcast/iTunes? It takes less than a minute and makes a huge difference in helping to spread the word about the show and also to convince some hard-to-get guests. Create a beautiful website for your podcast is just 5 minutes: https://www.podpage.com/?via=cvv Follow CVV on social media:  Instagram: instagram.com/ChrisVanVliet Twitter: twitter.com/ChrisVanVliet Facebook: facebook.com/ChrisVanVliet YouTube: youtube.com/ChrisVanVliet TikTok: tiktok.com/@Chris.VanVliet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

All systems are going. Ladies and gentlemen, Chris Van Blaine! Oh, man, I feel like there's only one way to start this episode, and it's with a big, Woo! Welcome to another audio adventure here on Insight. I am CBV, Chris Van Fleet, and yes, the nature boy himself is in the house. Rick Flair's last match is this Sunday, live from the Nashville Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. And I know he's had other retirement matches in the past,

but he says this is, in fact, his last match. And when it comes to this conversation, when you've been in wrestling for almost 50 years, it'll be exactly 50 years this December, there's a lot to talk about. I mean, Rick Flair has lived so many lives, both in the ring and out of the ring, and he's an absolute legend beyond wrestling.

Everybody knows who Rick Flair is. And I was so grateful to be able to share this time with him. And he was just dropping so many nuggets of knowledge during this. I'm going to be in Nashville this weekend. That's where Rick Flair's last match is. I'm going to be hosting a live episode of Insight with my special guest, the new Ring of Honor World champion, Claudio Castignoli, at Starcast. I'd love to see you there.

So you can get tickets for that and also tickets for Rick Flair's last match at starcast.com. and if you're not following Rick Flair on social media, you're missing out, my friends. Give him a follow at Rick Flair Nature Boy. If you're not following me, I mean, you're also missing out. I'm at Chris Van Fleet and snap a screenshot right now. Tag us. Let us know that you're listening to this one

and also share this episode with someone who you know is going to love this. Also, you can check out Rick Flair's podcast wherever you're listening to this. It's called To Be the Man. He hosts it with his son-in-law and podcasting guru Conrad Thompson. I think this is what podcast number nine that Conrad hosts. I mean, he's just everything he touches turns to gold. It's just amazing. And Conrad's hosting mixed with Rick Flair's storytelling makes it a must listen.

Speaking of storytelling and great stories, this is so good. It's me and the nature boy, Rick Flair. Rick, such an honor, such a pleasure. Thank you so much for joining us. Thank you. You know, you're 50 years into this now, and I'm so curious if we go back, what was your goal in wrestling when you first entered the business?

Well, I don't know if I had it. I mean, I don't know. I didn't know what to expect. It was totally different from the day I started. It was totally different than what I thought it would be. When I started, it was very difficult to get into business. was extremely tough and it was grueling and the old guys old timers didn't like the young kids coming up and it it was just a whole difference world you had to every step was a step of

learning and respect for trying to get respect from the the guys that had been it for a while and that was the everyday challenge and you've done i feel like so much to like pave the way for everybody that's come before you. And look, I think that a lot of people would have you on their Mount Rushmore. I know I personally have you on Mount Rushmore. Who's on Rick Flair's Mount Rushmore? Austin, Hogan, Taker, and Shaw Michaels. You don't even put yourself on there?

I would. But I could think of, I think those four guys had a huge, you know, you could put the rock on there too. It's interchangeable, but probably the best worker of all the time. and Sean Michaels, the biggest personality of all the time would be the rock. The biggest draw of all time would be Steve. And you can't ever leave Holocaust because he drew a ton of money, different time frame, but it was sold out every night. So, you know, I, even though I was was an NBA world champion and I think my job was a lot harder than than anybody else's because

being an NBA champion I was you know gone six months at a time you know sometimes longer and I was wrestling everybody all over the world that's a difference you're not just wrestling the same guy which I've done too like with steamboat and staying and dusty and that but that was all while I was traveling around the world, especially with Dusty and Steamboat. You know, you say that Sean Michaels is the greatest of all time. I think, you know, as we're entering this last match of yours this weekend, a lot of people go back to WrestleMania 24.

They go, man, that was the perfect ending to your career. Yeah, I know. But then I got divorced for a third time, and it was just hard-paid attorneys and paying alimony. So, you know, I probably didn't need to, but I kind of missed it, too, you know. I sure could have worked around it, but I never considered bankruptcy as an option. And then when I got sick in 2017, and I got behind again with the IRS, because I couldn't, my hospital bills were about 1.3, Medicare A, I didn't have B at the time, just paid $800,000.

So knowing I had to go back in, I had to pay them back, and then I had to pay the IRS another million dollars. So just because I was late on what they call it an offer and compromise, to be very honest with you. So if all those matches after a rest of May 24 and TNA were to earn some money back, what's this match here? What's this one all about? It was not about money at all. I'm great money-wise. It's about when I saw Steve and events in WrestleMania, you know, people have been asking me to do it.

And some people have been offered me $100,000 to do it. And I just thought, nah, because I don't want it going and half-assed. I need to really get in shape. So I've taken three months to really get in shape. I feel great. I've had some ups and downs. I had planners. I still have it, but it's, it's moment.

almost 90% healed the bottom of your foot where you can't walk. Oh, Planner fasciitis. Facciitis, yeah, but right at the bottom of my foot. But I pretty much have that under control, and I feel great, and I don't hurt, I don't ache. You know, why not? And God, who doesn't like the glory? If I pull it off, I'll be bigger than ever. What do you mean if you can pull it off?

Of course you're going to be able to pull this off. Well, everybody keeps saying that, but it'll be a little bit more than just a woo. and chop and strut and I've got to perform. Well, you mean, it's a tag match, so you can, you know, you're not in there the whole time, I guess. No, no, no, but I still, when I'm in there, I got to be able to pull off my hand. And that's, I'm putting a lot of pressure on myself, but it's totally the way I feel about it. Well, when these videos came out a few months ago of you and Jay Lethal, like, doing some

training, this is before the match was ever announced. I think people went, oh, Rick still got it. What did it? How did it make you feel seeing that reaction? Well, I didn't know whether I could take a slam or not, you know, with the pacemaker. But the doctor told me that the one I liked the best, he's in Auburn, told me that I have enough scar tissue around the pacemaker that it's not going to budge. It didn't. So unless it moves a day of the match, I'll be fine.

Even then it is plugged me back in. So I don't have a defibrillator. So when you have the defibrillators, it's very hard to go out there and take bumps. And I've got that, I had that blood cloud issue a couple times in the last 10 years. I just will take half a blood thinner. Because I plan to entertain them, man. What are the people closest to you say? Are they saying this is awesome?

Are they saying, come on, Rick, husband, grandpa, dad, whatever, you're crazy. They're saying this is awesome. They're all supportive. My family is very supportive. They know that I want to do it. They know I want to be part of it and want to be rocking and roll. I wouldn't have it any other way. But I mean...

And this thing is, it's what I didn't anticipate is captured the hearts of America. I mean, this is... Everywhere I go, and I travel a lot for a living, you know, autograph signing, and I made a commercial with a car shield. Nobody's talking about somewhere, or AEW, they're all talking. Everybody knows about my last match. It's gotten a lot of national publicity.

Well, there's something about it. You transcend generations, right? I think that it's amazing, right? Thank you. I think when you've been doing it for 50 years, that's kind of the way that it goes. Yeah, 50 in September. Was there a part of you that was like,

can we push this to like the end of the year so it'll be officially 50 years? No. Because it was the perfect time. You know, Conrad's a very smart guy. We've got 70,000 people in town for the Summer Slam. And they're having on a Saturday, which is an unusual instead of a Sunday. And it just worked out great.

But the roast is sold out. I think we have like 200 tickets left for a 9,000 seats sellout in the auditorium, which WCW, we never sold out the auditorium. And WW had a hard time doing it. And AEW didn't do it. So it's a big accomplishment. You famously said, I will never retire.

How do we know this is actually your last match? It has to be. I would be, that question I get asked a lot because it'll just have to be. Even if I do real well, I can't, you know, go back to my word to the people that have given me all this respect and time and have bought tickets.

And then I've, I've already been offered 10 matches at 50 grand apiece. And then over in Europe, the guy offered me 100,000. But this will be the last one. For sure, for sure. I can manage somebody being a ring, but it will be my last match. All right. I'm just so excited about this.

Yeah, I am too. I'm nervous. What are you nervous about? making up pulling it off but but it's a lot of pressure people don't realize that you you you lose your self-confidence a couple times and you you know but I've got myself I like you know two weeks ago I thought I had pneumonia because I was training so hard I was going back and forth training at robs and then driving over the lethal my dog wanted to say hi you know a 50 mile round trip but I was driving

air conditioning, sweating, all that, and I got a real bad cold. But I got rid of that, then my foot happened, and then it's all coming together, five more days. How did you decide who was going to be part of this match for you? Conrad and I put it together initially.

Yeah, we were going to go outside and do some people from AEW, and then, you know, I became a little political, a little political with Tony. I'm not sure why each other. change things around, but it's okay. We worked around it and we're sold out.

That's all that matters. At any point, did you consider having one of your legendary opponents, like Steamboat or Hogan, be your final match? Well, neither one of them were physically able to do that right now. I talked to Steamer for a long time, but he's got back as she was in the shoulder. And I think Ricky wanted to go out. He had that great little run with Jericho back in 2011, I think. Steve Austin's Hall of Fame induction in Houston.

And I think Rick wanted to go out with that memory because he, Steve was almost as good back then as he was at his prime. He really pulled it out and had to great matches and, you know, you still got it. I think you like that. I mean, and why put that on the line again? And Hulk has got it. Alks had too many back surgeries, double hip replacement,

double knee replacement, you know, why why take a chance me i'm still everything's hooked up still thank god i love that you've become like this cultural icon like every time your name gets dropped in a song or like rick flare drip i you know as a wrestling fan i go ah that's our guy but like at what point do you feel like you crossed over like from just being a pro wrestler to being like a cultural icon that

everybody knows whether they're a wrestling fan or not I don't know. I mean, I've just always been friends with all those guys. I mean, I knew that the pop artists liked me and all that, but I've become like legitimately good friends with Snoop Dogg, and I'm very, very close to Darius Rutger. I've gotten an old kid rock real well. And then, of course, Offset and Amigos, I'm in Cuevo. I love those guys. they think they made me famous we've had words about that but if i wasn't famous why they'd

write the song about me but it's in a story they made me famous so they can they can stick it with you have some of the greatest catchphrases of all time and all of wrestling and i'm curious for you which one are you most proud of is it is it is it woo is it to be the man is it styling and profiling is a limousine ride as a space mountain i trademarked them all so um i think the limousine riding is the one of the people like the most or to be the man you got to beat the man was limousine riding something that you had planned out or is it something just i mean it just came out one day the whole thing that's the way i rolled that i've rid of limousines all the time limousine riding jet flying kiss steel and wheel it's so good

I'm having a hard time holding these alligators down. With the recent news this week, I was surprised with Vince McMahon announcing his retirement. What was your take on that? I wasn't happy about it all. I love Vincent McMahon. I don't know what he's doing right now, but I feel like he'll have a hard time. He'll adjust, obviously. but he loved business and he made us all who we are from Hulk to everybody I don't care what

everybody thinks he made it you know and I have nothing but respect for him I feel like is he actually going to be able to stay away like that that's the thing that I really wonder here I don't know he's a majority stockholder I don't know I don't know whether they will or not yeah I hope not So he's a genius. He was asking, who's the competition now? He said, Disney, maybe. Maybe. What would you say is the biggest?

That was 10 years ago. He said that. The United States Soccer Federation present the U.S. soccer podcast. My name is David Goss, and I'm joined by my co-host, Megan Klinembourg. And now we're giving people an inside look at the World Cup. Time's ticking.

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Well, we just say it's the biggest thing that Vince McMahon has taught you and something that you carry with you through the rest of your career. Just for me personally, he said that I needed to get my shit straight. out because I was pretty wild as people are well aware of and that I can be remembered for two things. I could either be the greatest wrestler of all time or I could be some guy that just, you know, pissed it away, you know, getting married too many times and he's with me through it all. just I mean I just it takes a really he's such a hands-on guy I mean nothing went around at the company that that he didn't know which he had to me I guess the I would say he had a very difficult to have

delegating authority he had to really trust somebody to put them in a position to make big decisions and I just feel like I could always go to him and ask him he hates lawyers he likes to talk to you man I man he'll always tell me before you say a word hear me out

of course I can't do that the first time he said something I don't like I go by let me finish when he says you let me finish he's not bullshit I know he's a he's the real deal Rick,

when it is all sudden done and this match is over you know one, two, three and this, you know, and you're not going to wrestle again. How do you want to be remembered?

Well, if I pull this off, I'll have to be remembered as the greatest of all time. It was even remotely good. 73. I got it down. I can you?

Unless something happens, bad, I don't know what'll be because I'm really minding my piece and Q saying my prayers, taking my vitamins, because I'm ready. It'll be fun. And I'll tell you what else is really important to me.

My whole family will be there. My grandchildren, my kids, a couple of my ex-wives. One of my ex-wives and my wife, but all my kids, all my kids, grandkids, it's going to be, that's pretty spectacular. to be able to do that one more time. But you're so known for going out there and just calling it in the ring. With this match, is it a little bit different? Do you have this planned out? No, I'm with these guys, but all these guys know me.

I got to hear the crowd. Then I don't know where to go. I'm not plan A, plan B, but all these guys are excellent, excellent performers. And I'm Johnny, my son. Who gets to wrestle with their son-in-law? I mean, come on. How cool is that? It's kind of like Ray right now with his son.

I mean, how awesome is that? I feel like Conrad should be on the other team. I feel like it should, you know, both. I know. Yeah, I know. Yeah. Well, Conrad, Conrad's counting the money. We need him to do that.

Because even though I don't need it, it's going to be a lot. You know, you're so known for calling it out there. And Jay Lethal when he was on the show told me, you know, a great, story about you know the most famous tna promo of all time yeah you and him out there doing the woo off did did you truly not know what was going to happen in that segment well i just told me listen i got i got to hear the crowd i can't go out with a script i've been telling i argued that for years up there i got to hear the crowd i mean i got a game plan but i ain't going to memorize this i'll tell you right now i'll try because now it's the interview

some of them are a bunch of a bullet points as they are as there is to the emphasis of your emotion and you got to remember next Monday night and that out of town and you know and then the name of the pay-per-view and I mean it's too much of that for me I got a I want to roll on the guy I'm wrestling and I want to and I want to entertain so when Jay starts wooing and then you start wooing. How did you know, like, how did you know where you were getting to at that segment? Well, I've been around him so much and I knew that he, um, he's such a great kid. I mean, he just, he's, he's electric. I really feel and I'm, I'm not going on the line saying this he should be working for the WWE and in a top level while he got that much

talent. So I don't know why he's not, but it's not good that and deserve to be. Speaking of WWE, John Cena's making his return at SummerSlam. You and him right now, tied. Is John coming back? Yeah, yeah, with Austin Theory. It sounds like the plan that, like I mean, it sounds like the plan here. Okay. Do you think that John Cena will one day break your record?

Will he become the 17-time champion? I don't think so. I don't think they'll ever give it to a part-time performer. I think Randy Orton's got a better shot. I ran to come back. They asked to have surgery, but I certainly wouldn't be offended because the real number is 21, so they all got a ways to go. Last time I interview, you said, you know, the real number is 21.

Why is 16 the number that's counted? Because they don't want to count. I can, I'll give you, 17 would be when I lost it, when I took the title of Sting to drop to Hulk in 90s, whatever that was. from Hulk came. That would be 17. Jack Bonano in San Diego left it there, went back and got it. That'd be 18.

Victor Javica in Trinidad left it there, went back and got it. That'd be 19. Harley Race in New Zealand. That'd be 20. I can't think of the 21st. Oh, I think it would have Carlos and San Juan. That is great that you can just rhyme this off.

This is amazing. Oh, no. I mean, I get asked that a lot. But they don't want to count that. I don't care. So you're okay with 16? Yeah, I'm okay with anything right now. Yeah.

And I love John Cena. So if John does it, he's been such a credit, I mean, such a credible performer and just one of the great guys in the business. about 10 years ago they told Johnny couldn't hang around me. Like 2008, because I'd go out and drink it with John and John could drink some beer back then, you know. They told John, they said,

they'd like you to just hang a little bit less around, and flare on those European tours. I didn't take it personally. You mentioned it earlier, but five years ago, I feel like, like we were really close to losing you. And I'm so, so glad you kicked out. Yeah.

But I'm curious, was there like a life lesson or something that changed for you five years ago? Yeah, but definitely make sure without even one second of regret telling everybody that you loved that you love them. Because you may never, that's all I did for about six months, the people I cared about them, no much I love them. It can go that fast. and why get into an argument that, you know, you're going to be, you know, which we all get into, you know, but try not to go to sleep, arguing with anybody that care that I care about. Just I'll listen to, I take a lot more shit than I used to take, but that's okay. It's, it's, it's part of being a father, and at the end of the day, they're all going to be a national. So we can have a crossword, we can disagree, but my whole family will be there. That matters a lot. I know the industry's changed so much since you broke in,

but if someone was coming into the industry now as a brand new wrestler, what are three pieces of advice that you think that they need to know? Well, unfortunately, I'll say the same thing. If you want to be really good, you've got to make the sacrifices. And that even though they were reduced schedule, that's at home to be on time. and in regards to the outcome, whether they're going to win or lose, give them the best possible match in the world.

They don't remember win or lose. They go, God damn, that was cool. You know that. It's so true. Yeah. Hey, boy, that was really cool. I don't want to match. They don't remember wins or loses.

Yeah. You think about it going into the ring, but it doesn't matter. Yeah. If you're so damn good, they have to use you you just push yourself down their throat i end every conversation with the same question because i'm all about gratitude i wake up every day i say out loud three things i'm grateful for and i do before i go to bed too so rick flare what are three things in your life

that you're grateful for right now my health my family and the world of friends that i have I have a lot of friends. Woo. Nobody. Nobody does it better. Rick Flair. Limiting ride and jet flying. Thanks, man.

You're so good. You're so good. When you mention a world of friends, who would you see your closest with right now? My closest friends. God, I've got so damn many. I wouldn't want it. I mean, I've got a friend here in Tampa, Joe Gomez, my son-in-law. Conrad. I think my daughters and I are really close friends. I mean, but more than obviously I'm their dad, but

with, you know, they've been through so much with me. The girl that worked with me, Kelly, real close to her. I met her at the right time, and she's got me more, I've never been organized in my life. I'm finally organized. It's hard to believe. In 73, I'm organized. And then, of course, Wendy, I think Wendy and our best friends. So, yeah. Oldest ride. Wendy calls this a fraternity house. She doesn't come here very off.

Fraternity house. My place in Tampa. Rick, you are such a legend. You are a national treasure. It's such a pleasure to be able to spend some time with you. So thank you. Thank you, man. Are you coming to national, right?

I'll be there on Friday, so I will see you there. You tell me, am I ready? Damn! Wow! All right, man. Bye. Rick Flair, ladies and gentlemen, and I am so excited, so curious about his last match. It's live this Sunday in Nashville.

Rick Flair and his son-in-law, Andrade Al-Etoe, versus J. Lethal and Jeff Jarrett. It would be so interesting to see what happens there. If you enjoyed this, please share this episode with one of your friends who's a Rick Flair fan and snap a screenshot and let us know what stood out for you the most from this. Tag us so we can share it out as well. Rick is at Rick Flair Nature Boy.

I'm at Chris Van Fleet and now that this episode's done, go search for To Be the Man wherever you're listening to this right now. It's Rick Flair's podcast and he tells some amazing stories on there. I'm going to leave you with a quote about legacy. I feel like it's so fitting here. This is from author Shannon Adler. carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you.

So good. Be great and be grateful. We will see you on the next one for some more insight. Woo! Jim Rome takes on sports. Why? Because I have a job to do. With rapid fire takes.

So I don't want to hear from you lava pigs on this notion today. No idea what you're talking about. You're complaining more than you like to breathe air. It's like you get up in the morning only to complain and cry and moan on social media about things that you don't even understand. He's the spitfire of sports smack. Ticket banjov, but get up in here. The Jim Rome Show podcast. What should be?

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