10 Things You Need To Know About Ric Flair's Original WWF Run

9. How Flair Got To WWE In The First Place

A key part of Flair€™s WWE run was how he got there in the first place. After years of being the top draw for Jim Crockett Promotions, and later WCW, Flair would have a fallout with management (Jim Herd in particular), over how he was to be used and paid going into the 1990s. Not only did Herd (who wrestlers named €œPizza King€ behind his back, due to his high level ranking with Pizza Hut before he entered WCW), think Flair€™s robe was outdated, he insisted Flair cut his hair (which happened) and change his name to Spartacus (which had no chance of happening.) In unrelated news, Ric Flair was still one of the best wrestlers in the world. As things began spiraling downward, Flair was kicked off the booking committee for not wanting to drop the WCW title to Lex Luger in favor of the then injured Sting. Flair began going through intense personal anxiety attacks, and losing his confidence on every level from in the ring to backstage to his home life. Subsequently, Ric refused the terms WCW offered in their latest contract and was working without any binding agreement while he was their World Champion. Once again, Herd wanted Flair to drop the title to Lex Luger, but according to Flair, Herd must have gotten cold feet and insisted he lose to Barry Windham 3 days before The Great American Bash so he could then crown Luger at the PPV. Suddenly, as Flair prepared for the Windham match, Herd changed his tone and fired Flair on the spot. Yes, he fired his WORLD CHAMPION WITHOUT GETTING BACK THE TITLE. Due to an old NWA title clause that stated, champions had to submit a 25,000 deposit then get it back at the end of his reign, Flair had no reason to ever get it since he won and lost the title so frequently. After many expletives between Flair and Herd, Flair sent Vince McMahon his WCW World Championship the next day.