10 WWE Traitors Who Were More Effective After Leaving

2. Ric Flair

To this day, there's still a bit of a weird relationship between Ric Flair and WWE. For anybody unclear on just how highly regarded the man was by Vince McMahon, just look at the incredible retirement bash the company put on for him following his loss to Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XXIV in 2008. Convincing everybody that he was ready to hang up the boots, the 'Nature Boy' had tears in his eyes as he expressly stated that his in-ring career was firmly over. "You will never see me wrestle in that ring again", those were the man's words, but they proved to be little more than just another typical wrestling retirement, whereby the person goes back on their word, seemingly unable to stay away from the spotlight. After WWE declined Flair's suggestion that they let him wrestle again, the legend left the company. Wrestling on a one-off 'Hulkamania' Tour in 2009, Ric then joined TNA, working many times against the likes of Hulk Hogan and Mick Foley. Those performances are regarded as embarrassing by many, sullying the epic retirement schtick from 2008. It seems likely that the McMahon family still have some confusion over why Flair went back on his word so suddenly, but by wobbling around the ring on TNA shows, he proved WWE were right to take him out of the ring on a regular basis.