101 Shocking Wrestling Plans You Won't Believe Almost Happened
51. Ric Flair Turns On Sting (In 2024)
Some workers just can't let the spotlight go. They can't even let the thought of basking in those bright lights as adulation and/or boos rain down on them. Ric Flair is one of those workers, and he likely will be working in some capacity until the day he dies. 2024's bold pitch to AEW boss Tony Khan proves that.
Several years ago, the 'Nature Boy' seemingly wanted to make Sting's retirement celebrations all about him. Look, Ric turning on Sting might've worked at any point during the late-1980s or the entire decade of the 90s and 00s, but not in two thousand and twenty four. Even Khan, who is a known wrestling historian and fanboy, wasn't going to rubber stamp that one.
Flair fancied turning on the Stinger following his ole foe's retirement match at Revolution. There, the icon teamed with protege Darby Allin vs. The Young Bucks and went out on a high as one half of the reigning AEW Tag-Team Champions. Post-match, 'Slick Ric' thought it'd be awesome if he knocked Sting down and put a Figure Four on him.
Woooooooo? More like noooooooo.
Worse, Naitch wanted to become a weekly character on Dynamite/Collision and work one more heel run. Yeah, “one more”. We believe you, Flair. This is a guy who was handed one of the greatest retirements ever by WWE in 2008. 16 years later, he yearned for more attention and liked the thought of making another legend's send off all about his dastardly antics.
This one didn't get off the ground.