Every WWE Release Of 2021 - Where Are They Now? (Five Years Later)
42. Ric Flair
Then: Legendary hustler Ric Flair's last big WWE storyline was an awkward onscreen romance with Lacey Evans that was designed to get under the skin of his daughter Charlotte. Instead, it repulsed a lot of fans tuning in, and it seemed to be a tone deaf idea due to allegations following the 'Nature Boy' for years.
In the end, it was actually Flair himself who requested his own release in August 2021. Why? Well, apparently partly because he wanted to wrestle again and that was just never going to happen under WWE's watch.
Now: Ric eventually wrestled what was billed as his "Last Match" on 31 July 2022. He tagged with then-son in law Andrade vs. Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal on a card in Nashville, Tennessee, and it became infamous for all the wrong reasons. Get this: Flair almost died during that bout.
He suffered a heart attack and blacked out several times whilst the match was in progress. Eek! Ric has since gone back and forth on whether he'd like to wrestle again or not. Obviously, it'd be an awful idea for him to lace up some boots again, especially after all of his health concerns.
Flair inked a deal to promote his new energy drink with AEW in 2023, but his appearances have been sporadic. Mercifully, Tony Khan has steered clear of entertaining any thoughts of the old NWA/WCW/WWE favourite stepping between the ropes, but he did play a major role in Sting's retirement.
That was a full circle moment for the Stinger, because he made a name for himself during matches vs. Ric.