How Charlotte Flair Is Beating Her Dad’s WWE Legacy

WWE's quest for content & clicks drives Charlotte's march to 17 championships.

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Ric Flair is one of a handful of wrestlers we could legitimately call the greatest of all time.

Typically the go-to American worker in such discussions, even his most credible countrymen - the Hulk Hogans, Terry Funks, Bret Harts, and Bruno Sammartinos - fall to his total package of pro-wrestling excellence, and yes, Flair had his weaknesses (adherence to formulae, for one), but they were dwarfed by his strengths.

The man was simultaneously a supreme athlete, an all-time great character, a genius between the ropes, and a game-changing megastar, and he'll always be amongst the sport's most decorated performers. Flair was, at minimum, a top-three talker ever. He was a perfect World Champion who worked harder than anyone else as the NWA's figurehead. Later, Flair showed up in the then-WWF, won the Royal Rumble, and add Vince McMahon's top prize to an already-ridiculous résumé - and that only takes us up to 1992.

Though Ric recently returned to Raw and SmackDown to promote his and Hulk Hogan's Crown Jewel five-on-five, Flair's wrestling legacy is continued, indirectly, through his daughter's weekly presence on WWE television. Charlotte is on-course to beat his record 16 World Championships within the next few years. Before long, the company will speak 'The Queen's' name with the same reverence as Ric's, regardless of whether it's warranted or not.

Spoiler: it isn't.

CONT'd...

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.