Ric Flair In TNA

Syferus

parker kent wrote: »

The Dudley's haven't been able to eff and blind since they left ECW. They still know how to work a crowd and are valuable to have around. They could do with getting in shape, but I would definitely keep them. It is the likes of Dreamer, Flair etc that are wasting TV time in TNA.

Flair's a hired gun, but as long as he rarely wrestles his promos still are as chaotically awesome as they ever have been and is a big plus for TNA. Worth the money they're paying him, though? Highly debatable, but it's better than Scott Hall and the Nasty Boys. Dreamer, well that's another story.

On a side note, Dreamer trying to look agressive saying 'woo' to Flair on last week's Impact has to be one of the unintentional comedy moments of the year.

jaykhunter

I think Flair's promos are amongst the most entertaining in all of wrestling. I look forward to a flair TNA promo most out of everyone these days. I can't think of a more entertaining promo in recent times than the Ric Flair/Jay Lethal promo a few months back.

I think it's unfair to label Flair's promos as worthless just because he's basically parodying himself, instead of doing tiresome re-threads of his 80's Flair Promo, which would be boring and contrived if he did. It's not just here, but on other boards and podcasts that people think "if it's not the 80s NWA promos, it's worthless" mentality, which i think does Flair's efforts a great disservice. The notion that Flair is "only allowed" to do certain types of promos annoys me no end.

I do worry about having to watch a Ric Flair match these days though. Then I remember I can just fast forward it

parker kent

jaykhunter wrote: »

I think Flair's promos are amongst the most entertaining in all of wrestling. I look forward to a flair TNA promo most out of everyone these days. I can't think of a more entertaining promo in recent times than the Ric Flair/Jay Lethal promo a few months back.

I think it's unfair to label Flair's promos as worthless just because he's basically parodying himself, instead of doing tiresome re-threads of his 80's Flair Promo, which would be boring and contrived if he did. It's not just here, but on other boards and podcasts that people think "if it's not the 80s NWA promos, it's worthless" mentality, which i think does Flair's efforts a great disservice. The notion that Flair is "only allowed" to do certain types of promos annoys me no end.

I do worry about having to watch a Ric Flair match these days though. Then I remember I can just fast forward it

I definitely don't want an 80s style NWA promo. I don't want any Ric Flair of any sort in TNA at all. I am not saying he is only allowed do a certain type of promo, I am saying that he is incapable of doing a decent promo these days.


They are definitely not treating him like a parody of the 80s Flair either, he is being deadly serious and is supposed to be the ring leader of the main faction in TNA. He (or should I say TNA creative) is holding back AJ Styles and co by having them become sub-standard Four Horsemen. I'd much rather see AJ as his own man.

jaykhunter

I think Ric Flair staying out of the ring, but cutting promos putting over a stable of (his) guys is perfect for him. They get the rub of be associated with Ric Flair, he cuts killer promos putting them over, everybody wins. That said, I agree, AJ is far too big to be held down by Fortune; he should be his own man; but I will say that his promos with Fortune are actually over as a heel, despite wearing a Ric Flair halloween costume. I guess Fortune can't be the 15th incarnation of the 'four horsemen' anymore since there's 7 members. Since he's not wrestling (I haven't checked spoilers etc) then he is the ring leader, the manager. And thankfully they've stopped using the 4 horsemen hand sign.

Back to Flair, I don't see how you can't see ANY merit in his TNA promos of the last few months. Even his exchange with Foley last week was engrossing? If not we'll just have to agree to disagree. Anyway, I don't take Ric Flair seriously (and haven't done for over 10 years) so I'm finding his current stuff more entertaining than any WWE promo that I can recall. So 'best in the last ten years' is good enough, in my opinion!

How is Ric Flair deadly serious? He's over the top crazy-passionate, bursting blood vessels and pelvic-thrusting towards Dixie Carter! WOO!

parker kent

The role is perfect for him, but it is not perfect for TNA. I am pretty sure he will wrestle again within the next year. At Bound For Glory perhaps.

I don't mean that he is being serious as he is obviously playing an unhinged character. I mean that he is not playing a comedy role (like say Eric Young or Eugene). He is playing a legitimate nut-job. They have him as a serious, loon instead of a comedy loon. Though I think at this stage he just is a lunatic so they have to role with it.

But yes we need to agree to disagree, I guess I just don't like Ric Flair and you do!

jaykhunter

Ah, I get ya. Respectfully disagreeing is what i love about boards. The internet could learn a thing or two from here!

Just curious, did you used to love Ric Flair? I never saw much of him in NWA/WCW; only his brief WWF stint in ~1991 (until his WWE DVD came out, then i got to see his oldschool promos/matches etc) so I don't have nostalgia attached to him; i've only been watching him (week to week) since he came in to WWF in late 2001.

I ask as i'm wondering if it's old school Ric Flair fans have a hard time enjoying what he's doing now, which isn't really a problem for newer-school fans. Just a thought i had from the general consensus from forums, podcasts etc

parker kent

I would not say I loved Flair from the 80s but I definitely place him my top 5 ever performers. His matches with Terry Funk, Barry Wyndam etc are pretty amazing in terms of a wrestler telling a story in the ring.

It is just a bit sad to see him like this now, every second he is on screen ruins his legacy. He had regained some of that with the HBK match but has lost it now with his return. All he is now is a semi-comedy figure despite how TNA are probably trying to have him as a legit character.

Anyway, I'd much rather see Team 3D than Flair these days!

flahavaj

jaykhunter wrote: »

Ah, I get ya. Respectfully disagreeing is what i love about boards. The internet could learn a thing or two from here!

Just curious, did you used to love Ric Flair? I never saw much of him in NWA/WCW; only his brief WWF stint in ~1991 (until his WWE DVD came out, then i got to see his oldschool promos/matches etc) so I don't have nostalgia attached to him; i've only been watching him (week to week) since he came in to WWF in late 2001.

I ask as i'm wondering if it's old school Ric Flair fans have a hard time enjoying what he's doing now, which isn't really a problem for newer-school fans. Just a thought i had from the general consensus from forums, podcasts etc

Personally I adore 80's NWA Flair (the greatest wrestling champion ever IMO in terms of selling the importance of a title and title matches), but I also find the modern time semi comedic figure he cuts now unbelieveably erntertaining tbh. Its eminently possible to enjoy both.

Syferus

His quite litheral rofl when Dreamer said he and his band of broken down mules would come down and beat them up if Dixie Carter hadn't asked them not to was pure gold. He's still utterly charismatic and show stealing.

gimmick

Split from Dudleys thread.

jaykhunter

about Flair and this week's impact

Flair cut another hugely entertaining promo, trying to seduce Dixie Carter, knowing full well she's married. A love it that he's so testosterone-filled and a crazy old man. I did like the way he threatened to have Fortune also walk out if he was suspended. The only huge problem is that Hogan teased a(nother horrific) match between the two

waltersobchak

Wheelchair Flair at the start of the year was fu*king incredible lads..

flahavaj

Any promo that Flair cut in the last 20 years when he gets dangerously red around the gills and either cuts himself open he gets so thick or takes off his jacket and starts doing elbow drops on it is absolute gold. Anyone who can't enjoy that kinda stuff has a heart of stone or has no sense of humour.

He has ben utterly brilliant at every stage in his career, wrinkly old man bitch tits and all.

geeky

waltersobchak wrote: »

Wheelchair Flair at the start of the year was fu*king incredible lads..

+1 - I loved Crazy Grandpa Flair.

These days, he's fun to listen to, but I can't shake off the lingering dread that he'll be plugged in yet another more legacy-tarnishing bout.

parker kent

flahavaj wrote: »

Any promo that Flair cut in the last 20 years when he gets dangerously red around the gills and either cuts himself open he gets so thick or takes off his jacket and starts doing elbow drops on it is absolute gold. Anyone who can't enjoy that kinda stuff has a heart of stone or has no sense of humour.

He has ben utterly brilliant at every stage in his career, wrinkly old man bitch tits and all.

I'd rather scratch my eyes out than watch one of those promos tbh. It is not in the slightest bit funny. Arrested Development or 30 Rock are funny. Flair using every cheap heat tactic in the book is not.

Gerard.C

Flair is a prostitute in TNA. Wrestling Jay Lethal in a street fight in front of 700 people who didnt even pay to see it. Seriously Ric. The state of him

flahavaj

parker kent wrote: »

I'd rather scratch my eyes out than watch one of those promos tbh. It is not in the slightest bit funny. Arrested Development or 30 Rock are funny. Flair using every cheap heat tactic in the book is not.

Your heart is black and shrivelled - you are dead inside.:pac:

Seriously though, how is it cheap heat? Its just over the top and entertaining, like most wrestling is.

Syferus

Gerard.C wrote: »

Flair is a prostitute in TNA. Wrestling Jay Lethal in a street fight in front of 700 people who didnt even pay to see it. Seriously Ric. The state of him

No one's in this business for the warm and fuzzy feeling of entertaining 10,000 people alone!

geeky

parker kent wrote: »

I'd rather scratch my eyes out than watch one of those promos tbh. It is not in the slightest bit funny. Arrested Development or 30 Rock are funny. Flair using every cheap heat tactic in the book is not.

You retract that right now! 30 Rock is dreadful. :pac:

D2D

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAB4qzLLp6A

parker kent

flahavaj wrote: »

Your heart is black and shrivelled - you are dead inside.:pac:

Seriously though, how is it cheap heat? Its just over the top and entertaining, like most wrestling is.

Now listen here fella, my heart is better than Padraig Harringtons after a dose of Flora

It is the same thing every single time though, he has been doing this since near the end of WCW. I am so fed up with that routine and I was never that gone on it to begin with.

Cutting himself in an interview is cheap heat too, it is not getting everybody going with great promos.

Gerard.C

Syferus wrote: »

No one's in this business for the warm and fuzzy feeling of entertaining 10,000 people alone!

You'd think that nobody would be in the buisness to make an absolute show of themselves like Flair has managed to do in the last 7 months or so either though

flahavaj

parker kent wrote: »

Now listen here fella, my heart is better than Padraig Harringtons after a dose of Flora

It is the same thing every single time though, he has been doing this since near the end of WCW. I am so fed up with that routine and I was never that gone on it to begin with.

Cutting himself in an interview is cheap heat too, it is not getting everybody going with great promos.

Anyone thats been around as long as Flair is gonna eventually end up having a somewhat predictable routine - you could say the same about the Rock or Hogan.

Flai busting himslef open with the mic while delivering a killer promo is not just amazing entertainment its flat out greatness. Hero.

flahavaj

Gerard.C wrote: »

You'd think that nobody would be in the buisness to make an absolute show of themselves like Flair has managed to do in the last 7 months or so either though

First Big Dan and now Flair - Gersie wants to have a cut at all my veteran heroes.:(

Syferus

Gerard.C wrote: »

You'd think that nobody would be in the buisness to make an absolute show of themselves like Flair has managed to do in the last 7 months or so either though

As alot of people have said - crazy Flair is many times more entertaining that 95% of other wrestlers/personalities in the business. Everyone konws he shouldn't be wrestling and that the only reason he does is to get the bigger pay-days by being classed as a wrestler and not just a manager/personality, but none of that can negate the fact that when he takes the mic he's a one-of-a-kind scenery eating monster.

waltersobchak

flahavaj wrote: »

First Big Dan and now Flair - Gersie wants to have a cut at all my veteran heroes.:(

Ger C heel turn:pac:

gimmick

geeky wrote: »

You retract that right now! 30 Rock is dreadful. :pac:

Thats a bannable statement right there.

Gerard.C

flahavaj wrote: »

First Big Dan and now Flair - Gersie wants to have a cut at all my veteran heroes.:(

Its not the same. When big Dan comes out of retirement and is playing Junior B in front of nobody after a rousing send-off by Davy and the lads, then I will feel the same. Thats what Flair is doing. He was a legend. Now he is playing Junior B and isnt even a shadow of his former self. He is a wet snot in comparison to the Ric Flair of even a few years ago

Gerard.C

waltersobchak wrote: »

Ger C heel turn:pac:

I'm like Ricky Steamboat, I'll always be a babyface

parker kent

gimmick wrote: »

Thats a bannable statement right there.

Tina Fey is God. A sexy God too.

sky88

flairs promos are one of the reasons im watching tna although i could do without seeing him in the ring i actually felt embrassed watching his match with jay lethal

Robbie Tyrrell

You have to wonder how much longer Ric Flair can participate at events at the Impact! Arena in Orlando. I think everyone can agree he's clearly clinging on to past glories, and presumably his mutual respect between Hogan, Dixie Carter and The Jarretts ensure his paycheck every week. Without a doubt he is one of the best performers ever, in the ring and on the mic, yet now it could be argued that fans pity Flair. Here's a guy who has to meet alomony payments to THREE ex wives, support four kids and yet still brag about owning a pair of shoes more expensive than a three bed semi-detached in Stillorgan!!

Rjd2

I wouldn't mind another World title reign just to piss of Hunter:pac:

paddyismaddy

are they building him to feud with hogan or angle :rolleyes:

Riddle101

Tbh I think maybe Hogan and Ric Flair are secretly working together to undermine Dixie Carter and take over TNA. While Sting and Nash are trying to stop them.

flahavaj

Rjd2 wrote: »

I wouldn't mind another World title reign just to piss of Hunter:pac:

I wouldn't mind a few more Hunter title reigns just to p*ss everyone else off.:pac:

waltersobchak

flahavaj wrote: »

I wouldn't mind a few more Hunter title reigns just to p*ss everyone else off.:pac:

Syferus

Riddle101 wrote: »

Tbh I think maybe Hogan and Ric Flair are secretly working together to undermine Dixie Carter and take over TNA. While Sting and Nash are trying to stop them.

However incredibly more sensical that would be, you're negating the fact TNA and logic have never been happy bed fellows!

Riddle101

Syferus wrote: »

However incredibly more sensical that would be, you're negating the fact TNA and logic have never been happy bed fellows!

Well think about it right. How come when Fortune attacked ECW or EV2 two weeks, Hogan disappeared all of a sudden during the attack. Then again the week after he didn't get involved too. Then last week when he was with Double JJ and was about to fight Sting and Kevin Nash, when Fortune attacked them, they were only shown attacking Nash and Sting while Hogan was left untouched in the corner. Hogan also reversed Dixie Carter's decision to suspend Ric Flair

Also Hogan is not really the type of person to be praising the ECW guys now is he. He's not that type of guy, he'd actually look down on them as well. I would also think he might be trying to take control for himself with Eric Bischoff by ousting Dixie of control, using Fortune.

Who know maybe Sting might actually know this about Hogan and Biscoff which is why he's targeting them, and Double J more recently who is working with Hogan.

Part of me thinks TNA is building to a heel turn for Hogan and Biscoff, and I think they'll do it by siding with Ric Flair.

There's another theory that maybe Hogan and Biscoff are the people who Abyss is talking about as "They" Hogan might be using Abyss still but working behind the scenes or something. But I don't know. Just a thought

ayatollah

oh that would no doubt make way more sense than what will more than likely happen - it may well even be where they are intending on going - but sure knowing hogan he'll want to change it at the last minute - sure isn't that what happened on the night of stings return. was't he supposed to turn on abyss initially but at the last minute he changed his mind and they decided to turn sting instead. ridiculous - oh by the way has sting had this shoulder surgery yet or is he still wrestling in the t-shirt?