Flashback Friday: Nature Boy is Born

Ric Flair vs. Shawn Michaels

February 25, 1949: Richard Morgan Fliehr is born on this day 62 years ago.  We know him today as "the Nature Boy" Ric Flair.  Woooo!

I've posted before about Flair.  He is my all time favorite.  I was honored to see him inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame nearly 3 years ago.  It was an emotional night then and 24 hours later when he wrestled what we all thought was going to be his last match at Wrestlemania 24 against Shawn Michaels.  Then I marked out the next night on Monday Night Raw when Flair said goodbye with the help of his friends like Ricky Steamboat, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, JJ Dillion, and Barry Windham.

Photo by Chad Smart

I didn't even mind it when Flair returned to be in the corner of fellow legends "Superfly" Jimmy Snuka, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, and Ricky "the Dragon" Steamboat" as they faced Chris Jericho at Wrestlemania 25.  He got into the ring with Jericho at the end and was saved by actor and "The Wrestler" star Mickey Rourke.

But you just knew Flair wasn't content standing on the sidelines.  He wanted to wrestle again.  Vince McMahon and company did not want that.  They wanted a good will ambassador.  Things didn't work out and Flair left the WWE in 2009.

Then he climbed back in the ring to face Hulk Hogan on his "Hulkamania Tour" in Australia.
The two were trying to relive and recapture something that was done almost 20 years prior in the WWF.  Hogan would sign with TNA and bring Flair with him, to do more wrestling.  I was not happy to see that.  I enjoy Flair on the mic.  I would have just kept him as a manager, but he had that itch, I understand.  But wrestling in hardcore matches with Mick Foley is not doing anything to help Flair's legacy.

I know he recently had a dispute with TNA over pay.  I'm guessing since he's back on Impact, that those issues have been resolved.  Even though I don't want to see him in the ring again, (because I paid $1,400 to experience his send off) I would love for him to come back to the WWE in a managerial role.  The E is in need of a good heel manager(s) and Flair would fit the role perfectly.

But since it's Flair's birthday, I'll let him make the wishes.  Have a good one, Natch.