Ric Flair Claims WWE Snub Was One Of The Most Difficult Moments Of His Life

Ric Flair has explained just what being featured in WWE’s signature open means to him and why being removed from it was so difficult to take.

Following the furore that arose from the Dark Side Of The Ring episode that featured the infamous ‘Plane Ride From Hell’ Ric Flair was removed from WWE’s signature opening that airs at the beginning of all WWE programming. Flair was accused in the episode of serious sexual harassment on the flight by one of the flight attendants – allegations that Flair strenuously denies.

Flair was reinstated into the video package but at Crown Jewel, The Nature Boy noticed that he had seemingly once again been removed.

Speaking on his To Be The Man podcast – courtesy of AdFreeShows – Ric Flair explained why being removed the first time around was such a low point for him:

“I have no idea [why I was cut from it]. But you know what? Here’s the deal, and I don’t care what anybody says. I mean, Arn Anderson was giving me a lecture about kissing WWE’s ass and the last match. That is the biggest compliment you can ever get as a wrestler is to be at the opening of anything that WWE has. It’s not kissing ass for me to say thank you once or to say thank you twice.”

“One of the most difficult things I’ve ever been through in my life personally, aside from health issues, is having 85,000 people tell me within two minutes, I wasn’t on the opening of Raw or Smackdown, that’s when the bullsh*t from the plane ride to hell came out, which is all bullsh*t. Which is explained thoroughly in my new documentary, I mean, thoroughly. I am calling some people out big time.”

“So to answer your question. If they had left me off, I wouldn’t mind it. Because I’ve had my time. It’s not my time anymore. But it is something that means a lot to me personally, as it does to everybody else that’s on it. And I’m sure they would tell you that if they’re being honest with you, it’s a big deal. You’re seen worldwide three times a week.”

While Flair is out of the WWE signature, it appears that two stars have returned to the opening amid ongoing uncertainty over their WWE future.

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