Ric Flair Leaves UK Tour?

[brettappedout (BLM)]

Prowrestling.NET
Jason Powell

It appears that Ric Flair has left the TNA UK tour. The word making the rounds among the overseas crew is that Flair was upset because TNA would not give him a draw. Flair did not board the bus to leave Ireland for Germany.

Powell's POV: The talk is that Flair wanted a financial advance and when his request was rejected by the tour manager Craig Jenkins, he felt disrespected and opted to leave. It's still possible that the situation could be resolved, but the crew is under the impression that he has left the tour.

[The Ichi]

So Flair just stayed in Ireland? I'd love to see the whacky adventures he got up to there.

[Objection!]

He seemed in really good form last night. Word was he was buying everyone rounds of shots at the Hotel the TNA team were staying in.



That's me with him, pity I was so close to the camera. Flair had some great interactions with the crowd last night, he was constantly grinning ear to ear. I'm very surprised he's left the tour.

[lordofthering]

Probably ran out of money from all the partying.

Wouldn't surprise me in the least

[Cactus Jack]

Aww for f***'s sake. I'm going to the Manchester show this Friday, and now I won't get to see Angle, Flair or Hardyz/MCMG? That sucks.

["Playboy" Don Douglas]

I'd heard something last night about Flair being "holed up in a hotel in Ireland" following more "shenanigans," but I didn't see anything mentioned anywhere. Maybe this is what the guy was talking about.

[The Summer of Muskrat XVII]

Jan 25, 2011 16:48:18 GMT -5 Objection! said:

He seemed in really good form last night. Word was he was buying everyone rounds of shots at the Hotel the TNA team were staying in.

And he wonders why TNA wouldn't give him an advance?

That's me with him, pity I was so close to the camera. Flair had some great interactions with the crowd last night, he was constantly grinning ear to ear. I'm very surprised he's left the tour.

Boy, that picture sure shows the effects of 35+ years of alcohol abuse. He looks like the regulars at the bar I used to work at

[ICBM]

Irresponsible spending can only be determined by folks over there. As does the validity of this entire story. UK guys let us know if he dosn't work the show you go to. then we will know he left the tour. As to if it is related to the reported story that will remain unsubstantiated

[Apricots And A Pear Tree]

Jan 25, 2011 16:58:05 GMT -5 The Summer of Muskrat XVII said:

Jan 25, 2011 16:48:18 GMT -5 Objection! said:

He seemed in really good form last night. Word was he was buying everyone rounds of shots at the Hotel the TNA team were staying in.

And he wonders why TNA wouldn't give him an advance?

That's me with him, pity I was so close to the camera. Flair had some great interactions with the crowd last night, he was constantly grinning ear to ear. I'm very surprised he's left the tour.

Boy, that picture sure shows the effects of 35+ years of alcohol abuse. He looks like the regulars at the bar I used to work at

I know,we need to get Objection! into AA fast.

[Deleted]

Jan 25, 2011 17:06:41 GMT -5 Apricots And A Pear Tree said:

Jan 25, 2011 16:58:05 GMT -5 The Summer of Muskrat XVII said:

And he wonders why TNA wouldn't give him an advance?




Boy, that picture sure shows the effects of 35+ years of alcohol abuse. He looks like the regulars at the bar I used to work at

I know,we need to get Objection! into AA fast.

[Mayonnaise]

Here are the stories from PWInsider with more info on it:

RIC FLAIR MISSES TNA EVENT IN GERMANY AFTER INCIDENT IN IRELAND
by Mike Johnson @ 4:08 PM on 1/25/2011

Ric Flair missed today's TNA house show event in Berlin, Germany after sources within the company claimed that, "Flair was refusing to get on the plane to Germany".
There were a number of stories making the rounds as to what the exact issue was, but TNA sources have confirmed there was some sort of blow-up between Flair and a member of TNA Management in Dublin, Ireland.

"He threw a fit," said the source, who would speak only under condition of anonymity. "He was playing 'Nature Boy' on the tour and got pissed off and threw a tantrum. As far as we all know, he's in Dublin still. He said he wasn't coming and he wasn't in Berlin."

There are stories making the rounds that the issue was financial, but I haven't confirmed that as accurate.

This wouldn't be the first time we've heard of a Flair outburst since he signed with TNA a year ago, although most were incidents after events that wouldn't have caused a change to scheduled cards.

Flair was not advertised to wrestle in Berlin but was scheduled to appear. He is still advertised as teaming with Kazarian against Douglas Williams & Matt Morgan on 1/27 in Glasgow, Scotland.

When reached at the TNA offices in Nashville, TNA's head of publicity, Steven Godfrey noted, "TNA does not comment on personnel matters."


MORE ON THE TNA-RIC FLAIR INCIDENT IN IRELAND
by Mike Johnson @ 5:17 PM on 1/25/2011

The Ric Flair incident in Dublin, Ireland was said to have been driven by Flair demanding money "in advance" from a member of TNA management. When his request wasn't granted, Flair allegedly tried to play hardball, refusing to get on a bus that was taking the TNA troupe to the airport for their flight. That incident led to a decision being made to leave Flair behind, since he was refusing to get on the plane and this had not been the first instance of similar issues with Flair over the last year.
According to one person I spoke to after we initially wrote about the Flair situation, there were members of the roster in favor of leaving Flair behind due to his outburst and some were mocking him, using his "signature promo lines" after he was left behind.

There was a lot of discussion regarding how much Flair's legendary "partying" on the road during the tour may have factored into his decision to refuse to get on the bus as well.

To clarify something making the rounds, Flair was not sent home from the tour by TNA management. He was simply left behind after refusing to travel following his issue with the member of TNA management. All signs are Flair is still in Europe and he could easily catch up to the troupe in Scotland, if he chooses.

There was no official decision to send him home, just a decision to leave him behind when he had his "blow-up" as opposed to holding up an entire roster of talents waiting to travel internationally.

TNA declined to comment on the Flair situation when contacted by PWInsider.com earlier today.

[ICBM]

oooooo. He missed an advertised match? Way not good. Legend or not that is going to cost him within the company. I wonder how many dates he has with them?

[Objection!]

Jan 25, 2011 18:04:13 GMT -5 ICBM said:

oooooo. He missed an advertised match? Way not good. Legend or not that is going to cost him within the company. I wonder how many dates he has with them?

He hasn't missed a match...yet, but he will if this keeps up.

[Andrew is Good]

I'm not sure what to think. On one hand, TNA are known for being cheap bastards, but that definitely comes across as unprofessional.

[ariestheram]

So they went from Ireland to Germany and then Scotland? Does the TNA travel department not own a globe?

[darthpipes]

I think I'll start calling Flair Ricky the Ram.

I have no sympathy for this man. He's pissed away his money and talks about how he still needs to work. Yet he pisses whatever money away that he gets and still acts like a 21-year-old. Pathetic.

[lordkain316]

Jan 25, 2011 16:58:05 GMT -5 The Summer of Muskrat XVII said:

Jan 25, 2011 16:48:18 GMT -5 Objection! said:

He seemed in really good form last night. Word was he was buying everyone rounds of shots at the Hotel the TNA team were staying in.

And he wonders why TNA wouldn't give him an advance?

That's me with him, pity I was so close to the camera. Flair had some great interactions with the crowd last night, he was constantly grinning ear to ear. I'm very surprised he's left the tour.

Boy, that picture sure shows the effects of 35+ years of alcohol abuse. He looks like the regulars at the bar I used to work at

35 years? What are you talking about?

Flair's been an alcoholic since he's teen years. To my knowledge the only time in his life that he actually stopped drinking was during his training with Verne Gagne and after that was all said and done he started right back up again.

[mrsocko]

damn it, Manchester card is getting worse and worse... no Alex Shelley, no AJ, now no Flair... damn it, isn't this called the Whoooooo! Tour?

[Ben Wyatt]

[héad.casé]

Jan 25, 2011 18:37:24 GMT -5 Andrew is Good said:

I'm not sure what to think. On one hand, TNA are known for being cheap bastards, but that definitely comes across as unprofessional.

I'm sorry, but how are they being cheap here? They didn't say they weren't going to pay him at all, they just said they weren't going to pay him in advance. Which seems wise in my opinion.