WWE veteran advises Ric Flair to step away from wrestling business after AEW exit - "He has very few skills"
WWE veteran Dutch Mantell believes Ric Flair should leave the wrestling business after his AEW departure. The Nature Boy's career in professional wrestling has spanned for over 50 years.
Ric Flair recently made his surprising exit from AEW after signing with the company just last November. The Nature Boy was mainly used in Sting's retirement storyline and even got physical with The Young Bucks on several occasions. Flair's last appearance was at the AEW Revolution PPV event where he attended Sting's retirement match.
On the recent episode of his Storytime with Dutch Mantell podcast, the wrestling veteran was asked about what Ric Flair can provide to the wrestling business apart from one-off appearances. Mantell claimed that Ric Flair possesses very limited skills and is of no need to professional wrestling now. Mantell also explained how Flair can't work in creative as he doesn't have the patience for it.
"Nothing. He couldn't even book because he doesn't understand basic booking and he doesn't have the patience for it. I'm sure if he was backstage watching something and they didn't do exactly what he thought they should do, I think he'd have a heart attack before anything else. But, he has very few skills needed now in the wrestling business." [23:45 - 24:16]
Dutch Mantell on AEW ending their ties with Ric Flair
Ric Flair recently parted ways with AEW and the company also reportedly ended its contract with Flair's 'Wooooo!' energy drink that became the official energy drink of the promotion after The Nature Boy signed with the company.
Speaking on his Storytime with Dutch Mantell podcast, the former WWE manager claimed that AEW 'dumped' Ric Flair and his company on purpose as the drinking company is not making them enough money.
"I think the drink company is collapsing. How much competition do they have in the drink business? (it's saturated) So, I think they think it's not doing a bit of good. (They thought) We're throwing good money, and it's doing bad. So they thought 'We're going to dump it' and they dumped it. And Ric Flair is along with the dump. That's what I figured. If you don't see their ads on the screens, or on the billboards, I think it's pretty well over for Ric," said Mantell. [From 12:56 to 13:38]
The Nature Boy Ric Flair is now a free agent in wrestling. It will be interesting to see if the 16-time World Heavyweight Champion heads back to the WWE in the future.