Controversial star teases surprise appearance at final WWE SmackDown of 2024
WWE is set to present two more episodes of RAW and one more SmackDown show to wrap up another successful year. The company is planning surprises and swerves for the next several weeks as the red brand's Netflix era begins to coincide with the official kickoff to WrestleMania 41 season. One of the most controversial names in the business is now teasing a surprise return to World Wrestling Entertainment.
Ric Flair is still the dirtiest player in the game after almost 54 years in the business. The two-time WWE Hall of Famer has had a rocky relationship with the company in recent years and was granted his release from a talent contract in August 2021. Flair previously admitted he and Triple H did have a falling out, but he is back on good terms with the promotion and its Chief Content Officer.
The Nature Boy is considering a trip to the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida for Friday's SmackDown, which is the final blue brand taping of this year. Speaking to the Busted Open Radio today, Flair expressed interest in a TV appearance and teased something for this Friday's live show. The 75-year-old resides in Tampa.
"SmackDown is [in Tampa] on Friday, so I think I might pop over and see [some of the guys]," Ric Flair said.
The Nature Boy last appeared on WWE TV in January 2023 for the RAW Is XXX special. He signed a unique multi-year contract with AEW in October of that year, mainly for Sting's retirement storyline, but he didn't appear much after that, and this past July it was revealed that the two sides had parted ways.
Now that AEW is in his rear-view, the former Four Horseman could be looking to return to main roster TV.
WWE SmackDown set for major change
World Wrestling Entertainment's first SmackDown episode of 2025 is scheduled for the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona on January 3. This will mark the blue brand's move to a three-hour format.
SmackDown premiered on April 29, 1999, and will finally go from two to three hours on the 1,324th episode. The blue brand will keep its timeslot of Friday at 8 pm ET on USA Network. The change was rumored earlier in the fall and finally confirmed by WWE last week.
RAW is expected to return to three hours with the Netflix premiere on January 6. The company's flagship show returned to a two-hour format in October after a request by the USA Network for the lead-up to their extension expiring.
Fans on social media have pointed to how it's odd that no matches or segments have been announced for Friday's SmackDown in Tampa. The WWE and arena websites do have the following superstars booked to appear: Cody Rhodes, Solo Sikoa and The Bloodline, Nia Jax, Tiffany Stratton, LA Knight, Bianca Belair, and Bayley.