How to take advantage of Ric Flair on television

“The Nature Boy”

It’s a topic that was juggled and tossed around like a volleyball a couple of years back. What should WWE do with Ric Flair and his presence on television?

Now that his daughter, Charlotte lays claim to the WWE Divas Title, Flair is a more integral part of WWE programming, especially on Raw as the 16-time World Champion walks that aisle to help promote the second generation of Flair greatness.

Woooo!

WWE has had a love/concern relationship with Flair over the past few years – mainly because the 66-year-old has been in and out of legal trouble, has had issues with alcoholism and has done things that would be considered arbitrary to the company’s code of conduct.

Flair, for all his glory, is still a potential liability. Having Charlotte sit atop the Diva’s Division is a great thing for the company, the Flair name and wrestling as a whole. As long as Flair continues to keep his personal demons at bay.

So if WWE is willing to use Flair in a small capacity, would the company be willing to use him in a bigger role, which has nothing to do with his daughter and her rise up the ladder of success?

I subscribe to the theory that Flair is still valuable in a mentoring role. He as the elder statesman in Legacy and was valuable as a singles competitor until he and Shawn Michaels put on one hell of a match at WrestleMania. Flair could be a manager or mentor – much like other veterans have done in the past.

WWE cannot dangle Flair out there on television, have him cry over his daughter’s success and not be willing to use him in another capacity. Hulk Hogan is no longer associated with the company. Dusty Rhodes and Roddy Piper left this earth way too soon. Bret Hart is bi**hing about anything and everything.

Shawn Michaels is living life on a ranch somewhere in Texas. Flair’s appeal is still universally huge and WWE should cash in on that now while the getting is good.

Here are a few options for Flair for 2016…

A mentor to Dolph Ziggler – This has been kicked around by myself and others over the last few years. Next to John Cena, I still see Ziggler as the best option to carry the United States Title. He also needs a new story line. The angle of him and Nikki Bella loses steam, knowing Cena is leaving for personal reasons. But Ziggler will still need some hook to keep fans interested.

Flair as a mentor would certainly do that.

Another run with The Miz – This was the angle WWE tried to push on everyone and it failed. A lot of it had to do with Flair and his personal issues. There is still a lot to like about Miz and his ability in the ring, but in this case – like many others – he peaked too soon.

The talent is there. The marketing concept is there. Flair and Miz could move the former WWE Champion back into the title picture at some point.

New Raw General Manager – Flair was a booker in WCW and has been known to be involved backstage with the business in the past. Could he fill a role like that now? This would be one of those Teddy Long-Vickie Guerrero type situations. This could be more in line with what Jack Tunney used to portray in the days of WWF.

Maybe having Flair – in all of his high esteem – lay down the law a bit to the likes of Seth Rollins or Rusev or even a rejuvenated Wade Barrett, could spark more interest amongst the fan base.

The New Challenge of Authority – I could see Flair come to the aid of Charlotte if the McMahons decide to put the Divas’ Title back around the waist of Nikki Bella. Flair could challenge The Authority, which might make a great storyline. It would kill any momentum the Paige “Pipe Bomb” angle would have, but fans would get behind Flair in his fight against former protégé Triple H.

The New Four Horsewomen – I know some of you thought about this. Could it work? How would it work? Flair the mentor of Charlotte, Becky Lynch, Bayley and a remorseful Paige. It’s a dynamite concept. It is innovative and to see it done right and for those four fingers to be raised again in excellence is exactly how WWE creative should have portrayed the “Revolution” of the divas from NXT.

Of all the ideas, this might be the one I want to see most of all.