Charlotte Flair is one of the most decorated performers in WWE history, but not all of her title reigns met her standards.
Speaking with Graham Matthews of Bleacher Report, the SmackDown Women's Champion discussed a number of topics including the backlash she receives from some fans for consistently being near the top of the division. Charlotte points out how much hard work she puts in and how hard it is to stay healthy, yet there are those who continue to complain.
"I have been on top since 2015, whether I've been holding the title or not," Flair said. "People don't realize how much pressure and hard work and dedication and I've never been about for a lengthy time. I've never had a major injury and to be able to stay on top like that is a tremendous amount of work in our industry. Instead of looking at it as a positive, like 'Wow, what a consistent performer, what a hard-worker,' it's just, 'Ugh, she's always in the title picture, she always has the title.'"
Flair has had 16 title runs during her time with WWE, though she admits that she wishes she could have done more during many of those reigns. That said, she has been able to elevate numerous other women and even cites a 2017 Raw match with Bayley as one of her all-time favorites.
"There's a lot of title runs I'm not proud of just because I didn't do anything with it, but when you look at it, it's multiple feuds with multiple women that I dropped the title to," Flair said. "One of my favorite matches of all time was a main event on Raw where I dropped the title to Bayley in 2017. With where I'm at today, it's not that they don't like the good, they just don't like the best. There's a quote I look at, that's not exactly it. But I must be doing something right to always be talked about: good, bad or indifferent."
In conclusion, Flair believes the men are sometimes spared from the same criticism she tends to receive. At the end of the day, though, it's all about being Champion, and Flair's haters only help to make her that much better.
"I don't think the same criticism always goes toward men being in the title picture. In this business, you want to be the champion. It's not like you wake up and say, 'Today, I don't want to be the champion.' No, you should always want to be the champion. That means you're the hardest worker in the room when you're holding that title. Yes, I don't understand the criticism sometimes, but at the same time, my haters make me that much better," she said.
Charlotte is set to defend the SmackDown Women's Championship at WrestleMania 38. To view the updated card for the event, click here.
Elsewhere during the interview, Flair spoke more about her current run with the belt and the pleasure she has had working with the likes of Toni Storm and Naomi. Click here to read more.
