Ric Flair says he loves Vince McMahon, and he's glad the WWE Chairman is back.
McMahon retired on July 22 amid allegations of sexual misconduct and hush money, which were being investigated by the WWE Board of Directors. On January 5, McMahon announced that he took actions to return to WWE so he could participate in negotiations for media rights deals. WWE confirmed his return to the Board of Directors the next day. On January 10, Stephanie McMahon resigned from WWE, and the company announced that Vince McMahon was voted the Executive Chairman of the Board.
Speaking on his To Be The Man podcast, which was recorded before reports about WWE's sale started to heat up on January 10, Flair was asked to share his thoughts on McMahon's return. Flair made it clear that he personally loves McMahon, and he's glad he's back. He referenced his history with the McMahon family. The legend also stated that he doesn't blame McMahon for wanting to return, and he described how the crowd would go wild if Vince appeared at the Raw 30th Anniversary Show on January 23.
"Well first of all, it’s not about who I like in that place. I personally love Vince McMahon. So I’m glad that he’s back. I worked for his dad in 1976, I’ve been with the McMahon family for a long time off and on. He gave me life when I didn’t have life. He and Hunter brought me back, we’ve discussed that 100 times. I’ve got all the time in the world for him. I honestly believe that he lives and breathes the business, and he just said to himself, ‘I own all this stuff. It’s mine, I built it, I want back in.’ I don’t blame him. 30 years of being on TV on Raw. Think about that. It’s unbelievable. I hope he walks out that door in Philadelphia, stands there and struts down that aisle and says, ‘I’m back.’ The place would go crazy [laughs]. I guarantee you, that will be a rating [laughs]. I know I wouldn’t miss it," Flair said.
Co-host Conrad Thompson admitted that he hadn't necessarily considered the idea of McMahon appearing on-screen at the Raw 30th Anniversary Show, and Flair shared his belief that Vince should be there because he's the owner. He then stated that seeing McMahon there would be "tremendous", and he argued that the Executive Chairman deserved to get recognized for his 30 years of work on the show.
"Why not? He owns the company. I think it’d be tremendous. I mean if you had Steve Austin and Hulk Hogan and Vince McMahon, I don’t even know what they’re doing with me, but I’m insignificant compared to those guys. If they’re there for the show, unless The Rock is coming, man, what a show. But I think, 30 years, I believe whole-heartedly that Vince should be there and should get the recognition for the 30 years that he’s been busting his ass [and] producing that show," Flair said.
When asked whether he thinks McMahon will get involved in the creative side, Flair noted that he didn't know. He stated that Triple H has been during a "a hell of a job" since he took over as the head of creative. Flair then stated that it seems like McMahon could do anything he wants, given the way he shook up the WWE Board of Directors.
"All I know is that he sounds [like] he can do anything he wants to do if he can do if he can fire two people off the board of directors and replace with my pals, George and Michelle. I love Michelle Wilson [laughs]," Flair said.
Flair then shared his thoughts on the major changes to the WWE board. He focused on the return of Michelle Wilson and George Barrios, former co-presidents who had left the company in January 2020. He emphasized that he had a lot of respect for Wilson and shared his belief that she's a "huge addition" to the board.
“Michelle and George know the business. I don’t even know who they appointed in their place, but they’ve been with the company for 20 years. Michelle, I can tell you, in my opinion, is as good a person, lives and dies for the company, and she’s intelligent, and she’s a beautiful, nice woman, who legitimately cares about people [and] goes out of her way to be nice. I know she’s a huge addition. George, I don’t know that well. But I got so much respect for Michelle Wilson. She can’t do anything but help. She’s great," he said.
According to an SEC filing, Jeffrey R. Speed, Alan M. Wexler, and JoEllen Lyons Dillon were removed from the WWE Board of Directors. Additionally, Ignace Lahoud and Man Jit Singh resigned. Singh was the lead investigator of the internal investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct and hush money. When Thompson pointed this out, Flair emphasized that the people who were "fired" from the board didn't know anything about wrestling, whereas Wilson and Barrios will express their opinions.
"Do you even know the guys who got fired? [ Conrad notes one of them was the one who helped less investigation against Vince] But what did he know about wrestling? That’s my answer. What do the two people that got fired know about wrestling? This goes on in business everywhere. I don’t know how in the hell people know nothing about wrestling and get on a board of directors, to be in an appointed position and say yes or say no. Michelle and George, they’ll express their opinion. I know it. I’ve heard it. That’s one of the reasons they probably were gone for a while [laughs], said something that someone didn’t want to hear," Flair said.
Vince McMahon has not been announced for the Raw 30th Anniversary Show as of this writing.
Conrad Thompson recently revealed that he heard Nick Khan's deal would pay him a hefty amount if he helps with a WWE sale. Check out his comments here.
AEW President Tony Khan has said he is watching Vince McMahon's return very closely. Click here to see what he had to say.
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