Ric Flair is set to return to the ring on July 31 as part of Starrcast V during WWE SummerSlam weekend in Nashville.
While an opponent for Flair has yet to be announced, Flair is 73-year-old it will be his first match since 2011. He has also undergo many health issues over the years, including kidney failure and dialysis treatment in 2017.
Speaking on his To Be The Man podcast, Flair addressed concerns and criticisms of his return.
"For the 30% of people that are worried about me getting in the ring and wrestling again, first of all, I assure you that I've been in the ring a lot more than I've shown on social media. I have to get quicker, I have to get faster. I'm in better shape now than I was, better shape now because I train with Rob, John Cena's personal trainer, than I have ever been in my life, in terms of cardio. I've never been a cosmetic wonderboy, I am going to wear a shirt. I can assure you that, in two and a half months, I will put on a clinic of what real wrestling and what wrestling should be about. I'm never going to be able to do a moonsault, God bless those that can, I've never been able to do a lot of stuff, but work, punch, kick, fundamentally, what makes the difference between being good and being great, a lot of people are going to say, 'Holy shit.' Those that were doubters, are going to say, 'Holy shit.' Shame on you if you think I would put myself in a position to fail," said Flair.
Flair has posted multiple videos online of him training with Jay Lethal.
He continued by discussing the financial aspect of things, saying he is not doing this match for the money.
"For the other people who don't follow social media, they don't see how much money I make from cameo. That alone, I can live on for the rest of my life. I just did a commercial for an image rejuvenation clinic, another commercial for Car Shield. My life is good. I don't need the money, but I do like the glory. I'm never going to walk away from it if I have a chance to get myself over, I'm going to do it. It's what I've been doing my whole life. Do you know how many times I've been written off and shit on by promoters since Jim Crockett Promotions closed down? If I can crash an airplane where the pilot was killed and two guys are paralyzed and get back on another plane and fly six months later, you can do anything. I almost died four years ago, I have a pacemaker, I almost died of a blood clot. Four heart operations in seven weeks. I'm good to go. I'm going to decide how I want to go. This is not for the money. I'm happening to make a lot of money because everything Conrad touches makes money. This is about me doing what I've done my whole life. I watch wrestling every day because I love it and respect the guys in it," he said.
Flair wrapped up by saying that he talked to his doctor about wrestling again and his doctor said he would be okay.
"I called one heart doctor that I have the most confidence in, the guy I like the most, and I said, 'I want to do this.' The only thing I was worried about was getting enough blood with my pacemaker. He said, 'Ric, there is enough scar tissue around that thing now, I believe it'll hold. If you want to do it, do it.' The other concern, which I haven't had in a long time, is when I get dizzy, because of the inner ear problem, but I haven't had that since I wrestled Edge in the ladder match. I have more self-confidence than I did when I wrestled Shawn (Michaels)," said Flair.
Ricky Steamboat was a potential about for Flair in his last match, but Steamboat revealed that he declined the offer. You can read Steamboat's full comments by clicking here.
Fightful will continue to update fans on Flair's last match as more is known.
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