When questioned about my preparation routine or how I get ready, I find that lacing my boots helps me enter my focused state.
The immense pressure associated with being Ric Flair’s daughter is truly…
Unfathomable.
My brother bore the ultimate cost.
His passing prompted me to pursue wrestling; I had hoped to wrestle alongside him and guide him, so in essence, he ultimately saved me.
My passion for professional wrestling, when exactly did it ignite?
Having a wrestler for a father meant I was raised immersed in professional wrestling.
While both my brothers aspired to be wrestlers, my own affection for professional wrestling only developed after my initial year in developmental training in 2013.
Remarkably, I began my career with virtually no prior knowledge of wrestling.
I adored my father.
I admired his profession.
I cherished attending his matches, where he’d proudly display his family, with us seated front row, enthusiastically cheering him on.
Upon hearing his entrance music, I’d experience a surge of emotion, thinking, ‘That’s my dad,’ and feeling immense pride, yet I didn’t truly consider wrestling a central part of my own life.
My life revolved around various sports, from gymnastics to basketball, volleyball, and cheerleading.
It wasn’t intentional on his part, but he was constantly traveling for work while we remained at home.
Consequently, I only became more involved with the wrestling world later in high school.
He said something like, ‘Hey, you’re graduating.’
He offered, ‘I’m going to take you to Europe on tour,’ which is when I first experienced life on the road. However, wrestling largely remained a background element that didn’t profoundly influence or shape me.
I understood that my father and his profession were complex, and our family life reflected that complexity.
Ironically, I never aspired to be a ‘Flair’ or even fully grasp what that identity entailed.
I didn’t fully comprehend it.
My younger brother Reed, to whom I dedicate my career, genuinely wished to embody the ‘Flair’ name.
When I began wrestling, I still didn’t understand the significance of ‘being a Flair’.
I was completely unaware of my father’s monumental impact on the wrestling industry.
Now, as I forge my unique path and establish my own legacy…
I believe I am actively redefining the very essence of what it means to be a ‘Flair’.
Indeed, I am often associated with championship gold.
Certainly, I am a fourteen-time women’s champion, but I also stand as a strong, independent, and dominant female presence in a male-dominated field. Moving forward, for young fans unfamiliar with my father, the interpretation of ‘being a Flair’ will carry an entirely new significance.
I believe that between 2015 and 2024, my identity was solely ‘Charlotte’ without a clear personal boundary. In my private life, this intense pursuit of perfection as ‘Charlotte’ was detrimental—not truly damaging, but it caused personal struggles, leaving me unsure of where my true self began.
What are my own personal preferences?
I sensed this deeply because…
My profession and career hold immense importance to me. Integrating more aspects of my personal life—including my preferences, both positive and negative experiences, and challenges—into my character is helping her evolve and thrive after a decade of being solely identified with championships. True championship status, however, encompasses far more than simply being the best.
Indeed, I aimed to craft an invincible female persona, a character I could embody. In reality, I lack the inherent confidence that Charlotte projects.
Thus, when I stepped into the role of Charlotte, I gained that protective ‘armor’.
Being, well, you see.
Not having everything perfectly together, showing vulnerability, or not consistently winning – these were aspects I concealed while experiencing them. Yet, overcoming these challenges made me stronger, and incorporating them into Charlotte’s character (when I previously believed she always had to be flawless) has actually…
The specific losses, whether at WrestleMania or in my personal life, have ultimately refined and improved Charlotte’s character.
I’m unsure if I’m articulating this precisely, but I believe I spent years trying to save my brother, and ultimately, his passing led me to wrestling with the intention of joining him and guiding him, effectively saving me. In truth, my brother made the supreme sacrifice.
Furthermore, the burden of carrying the Ric Flair name is like…
Inconceivable. And so, for me, throughout the years 2015 to 2024…
My struggle stemmed from striving for perfection in the public eye while simultaneously contending with numerous personal battles.
Of course, everyone faces challenges, and I’m no exception; my experiences weren’t inherently better or worse, but simply a reminder that I am human.
I’ve endured loss and personal experiences that caused me to feel inferior or ashamed. However, I believe the sacrifice I made was constantly trying to appear perfect, which ultimately led me to lose sight of my true self.
Yet, when people dismissively referred to ‘Charlotte Flair’ as ‘just a champion,’ in my mind, I was thinking, ‘Yes, I am a fourteen-time women’s champion!’
I redefined an entire generation; are you suggesting that isn’t sufficient?
Despite the fact that my every waking moment was dedicated to being the absolute best, it still wasn’t perceived as enough.
Now, at this point in my career, with an unparalleled resume, I recognize that people struggled to connect with me because I was withholding so much of myself.
This included, for instance, revealing details about my divorce, admitting embarrassment, dealing with comparisons to my father, or feeling insecure about my appearance or age—a challenge women often face as men are perceived to improve with time while women are simply seen as aging.
She’s aware of my dislike for the elbow.
Hold on.
This is Coach Ty speaking.
Goodbye everyone.
Alright, so, what’s happening?
Coach T.
I, uh, began my training with Ty.
Were you a member of the inaugural class here?
You know, I happen to be the sole person who still refers to him as Ty.
Yes, you are practically the only individual who still addresses me as Ty.
However, since I knew you as Ty from the start, that’s the only name I associate with you.
You are an exception; you can get away with it.
No one else is afforded that privilege.
The years have truly flown by.
When I was younger, my perception of turning 40 was synonymous with the ‘Golden Girls’.
That’s precisely what came to mind.
Yet now, not only did I seize the opportunity in 2015 to contribute to the women’s evolution, fundamentally changing the perception of a female superstar through longer matches and moving beyond mere ‘eye candy’ status.
Now I find myself with another chance to help bridge the divide and redefine the parameters of success for enduring female careers within professional wrestling.
My hope is to successfully close that gap.
In a male-dominated industry where the previous unspoken rule was that everyone had to be 25, and women were considered expendable.
No, we are not.
Please continue.
Bone, spear, back handspring, spear – and she’s executing these moves?
Do you understand my point?
Yes, I respectfully disagree with your statement.
You believe she should take a big… You are who you are; you are Charlotte Flair.
In developing my character, Charlotte, I’ve grown to truly love the process, leading me to believe I’m currently performing at my absolute peak.
It’s as if I’m only now hitting my stride, truly grasping the audience’s dynamics, and comprehending the genuine psychology of being fully present without succumbing to nerves.
While I am often referred to as ‘the measuring stick,’ I believe it’s precisely because I don’t take that title for granted that I approach each workday with the mindset that I must continuously earn my position.
There is always another competitor who is hungrier, younger, and faster.
The industry constantly evolves, so instead of resting on past accomplishments, my focus is always on ‘What will I do next?’
I consider that approach to be incredibly important.
What accomplishment would bring me the greatest pride?
Oh.
To continue my father’s distinguished legacy.
And to fulfill a long-held dream of my brother’s.