Two-time WWE Hall Of Famer Ric Flair was recently a guest on the “WINCLY” podcast to talk about several professional wrestling topics. Flair discussed his thoughts on Vince McMahon becoming less involved in the WWE creative process, current stars that he believes has the potential to be “the guy,” and his thoughts on Baron Corbin.
Here are the highlights:
Vince McMahon becoming less involved in the WWE creative process: “I think Vince leaves a lot of the creative up to other people now. That’s my understanding,” Flair said. “And where, at one time, you could say he was in total control of creative, I don’t think that’s the case anymore. And I see that they’re moving people in, and out, and around now; I think they’re trying to figure out exactly what’s going on.
“This is one of those times in the business where they are looking for ‘The Guy’… ‘The Guy’ being Hulk Hogan – I’m going WWE – ‘The Guy’ being Roddy Piper, ‘The Guy’ being Shawn Michaels, ‘The Guy’ being Hunter [Triple H], ‘The Guy’ being Undertaker, ‘The Guy’ being The Rock, ‘The Guy’ being Stone Cold.”
Current stars he believes could be “the guy”: “They’ve got some phenomenal talent [in WWE right now]. I’m not saying they’re not carrying the torch, I’m saying that they haven’t, in my opinion, decided who they want to carry it,” Flair explained. “You’ve got Roman [Reigns], you’ve got Seth [Rollins], you’ve got AJ Styles, all three tremendous. Randy Orton: there isn’t a better worker in the business, when he wants to work, than Randy Orton.
“But Randy has been there. When he does those interviews where he says he’s been here for fifteen years and done it all, that’s the truth! That’s how fast time has gone by. Randy Orton, if you take his size into consideration, his looks, it’s hard to say Randy is not ‘The Man’.
Baron Corbin: “You know who my hat is off to as a talent, that has really survived everything, and comes out every week and does a really good job? Baron Corbin,” Flair stated. “Baron has figured out a way that, alone, could make you a lot of money for a long time, taking on everything. From being the GM, to being the whipping boy, to doing this and doing that, because he can talk and he can work. And he doesn’t mind [having to do these things].”