Update On Flair Parting Ways with WWE

(courtesy of www.wrestleview.com)

Lots of discussion making the rounds today since the announcement of Ric Flair and World Wrestling Entertainment officially parting ways on Sunday.

Flair's agent issued the following statement today regarding the WWE split: "WWE and I parted on the best of terms. This gives me the chance to pursue new opportunities, corporate speaking engagements, product sponsorships, autograph shows for my loyal fans (who made me what I am today) and film and television roles. My agent and I are very excited about what the future holds."

Flair is currently taking bookings at bookric@thegillespieagency.com. The e-mail address is being protected from spam bots and only serious inquiries should apply. Flair has been getting tons of offers right now.

Reports by The Wrestling Observer/Figure Four Online and ProWrestling.net are indicating that while Flair did leave WWE on good terms, his decision to do so left a number of people within WWE and the wrestling industry confused. The hope among many is that Flair made the right decision for himself long-term, although there is concern he is making another bad financial decision by leaving the security of WWE for a run outside the company. This doesn't mean he has any plans to return to the ring for TNA or anyone else as pretty much no believes he has any intentions of doing that.

The general feeling is that his WWE departure was a culmination of a lot of things including not wanting to work as many dates as an ambassador for WWE, something that has been described as a grinding schedule for a wrestler that is no longer active in the ring. Flair was also said to be upset with the way WWE promoted his new DVD and felt it could have been promoted better on television if he had been involved. Reports right now are indicating Flair had no interest in working for WWE as a producer or as a commentator. Flair has reportedly told friends that he is excited about some potential projects that he is involved in and has dropped the names of some major corporations who want to do business with him, something WWE was limiting him from doing and he feels he could make more money outside of WWE if he had continued working for them.