If Charlotte Flair has retired tomorrow, she would have a legitimate claim to be the greatest wrestler of all time. At the very least, she is there in conversation among a small handful.
When the world champion 14 times torn her ACL, MCL and the meniscus in a match with Asuka in December 2023, there was a chance that she had to think about her mortality of struggle.
Flair, who will be 39 years old in early April, suffered a 2024 nightmare in his own words. Not only was she out of service for the whole calendar year, but she also suffered a divorce with her compatriot Superstar from WWE Andrade.
But now, the queen is proud to be back better than ever and has an imminent Wrestlemania confrontation with perhaps the brightest star of the female division, the female champion of Smackdown, Tiffany Stratton.
Mail Sport met Flair during the WWE tour through Europe for the first time during the Wrestlemania road and it is clear that it is determined to remind people how good it is.
Charlotte Flair is already a legendary artist, but the 38 -year -old has much more to give
Flair with his father Ric Flair, commonly revered as one of the great of all time in the professional struggle
Alex McCarthy: “Being out for so long and at this stage of your career when you have done so much, how difficult it was to be on the sidelines?” Or, maybe you may have liked to take a break?
Charlotte Flair: “Oh, 2024 kicked me, as if he had kicked it again and again. But the time of absence gave me a perspective, it gave me clarity. And that made me realize that I would choose this over and over again and gave me more hunger.
When I came back and when I was in Gorilla before entering the Royal Rumble, I really had this personal feeling that me, you know, this expectation or this thought that people thought I was going to come back older and less than.
Yes, I would be one year more but less than understandable, so because I had what could have been an end -of -career injury, but I took all these very personal things and if someone knows who I am and what I represent or my character who was never going to happen. So, I was just more excited to be like, “Y’t Charlotte Flair is back.”
McCarthy: “I mean it was also an additional tear at the time because it was as if you were in a real groove just before leaving. A late Babyface race that you clearly appreciate ‘
Flair: “I know, right? Can you believe it!? ‘(laughs).
McCarthy: “The reaction you obtained after winning the Royal Rumble, do you expect that fans?”
“I think there is a false idea that people are like” Oh, Charlotte Flair is good “or that I was trying to be good. I continue and not that she tries to be good or that she tries to be bad – no. Charlotte Flair is above being good and bad. She is only Charlotte Flair. It is the end of women’s struggle.
“I am the end of women’s struggle. Now that I learned from each opportunity I learned from each opponent. I learned from each scenario for me whether you run or hient. Go on board, learn to love it.
“I am who I am. It is different from the city in town, event at the event. As if I fought in Nottingham against Piper and they were Woos. She had the hoots. But the night before, I got the hoots. I love being able to take people to these roller coaster. Anyway, yes, if we don’t hear anything, we worry!
Flair seeks to become 15 times world champion at straton fees
McCarthy: “ I think that, this dynamic with you and and Tiffany Stratton is rather cool because I know to speak to Tiffany before, you are like her idol fundamentally and that she looked at you so much. THat segment, you had the other week you were talking both. I compare it a little when Cena and Roman had a fairly similar exchange.
“I don’t know if you remember what I’m talking about here, but many people have felt that Cena taught Roman a lesson on the microphone that day. Did you try to do here? To say “Is that what it is during the Wrestlemania season?”
Flair: “It’s great that you have said, teach him a lesson – I did not consider it a lesson. I looked at him as I am Charlotte Flair. Do you want me to be less than? That’s what you wanted, right? Who you want to be, it’s your idol.
‘ALL RIGHT. So 2019, Trish Stratus wanted to come back and I kept thinking about me, Trish Stratus wants to come back and fight me. Oh, I must be as good as she thinks, as I can’t be less than. “Charlotte Flair is so good that I have to come back.”
Flair and Stratus were a dream match that finally occurred in 2019
“How many years have she left for?” Yes, now she does, you know, many more regular appearances, but that’s all that crosses my head.
“This is a similar situation. I’m going to be as good as everyone thinks, and now I feel like it is even better because 2024 gave me a kick and it gave me the clarity and it liked the spark like no, my career is on my time and I come for everything. I did my homework.
“Wrestlemania is the easy part for me. Wrestlemania is my field.
McCarthy: “Undeniably! It is also a good to rotate too, because I think there are parallels when you worked with Rhea. When you beat her for the first time, some fans groans that Rhea did not get victory, but all these years later, she is a huge star.
“You know it’s crazy. Rhea and I have a great job. This fantastic Wrestlemania match. No audiences, but imagine if this first Wrestlemania match had been in front of a crowd. Then, when we were in front of a crowd at Money in the Bank.
“Just after Covid, this match was great and then the triple Threat Summerslam with Nikki (Cross). There is so incredible – and it’s a strong word – but we had great games. Yeah, it’s similar.
McCarthy: “It’s nice to see that you played a central role for her, right?”
Flair: “This is what I’m talking about – undeniably. Absolutely. And Wrestlemania 39! All, because I cannot say a favorite, but they all gone a different side of me and challenged me in a different way and had pivotal moments in each.
Ripley and Flair had two games in Wrestlemania with the two acclaimed by the criticism
McCarthy: “Wrestlemania in general was a must for you”
If you look at my CV: 32 was the first raw women’s champion, you know, the three of us have had an opportunity to steal the show. We stole the show, but I was the first champion and withdrew the Divas championship.
Then you had 33 in Orlando, Bayley won, but 34 with Asuka and all that Asuka represents and represents. And it was the first single of a Wrestlemania match from Mickey and Trish.
And what we have done in magic, like iron sharpens iron, you know, two pivotal moments. Natty (Natalya) put me on the NXT card, but Asuka cemented my heritage in Wrestlemania or helped cement my heritage. Then you have 35, the very first main female event.
Then you have 36 and the covid and we were the first women to fight for the NXT championship on the biggest scene. Again, it was history.
Then you have Ronda, who I have so much respect for her. Then beat her knowing what she did for the wrestling for women then the story at 35, then as if there is so much, they all make sense.
McCarthy: “You mention Ronda, have you been surprised at His comments When she left the business?
“I never want (talk for someone else). Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and everyone has their own experience, so you can never put words in someone’s mouth.
“ What I can say is that my match with Rhonda at the Survivor series and what I saw from Ronda and its level of tenacity, its ability to adapt, its ability to take the business because remember its match with Kurt Angle and Stephanie and Triple H was one of the best beginnings of all time.
Flair was one of Rousey’s greatest enemies during his WWE stay and they made history
“So, I only speak what I know about her on a professional level and the mutual respect she has for me. For me, it’s all about respect. This industry is built on respect.
“I’m talking about the things I know and think of her.
McCarthy: “The last one, you said the word evolution … Do you want an evolution 2?”
“One of my favorite matches is the first development. Becky Lynch, last woman standing. One of my first favorite games.
There are always rumors that this happens, so until it happens, I cannot yet say because we do not know. You are all those with the scoop!
McCarthy: “I think, it feels late. Maybe it’s just me!
Flair: “No, I mean, I think it would be great if we have it. But I always think that the goal is to have more main events and more stories and so on. The magic that I created on the first, if it materializes, I can’t wait to create more magic on evolution 2. “
Wrestlemania 41 broadcast live In the United Kingdom on Saturday April 19 and Sunday April 20 and you can also catch RAW on Netflix with the appearance in the United Kingdom of John Cena at 8 p.m. this evening this evening