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Professor Wrestling: Flair Deserves More Respect

Let The 'Nature Boy' Win!

Thursday, June 30, 2005 – updated: 5:25 am PDT July 1, 2005

Listen up! Class is in session, and it's a quick, two-part lecture.

First up, an announcement from Total Nonstop Wrestling. TNA is now streaming its weekly "Impact" show live on its Web site for free. Free? Yep, no charge to you -- absoloutely free. Just go to www.tnawrestling.com to get there.

Now why would TNA do a thing like that? Economics, class, economics. TNA lost its TV deal with Fox Sports Net a few weeks back, and is currently without a cable partner. While the promotion tries to come up with another outlet (WGN? Spike? Your guess is as good as mine), TNA is turning to the Internet to forward storylines so you'll buy their monthly pay-per-views.

"This is for our fans because of the current situation," said TNA spokesman Brad Bernstein, who adds that all online broadcasts will be archived for fans to watch at their convenience.

It's not a great situation to be in, but at least TNA found a creative way to keep the TV boat afloat. I have a hard time thinking a network wouldn't want to take a chance with TNA, a solid outfit that isn't afraid to innovate.

Which brings me to the second part of my lecture, and the subject of Ric Flair.

Crown The King One More Time
Rick, you're the greatest of all time. So why are you doing jobs (losing to elevate an opponent) every time you step into the ring? I hear you're relatively happy in WWE, but you can't go out there and lose EVERY match! You have a legacy to uphold.

For example, this past Monday night, Flair took on Kurt Angle in a solid match, but tapped out in the end to the ankle lock. The match was set up as a "Who's The Man?" match, with Angle reportedly honored to step into the ring with Flair.

That's all fine and dandy, but why couldn't WWE writers let Flair win? What difference does it make at this point if Angle wins a lousy match on "Raw"? Why not have Angle lose, and have Shawn Michaels come out and laugh in his face, further elevating the heat between those two before their eventual "SummerSlam" encounter?

Funny, but an over-the-hill Hulk Hogan was on the same show, teaming with Michaels. Hogan got the pin for his team (Michaels and John Cena against Christian, Jericho and Tyson Tomko) to end the show. That match was short and silly, with no real point. But WWE went out of its way to showcase a winning Hogan. Why not give Flair -- who is better than Hogan in every facet of Sports Entertainment -- the same respect?

A few years ago, WWE even put a championship belt on Hogan. The same should be done for Flair. It would be really nice if Vince McMahon could give The Nature Boy a farewell run with some gold -- even if it's only for a month. After that, Flair can move into a managerial role -- and perhaps build another heel stable (Four Horsemen 2005 anyone?). In other words, he go out in style -- and profile.

To take it one step further, if I were running TNA, I would do whatever it takes to steal Flair away from WWE -- and give him a short title run with the NWA Championship (which TNA recognizes). With that, Flair's career would come full circle.

I know that I sound like a bleeding heart for Flair, but why not? He's the greatest performer wrestling has ever seen, and he deserves better than this. Vince, I know you read this column. So get it done. Wooooooo!

Comments, questions, complaints? If so, send me an e-mail right here. If you have any great Ric Flair memories (preferably seeing him at a live show), write me a few paragraphs, and I'll likely include them in an upcoming column.

That's it, class dismissed!

Woooooo!

(Professor Wrestling is a masked employee of Internet Broadcasting. He once again urges you to rush out and buy Ric Flair's autobiography, "To Be The Man," on sale everywhere.)

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