Conrad Thompson Addresses Concerns About Ric Flair’s In-Ring Return
Podcast king Conrad Thompson has discussed Ric Flair’s upcoming final match and asks if those concerned for Flair are those hoping The Undertaker returns to the ring.
Ric Flair confirmed that the rumours were true and that he will be walking the aisle one last time at 73 years of age at the end of July. The Nature Boy will rekindle one of his classic rivalries as he looks to set to share the ring one last time with Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboat.
Some onlookers, including former WCW announcer Chris Cruise, have taken issue with Flair planning to compete again given his age and his serious health issues in recent years.
The match will take place on a card held under the Jim Crockett Promotions banner and is being promoted by Starrcast, the convention held by Flair’s son-in-law and podcast impresario, Conrad Thompson.
Speaking on the My World podcast with Jeff Jarrett, Thompson discussed how important it was to him to give Jim Crockett Promotions a fitting swansong:
“Once upon a time, the greatest wrestling weekend of my life was ECW One Night Stand because ECW went away with a whimper. I mean, there was no final show. We didn’t really get to say goodbye. At least with the last Nitro, we knew it was the last Nitro. But for Jim Crockett promotions, it just went away. In a perfect world, there would have been a One Night Stand version of that 30 years ago, but it didn’t happen.”
“I’m sad that Jim Crockett Jr. won’t be here to see it. But David Crockett and as many of the Crocketts that we can get will be there on hand to celebrate one last run, one last match, not just for the Nature Boy, but for Jim Crockett promotions. We’ve licensed the music. It’s going to look and feel just like it did way back when in the mid-80s.”
Thompson then addressed some of the controversy surrounding Ric Flair returning to the ring and wonders if the same people showing concern are among those that want The Undertaker to return or watch a 72-year-old Jerry Lawler still compete:
“The Nature Boy is going to walk that aisle one last time. I know there’s been some pushback and people who were all of a sudden are very concerned about Ric Flair’s well-being. I wonder if those are the same folks who are clamoring for Undertaker to have one more match, or what they felt about Vince McMahon wrestling at WrestleMania, or Jerry Lawler wrestling every other weekend.”