Marvez: Ric Flair wants to pull a Favre

Ric Flair seems set to become pro wrestling's version of Brett Favre.
Flair admits he is ready to come out of retirement 14 months after what was supposed to be the final match of his 36-year career. In fact, Flair told me Tuesday that he had just sent a text message to World Wrestling Entertainment executive John Laurinaitis offering his services to substitute for any of the promotion's injured stars.
"I want to wrestle again," Flair said in a telephone interview. "I watch (WWE) and I can still do better than 90 percent of the guys there. I weigh one less pound than the day I retired. I still work out really hard and I wrestle my kid (Reid) all the time. It's not like I haven't been in the ring."
Considered the greatest performer in grappling history, Flair worked his last bout in March 2008 against Shawn Michaels at "Wrestlemania 24." A touching retirement ceremony followed the next day on "Monday Night Raw" (9 p.m. EDT, USA Network).
Flair, 60, has so much appreciation for the sendoff that he has turned down numerous opportunities from other promoters to return. Flair instead became involved with lucrative personal appearances and autograph signings on the independent circuit after quitting an ambassador's role representing WWE at various functions.
Flair also has parlayed his grappling fame into non-wrestling ventures. He is the honorary race director for Saturday's NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race in Charlotte, N.C. Flair is representing Coca-Cola in public and private appearances at Wal-Marts throughout the Southeastern United States. He says the announcement of another major commercial endorsement is only weeks away.
But just like when Favre emerged from retirement last year to play for the New York Jets (and may again this season for Minnesota), Flair is itching for an in-ring comeback. Flair said he "got the fever back real fast" after making WWE appearances in March to build Chris Jericho's match against fellow legends Ricky Steamboat, Jimmy Snuka and Roddy Piper at "Wrestlemania 25."
"People in Europe are offering me a fortune," said Flair, who owes $22,000 a month in alimony to two ex-wives, according to an ESPN report. "I'm tired of signing autographs. I can make more money wrestling."
Whether WWE would have interest is unknown. Flair said he sent WWE owner Vince McMahon a text message last month asking why he wasn't part of the promotion's annual "draft" that reshapes the "Raw," "Smackdown" and "Extreme Championship Wrestling" talent rosters. McMahon's response? "He said I'm retired," Flair said.
For now, Flair has a new wrestling home. He recently began working in a commissioner-type role for Ring of Honor, which is considered the nation's No. 3 promotion behind WWE and TNA Wrestling. ROH is hoping Flair's presence can help increase the group's mainstream audience and bolster viewership for its Saturday-night telecasts (8 and 11 p.m.) on the fledgling HDNET channel.
"The people running Ring of Honor are really nice guys and have a lot of integrity, which mean a lot in terms of wrestling promotions," Flair said. "They're not trying to put (WWE) out of business. They just want to have their own business. There's nothing negative unlike in TNA where all they talk about is trying to beat Vince."
Flair said his main impetus for joining ROH was trying to help his 21-year-old son Reid establish himself in the business. But those plans -- as well as a Ric Flair reality show that was being filmed -- are on hold after Reid was recently arrested for heroin possession.
"It all depends on how he gets himself put back together," said Flair, who has managed Reid and his other son, David, on small shows in North Carolina. "The biggest thing about that is that it's a disease. It's not so hard for me to say that after being at an outpatient clinic with him where they talk about a chromosome deficiency causing stuff like that. It's curable, but he's going to have to work real hard at it. He's doing that."
After at least 16 world-title reigns (the exact number is subject to debate) and thousands of matches worldwide, Flair allows that there's nothing in wrestling left for him to accomplish. So why continue?
"I love the business," Flair said. "I was thinking the other day about the reason why God gave me this health. I don't hurt anywhere. I haven't lost any strength. I'm just like I was 10 years ago. I keep thinking, 'Why am I signing autographs when I can still take backdrops?'
"But I respect Shawn and (WWE) so much that I wouldn't do anything to disrespect them. They would have to give me full approval (to wrestle again). They put me in a special place. I think it's going to be a long time before we see something come across again like what they did for me (with the retirement ceremony). I didn't think it would be that big a deal. We'll see how this turns out."
For more information on Flair's future ROH appearances, visit www.rohwrestling.com.

(Alex Marvez writes a syndicated pro-wrestling column for Scripps Howard News Service. E-mail him at alex1marv(at)aol.com.)