Ric Flair - “Set in His Ways”
JR has posted his thoughts on Roc Flair seperating from the WWE. Here Ross believes that Flair is Branding himself in the industry . Not just in wrestling , but as a spokeman to others in the world. Here is what Ross speaks on:
Ric Flair and the WWE mutually agreed to part ways recently. From what I understand it was amicable. There is no doubt that after the many months of TV exposure that Flair received in late 2007 thru WM24 in the spring of 2008 that Ric’s amazing body of work was enhanced by the build to his Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, the retirement match at WM24 vs. HBK, and the final farewell on Monday Night Raw the night after the big event in the Citrus Bowl. No athlete in wrestling has ever had the send off that Ric Flair received upon him retiring from active competition after a 30+ year, magical career. Ric’s name identity is likely as prolific today thanks to the amazing 2008 send off as it has ever been since “Naitch’s” heyday on TBS including Ric’s days as a Horseman and battling the likes of Dusty Rhodes, Harley Race and others.
However, Ric seems to have a mindset these days and a business plan to do brand building, utilizing himself as his own brand. In order to do this Ric had to be an independent business man not tied to any company or that company’s existing business arrangements or schedule. Ric sees that there is an immediate opportunity to brand himself to not only the wrestling community in a variety of ways but perhaps also to the corporate world as a spokesman. The opportunities are apparently abundant, at least for the time being, for Ric to use his reinvigorated name identity to his advantage and accumulate, potentially, a significant amount of money by essentially using the “striking while the iron is hot” theory.
For example, what would the right Japanese promoter be able to do with Ric Flair on a well promoted “Farewell Tour” that would include not one Flair match? Big money is the answer.
So Ric will essentially become his own cottage industry. He won’t be involved in a finance company, owning a car dealership, or even getting involved in a restaurant concept (sound familiar?) but will instead use his presence and fame to press the flesh, sign his name, interact with his fan base and hopefully make the right business contacts to parlay being the “Nature Boy” on TV for 30+ years into $$$ leading into the next phase of his life. None of us are getting any younger.
Ric needs and hopefully has smart management, long term planning, attainable corporate goals, and to make sure that he is not over exposed in any given area especially in the Carolina’s. It would seem to be easy to get Ric multiple endorsement deals in the Carolina’s as a spokesperson for a variety of businesses but at some point it becomes the “crying wolf” syndrome and consumers start tuning out when a spokesperson, no matter who it may be, is over exposed. The other area that Ric needs to avoid is simply the controversey that can finds its way onto the front page of newspapers and becomes the lead story on other media outlets. Advertisers avoid negative publicity like the plague as best they can which includes their spokespersons in particular. For example, my old friend Ric needs to avoid any “road rage-type incidents” going forward :). That’s an attempt at humor but there is still truth in the statement. Controversy does not create cash when one is now functioning in the new world of Ric Flair.
Plus, and I have said this before, Ric Flair never needs to wrestle again. Period. End of story. That also means not even as a tag team partner to his son Reid who apparently has aspirations on becoming a pro wrestler. BTW I would rather see the young Reid get an education before embarking on a challenging career in the wrestling business but that’s just my story and will continue to stick with it.
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