WWE Confirms Ric Flair’s Release

August 3, 2021

WWE confirms Ric Flair has been let out of his contract.

On Tuesday morning, WWE posted the following statement confirming Flair has been released from his contract.

We have come to terms on the release of Ric Flair as of today, 8/03/2021.

On Monday, both Wrestling Inc and Fightful and reported Ric Flair asked for his release and had it granted by the company. Fightful Select later reported Flair had grown frustrated with certain booking decisions and reached out to Vince McMahon directly to voice his concerns and ask for his release.

Flair signed a new contract with WWE last year, and appeared in a storyline relationship with Lacey Evans during her feud with Charlotte Flair. Several months after the angle ended due to Evans’ real-life pregnancy, Flair shared his frustrations with being involved in the storyline and said that he didn’t care for the angle but explained why he ultimately went through with it.

“In this instance, I didn’t [feel comfortable.] The one thing I’ve learned [is] you’re not gonna win a war when someone’s got their mind made up. And [Charlotte] most definitely didn’t like it. But the one thing I can say about me is I always said yes. Because…I didn’t want to be that guy that was always going oh god, that isn’t perfect for me. I mean, I don’t know how much you’ve followed my career, but I have been buried in the desert by [Vince] Russo. I’ve had my head shaved. I mean if you look at the other top guys in our industry, whether it’s Shawn [Michaels] or Hunter or Undertaker or Bret Hart,” Flair said, “nobody’s gone through all this.”

“I mean I’ve done everything. I’ve weathered every storm and I’ve come back, but when that was all over, I was mad. But now I don’t feel [angry.] I just look back and say I weathered it. And this was something where I got to TV,” Flair explained, “and Mr. McMahon wasn’t there to argue the point with. And he had stuff going on, and I don’t like to put the pressure on someone if I can’t talk to him.”