In response to Ric Flair's comments regarding Bret Hart.

Ric Flair is one of the most accomplished and recognizable names in professional wrestling.  Whether  you regard him as the greatest of all time or not, is up for debate.  The fact that he deserves mention on anyone’s top 5 lists however is not.   When considering and weighing out who the top performers in the world of pro wrestling are, any list not including “The Nature Boy” is illegitimate.  Anyone that knows anything at all about professional wrestling knows that Ric Flair is one of the all time best. 

For the most part, I concur with what Flair has said in regards to statements he has made on the business.   There is one statement though, that he has stood steadily by over the years that I have never agreed with him on.   He claims that in the discussion of the greatest of all time, Bret “Hitman” Hart does not belong on the list.

Flair justifies his remarks by claiming that, “Bret never drew any money”.  He unfairly compares Hart to Hulk Hogan and dismisses himself in the same manner of comparison.  Fact of the matter is no one, and I mean no one was going to fill Hogan’s shoes.   Expecting Bret to come in and replace the most popular professional wrestler of all time on an equal level was asinine.   Unrealistic expectations are no more achievable in professional wrestling than they are anywhere else.    Secondly Flair needs to step back and take a deep inwardly look at himself, before making such comments about Bret.   Yes, Flair was a huge draw in the NWA/WCW.  Matter of fact such a huge draw that his face alone could be considered a full representation of the company.   I’ll argue that Sting has as much right to that position as does he, but no one else even remotely comes close.  NWA/WCW wise Flair is as every bit as good as he and others claim him to be.

WWE wise however,  he is no better than Bret.  Matter of fact, WWE wise,  I’ll state that he wasn’t even as good as Bret.   In his first 1991-1993 stint with the WWE, he was the first World’s champion to not headline a Wrestlemania in 8 years.   The WWE didn’t trust him to be the main draw, even when he carried the title.   The put Hogan in a match with Sid as the main event instead.    Even with Hogan in the following wrestlemania,  they had enough assurance in Bret to main event him ahead of Hogan.   Hart was the first wrestler to  main event a Wrestlemania  besides Hogan, and the only wrestler ever to main event a wrestlemania with Hogan in it.   I’ll also note that even with Hogan as WWE champion, Hart main evented the King of the Ring PPV ahead of him.    Flair never received top billing.   He wants to make snide remarks that Wrestlemania X, with Hart as champion was one of the most unsuccessful wrestlemanias of all time, placing the blame directly on Bret.   The truth of the situation is,  wrestlemania X’s unfavorable outcome was due directly to the absence of Hogan.   Without Hogan in the picture a Wrestlemania X with Flair as champion wouldn’t have fared any better than did Bret’s.

Bret IS one of the greatest of all time and for Flair to claim that he has no business being on the list is asinine.  In comparison WCW/NWA wise,  Flair without a doubt wins out easily hands down.  In a comparison to the overall spectrum of professional wrestling, they are on level playing ground.  WWE wise,  “The Hitman” is every bit as good as “The Nature Boy” if not considerably better.