Ric Flair Reveals His Mount Rushmore of Trash Talkers, Overlooks Dwayne Johnson & Stone Cold Steve Austin

Ric Flair is synonymous with pro wrestling. He has die-hard fans all over the world. And not just from pro wrestling, but even in the field of hip hop as seen in the chart topping track Ric Flair Drip by rapper 21 Savage. His fame goes way beyond the world of pro wrestling and fans like him because of his over-the-top antics and exuberant wrestling promos, which made him one of the biggest trash talkers ever in pro wrestling.

But when starting off in the business, Flair looked up to four other star athletes to get some inspiration and become one of the best on the mic.

Ric Flair names Dusty Rhodes and Muhammad Ali among the best trash talkers in sports entertainment

Trash talking is a gift that very few athletes have been blessed with. On the current roster names like Roman Reigns and LA Knight are among the best trash talkers in the business.

Back in the Attitude Era, there were juggernauts like Steve Austin and Dwayne Johnson. Such was their comic timing and mic skills that there are fan pages created just to share their classic WWE promos. And even before The Rock and Austin, there were legends like Dusty Rhodes and Roddy Piper.

But one athlete is remembered for his trash-talking even today. We are talking about the ‘Nature Boy’ Ric Flair. In his recent interview with Shannon Sharpe on the YouTube talk show Club Shay Shay, Flair was asked about his Mount Rushmore of trash talkers.

After a lot of thinking, Flair said, “Well I’m such a fan of Deion Sanders, Deion’s calmed it down. And obviously Muhammad Ali. You know it’s hard to talk trash, number one you have to be thick skinned, because it’s not real. You are trying to make people mad, you are trying to sell something. Back then I didn’t go over and say ‘I’m gonna say this about you’.

Flair then mentioned his arch-rival from NWA days Dusty Rhodes and rounded off the list with WWE Hall of Famer Roddy Piper.

Flair added, And with me and Dusty, whoever went first, went last. And I made him a deal one day ‘ok you go, so we’re not gonna argue about this’, because he can really talk, The American Dream brother. He may be the most gifted. Roddy Piper was also. So Roddy Piper, Ali, Dusty Rhodes, Deion, I mean all those guys I looked up to.”

Read more: WWE Legend Ric Flair Separates “Unreal” LeBron James From Michael Jordan With 5 Words

But going back to Flair, in spite of being out of the business for so long, he is still making his presence felt in the world of wrestling.

Ric Flair’s Wooooo! Energy was properly showcased at AEW Dynamite

During his wrestling days and even now, Flair’s iconic catchphrase “Wooooo” captivates the fans. That catchphrase is so famous that Flair even started an energy drink brand with the same name.

It’s called Wooooo! Energy and it recently became the exclusive energy drink for AEW. As per the deal, “During AEW show dates, select host venues will carry the drink at concession stands. It will also be stocked in the wrestlers’ locker rooms and will also be seen on the announcers’ desk during live broadcasts”.

And last night on Dynamite’s Thanksgiving Eve episode, Wooooo! Energy was being promoted heavily on Dynamite’s entrance screens. Flair even posted a picture of the same on Twitter. But what are your thoughts on Ric Flair’s Mount Rushmore of trash talkers?

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