“You Are Too Good for This Gimmick”: Ric Flair Saved Fellow WWE Legend’s Career From Ruin With a Single Piece of Advice

In the world of professional wrestling, characters and gimmicks often take center stage. These are important as they define the personas of the athletes who step into the ring. But what happens when a wrestler realizes they might be capable of more? Ric Flair aka The Nature Boy saw this potential in one of his fellow stars and offered a piece of advice. This advice changed the whole trajectory of his career and allowed him to flourish.

Ric Flair helped a fan favorite turn heel

In a candid interview Chris Van Vliet, former WWE star Shane Helms recounted the moment that altered the course of his wrestling journey. He revealed that the catalyst for his transformation came from none other than the iconic Ric Flair. The Nature Boy, known for his flamboyant style and undeniable charisma, had a word of wisdom for Helms that resonated deeply.

“You’re too good for this gimmick,” was the advice Flair gave to Helms. The advice struck a chord with Helms, who had been portraying the superhero-inspired character, “The Hurricane.“ While the gimmick had garnered attention and laughter from fans, Helms understood that it was limiting his potential to excel.

In his own words, Helms explained, “I knew there was going to come a time when it had to happen. You know, everything gets watered down to a degree or hits a low at some point. And Ric Flair really kind of jumpstarted it, because that was you know, doing a lot of stuff with him.”

Flair’s words stuck with Helms who went by his new persona and began to excel. A dramatic shift from a fan favorite hero to a despicable heel was achieved smoothly as Helms excelled in his new role.

Hurricane’s new persona

With Flair’s advice echoing in his mind, Helms made the decision to shed the superhero persona and embrace a new direction. He acknowledged the need to remind the world of his true capabilities – the same Shane Helms who had impressed as Sugar Shane, one of the best light heavyweights in the world.

“I need to go and remind them of who I was before I came here,” Helms said, drawing parallels between his own evolution and the transformations witnessed in Hollywood icons like Tom Hanks. The journey was about breaking through the confines of a comedic character and reintroducing himself as a multifaceted performer.

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As Helms embraced this evolution, he recognized that his commitment to the Hurricane gimmick had inadvertently defined him. He had mastered the art of being the funny, charismatic character, but this had become his identity in the eyes of the fans and the industry. The shift to a more serious persona required him to prove his versatility once again.

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As Ric Flair’s wisdom showed, even the most established stars can benefit from stepping outside their comfort zone to reveal the full spectrum of their talent.