“They Hated Americans”: Ric Flair Spills Secrets From His Iconic Match in North Korea Alongside Japanese Wrestling Legend Who Died in 2022

WWE and wrestling legend Ric Flair is arguably one of the greatest pro wrestlers of all time. He is widely known for having the highest number of world title reigns alongside John Cena. Currently retired and nursing his ill health, Flair has created and broken several records during his prime.

Apart from winning championships, Flair made another record 28 years ago. In 1995, Ric Flair became one of the first American professional wrestlers to wrestle in North Korea, against Japanese wrestling legend Antonio Inoki, who died last year in 2022.

Recently Flair appeared on Joe Rogan’s podcast. And discussed his time in North Korea, and how he once landed in trouble during that time. Speaking with Rogan, Flair spoke about why he visited North Korea to participate in a wrestling match.

He revealed that he visited North Korea as a gesture of goodwill and promoting harmony.

What did Ric Flair claim about his time in North Korea during his wrestling bout against Antonio Inoki?

The ‘Nature Boy’ Ric Flair claimed that he had a rough time in North Korea since North Koreans hate Americans and the Japanese. During the podcast, Flair revealed that Inoki had a good relationship with North Korea, and thus the match happened.

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The 74-year-old said, “They hate the Americans and the Japanese. It’s like a goodwill games, Inoki promoted it, trying to promote goodwill.” He would further claim that they might also have helped in efforts of easing the relationship between Japan and North Korea. He concluded with, “I don’t know. They clearly hate the Japanese and the Americans.” 

However, the aftermath of the event saw a major controversy take place when the North Korean authorities also asked Ric Flair to read out a speech claiming North Korea could defeat the USA anytime. However, Flair would deny reading it out and instead made a different speech on the borderlines of it.

His match against Inoki in North Korea is one of the most popular and viewed wrestling matches of all time. Despite the event earning such negative publicity at the event, it managed to gather views and also became one of the most talked about sporting moments of all time.

Inoki shared a good relationship with North Korea, and he tried organizing this event as a way of promoting goodwill and maintaining peace between all the participating nations. Although the event went well, the goodwill and harmony never stayed between North Korea and the USA.

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