Charlotte Flair is one of the most successful and popular female wrestlers in WWE history. She has won 14 women’s world championships, headlined WrestleMania, and broken many barriers for women in the industry. But she is also the daughter of a legend, Ric Flair, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. So, is Charlotte Flair related to Ric Flair? And how has their relationship shaped their careers and lives? Here’s what you need to know.
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A Second-Generation Superstar
Charlotte Flair was born as Ashley Elizabeth Fliehr on April 5, 1986, in Charlotte, North Carolina. She is the second child and only daughter of Ric Flair and his second wife, Elizabeth Harrell. She has an older half-brother, David, a younger brother, Reid, and an older half-sister, Megan. She grew up watching her father perform in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and made her first appearance in professional wrestling alongside him in 1993, when she was only seven years old.
Charlotte was athletic from a young age and excelled in volleyball, winning two state championships in high school. She also attended Appalachian State University and North Carolina State University, where she earned a degree in public relations. She initially had no plans to follow her father’s footsteps into wrestling, but that changed after her brother Reid’s tragic death in 2013.
Reid Fliehr was an aspiring wrestler who had trained with his father and competed in various promotions. He also struggled with drug addiction and was arrested several times for possession. On March 29, 2013, he was found dead in a hotel room from an accidental overdose of heroin and prescription drugs. He was only 25 years old.
Charlotte was devastated by the loss of her brother, who had encouraged her to pursue wrestling as a career. She decided to honor his memory by signing with WWE in 2012 and joining their developmental brand NXT. She adopted the ring name Charlotte and later added Flair to pay tribute to her family legacy.
A Trailblazer for Women’s Wrestling
Charlotte quickly proved herself as a natural talent in the ring, combining athleticism, charisma, and flair. She won the NXT Women’s Championship in 2014 and was named Rookie of the Year by Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI). She also formed a close friendship with fellow NXT stars Sasha Banks, Bayley, and Becky Lynch, who would later be known as the Four Horsewomen of WWE.
In 2015, Charlotte was promoted to WWE’s main roster along with Banks and Lynch as part of a women’s revolution that aimed to elevate the status and quality of women’s wrestling. She became the first woman to win the WWE Divas Championship, which she later retired and replaced with the WWE Women’s Championship. She also became the first woman to headline a WWE pay-per-view event when she faced Banks in a Hell in a Cell match in 2016.
Since then, Charlotte has continued to break records and make history as a dominant force in WWE. She has won the Raw Women’s Championship six times, the SmackDown Women’s Championship seven times, the NXT Women’s Championship twice, and the Women’s Tag Team Championship once. She has also won the Royal Rumble match in 2020 and competed in the first-ever women’s main event at WrestleMania 35 against Lynch and Ronda Rousey.
Charlotte has often credited her father for inspiring her and supporting her throughout her journey. She has also incorporated many of his signature moves and mannerisms into her own style, such as the chop, the woo, the figure-four leglock, and the robe. However, she has also established her own identity and personality as “The Queen” of WWE.
A Complicated but Loving Bond
Charlotte and Ric have not always had a smooth relationship. In their joint memoir Second Nature: The Legacy of Ric Flair and the Rise of Charlotte, they both opened up about their struggles and challenges as father and daughter. Ric admitted that he was not always present or attentive as a parent due to his busy schedule and party lifestyle. He also revealed that he had cheated on Charlotte’s mother multiple times, leading to their divorce in 2006.
Charlotte confessed that she felt neglected and resentful towards her father at times, especially when he favored Reid over her. She also said that she had to deal with his alcoholism, financial troubles, health issues, and legal problems. She even witnessed him getting into a physical altercation with her ex-husband Riki Johnson in 2008.
However, Charlotte also expressed her love and admiration for her father, saying that he was always there for her when it mattered most. She said that he was a better parent than he gave himself credit for, and that he taught her valuable lessons about life and wrestling. She also said that he was her biggest fan and cheerleader, and that he helped her cope with Reid’s death.
Ric also praised his daughter for her achievements and accomplishments, calling her the best female wrestler in the world. He said that he was proud of her for carrying on his legacy and making a name for herself. He also said that she saved his life and gave him a reason to live after Reid’s passing.
Charlotte and Ric have had their ups and downs, both on-screen and off-screen, but they have always maintained a strong bond and respect for each other. They have shared many emotional moments in WWE, such as when Ric presented Charlotte with the new Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 32, or when Charlotte dedicated her victory over Natalya at Starrcade 2017 to Ric, who had survived a near-fatal medical scare earlier that year.
They have also faced each other as rivals, such as when Charlotte turned on Ric and slapped him in 2016, or when Ric betrayed Charlotte and helped Lacey Evans win a match in 2021. However, they have always reconciled and forgiven each other, showing that their love is deeper than any storyline or drama.
Charlotte Flair and Ric Flair are related as father and daughter, but they are also more than that. They are partners, friends, mentors, and inspirations to each other. They are both legends in their own right, and they have both contributed to the evolution and revolution of women’s wrestling. They are the Flairs, and they are the best at what they do..
