dailyloe.com – Wrestling legend Ric Flair publicly criticized WWE on Wednesday, alleging he was not allowed to attend WrestleMania 42. The 77-year-old Hall of Famer made the claims during an appearance on ‘The Ariel Helwani Show’. He attributed his exclusion to an alleged altercation involving WWE performer Ludwig Kaiser in 2025. Flair expressed frustration over the situation.
Flair stated he ‘wasn’t allowed to go’ to WWE’s annual two-night event this year. He linked this to an incident from the previous year involving Kaiser. Kaiser is the former boyfriend of WWE star Tiffany Stratton. The dispute reportedly involved Stratton and Flair’s daughter, Charlotte Flair.
Flair provided his account of the 2025 confrontation. He said he ‘threatened to beat up’ Ludwig Kaiser last year. This occurred ahead of the WrestleMania 41 title match between Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton. Flair questioned the logic of his punishment.
‘A 24-year-old kid being threatened by a 76-year-old man, and I can’t go to WrestleMania? Are you kidding me?’ Flair said. He detailed how he obtained Kaiser’s phone number and called him. Flair claimed he told Kaiser, ‘Hey, when I see you, I’m going to beat the s*** out of you.’ He said Kaiser then reported the threat to WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque.
‘He went like a little b****, told Hunter, and I wasn’t allowed to go,’ Flair stated. Despite his absence, Flair claimed he remains well-connected. He argued his contributions to wrestling should warrant special treatment. ‘There should a red carpet for me — a red carpet to the front row,’ he said.
Flair expressed dismay at what he called political problems within WWE. ‘With my contributions to this business and the work that I’ve put in… I’ve got to have problems with politics? Give me a break,’ he remarked. He clarified he was not mad at any specific individual. He concluded the environment now involves ‘too much politics and not enough wrestling.’
The wrestling icon also shared another alleged snub involving Dennis Rodman. Flair claimed the former NBA star personally called him to request an induction speech. Rodman was entering the WWE Hall of Fame this year. Flair said he relayed the request to WWE officials.
‘I sent to the powers that be, ‘Dennis wants me to induct him.’ I never got a call back. … I never even got a call back,’ Flair stated. This incident further fueled his perception of disrespect from the company. He suggested a broader atmosphere of caution within WWE leadership.
‘I think there’s a lack of respect. And I think there’s so many people under fire right now, they’re all ducking and dodging,’ Flair said. He ended his comments with a tone of bewilderment. ‘I don’t know. All I know is that it seems like people, they hate the fact,’ he concluded.
