If you guys have read Ric’s book, “To Be The Man”, you’ll know for quite some time that Ric Flair hated the guts of Eric Bischoff. Or things including, but not limited to, suing him, stating he’s going to put Flair’s family out on the street, and pretty much burying him any chance he got in favor of Hogan. Or Norman Smilely.
Well, at one point Ric talks about finally getting even. It was backstage at a WWE event, and Ric had decided that it was time to have a throw down. He approached Bish’, who was on the phone at the time, and just went off. He told him to stand up, and that he was about to get whooped upon. Bish’, obviously confused, stood up, and Ric started swinging. Eric is a quick little guy, and was able to dodge most of the punches, and before it could get serious, Sgt. Slaughter broke it up.
Well, in a 5-part interview with Wade Keller, of Pro-Wrestling Torch, Eric gave his side;
“Wade Keller: Wasn’t there a locker room incident between you and him (Ric Flair) in WWE? What happened because obviously there have been versions of that story that have gone around.
Eric Bischoff: Oh yeah, definitely. What was ironic about it for me – Ric and I have certainly patched things up and are working together and I talk to Ric once or twice a week and everything’s fine. And I don’t want to open up old wounds, but I’ll tell you from my perspective what was confusing to me… Let me set the tone for you first. I was literally sitting in an office on the phone talking to my accountant and my lawyer about some property issues and a piece of property I was thinking about investing in. And my wife was on a phone. It was in a conference call. I’m kind of minding my own business and Ric came in and with Arn Anderson and Coach and I think one or two other people came in behind him and, you know, Ric was going off. That’s the setting. Now, I’ll tell you that in the weeks leading up to that incident, the incident I’m about to describe from my point of view, okay, Ric and I and Arn had gone out and had beers together after the show a number of times (laughs). I didn’t know that there was something bothering Ric. So when I was sitting on the phone on this conference call, Ric comes in and is literally challenging me. I was looking for the camera because it didn’t make any sense. I really felt, well, wait a minute, am I in a segment that someone forgot to tell me I was in? Is this a rib? What the hell? So there was a moment of real confusion on my part. I was sitting in a chair as he yelled, “Get up, get up get, I’ll kick your ass,” or whatever he said, I don’t recall. I honestly was sitting in my chair on the phone carrying on a conversation and the people on the other end of the phone were hearing this. They asked, “What’s going on?” I said, “Don’t worry about it, it’s Ric.” (laughs) Then it became obvious to me it was far more serious than I initially thought it was. I think Ric took a punch or two, but I was on TV ten minutes later and I don’t think anybody noticed anything.”
Yes, Flair and Eric sure are working together again. Who cares if a guy tried to ruin you and put your family out in the cold? You gotta buy your belt back from highspots.
Interview Credit: Wade Keller of www.pwtorch.com
