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PWINSIDER Q&A: RIC FLAIR IN A STAND ALONE HALL OF FAME EVENING, FLAIR'S RETIREMENT OPPONENT, BENOIT AND MORE

Do you feel as though it would be a wise, and maybe an obvious choice for WWE to hire a psychotherapist to be a part of their wellness program? We know the Wellness Program covers drug abuse and cardiovascular checks, but I've never heard anything about mental wellness being checked. After the Benoit tragedy this almost seems as though it would be a logical choice to employ a full time psychotherapist for all employees to use. While some might not like the idea of seeing a "shrink" it could end up being very beneficial to them and WWE. Being on the road almost every day of the year has to be stressful to not only the body but also the mind, and a psychotherapist could help prevent the wrestlers from reaching their mental breaking point.

I absolutely believe the WWE Wellness Program should be expanded to include a therapist, particularly in the wake of the Benoit tragedy. The stress the performers are under is unique to even the entertainment industry and adding in having to come to grips with the last terrible week in professional wrestling makes it even more obvious this is a step WWE should take on their own, as opposed to being forced to do so by outside regulation.

When Ric Flair finally says that is it, enough it enough and hangs up the boots for good, who do YOU guys think should be his very last opponent in the WWE ring? Knowing that day is probably coming sooner or later, have you heard if Ric has like a short list of names he is running past the powers that be (be them in WWE or not just kind of like a "wish list" IE Sting if TNA will let him for one match) of wrestlers he would like to be in that final match with him? Also, last but not least, do you think he will win that match or surprise all of us and possibly do the job in the last match of his life?

Sting would be a great choice, but I doubt that would happen given his TNA contractual status. Deep down, and I don't know if this could be a reality, I'd want to see Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat one last time. It wouldn't touch their series of matches from 1989 but it would be nice just to see it again from a nostalgia sense. If we couldn't do that, I'd love to see a stipulation similar to Mick Foley vs. HHH where Flair promises to retire if he can't win a major title, and then fails to deliver, giving him the chance to cut an amazing, emotional farewell promo. We'll see where this takes us as Wrestlemania 24 inches closer.

Apparently (hopefully) WWE has put an end to the "who killed Vince McMahon" angle due to the Benoit family tragedy. I recall that Barry Darsow (Demolition Smash, Repo Man, and many many more identities) was briefly repackaged as a golf character called "Stewart Pain," but that character was dropped when Payne Stewart was killed in a plane crash. Can you recall any other angles or characters that were dropped due to the death of someone not involved with the actual angle?

Chavo Guerrero's Kerwin White character was dropped after Eddie Guerrero passed away. Beyond that, I don't know about other angles that were dropped due to the death of someone not directly involved offhand, but Barry Darsow's golf character was not named Stewart Pain.

I just read your new Q&A stuff about possible having next years WWE Hall of Fame induction completely devoted to Ric Flair. My question: Wouldn't that be a really shame and also a slap in the face to all the other great hall of famers, when WWE would do that??? I mean, are we talking about the same Ric flair, who only had 2 or 3 good WWE-matches in the last 20 years?

I don't think anyone in the industry would have any objection to an entire night dedicated to Flair. If you truly think Flair only had two of three great WWE matches in the last 20 years (which I disagree with), I submit that we are talking about a WWE Hall of Fame that features The Sheik, Verne Gagne and Nick Bockwinkel, not to mention Harley Race based on their entire careers, not just whatever WWE experience they had. Flair is one of the top two of three all-time interviews and the top in-ring performer during his prime. If that wouldn't qualify him for a stand alone Hall of Fame, I don't know what would, but your feelings are in the DEEP minority.

Hiya I was wondering why you think Flair should get his own Hall of Fame ceremony devoted entirely to him? Hogan is far a bigger wrestling star than Flair and even though he did steal the show at his own ceremony and the one after (if you go on crowd pops) why should Flair deserve his own and Hogan not?

With early plans for Wrestlemania 24 to feature a Ric Flair "farewell match", the idea of Flair getting his own night of celebration could help build to that match, Hogan didn't need that nor was that the plan for him, since the company wanted him as a special attraction from time to time. Again, anyone who has followed this business for any period of time knows how special Flair is and if anyone would deserve a stand-alone evening of celebration, it's him.

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