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EXCLUSIVE: Ric Flair rooting for Deion Sanders' success at Colorado
One of the most legendary wrestling superstars has transformed his career outside of the ring to become an international icon. Anybody who's been around for the past half-century knows the catchphrase that comes along as part of Ric Flair's drip. The 'WOOOOO' made him a recognizable figure in the Hip Hop community, being featured in Metro Boomin and Offset's hit song that just hit 1 billion Spotify streams. He's also featured in the newest Doja Cat single 'Balut'.
Like the rest of the world, Flair has been tuned into what's happening in Boulder with Deion Sanders' rise in the college football world. After all, the two have a lot in common and run in the same circles of life. They've spent time in Atlanta when the city was growing at a rapid pace for different reasons in the early 90s. Sanders, a two-sport star with the Falcons and Braves, and Flair served time with WCW during the Ted Turner heyday era. So, it only makes sense why Flair is rooting for Sanders and the Buffaloes to be a success story.
"I'm a huge Jim Harbaugh fan, but Deion has done something special," Flair said. 'Even with the injury to Travis Hunter, there's no way they lose to Oregon by three touchdowns. No way. As a matter of fact, I think Colorado is going to win."
Flair stayed up to watch Colorado defeat CSU this past week and believes the nation is sleeping on the Buffs. They duked it out for an impressive double-overtime victory in a deep-rooted Rocky Mountain Showdown rivalry game. It's now ESPN's fifth-rated broadcast in the network's rich history.
"What they don't understand is that an in-state rivalry is always going to be tough. Not to say Colorado State wasn't great, but it's for the state," Flair said. "People are saying that Hunter doesn't make that big of a difference... It's like they're missing Randy Moss. I'm surprised Henry Blackburn didn't get beat up with the hit happening on the Buffaloes sidelines. That's how much sports have changed. He would've gotten mobbed in the 80s. That was a really cheap hit."
The "Prime Effect" rained down on the nation like an avalanche. A majority of the analysts said Colorado would be the laughing stock of sports prior to the season, paying very little attention to Sanders' background as a Hall-of-Famer or the staff he was building around him. It became a near weekly event in the off-season for Coach Prime to keep his receipts of who doubted the Buffs.
"Deion has a big following and to have the most expensive ticket coming out of Boulder right now. After going 1-11 last year, give me a break," Flair said. "This is unprecedented. If they win these next two games, they'll be ranked in the top five in the country."
Flair puts Sanders among the great athletes of all-time with Wilt Chamberlain, Bo Jackson, and Jim Brown. It's a short list of four guys who played a role in their respective sports with a different purpose. You could say the same about the wrestling giant. We've recognized guys like Hulk Hogan and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson for their contributions, but "The Nature Boy" became the first active wrestler inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. As the conversation continued, Flair flexed his sports knowledge.
"People don't realize what Wilt Chamberlain did at Kansas in Track and Field," Flair said. "He was 7-foot-2 and could bench press 400 pounds. What athlete with that type of wingspan could be that strong? Wilt was a different kind of cat, man. He ran a 7.2 minute and a 10-flat 100 meters. I mean, this is Wilt Chamberlain. He could play right now if he was still alive."
Outside of sports and hip hop, Flair's reach goes beyond entertainment. He recently took on 'Wooooo Energy' drinks with a sparkling mushroom blend of proprietary ingredients. It's a one-of-a-kind mix to sustain all-day energy with adaptogenic mushrooms that help the body fight off harmful chemicals and biological effects that create stress at the cellular level. He also introduced a cannabis strain blend of 'Ric Flair Drip' indica, sativa, and hybrid.
Flair gave a little insight into the current state of wrestling as well. Many have speculated how the WWE's product in the ring might be altered by a merger with UFC's TKO brand. For decades, the model was a bulletproof business with reliable audiences and big advertising hauls. The industry has changed due to streaming trends, leaving the traditional ways in the dust.
WWE’s internal struggles opened the door for a merger with the two fight-based giants valued at $21.4 billion as a single company. Flair believes that if TKO does it right, they'll see bigger results from the wrestling faithful.
"As long as Vince (McMahon) and Hunter (Hearst Helmsley) are leading the company, they'll be successful. They know what they're doing and have proven it time and time again."
Flair ended the interview like any good father would by wanting the world to know his daughter, Charlotte Flair, is the best wrestler of all time without comparison. She has definitely taken the reins in the WWE with all the style from her pops and then some.
Who knows, Flair might make an appearance on the sidelines in Boulder soon. He'll fit in with the rest of the A-list stars who've recently paid a visit to Coach Prime and watched him work his magic.
