Even More On Manu’s WWE Firing, Ric Flair/WWE Update

While Manu’s release from World Wrestling Entertainment wasn’t seen as surprising to some considering he hadn’t appeared on television several weeks, others were caught off guard by news of his departure. Considering he’s a second-generation wrestler who showed a lot of potential while in developmental, some speculated he would simply return to Florida Championship Wrestling for more seasoning. In recent months, there was actually some paranoia with the famed Anoa’i family regarding Afa Sr.’s involvement with The Wrestler as he helped train Mickey Rourke for the movie and Vince McMahon was reportedly displeased with the flick after screening it—until it started garnering numerous accolades and tons of mainstream attention, in which case he embraced it with open arms.

Now that Ric Flair is in good graces with WWE again, the company has resumed airing his WWE Original Series Stylin’ & Profilin on WWE.com. In the latest episode, the wrestling legend opens up about his induction into the WWE Hall of Fame, his final match at WrestleMania XXIV, and his farewell address the following night on Raw. WWE.com had pulled the series following his split with the company this past August. The split was not friendly to say the least. Here is what Power Slam magazine wrote regarding his departure from the organization at the time, according to company insiders: August 3: Less than six months after his tear-jerking WWE Hall Of Fame induction and unforgettable retirement match at WrestleMania XXIV, Ric Flair announces that he has requested and received his release from WWE so he can cash in on his retirement buzz and make money as a reality TV star, spokesman and autograph signer. Vince is so personally offended by Flair’s “ungrateful behaviour” that he instructs the wwe.com team to remove the farewell message to the erstwhile “greatest of all-time” from the website because he “doesn’t deserve the attention.”

EXCLUSIVE BACKSTAGE PIC ONLINE: SCOTT HALL AT RAW THIS WEEK!