"We Have Decided To Part Ways Respectfully": WWE Hall of Famer Announces Separation from Wife Wendy Barlow

The long run of "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair and Wendy Barlow is formally over. Their 13-year partnership came to an end as the WWE Hall of Famer announced their split on social media.
"Wendy and I enjoyed 13 great years," Flair expressed in his post. "As with every couple, we have experienced our ups and downs. I think it's important for everyone to know right now that we have decided to part ways respectfully.I'll never ever be able to thank her enough for standing by my side through my terrible health crisis in 2017. She never left my side! And for that, I will always be grateful!" Flair continued, acknowledging the challenges that arose as their personal and professional lives evolved. "We both are working on different projects at the current time & it becomes difficult with my schedule & her schedule to make this work. I wish her the best of luck with her projects, and I know that she supports mine!"

The announcement adds to what has already been a turbulent year for the legendary former World Heavyweight Champion. Earlier this year, Flair found himself in a controversy involving a pizza restaurant from which he was ejected. The incident, which gained semi-viral attention, reportedly escalated despite Flair's attempt to smooth things over with a generous $1,000 tip, which the establishment rejected.
Recently, Flair made an appearance in AEW, where he was featured as a special gift to honor the retirement of fellow wrestling icon Sting. This appearance also served as a promotion for Flair’s "Wooooo!" energy drink brand. However, after his last appearance at AEW Revolution earlier this year, Flair has not been seen in the promotion and is reportedly no longer associated with AEW. Despite these ups and downs, Flair remains a larger-than-life figure in the wrestling world.
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In October 2023, AEW President Tony Khan revealed that he had a special surprise for Sting in light of The Icon's upcoming retirement at Revolution 2024. The surprise turned out to be none other than Ric Flair. Given their long-standing friendship, Flair pledged to support Sting on his journey to retirement. He kept this promise by appearing in several episodes of AEW television and attending Sting's final match at Revolution. However, after taking a superkick from The Young Bucks, Flair has not been seen since, raising questions about his whereabouts.
According to Fightful Select, it appears that Flair's time in AEW has come to an end. Sean Ross Sapp reported that Flair has not been present at any AEW events following Revolution and is not included in any future creative plans, as he has not been mentioned in discussions for quite some time. When Flair signed a multi-year deal with AEW, it included a provision for his energy drink, Woooo! Energy, to be prominently featured on AEW programming as the official energy drink of the company. With Flair seemingly no longer part of AEW, this partnership has effectively concluded, as the agreement primarily financed his appearances.
Flair's signing faced significant backlash from fans on social media, particularly as details about his troubled past resurfaced. One of the most notable instances was highlighted in an episode of Vice TV's "Dark Side of the Ring," which focused on the notorious "Plane Ride from Hell." In that episode, a flight attendant recounted her experiences, alleging that Flair had been sexually aggressive toward her and had exposed himself to her and others on the flight.
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