WRESTLING NEWS
WWE Hall Of Famer Says There Was 'A Price To Pay' For Being Ric Flair's Friend
By ZE MANUEL
Ric Flair's departure from WCW to WWF in 1991 caused a seismic shift in the wrestling world. While you might think Flair would have confided in those close to him that he was making the jump, his former Four Horsemen stablemate Arn Anderson said the move somewhat blindsided him.
Flair had helped broker Anderson and Tully Blanchard's return to WCW, and Anderson was grateful to be back. He focused on finding ways to become a more valued part of the WCW team, so it was all the more surprising to see Flair leave just two years later.
"If I would have known that he was going to be leaving to come up there pretty soon, I'm not sure we would have made that decision [to rejoin WCW in 1989]," Anderson explained. "I'm sure there a lot of people that were sitting there going, 'Okay, there's a price to pay for being Ric's friend.'"
Flair has explained in prior interviews that his decision to leave WCW came down to a contentious relationship with WCW President Jim Herd, who had alienated a number of wrestlers and staff. In fact, Flair credits Herd's mismanagement for driving Anderson and Blanchard to WWF in the first place.