Five Raw championships, four SmackDown championships and one Divas championship — all at 33 years of age and in a career that is less than a decade old. Charlotte Flair, famously known as The Queen, was wrestling royalty even before she stepped into the ring. Her father, Ric Flair, is a 16-time WWE World Champion and a Hall of Famer.
In a career spanning seven years and across three promotions, however, she has carved out a path of greatness all on her own, proving to everyone that she doesn’t need a last name to be one of the best in her craft. Flair, born Ashley Elizabeth Fliehr, was also an accomplished volleyball player and a qualified personal trainer. The Telegraph caught up with the WWE Superstar on her recent trip to India. Excerpts...
From your debut in 2012 with NXT to your Wrestlemania 35 Main Event booking, how has the journey of the past seven years been for you?
It’s gone by so fast! The only thing I just thought about every single day was how to get better — how to make my appearance better, how to get better in the ring, how to get better at promos, how to evolve — every single day. Every single minute, every single second, every single hour it has been about improving myself and getting better. And now, in the past couple months, I’ve been able to sit back and enjoy the ride instead of worrying so much. I’ve made a name for myself, so now it’s just a matter of remaining consistent and giving the fans what they want.
You started your wrestling career as a face then switched to heel and then face again. Which one of the two do you like performing as the most? Face or heel?
I like being the bad guy but having the opportunity to be the good guy is that I love knowing that I’m a role model. Sometimes I feel like bad guys get pushed in a storyline where I wouldn’t necessarily want to. But the way I’ve built out my character (The Queen) even though playing the bad guy I never resorted to body-shaming or being a bully. Me being the bad guy is more of me thinking I’m better than everyone else, more being a narcissist than being a bully.
Has the definition of heel changed in professional wrestling over the years?
I just think that for today’s talents, it’s easier to be liked and disliked. And some talents have a natural connection with the audience. I don’t know necessarily what makes you good or bad; it’s who the fans want to cheer for. For me, to be the best good guy you can be, you have to be relatable. You have to be endearing, and as for my character (The Queen), other than having the father-daughter relation (in the storyline), I try very hard not to make it relatable. So, I guess that’s how I decipher between good guys and bad guys.
You headlined the WWE Wrestlemania Main Event this year. What was that like?
To be able to say that you accomplished something that you said you were going to do feels amazing. And to be able to fulfil something that you dreamed about and visualised is an incredible feeling. From the moment I began my career as a professional wrestler, I said to myself that I will be a part of the Main Event of Wrestlemania and I did.
You’re just back from your European tour. Being on the road can be tiring and gruelling. Do you enjoy it?
Oh I love it! I’m so used to it now. It took me about a year to get used to it but now I don’t know anything else. When I’m home for more than two days I don’t know what to do with myself (laughs)! And now that I’m travelling the world with my boyfriend (Andrade, also a wrestler) so don’t need to go home. Sometimes we just go straight to the beach from tour!
Your body of work is undeniably significant now and it seems like a lot of people are moving past the point where they thought you are where you are because of your father (Ric Flair, 16-time world champion and WWE Hall of Famer). How did you deal with that in the initial phase of your career?
I think it still affects me. Before Wrestlemania 35 earlier this year, when Rhonda (Rousey), Becky (Lynch) and I did a miniature interview with ESPN to promote the Main Event, they mentioned everyone’s accolades and achievements underneath their names. But underneath my name, they just mentioned Ric Flair’s daughter. Here we are from Women’s Evolution (WWE’s women’s pay-per-view event) going on to Wrestlemania 35 Main Event and that is what ESPN labels me as. I was the first female or male wrestler to do their Body Issue and that’s what they labelled me as. I got to Wrestlemania Main Event which my father never did. I still struggle with the issue but that’s also what gives me the edge that I have and that chip on my shoulder. I think the biggest history I’ll ever make in WWE will be when people refer to him (Ric) as ‘Charlotte’s dad’ instead of calling me ‘Ric’s daughter’.
You and Andrade are one of the most talked-about wrestling couples. Do you guys talk shop outside of WWE or do you both take a break from wrestling?
We definitely talk shop but it’s not about other talent; it’s all about what we can do better and how we can up our game every single day. I really appreciate the advice he gives me. Even a simple ‘you did this really well’ from him makes my day. To be able to share these moments with someone that understands exactly what I do is what makes us so close because I don’t know what it would be like to share my frustrations, my journey and the ups and downs of what we do with someone that wouldn’t understand the pressure.
You’re considered one of the fittest wrestlers of your generation. What’s your fitness regimen like?
When I debuted on RAW, I was really into Olympic lifting — which includes dead lift, clean, hang clean and squats — and I worked on my strength and how much weight I could lift. But now I’m super into bodybuilding, which is a completely different kind of exercise. For me now I want to get to the gym every day — it’s my happy place where I get mentally relaxed. It makes me feel good. The more I invest in myself, the fans see that. Now, I don’t worry as much about numbers at all — it’s just that it makes me feel good.
What are your cheat days like?
It depends… when Andrade and I are at home he’ll make guacamole toastatos and quesadillas. And during super late nights he’ll make sangria and order cheese burgers (laughs).
You celebrated Children’s Day with Special Olympics Bharat athletes…
Yes! The most important part of our jobs, in my opinion, is to put smiles on people’s faces, especially the kids, and I love Special Olympics. In my opinion, sports is the one thing that unites us together universally and it’s so important the organisations like Special Olympics for the kids to learn confidence, teamwork and the sense of working together. I’ve played sports since day one and I think I’m the person I am today because of being active in sports.
This is your second time in India. How does it feel to come back?
It feels amazing! It’s crazy that I feel like it happened yesterday. The first time, I was blown away by the two shows (WWE Live India 2016). Performing in a different country and realising that you are a superstar there is a very surreal feeling. And I had just been on the main roster for a couple months. So, I was still getting used to travelling the world and people knowing my name. But getting to put on the red sari that I have a picture of — that I posted recently — and playing cricket even though I had no idea what it was and now coming back, I knew what to expect and I’ve been enjoying my time here.
Over the years, we have seen a lot of wrestlers from India — The Great Khali, Jinder Mahal, Kavita Devi. What is your take on talent emerging from India?
I know Jinder (Mahal) very well. When he had his run on the championship and seeing him transform and getting all those opportunities — I couldn’t have been more proud for him. As a professional wrestler, you never know what could come your way — one day you might not be used in any matches and the next day you’re a champion. And that’s what happened for Jinder. He took the challenge so well and it was incredible to see his rise. I also got a chance to meet Kavita (Devi) at the Mae Young Classic tournament last year. She’s a promising wrestler and I expect good things from her.
You’re a 10-time WWE World Champion at just 33 years of age. If there was one thing you had to say to your younger self what would it be?
Take every lesson and opportunity that comes your way and just grow from it.
A message for your Indian fans…
If you’re gonna do it, do it with flair!
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