Ric Flair Denies Plane Ride From Hell Allegations

Speaking on his To Be The Man podcast, Ric Flair has denied sexual misconduct allegations against him stemming from the infamous Plane Ride from Hell. 

Taking place as WWE travelled back to the United States following a European tour in May 2002, the Plane Ride from Hell featured Dustin Rhodes loudly serenading his ex-wife Terri, X-Pac cutting off Michael Hayes' mullet, and Curt Hennig wrestling Brock Lesnar. Flight attendant Heidi Doyle also alleged that Flair imposed himself on her and forced her to touch his genitals. 

Doyle later agreed to an out-of-court settlement with WWE over the Plane Ride from Hell. 

The infamous flight received renewed attention in 2021 following an episode of Dark Side of the Ring. Flair's "Woo!" was subsequently removed from the WWE opening, although it has since been re-added.

Flair addressed his removal from the opening on To Be The Man, during which he claimed the allegations from the Plane Ride from Hell were "bulls**t."

"I have no idea [why I was cut from it]. But you know what? Here's the deal, and I don't care what anybody says. I mean, Arn Anderson was giving me a lecture about kissing WWE's ass and the last match. That is the biggest compliment you can ever get as a wrestler is to be at the opening of anything that WWE has. It's not kissing ass for me to say thank you once or to say thank you twice," Flair said.

"One of the most difficult things I've ever been through in my life personally, aside from health issues, is having 85,000 people tell me within two minutes, I wasn't on the opening of Raw or SmackDown, that's when the bulls**t from the Plane Ride to Hell came out, which is all bulls**t. Which is explained thoroughly in my new documentary, I mean, thoroughly. I am calling some people out big time.

"So to answer your question. If they had left me off, I wouldn't mind it. Because I've had my time. It's not my time anymore. But it is something that means a lot to me personally, as it does to everybody else that's on it. And I'm sure they would tell you that if they're being honest with you, it's a big deal. You're seen worldwide three times a week."

A new WWE-produced documentary on Flair is currently in development and is expected to be released before the end of 2022. 

H/T to Inside The Ropes