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Ric Flair's social media misstep draws fury from wrestling community
Ric Flair's social media misstep draws fury from wrestling community

Time of India

time5 days ago

  • Entertainment
  • Time of India

Ric Flair's social media misstep draws fury from wrestling community

Image via WWE Wrestling icon Ric Flair is facing intense backlash after a series of controversial tweets, including a dig at fellow Hall of Famer Jim Ross, who recently underwent surgery for colon cancer, and a now-deleted post parodying sexual consent. Wrestling legend sparks fury with dig at Jim Ross Flair, 76, shocked fans over the weekend by suggesting that Jim Ross was "seeking attention" following his recent cancer surgery. The post was quickly deleted but not before screenshots went viral, sparking widespread condemnation from fans and wrestling personalities alike. — FadeAwayMedia (@FadeAwayMedia) Ross, who updated followers earlier in the week about his recovery, received overwhelming support from the wrestling community - except from Flair. The two have had a tense relationship in recent years, particularly after Ross appeared in the "Plane Ride from Hell" episode of Dark Side of the Ring, which revived past misconduct allegations involving Flair. Flair later said Ross had "lost all credibility" with him, despite their long-standing friendship in the industry. Controversial post drags up Ric Flair's troubled past Just hours after the Ross tweet, Flair posted what he called The Woooo Compromise - a mock consent form referencing 'Space Mountain,' a long-standing euphemism he uses in reference to his romantic escapades. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Paco: Scholarships You Can Apply For (Start Now) College Scholarship | Google Search Search Now Undo The post was also deleted shortly after going live. The joke, which touched on themes of consent and sexual relations, was widely criticized for being inappropriate and insensitive, especially in light of Flair's past controversies. Fans viewed the post as distasteful and out of touch. In response to the uproar, Flair shared a follow-up post that remains on his profile: 'If You Can't Take A Joke From A 76 Year Old Man, Then You Are Living Life Too Seriously. It Was All Harmless, Lighthearted Fun! Just Trying To Make People Laugh & Smile!' However, fans were not convinced. Replies poured in, with many accusing Flair of minimizing serious issues. 'Grow up and take some responsibility for something' one user wrote, while another questioned why a 'legend' would risk his reputation with such remarks. Flair, a 16-time world champion and one of the most recognizable names in wrestling, has not issued a formal apology. For many fans, the incident reopens uncomfortable conversations about accountability, generational divides, and whether some stars have overstayed their welcome in the digital age. Whether the Nature Boy clarifies further or remains silent, the fallout from this episode appears far from over.

Sabu, legend of pro wrestling's 'hardcore' style, dies at 60
Sabu, legend of pro wrestling's 'hardcore' style, dies at 60

NBC News

time12-05-2025

  • Entertainment
  • NBC News

Sabu, legend of pro wrestling's 'hardcore' style, dies at 60

Sabu, a "hardcore" professional wresting legend whose real name was Terry Brunk, has died at 60 years old, World Wrestling Entertainment announced Sunday. "WWE is saddened to learn that Terry Brunk, known to wrestling fans as Sabu, has passed away," the company said in a statement. All Elite Wrestling also announced the news in a post on social media. "From barbed wire battles to unforgettable high-risk moments, Sabu gave everything to professional wrestling," AEW wrote on X. "Our thoughts are with his family, his friends and his fans." Sabu's cause of death was not released Sunday, and it was not clear when he died. Sabu rose to fame while wrestling for Extreme Championship Wrestling in the 1990s, where he was "a pioneer of hardcore wrestling, leaping from chairs and driving his opponents through tables and even barbed wire," taking after his uncle, Hall of Famer Ed "The Sheik" Farhat, WWE wrote. As a part of ECW, Sabu wrestled contemporaries like Rob Van Dam, Mick Foley and Taz. In a company known for pushing the envelope in terms of the risks wrestlers were willing to take, Sabu still managed to stand out. Whether he was leaping off the ring ropes to his opponents on the outside or delivering double leg-drops through tables and ladders, his style of wrestling — not always pretty but certainly impressive and eye-catching — made him a fan favorite. He signed with WWE as part of the company's revival of the ECW brand in 2006. The next year, at WrestleMania 23, he and fellow ECW originals Van Dam, Tommy Dreamer and The Sandman defeated the New Breed in front of 80,000 fans in Detroit. He departed the company that same year. Both before and after WWE, Sabu wrestled for top promotions across the globe, including New Japan Pro Wrestling, AAA and CMLL, as well as dozens of other independent promotions. He continued wrestling long after many of his contemporaries had already retired. His final match — and first since 2021, according to Cage Match — was April 18, when he defeated Joey Janela, getting driven through a table and landing on barbed wire in the process. Janela called Sabu "my idol, a trailblazer, a gamechanger and an icon," in a memorial post on X that featured photos and videos of he and Sabu. Wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer called Sabu the "king of the death matches" on Wrestling Observer Radio on Sunday, and credited him with popularizing hardcore wrestling in the U.S. "He was the godfather of it in every way," Meltzer said. Big names from across the wrestling world took to social media to remember Sabu as a legend in the field and as a friend. In a video posted to X, Taz said Sabu's death "breaks my heart," and added that he had watched an old interview of Sabu's as recently as Saturday night. "I would not have had the career that I have had and I've been blessed to have if it wasn't for Sabu," Taz said, noting the pair debuted against each other for ECW in 1993. The X account for docu-series"Dark Side of the Ring" said Sabu's death "comes as a shock," as he is featured in the episode airing Tuesday that pays tribute to his uncle. "Sabu was a trailblazing groundbreaker who played a major role in the expansion of what a pro wrestling match could be," wrestler Matt Hardy said on X. "The fact that tables are commonly utilized in pro wrestling is because of Terry Brunk & how he made an inanimate object like a table a must see component in his match." Hardy also called Sabu "heavily influential on today's current style, even though his contributions are still under appreciated by most." In an X post, AEW wrestler Mark Briscoe said, "Nobody made me want to be a wrestler more than Sabu. R.I.P. to a true hardcore legend."

A terrifying childhood encounter forever changed Jason Eisener's filmmaking career
A terrifying childhood encounter forever changed Jason Eisener's filmmaking career

CBC

time04-05-2025

  • Entertainment
  • CBC

A terrifying childhood encounter forever changed Jason Eisener's filmmaking career

When filmmaker Jason Eisener was around 10 years old, he went to a World Wrestling Federation show in Halifax. An encounter that night terrified and changed his life. As the wrestler Skinner made his way to the ring, Eisener and the cousin leaned over the guardrail and chanted "You suck" repeatedly to the wrestler. Skinner was billed as an alligator hunter from the Florida Everglades. As the two screamed, Skinner locked eyes with the boys, came over and grabbed them by their shirt collars. "I could see the chewing tobacco, like, oozing out of his mouth," Eisener, 42, said by telephone from Hollywood. "And he pulls us right up to his face and he's just like, 'I'm going to skin you.' "And we sat down. We were so scared. We didn't make a peep the rest of that show that night. But that definitely had a huge impact on me." Meanwhile, Eisener's godfather who took the two boys to the show didn't have the same reaction. "Oh, he's laughing his ass off the whole time," said Eisener. "He thought it was so funny." The Dartmouth, N.S., filmmaker is known for movies such as Hobo with a Shotgun and Kids vs. Aliens, but turned a childhood fascination and love of wrestling into the long-running television series Dark Side of the Ring, now in its sixth season on Crave. "Had my godfather not taken me and my cousin to that match that night, who knows if I would have gone down the trajectory that I did?" said Eisener. Dark Side of the Ring takes viewers inside the world of professional wrestling, retelling well-known and not-so-well-known stories that sometimes involve elements such as a wrestler's rise and fall, crime, substance abuse, relationship problems and catastrophic injuries. To do that, Dark Side of the Ring usually interviews the people at the centre of the stories, loved ones and people from the wrestling world. "They're like the best storytellers I've ever heard," said Eisener. "And that I find really inspiring, how they're able to tell a good yarn." Eisener said the idea for the show was rooted in he and series co-creator Evan Husney's shared passion for wrestling. They wanted to do a scripted drama, but found no interest, so they turned it into a documentary-style show instead. "The more we looked into [wrestlers], we realized how tragic their stories were," said Eisener. The show's name is fitting, both for the subject matter it covers, but also because when not using interviews or archival footage, the show is shot using silhouetted figures who are backlit. Given the subject matter sometimes delves into true-crime topics, it's not surprising that Eisener said he's received death threats. He's even had his identity stolen. Despite the show's often dark subject matter, Eisener said the families of the wrestlers are often very willing to talk about the tragedies. "They're always pretty open and their perspectives are, I find, the most fascinating and seeing how they kind of navigated the world of wrestling and saw what their loved ones went through," he said. Wrestler Maddison Miles has been wrestling for close to a decade and has done matches in 11 countries, including Mexico, Germany and Australia. The 25-year-old lives in Dartmouth and recently watched the show for the first time. She was impressed. "It's not put out there to make the industry look God awful ... all these performers are people just like you and me," she said. "You know, everyone has lives, everyone goes through difficult times, and it's just kind of showing the fans what really happens on the other side of the curtain." Where the themes of the show are universal, Dark Side of the Ring can be enjoyed by non-wrestling fans. Eisener said that when he started working on the show, he never thought it would last six seasons. But he said he and Husney are not running out of ideas. Another encounter with Skinner Skinner was interviewed for one episode. Eisener wasn't there, but the crew asked Skinner if he remembered the encounter in Halifax. Skinner said he did — and he had a message for Eisener. "They filmed him cutting a promo on me now being like, 'I remember you from back then and I'm still going to skin you,'" said Eisener.

Eddie Gilbert Would Do Anything To Get A Wrestling Angle Over, But Sometimes Fans Go Too Far
Eddie Gilbert Would Do Anything To Get A Wrestling Angle Over, But Sometimes Fans Go Too Far

Yahoo

time29-04-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Yahoo

Eddie Gilbert Would Do Anything To Get A Wrestling Angle Over, But Sometimes Fans Go Too Far

Eddie Gilbert had a very close call with a crazed fan. Gilbert is the subject of this week's new episode of Dark Side of the Ring. WrestleZone is proud to present an exclusive sneak peek of this week's show. Advertisement Here, Eddie's brother and partner, Doug Gilbert, recalled Eddie's desire to get pro wrestling angles over by any means. Archived footage of Eddie saying he'd go to jail to get a storyline over is shown before Doug recalls having a butcher knife pulled on them by a crazed fan. Dark Side of the Ring: Eddie Gilbert airs on VICE on Tuesday, April 29 at 10 pm EST. Read More: Dark Side Of The Ring: Evan Husney Highlights Which 'Compelling' Episode Deserves A Second Look The post Eddie Gilbert Would Do Anything To Get A Wrestling Angle Over, But Sometimes Fans Go Too Far appeared first on Wrestlezone.

JBL Shoots Down Long-Standing Rumor About The Infamous WWE ‘Plane Ride From Hell'
JBL Shoots Down Long-Standing Rumor About The Infamous WWE ‘Plane Ride From Hell'

Yahoo

time27-03-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Yahoo

JBL Shoots Down Long-Standing Rumor About The Infamous WWE ‘Plane Ride From Hell'

Photo Credit: TNA One of the most popular wrestling stories outside the squared circle is the infamous 'Plane Ride From Hell.' It has been discussed by fans for years, and it was more recently the subject of an episode of Dark Side of the Ring. Recently, WWE Hall of Famer JBL opened up about the plane ride. While speaking on the Something to Wrestle podcast with Conrad Thompson, JBL shared that some details from the Plane Ride From Hell story have been conflated a lot. Advertisement 'They do [some of the stories about the Plane Ride From Hell get conflated]. I think it has been brought out that Vince [McMahon] and Linda [McMahon] were not on the plane. That they were not. And I think in the Dark Side they said they were. They conflated the stories. What they did was that they had conflated some stories. We've had some crazy plane rides. That was not the worst by the way. And it was pretty close. But it wasn't. 'We've had some that were much worse than that. And not bragging about that. That's just a fact of life that things were wild back then. It was like, you talk about the 80's and 90's, the Rock and Roll and sports. Things were different back then. Look at North Dallas 40 as compared now to the NFL. That's the same progression you see in wrestling. Vince and Linda weren't on the flight. And people had brought that up. 'People had brought up the fact, a lot of stuff… Vince and Curt [Hennig] had gotten into a wrestling match. I don't know if they had it on Dark Side of The Ring. I didn't watch the whole thing, I watched most of it… On a different flight. They conflated a lot of different flights.' JBL reveals what sparked up the 'Plane Ride From Hell' JBL says the 'fight' between Brock Lesnar and Curt Hennig started over Curt pranking a sleeping Brock by putting shaving cream in his hand. Bradshaw also said he was right near the pair when they started fighting. One element of the story implied Brock and Curt almost knocked the emergency door open, but JBL says that was not the case. Advertisement 'Brock obviously handled him pretty well. Curt's a tough guy but Brock's a different level. And Curt said, 'Okay, you're the toughest guy in wrestling. I'm the second toughest.' And Curt had boots on, Brock was barefoot, and Curt stomped him with his heel on Brock's barefoot and Brock goes… And throws him over his head. But my opinion, there was never a concern about them going through the emergency exit. Never. Not one. I was standing right beside it. 'The Captain didn't come back, 'Oh my god! You are going to go out the emergency exit.' None of that happened. If people had watched it and they have a different view of that and they thought there was a chance they're going through, I can't read minds. But I was standing right there. And as far as the group that I was standing with, nobody was concerned they were going to go through the exit or anything like that. They were just wrestling. They were playing.' Curt Hennig was ultimately released by WWE due to his role in the Plane Ride From Hell. He went on to use his takedown of Lesnar as bragging rights in promos, referring to himself as 'the guy who took down Brock Lesnar at 35,000 feet' on multiple occasions. JBL is convinced the only reason the Plane Ride From Hell is famous is because it was stooged 'It was stooged. It was the only one that was stooged. I've been on some… I'm telling you, Mr. Brisco and I told a story about when we went to Europe. He had to pay for us not to be thrown off the plane. He literally had to pay cash to bribe a pilot to not throw us off the plane. There was a knife stuck in one of the walls of the lavatory. People got into a food fight, it was a disaster. It was a commercial flight. Advertisement 'I've been on private flights that were, brother there were Colombian Cartels that had fewer illegal things in it than those flights had. And again, I'm not bragging. That was life back then. It was wild. And the plane ride over was, I thought wilder than the one coming back. The difference was, this one got stooged. So, we went through customs and went… Did all the stuff we do. Michael Hayes did get his haircut. I punched Michael. Did not knock Michael out.' JBL went on to detail the fight between himself and Hayes, reiterating that the only reason it got attention is because someone 'stooged' it to the media. Dark Side of the Ring co-creator Evan Husney spoke with WrestleZone about another infamous event in WWE history, the Hell In A Cell match between Mick Foley and The Undertaker. The match is the subject of a season six episode of the show, and Husney also believes the match is worthy of its own WWE Hall of Fame induction. If you use this transcription, credit the source, H/T WrestleZone and link to this post. The post JBL Shoots Down Long-Standing Rumor About The Infamous WWE 'Plane Ride From Hell' appeared first on Wrestlezone.

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