Ric Flair to be inducted into NWA Hall of Fame - will be absent from ceremony

I was excited last week when I read that Ric Flair was going to be inducted into the NWA Hall of Fame. Before I explain that, though, a history lesson:

Prior to Ted Turner's buyout of Jim Crockett promotions in the late-1980s, and Vince McMahon's transformation of the WWE into a national and then international juggernaut, pro wrestling (emphasis on the PRO WRESTLING - ie, not sports entertainment) in North America was essentially a territorial system established based on gentlemen's agreements and handshakes. Each promoter had a certain area of the country to tour, and in which to televise his (emphasis on HIS) product, and no promoter would encroach on each other's territory. They all recognized one world champion, who would tour from promotion to promotion within the NWA system.

Vince McMahon's WWE - then Capitol Wrestling - was a part of this system. When Vince McMahon Sr., however, recognized a different champion from the rest of the NWA, he broke away, establishing the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF - which would later become the WWF, currently WWE). But even then he was respectful of the handshake agreements established, never travelling far from his territory and still holding an NWA membership, albeit not recognizing their champion. When his son, Vince Jr., took over in the 1980s, he began buying TV spots in other territories, bought up promotions like they were going out of style, and created Wrestlemania, perhaps THE household name of the wrestling world. But the NWA still stood strong as his opposition, with Ric Flair as its champion. He did not wrestle for Vince McMahon until he was a 41-year-old, 7-time NWA World Champion. His history is with the NWA.

However, due to fallings out with the promotion when it essentially conglomorated into WCW, and the ensuing management thereof, and its eventual demise (WCW was purchased by Vince McMahon in 2001) Ric Flair ended his career this year at 57 years old with Vince's WWE, with whom he has had an excellent relationship since working there from 1991-1994, and returning in 2002. The problem with this being, Vince is very protective of the exclusivity of his product. Therefore, as I said at the top of this article, when the NWA (now a much more ... streamlined ... association of smaller independent feds) announced they were inducting Ric Flair into their Hall of Fame, I was excited - albeit a bit surprised that Vince and co. were letting him participate. Unfortunately, however, they have changed their minds. Per NWA executive Robert K. Trobich's statement:

I am deeply sorry that Ric will not be in Atlanta for the Hall of Fame ceremony. Ric was very honored to be recognized by the NWA and wanted to be in Atlanta to thank his fans. Unfortunately, the WWE refused to allow him to be there. It is truly a sad action on their part, as the main people injured by the WWE's seeming petulance is the wrestling fans.

Nonetheless, Ric Flair was a legend in the NWA long before the WWE was anything other than a regional promotion in the northeast. As such, Ric will still be a member of the 2008 class. He has earned that honor, and we intend to bestow it upon him.

To which all I can say is - shame on you WWE. Trobich is absolutely right that only Ric's fans will suffer for this pettiness. Trobich's NWA is no competition, nor will it be anytime soon, to Vince McMahon's WWE; as conglomoration of local promotions, too many egos are at stake for it to even match up with TNA - which was an NWA satellite until it left last year feeling it had outgrown the NWA. This was an easy way to be magnanimous, get some good PR, and do what you say is your only desire with things like $1,000,000 give aways - put smiles on your fans faces. Shame on you Vince McMahon.