Ric Flair was supposed to have wrestled in Japan last week, but he had to pull out of that match due to swelling in his leg. However, the match still had a lil' "flair' to it.
Flair's youngest son, and known legitimate child, Reid stepped into his dad's spot and teamed with Keji Mutoh(Great Muta) in a losing effort on an All-Japan Pro Wrestling show. They were defeated by Seiya Sanada and former nemesis of his dad, Tatsumi Fujinami, when he was pinned by Sanada.
This was by far Reid's most high-profile match in his career thus far.Unless you count the 2 times he appeared, in matches, during the waning days of WCW, before he was even a teenager. Reid is actually the reason Flair was fired from WCW and started the whole Flair/Bischoff hatred which was turned into an on-air angle.
Flair was a tremendous amateur wrestler in his home state of North Carolina, and won the AAU National Tournament in 1998. He also made headlines during his time as a high school juggernaut on the mat, when his opponent in one contest, taunted the lil' Naitch by doing the 'Flair strut' . Reid responded to the taunt by attacking the other party and putting a Horsemen-esque beating on him.
Reid was trained initially by Harley Race for pro wrestling, and is head and shoulders better in the ring than his older, reluctant to be in the ring, brother David. David toiled around in Indies for a while after the close of WCW and had a stint in OVW with WWE Developmental money and a short run in TNA, and now only makes periodic appearances, if that, on independent shows. David's debut was in Charleston, West Virginia. I was there.
He is most known for being Torrie Wilson and Stacey Kiebler's on air love interest,(he would later factually date Kiebler) as well as playing his mentally unstable character in a group with Daphne and Crowbar. He may actually be best known for being pummeled by the Undertaker in a segment filmed in Louisville during his time under a developmental deal with the WWE, when 'Taker and Ric Flair were in a program together. However, some fans may recall his run as Vince Russo's pseudo adopted son, and shaving his dad's hair.
David at one point also was a partner in running an independent promotion in Tennessee known as 'Iron Cross Wrestling'.
Reid bounced around various Indies for the last few years, learning his craft. He had what is his actual debut match in Charlotte, NC in 1998, teaming with his brother to take on the Nasty Boys, in a match that would see his dad interfere and Hulk Hogan serve as special referee. He spent time in the short-lived NWA Charlotte (around the same time Richie Steamboat was there, too), Riki Nelson's MACW, and teamed with another 80's wrestler's son, George South, Jr. and participated in the Anderson Brothers Classic in 2010. He also competed in Lucha Libre USA.
Flair was initially rumored to be close to inking a TNA developmental deal, before his dad left the company. Now, Flair has begun training in the All-Japan Pro Dojo, and will be wrestling on their upcoming tour. He already has the pedigree in name and DNA, and it looks like he is going to soon be one of the better trained stars to come about in years with his recent Japanese pilgrimage to go along with the training he has already received.
You may recall, as well, that Reid was arrested a few years back when he crashed his car and found to be in possession of heroin in 2009, after he had already been pulled over for reckless and impaired driving earlier that year. He was also arrested in 2007 and charged with assault.
Reid's sister Ashley is currently signed to WWE to a developmental deal, where she goes under the name 'Charlotte'. Aside from Race and All-Japan Dojo instructors, Flair has been trained by his father, George South, and Terry Taylor.
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| Not the most recent pic of 'The little Dragon" |
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