Charlotte Flair has released a lengthy retrospective on The Players’ Tribune covering various aspects of her career, including her reaction to a heavily debated segment with Tiffany Stratton.
The piece covers Flair’s handling of her brother’s passing in March 2013 and her subsequent pursuit of a professional wrestling career. Flair isolates various highs and lows from her wrestling career throughout the years, involving big matches, her devastating knee injury last year, and the burden of her flawless on-screen presentation juxtaposed with a more vulnerable Ashley Fliehr.
In the lead-up to their match at WrestleMania 41, there were several contentious segments, beginning with a face-to-face segment on a split screen where Flair continually spoke over Stratton. Their next meeting inside the ring was the most discussed as Stratton acknowledged Flair’s multiple divorces.
Flair shared her real-time reaction in the Players’ Tribune piece:
And I think in those times when people have seen me appear rattled by the booing, those are just the times when I’ve felt like — at least for a moment — the boos aren’t for Charlotte. They’re for Ashley. They’re for me. They’re because of the way I look. Or because of the energy I’m giving off as a woman. Or because of real trauma I’ve gone through in real life. So when it got mentioned in Chicago that I have an “0–3 record at marriages” … yeah, it rocked me legit. I’m not too proud to tell you that. I don’t need everyone thinking I’m playing 5-D chess all of the time. My reaction to that line was as genuine as it gets. Because — and maybe this makes me naive — in my head?? Charlotte hasn’t been divorced. So I wasn’t expecting it to come up in that promo….. and then all of a sudden I had an entire arena cheering as I got mocked for something that was (and frankly still is) devastating to me.
Flair also shared her perspective on the way that women are still treated in the industry compared to men and the double standard as performers get older:
I’m 39. But as a female wrestler who’s pushing 40, I promise you: there are people in this industry who already consider me old. Nevermind that I’m literally younger than Cody, who is considered the face of the company, and Roman, who is probably our biggest star. Nevermind that CM Punk, who I’m seven years younger than, main-evented Night 1 of Mania … and John Cena, who I’m nine years younger than, main-evented Night 2. Nevermind that we live in an era when athletes are extending their primes for longer than ever. For men — and I say this with so much respect for the guys I just mentioned — there’s no such thing as “aging out.” For WOMEN, though?? The rules are just different. For women, as depressing as it sounds, I think a lot of people still only know ONE way to value them: as young and disposable.
The entire piece is available on The Players’ Tribune.
