WWE Set Up Ric Flair’s Pre-Game Pep Talk With the San Francisco 49ers

WWE set up Ric Flair’s pre-game pep talk with the San Francisco 49ers on Jan. 4. A press release sent out by Legacy Talent and Entertainment, Flair’s representatives, on Jan. 9 claims that Flair was sent to Green Bay, Wis. by WWE officials to hype up the 49ers before their play-off game with the Green Bay Packers due to the relationship WWE is cultivating with San Francisco. The new home for the 49ers, Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., will play home to WrestleMania 31 as well.

The press release states that with Flair will not be attending the Carolina Panthers vs. San Francisco 49ers show-down on Jan. 12. Many other Panthers fans, supporters, and players looked down on the North Carolina native for showing any kind of support to any team that was not Carolina. The press release claims that Flair was merely acting on behalf of WWE, and engaging in the PR that they had requested of him to do.

The press release reads as follows:

Ric Flair® Will Not Attend Playoff Game in Carolina

CHARLOTTE, NC – (January 9, 2014) He’s always been the “dirtiest player in the game” – and some things never change.

A long time Carolina Panthers fan, Ric Flair created quite the stir when WWE sent him to Green Bay, WI January 5th to give the San Francisco 49ers an unexpected locker room pep talk. WWE is hosting WrestleMania XXXI in San Francisco in 2015. Now many are asking: Will Flair attend the January 12th playoff game in Carolina as they host San Francisco? And if so, which team will he support?

“When the 49ers reached out and WWE asked Ric to jet up there, of course he said yes,” says Melinda Morris Zanoni, Flair’s agent at Legacy Talent and Entertainment, “and he’s friends with a bunch of the 49ers just like he is with the Panthers, Packers, and many other NFL players. But no, Ric does not intend on attending the Panthers vs. 49ers game this weekend.” “What can I say? I’ve always been a very good heel!” added Flair.

The 49er pep talk, which instantly went viral, caused many Carolina fans to voice their feelings of anger and betrayal on social media – some even offering death threats to Flair. “We know fans are passionate about their teams, but some of the choice language we have been receiving is scaring off our interns,” says Melinda.