According to Flair, good professional wrestling managers put heat on the in-ring performers, not themselves.
“I think [managers] are good in the [professional wrestling] business if they understand the boundaries and their place.” Flair added, “I just feel like the people doing all the work in the ring should be having all the heat put on them.”
Flair criticized the role Paul Heyman plays as Brock Lesnar’s so-called advocate to the extent that Heyman puts heat on himself, but tends not to get physical for a payoff.
“I don’t like that Paul talks for Brock because, to me, that heat goes on Paul. Does that make sense? I just think if you look back on a guy who talks a lot like Bobby Heenan, well, Bobby Heenan had a ton of heat on him, but he got the crap beat out of him. And Paul, I don’t think he [has] been passed, physically, to be taking bumps.”
Although ‘Naitch’ was critical of Heyman acting as Lesnar’s mouthpiece, Flair stated that he would welcome the opportunity to be Cesaro’s manager.
“I would love that role, but I verbally said that because I don’t think they think he is strong on the mic, but he is certainly strong in the ring. In my opinion, you could make Cesaro a contender that people believe in, right off the bat, for Brock Lesnar. Within one month, you could get him that hot. Hey, don’t be surprised if it’s a SummerSlam match. When that kid comes back, man, I know they’re going to reassess the way they were using him and if they’re going to put a big push on him. He [has] gotten over with the fans anyway. He [has] gotten over huge. He has a huge following. But if he had someone talking for him in the role of being a bad guy, he could be huge, I think.”
On the topic of CM Punk’s acrimonious split from WWE, Flair claimed that he could not see Triple H or WWE’s Senior Ringside Physician, Dr. Chris Amann, doing anything to hurt performers.
“I thought [Punk] was a good performer. I don’t know if I’d call him ‘great’, but I thought he was good.” Flair continued, “I just know he left here in a lot of controversy and it seemed to affect AJ [Lee]’s run here too. I don’t really know. There [are] so many sides to the story. I just know that Hunter is arguably my best friend aside from [WOOOOO! Nation co-host Conrad Thompson] and I can’t see Hunter doing anything to hurt anybody. And I know Dr. Amann. I can’t see Dr. Amann putting someone in a position to get hurt, so that’s all I can say. Hunter certainly wouldn’t do anything to screw him. What does Hunter gain by screwing anybody, right? I don’t think he has to worry about going anywhere.”
As for whether Triple H buries talent, which is a popular sentiment within the Internet Wrestling Community, Flair argued to the contrary.
“I say ‘bulls–t’ to that. He [doesn’t] bury anybody. He doesn’t have to. It doesn’t make sense.” Flair added, “if you are the best, all you got to do is go out to the ring and be the best. Does that make sense? Nobody can hold back your talent if you’re in the ring. If someone said, ‘I’m not going to give you the chance to get in the ring’, then, they’re holding you back. If they’re letting you get in the ring, you can simply distinguish yourself from your opponent or anybody else around.”
