WWE star Charlotte Flair opens up on ‘hardest year’ since brother’s death-Alistair McGeorge-Entertainment – Metro

Charlotte Flair is weeks away from an epic WrestleMania comeback after the ‘hardest year’ of her life since 2013.

The 38-year-old superstar, the daughter of WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair, returned to action in January after a devastating injury left her on the shelf for over a year while it was reported she also got divorced from fellow wrestler Andrade.

She exclusively told Metro: ‘It was the hardest year I’ve ever had since my brother passed away, and I wouldn’t change anything. It made me realise that I would choose this path again and again and again.

‘It gave me clarity. It gave me perspective. And to go through some of the things that I went through, I think, gives Charlotte a little more edge, a little more “this is why.” ‘

Charlotte’s brother Reid Flair, who chased his own wrestling dream but missed out on a WWE developmental deal due to his personal struggles, died from an overdose aged 25 in March 2013.

It was her sibling’s setbacks that inspired her to follow in her dad Ric’s footsteps in 2012, even after growing up watching wrestling.

Charlotte Flair has reflected on a difficult year (Picture: Andrew Timms/WWE via Getty Images)

‘But it wasn’t really something that I saw myself doing or said, “Oh, I’m gonna do that,”‘ she recalled.

‘It wasn’t really until 2012 when I wanted to help my little brother, who had a drug addiction, and all the stars were aligning, and because of his dream, and ended up my dream.

‘So it’s much deeper than like, “Oh, your dad’s a wrestler. I wanted to be a wrestler”. Like, I really thought I was going to get into PR! That was my degree.’

Despite the family name, it’s not always been an easy ride for the 14-time world champion, and 2024 was another difficult year for the Queen.

‘2024 tried to kick my ass. And I owned it. For me, since I’ve been on Raw and SmackDown and debuted, this will be my eighth WrestleMania, and I’ve only missed two,’ she pointed out.

Charlotte brother Reid Flair died aged 25 in 2013 (Picture: Pro Wrestling Wiki)

‘One was for having Covid, and now my knee injury, and for some reason, the knee injury feels a little more personal.’

Speaking of personal, a lot has been said about her recent verbal back-and-forth with WWE Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton, who will put the gold on the line against Charlotte in Las Vegas next month.

The promo battle a week ago sparked raised eyebrows with fans as Charlotte laid into the relative rookie, showing her experience as Tiffany appeared shaken by her blunt remarks.

‘I have learned that I am someone that Tiffany looked up to,’ she said, revealing why she went in so strongly. ‘So for me, if I am the Charlotte Flair that she looked up to, the Charlotte Flair that she wanted to be like, then there is no way that Charlotte Flair is going to take it easy on anyone.’

And she compared it to her own 2019 SummerSlam match with Trish Stratus, when she felt pressure to match the Hall of Famer’s expectations of her.

The Queen compared her current storyline to her own clash with Trish Stratus (Picture: WWE)

‘All I could think about was, “I have to be as good as she thinks I am to come back. I have to be that good, because she thinks I’m that good, so I have to believe that,”‘ she said of the Trish match.

‘So in this situation [with Tiffany] – by no means is my career near its end. But for me, I am Charlotte Flair. I am the end all, be all of women’s wrestling. That is how I approached that interview.’

There is a fire lit under Charlotte since returning, and she’s determined to reclaim her spot as world champion despite knowing some fans expected her to be less than and older’ after her injury.

‘Understandably so, because I could have had a career ending injury, and I really have had the opportunity to do it all,’ she acknowledged.

‘Yes, maybe [I’m] older, but still, WrestleMania is my domain. This is my eighth WrestleMania, and I’m not going anywhere.’

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