The Final Cut

Legacy Talent, which represents Ric Flair, issued the following press release:

TNA IMPACT WRESTLING Star Ric Flair® to Attend WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Flair Confirms He Will be Present in Miami When the Four Horsemen Receive Their Hall of Fame Honor

CHARLOTTE, NC – (March 27, 2012) International celebrity the Nature Boy® Ric Flair is set to become the only wrestler in history to be inducted into the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Hall of Fame twice. Flair’s dominant 1980s wrestling group, the Four Horsemen, known to be the greatest in ring performers of all time, will be granted their seat in the Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Miami, FL on March 31st, the day before Wrestlemania XXVIII. Flair will be inducted along-side fellow members of the Four Horsemen: Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Barry Windham, and J.J. Dillon.

The news of Flair’s second induction was followed by a firestorm of controversy. Questions flew about whether Flair would attend the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony as he is currently under contract with Total Nonstop Action (TNA) Wrestling. Understanding what a huge honor this is for Flair, TNA is graciously supporting him in the decision to attend the Hall of Fame ceremony alongside his fellow inductees.

“Being inducted once was one of the greatest accomplishments of my career, so I’m humbled and honored to be recognized again. I wouldn’t miss the ceremony for the world,” says Flair.

TNA President Dixie Carter says, “We are proud of Ric’s many accomplishments and contributions he has made to the world of professional wrestling and beyond. We wish to congratulate him on yet another honor he truly deserves.”

Flair, a 16-time World Heavyweight Champion, was inducted individually into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2008. On becoming a two-time inductee his agent Melinda Morris Zanoni of Legacy Talent and Entertainment says, “We are all so proud to be watching Ric continue to make history. There will never be an athlete more deserving of wearing two Hall of Fame rings than Ric Flair.”

For more information on Ric Flair go to www.ricflair.com, follow him on Facebook: Ric Flair, The Nature Boy, or on Twitter: @RicFlairNatrBoy. Flair is currently with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. TNA airs Thursday nights (9/8c) on Spike TV with monthly 3-hour Per-Per-View events.

WWE.com announced Tuesday afternoon that Ric Flair will be present at the 2012 WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Miami’s American Airlines Arena on Saturday.

“The Nature Boy,” who was originally inducted as a singles wrestler in 2008, will enter the Hall a record second time alongside fellow Four Horsemen Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Barry Windham and JJ Dillon. The story does not mention whether he will appear onstage, nor that he is affiliated to TNA Wrestling.

F4WOnline.com reported last week that TNA Wrestling was open to Flair appearing at the event and that they weren’t asking for for much in compensation.

The induction ceremony will air on USA on Monday, April 2 at 8 p.m.

- As seen on last night’s WWE RAW Supershow, WWE aired the second teaser video for the arrival of a new character – Lord Tensai, who is Matt “A-Train” Bloom.

Tensai appeared in the new video with an unnamed servant. WWE’s website posted the following translations of the Japanese phrases that were shown during the vignette:

“It was said he would find himself in a faraway land.”

“Lord Tensai will strike.”

“Lord Tensai draws near.”

“Lord Tensai approaches. Beware!”

- WWE Studios’ Bending the Rules with Edge and Jamie Kennedy hits stores on DVD today.

- The updated list of names for Sean Waltman and Kevin Nash’s WrestleMania party this Friday night at Oceans Ten in Miami includes Diamond Dallas Page, Sunny, Rikishi, The Headbangers, David Hart Smith, Rob Terry and Robbie E.

- As we have noted, former WWE Diva Torrie Wilson and her boyfriend Alex Rodriguez will be attending WrestleMania 28 in Miami, with Torrie live blogging on her social media accounts. Torrie and A-Rod will indeed be sitting ringside.

- F4Wonline.com reports that Brock Lesnar is at least interested in a match against The Undertaker or Steve Austin for WrestleMania 29.

- JBL wrote the following about inducting Ron Simmons into the WWE Hall of Fame this weekend:

“There’s only two problems with me inducting Ron into HOF this weekend in Miami. Do you really think Miami is read for an APA reunion and I better have an hour to tell all the stories I want to tell about our travels!! Seriously, one of greatest honors of my life-can’t wait to induct my best friend!”

- Diamond Dallas Page was reportedly backstage at last night’s WWE RAW Supershow from Atlanta.

- While they did not appear on last night’s RAW Supershow, Shawn Michaels and Triple H appeared at the end of the SmackDown tapings in an off-camera segment. DX came out and interrupted a Jinder Mahal promo. They goofed around before laying out Mahal with Sweet Chin Music and a Pedigree.