Current WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Charlotte Flair revealed she once pitched a different ring name before her debut. Speaking on the Post Run High show, she explained that her preferred choice was Elizabeth Reid. WWE management, however, declined and went with Charlotte instead.
The name held deep personal meaning for Flair, whose real name is Ashley Elizabeth Fliehr. Elizabeth Reid was designed to honor two figures: the legendary valet Miss Elizabeth and her younger brother, Reid Flair, who passed away in 2013.
“I pitched a few names,” Flair said. “I pitched Elizabeth Reid. I loved Miss Elizabeth, and then my little brother’s name was Reid. But they were like, ‘No, your dad’s from Charlotte. We’ll name you Charlotte.’”
WWE’s decision tied her character to her father, two-time Hall of Famer Ric Flair, who was billed from Charlotte, North Carolina. The company initially tried to separate her identity from his by presenting her in NXT as simply Charlotte.
The Flair surname was not added until several years into her main roster career. “When I first started, I wasn’t Charlotte Flair,” she noted. “They didn’t attach my last name until, like, four or five years later.”
Despite the changes, Flair has built one of the most decorated résumés in company history, with 14 WWE Women’s World Championship reigns. Her recent revelation comes as she and Alexa Bliss continue to defend the Women’s Tag Team Titles. On the September 26 edition of SmackDown, the champions were confronted by NXT’s Sol Ruca and Zaria, who demanded a future title shot.