Ric Flair has responded to recent comments from Bret Hart that compared his in-ring style to Gunther’s. During an interview with The Escapist Magazine, Flair acknowledged Hart’s praise of his technical abilities but firmly dismissed the comparison to the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion, suggesting the two are not on the same level.
Flair elaborated on his position, giving his assessment of Gunther’s presentation while questioning the direct comparison to his own body of work.
“For Gunther, I haven’t watched him enough, but what they find fascinating about Gunther is his look,” Flair said. “He has a tremendous look… But if you’re comparing him to me, come on, there’s levels to the game.”
The conversation started after Hart drew parallels between his own style and that of Flair and Gunther, specifically noting their shared use of chops and overall technical mastery in the ring.
The wide-ranging interview also saw Flair address his professional chemistry with another WWE Hall of Famer, Randy Savage. When asked about working together, Flair was blunt, stating, “No, we had terrible chemistry.”
He explained that their different philosophies on match preparation were the primary issue. “He wanted to rehearse and I didn’t rehearse. I only did it for WrestleMania… that just wasn’t my style. You have to feel the crowd.”
Flair also offered his perspective on the current WWE product, specifically defending the work of head of creative Paul “Triple H” Levesque. He identified the integration of talent from NXT to the main roster as the single biggest obstacle Levesque faces, a point that echoes fan criticism about performers like Carmelo Hayes struggling to gain momentum after a call-up.
“Well, I think Triple H is doing a fabulous job,” Flair stated. “I think the hardest thing for Triple H right now is trying to validate that fortune they spent on the NXT because they got so many people coming over… When you’re on live TV, you get one shot. You better do something to catch somebody’s eye or you won’t be there next week.”