Charlotte Flair will defend the WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship against Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 39, and ahead of the match, “The Queen” reflected on her legacy.
Flair missed several months after she lost the SmackDown Women’s Championship to Ronda Rousey at WWE WrestleMania Backlash 2022. She made her stunning return on the December 30 episode of WWE SmackDown and defeated Rousey in an impromptu match to regain the gold.
In an interview with Jonathan Snowden of The Ringer, Flair described how, once she returned to WWE at the end of 2022, she felt that her legacy was set in stone. According to the reigning champion, she feels her long list of accolades speaks for itself.
“When I came back, I was like, ‘OK, my legacy is cemented,’” Flair said. “My résumé speaks for itself. I’m not saying just because I’m the 14-time champion. In order to accomplish what I have accomplished, I never slowed down. I kept pushing and I was consistent and I kept delivering over and over and over.
“That’s why I kept getting opportunity after opportunity after opportunity. They trusted me. Now I’m, I guess you could say, quote unquote, ‘the veteran.’ The expectation to perform at that level and to help the up-and-comers means I have to be on point. You can’t have an off night.”
Despite the fact that she feels secure in her accomplishments, Flair also knows that the proverbial clock on her career is always ticking. It’s something that she is always thinking about, but not something that she necessarily concerns herself with.
“Is it something that I actively think about? Yes, every day,” Flair said. “I think about the number because I want to have a family,” said Flair. “Maybe I’m a little overly confident. But there’s not one girl in that locker room or down at NXT [better] athletically conditioned as an in-ring performer.
“I don’t feel like I miss a beat athletically in the ring. That doesn’t make me think about my age. What makes me think about my age is, well, I want one or two or three kids. But that has to take a back seat.”
WrestleZone will have coverage of WWE WrestleMania 39 on April 1 and 2.
