Charlotte Flair discusses her return to WWE.
On the December 30 episode of WWE SmackDown, Flair shockingly confronted SmackDown Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey and beat her in an impromptu match for the title. In doing so, she ended her lengthy absence, as she hadn’t been seen since Rousey dethroned her at WWE WrestleMania Backlash on May 8.
During an appearance on the January 4 episode of WWE’s The Bump, Flair shared her thoughts on her return and stated stated that, despite her long time away, it felt like she never left. She made it clear that she was touched by the crowd’s positive response on Friday, as seeing that the fans were happy to see her made “The Queen” emotional.
“It’s kind of surreal. I mean I was gone for eight months, and then to be back, here I am in my office, holding the title, it feels like I never left, really,” Flair said. “I was sincerely so touched by the fan reaction on Friday. I done a lot of things in my career, but to see the smiles and the cheers, and the reception that I received when I came back, I was just thinking to myself, any time I’ve ever thought negative or ‘Do I still have it,’ I know I always have it, but it was just very rewarding after this journey that I’ve had for ten years.
“Being in the audience, which I’ve never done before, like I’ve been in the audience, but I’m usually kicking someone’s butt, but here I was holding the title in Tampa, where my career started full circle, and being back after eight months, it really made me emotional.”
Flair went on to explain that the crowd’s reception showed her body of work had been appreciated by the WWE Universe. She also noted that her legacy is cemented now, so she doesn’t worry as much about the things that she used to.
“I think after being gone for eight months, the things that I worried about before, I don’t worry about as much,” Flair said. “My legacy is cemented now, and I think moving forward, I’ve always been so serious. I’m very serious about the champion, about [having] the title and progressing, and never resting or coasting or being complacent, but it let me know that everyone had appreciated what I’ve done leading up to being back after eight months. It meant a lot to me.”
The champion then emphasized that she enjoyed being able to be herself upon her return, rather than playing an arrogant character, and she enjoyed getting cheered. She pointed out that some fans might have taken her for granted in the past due to her constant presence and recurring success, but she was “blown away” by the crowd’s response/
“It’s not that I was nervous. I was just enjoying the moment of the fans being excited to have me back,” Flair said. “Seeing everyone cheer, I was just blown away. I’m usually not in that role to where everyone is just so excited to see me because I’ve never [been] away, I’ve never had a break. I’ve always [been] just go, go, go, consistency, dedication, passion. I feel like because I was so consistent [with] my skill, my talent, my presence, was kind of taken for granted.
“To come back and be in the audience and just see so many faces, and not just so many happy faces, and not just boos or having to be arrogant, just being me, I was enjoying the moment as not feeling like I had to put on my armor and be arrogant or bossy about what I’ve done. I was just literally in the moment.” [H/T Fightful for the transcription.]
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