Out of a coma and, apparently, into court.
Legendary pro wrestler Ric Flair of Atlanta, who was in the hospital, on life support, earlier this year, is now as combative as ever, and is ready to take his now-former manager to the mat.
It’s a dispute over money.
And, when the management company heard Flair's public complaints, accused Flair of defamation.
Flair, with help from his attorneys at their Midtown Atlanta law firm, is going to battle over money that Flair says his now-former manager owes him.
TMZ Sports broke the story, reporting that Flair is accusing his management company of withholding tens of thousands of dollars from him. Flair says he earned the money from ESPN Sports for its “30 for 30” special about him, and from an unrelated commercial endorsement deal.
Flair’s Atlanta Attorney Alan Clarke confirmed to 11Alive News that the lawsuit was filed in North Carolina, where the management company, Legacy Talent and Entertainment, is headquartered.
The Atlanta attorney for Legacy Talent and Entertainment--which represented Flair for years until last month--says Flair’s claims and accusations are false and defamatory.
“The money that’s owed to him will be disbursed to him,” said Darryl Cohen.
Cohen says ever since Flair was released from the hospital, the two sides have been negotiating in good faith about how much money Flair has coming to him.
“All of a sudden, when he woke up from his coma, he decided he needed the money and needed it now,” Cohen said. “Now, you need to know that Ric has a problem with money. He’s got ex-wives who are owed money.”
Cohen says one of the greatest pro-wrestlers of all time, now 68, is turning on his old friends.
“The sad thing is, his manager loved him, and still does like him,” Cohen said. “He wants nothing but the best for him. But he has just gone off the deep end and gone nuclear.... They want the best for him, but they cannot be bullied.”
Cohen's law firm is preparing a defamation lawsuit against Flair, and is demanding he retract his accusations.
Alan Clarke said late Friday that Flair wanted to keep the dispute "professional, but unfortunately [his former manager] came out and attacked him in the media, and has been making some disparaging comments, and we just hope to try this in the court and keep it professional... This is the kind of behavior that he wanted to get away from, having his own, former manager, former attorney, to trash-talk him in such a manner," with lies.
