Thanks to PWInsider.com’s Mike Johnson for the following:
WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair made his debut appearance for Ring of Honor tonight in the St. Louis market, doing an autograph signing and an angle with ROH champion Nigel McGuinness.
Flair came to ringside for an interview with ROH’s Dave Prazak. It was your typical Flair promo putting over the company he was appearing for, commenting that the ROH locker room would produce the next Shawn Michaels and that he and ROH were going to be great together.
ROH champ Nigel McGuinness, who Flair had commented on in a video the promotion posted on their website, came to ringside and said that he would never think to criticize Flair as a wrestler, he was a terrible husband and father. This led to a back and forth teasing that Flair would eventually manage Reid Flair in ROH against McGuinness and that Flair would see McGuinness “next week” when ROH ran in Virginia.
As it turned out, Flair saw McGuinness again before the show was over. Flair was later at ringside for McGuinness’ ROH title defense against Brent Albright. When Claudio Castagnoli interfered for a DQ finish and the heels were stomping away at Albright, Flair hit the ring for the save and raised Albright’s hand to end the show.
Multiple sources within ROH tagged tonight’s crowd at an overflowing 1,000 fans with every available seat used and tons of fans standing. It was easily the largest crowd for the company thus far in the market to the point that earlier today, there was concern they were going to have to turn fans away at the door due to lack of room in the venue.
Flair is believed to be signed to five more ROH appearances and there’s been talk of him working as a special referee down the line as well.
