Ric Flair Sends Message to WWE After Charlotte Flair's WrestleMania 42 Match

Brian MaziqueThu, April 23, 2026 at 4:56 AM UTC

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How did you feel about the women's tag-team championship match at WrestleMania 42? Well, Ric Flair didn't like it at all. Flair was a guest on the Ariel Helwani Show on Wednesday and he didn't hide his dislike for the match or the way the WWE is currently using his daughter Charlotte Flair in storylines.

What Did Flair Say About Charlotte's Match?

"I didn't like her match at all, and I think that Ashley needs to be a singles wrestler, and I know she enjoys her relationship with Alexa, but if Ashley is not in a title picture right now, in my life and as a spectator, without her in the main event in a singles match," Flair said when he was asked about his daughter's match.

https://youtube.com/shorts/-1pSRQEYTu8?si=Kfl_Xy_SM2z08H1G

The match in question was the Women's Tag Team Championship Fatal Four-Way, where Charlotte and Alexa Bliss came up short against Brie Bella and the returning Paige. The bout ran roughly eight minutes — a length that drew its own share of fan criticism.

Where Should Charlotte Go From Here?

I agree with Flair on the match. It wasn't great. However, I love Charlotte in her current program with Alexa Bliss. Nothing lasts forever, but she seems happy and that's important – especially at this point in her career.

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The Charlotte and Alexa pairing has on-screen chemistry that doesn't always show up in WWE women's tag teams, and there's a real story there even if it doesn't end in a title run. That said, Rhea Ripley sitting on the SmackDown Women's Championship after WrestleMania 42 makes the singles move an obvious option whenever WWE wants to pull the trigger.

Why Is Flair So Vocal About This Right Now?

Flair has been especially combative with WWE for the last few years. He has had issues with TKO CEO Nick Khan and Flair claims he wasn't invited to WrestleMania 42 because he threatened Ludwig Kaiser. There's a lot going on here.

The Charlotte critique came in the same Helwani sit-down where Flair floated the idea of Tony Khan one day buying WWE. When you stack that against the recent Roots of Fight blocking and the all-caps social media response that followed, Flair's pattern is hard to miss — he's using every available platform to push back at WWE.

What's Likely Next for Charlotte on SmackDown?

It wouldn't be a shock to see Charlotte heading back to singles. If that does happen, it would be better if she and Alexa split amicably or if Alexa turned on her. If Charlotte turns heel, it will create a level of heat that might not be good for Charlotte overall.

A clean Alexa heel turn opens up a tag-to-singles transition without putting Charlotte in a spot her fanbase doesn't want to see her in. From there, the Ripley match writes itself — and based on what Flair told Helwani, that's exactly the program he's pushing WWE to book.

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Apr 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the Wrestling section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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Source: “AOL Sports”