WWE’s Charlotte Flair has published an article in The Players’ Tribune titled: How Am I Going to Be Charlotte Flair Today? She has shared this on her social media and it is pretty raw and personal about her memories and adversities.
In the very personal article, Flair discusses gender and age when it comes to the wrestling industry. She starts this section off by saying “I’m old.”
The 39 year old talent continues,
“Not really, of course. I’m 39. But as a female wrestler who’s pushing 40, I promise you: there are people in this industry who already consider me old. Nevermind that I’m literally younger than Cody, who is considered the face of the company, and Roman, who is probably our biggest star. Nevermind that CM Punk, who I’m seven years younger than, main-evented Night 1 of Mania … and John Cena, who I’m nine years younger than, main-evented Night 2. Nevermind that we live in an era when athletes are extending their primes for longer than ever. For men — and I say this with so much respect for the guys I just mentioned — there’s no such thing as “aging out.” For WOMEN, though?? The rules are just different. For women, as depressing as it sounds, I think a lot of people still only know ONE way to value them: as young and disposable.
And I think you see that in the women’s stories that are allowed to be told.“
This is a must read, and it also includes her thankfulness to the women she has worked with.
And I think the REASON this last decade of women’s wrestling has been so special to me … well, the answer won’t shock you: It’s all the amazing women I’ve worked with.
She goes on to thank Paige, Natalya, Nikki Bella, Asuka, Ronda Rousey, Bianca Belair, Trish and Lita, and Stephanie McMahon. She also adds in The Four Horsewomen.
“And last but not least, obviously: The Four Horsewomen. The thing about the Horsewomen is — we never even did The Match. Me vs. Mercedes vs. Becky vs. Bayley, on the main roster, is still to this day probably the biggest-money women’s wrestling match that you could book. And I do think one day it’ll happen. But I also think the fact that it hasn’t happened, and yet we’re all still so intertwined with each other’s careers, it just speaks to the uniqueness of our impact, and our connection. It speaks to the way that, while there have always been cool stories to tell within the Horsewomen, the coolest story has always been the one of the Horsewomen.
We’ve definitely had our ups and downs over the years. I won’t pretend we’re best friends…… or that we’re all even friends at the moment. I won’t pretend there’s a 4HW group chat I’ll send this article to when it publishes. And thinking about it that way, it does make me sad sometimes. But I also think it’s part of life, you know? Especially at the highest levels of professional competition. And on a professional level?? The respect between the four of us is absolute — and the bonds we share are f***ing indestructible. There’s not another person alive who knows what we’ve been through as a group, or what it’s taken for us to all still be active, and to all still be at the top of our games, as women working in a business that’s still learning how to treat women.
I have a different, perfect chemistry with each of them — and if I wrote about them individually, I’d be writing forever. So instead I’ll just say this one thing, that is very meaningful for me, and that will always tie them together in my heart as a trio: I grew up in wrestling because of my dad … I got into wrestling because of my brother. But I fell in love with wrestling because of the Horsewomen.
I fell in love with wrestling because I fell in love with Becky, Bayley and Mercedes as wrestlers.
And nothing will ever change that.”