Flair Charlotte - Second Nature: the Legacy of Ric Flair and the Rise of Charlotte

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Thank you to my agent, attorney, and best friend, Melinda Morris Zanoni, Esq. Thanks for your loyalty, disarming nature, quick wit, odd ability to find my keys from an airplane, keeping me busy working so I stay out of trouble, and dedication to my legacy over the last twenty years. This book would not exist without you and your teams vision and hard work at Legacy Talent and Entertainment and Apollo Sports & Entertainment Law Group. All my respect.

I want to say thank you to the McMahon family, Triple H, and all my friends at WWE for being there for me through it all. I owe you my life. and maybe a case of beer or two. A sincere thank-you for your irreplaceable friendship and passion. Without you, I wouldnt be the Limousine-ridin, Jet-flyin, Kiss-stealin, Wheelin -dealin, Son of a Gun. WOOOOO!

Many thanks to Brian Shields for your collaborative efforts with the Flairs and writing one helluva book. Thanks also to the incredible team at St. Martins Press.

To my fans. My blood, sweat, and tears (not just a saying in my case) all these years have been for each one of you. Thank you for your support, and for allowing me to do what I love the most for my entire adult life.

To the love of my life and partner in crime, Wendy Barlow, thank you for the good, bad, and wild times. I wouldnt trade our time together for the world. You have stood by my side at my lowest and darkest times. I am eternally grateful for your love.

Ive saved the best for last. To my precious children: Megan, David, and Ashley. You all have given me so much joy throughout the years. Thank you for supporting me in all of my endeavors. Your never-failing encouragement and love keeps me going. It is the greatest honor of my life to be your father. Ashley, a special thank-you to the best coauthor a father could have. The Flair legacy will live on!

When I think of who I am, where I am today, and where I hope to go, everything goes back to my family.

Thank you to my mom. Now, I have an understanding of what it required to raise two children while your spouse was on the road every week of the year: carpool, homework, meals, love and care, and being my biggest supporter. You always found a way to make things possible no matter what I needed. Those times are with me every day.

I want to thank my dad. For always being there for me and for teaching me to live every day like its the last. For pushing me to be where I am today, and reminding me to go to sleep every night and know who you are. I never thought Id say this thank you for being an amazing coauthor!

To my older sister, Megan, thank you for your endless loyalty and unconditional love. Please know how special you are to me. Our bond will last forever. A thank-you to my big brother, David, for always being there for me, and for providing the humor only the four Fliehr kids could understand. Every time I walk through that curtain I say to myself, This is for you, Big Dave.

To my little brother, Reid, thank you for being my other half for teaching me how to live, and the importance of never being afraid of who you are.

I never imagined being blessed with friends who became family. Thank you, Erin Lunde, for showing me no matter how far apart people may be in age, kindred spirits make you best friends.

To my Uncle Arn, youve been such an important part of my life. It warms my heart to be able to work with you, knowing that Reid idolized you. Its been emotional, but its meant to be. You never let me off the hook and treat me like a daughter. Youll never know what this means to me.

Thank you, Brittany Zahn, for being my best friend, teaching me how to be an adult, and being right by my side.

To my best friend Becky Lynch, thank you for showing me the importance of being true to yourself. Youre one of a kind!

To my oldest friend Jared Eppes. Thank you for always standing by me.

To my wonderful coaches: Suzie Sanocki, Kevin Brubaker, and Zoe Bell. The life lessons and discipline I learned from you have given me the tools I needed to be successful today. I think of you often.

Sincere appreciation to Bethany and Alex Diffey for getting me on the right track to Tampa.

My clients from Ciarla Fitness. I wonder sometimes if I would be where I am today without getting to know each you: Lynn Wray, Julie Yakobowski, Beth and Paul Hecimovich, Chavanne Scott, Regi King, Rudy Bartel, Kathy Greenhagen, Woody Fox, Mike and Alicia Gainey, Rich Magner, Dawn Campbell, Mary Ann Yeager, Kristin Thompson, Kim Radke, Lisa Walters. youll always have a special place in my heart.

My friends over the years: Britany Helms, Becca Moffett, Sara Holbrooks, Whitney Burton, and Ashley Heard. Im always a text away.

Thank you to Joe Gomez, Mike and Ruffin Campbell, and Mel Finley important in my life since childhood.

Sara Kamber and Linda Palonen. You are cherished women in my life whom I continue to look up to on a daily basis.

Thank you to Brian Shields for your commitment to making this book what it is. For believing my story will help others, and taking on this task with all of my tears. I appreciate you working around my schedule, the late nights, and most of all, for believing in me.

Rave reviews for the incredible team at St. Martins Press. Thank you for your dedication to making this book a reality.

Thank you to the FCW crew for getting me on my way in this incredible business. Special thanks to Tyler, the Four Horsewomen, Emma, Dean Muhtadi, and Ryan Katz. To my friend Byron Saxton, your creativity is limitless.

Thank you to Natalya Neidhart for showing me the way and giving me my career. I wouldnt be here without you, Nattie.

Endless gratitude to Sara Amato for believing in me since day one. To Norman Smiley for always lending a helping hand and showing me the ropes. To Terry Taylor, thank you for being a great teacher.

Enormous thanks to the incomparable Michael P.S. Hayes for always pushing me to be better, and for reminding me to make love to the camera. Only you, Michael

To Dean Malenko: I never thought when I was a kid walking backstage in WCW, and you were a Horseman, that one day youd help me in my career as a WWE Superstar. Thank you for always checking on me in and out of the ring.

Thank you to the incredible Fit Finlay. Fit, you prepared me for every show, tour, pay-per-view, and Monday Night Raw .

Eternal appreciation to Lita for instilling confidence in me, and making sure I was ready for WrestleMania in Dallas, Texas. Your work and dedication to this business paved the way for me. Thank you.

Thank you to the McMahon family. Thank you to Triple H and Stephanie McMahon for being there for my family through all the ups and downs.

To everyone backstage and in the office from FCW, NXT, and WWE: management, production, producers, makeup artists, and set designers. Its amazing to see all of the work that goes into making WWE what it is.

WWE is my family and where I feel most alive. A great big thank-you to all!

Any Saturday morning in 1985, my excitement would revolve around one thing: watching professional wrestling. One man captivated my imagination: the NWA World Heavyweight Champion, Nature Boy Ric Flair.