Charlotte Flair: Living her fallen brothers dream by walking in the footsteps of her legendary father, Ric Flair

WWE superstar Charlotte Flair is creating her own legacy.
WWE superstar Charlotte Flair is creating her own legacy. Photo credit: Getty

Following in the footsteps of your father can be a daunting prospect - amplified if he just so happens to be the greatest of all time.

For Charlotte Flair, that's exactly the career path that that she has chosen; or at least it chose her.

At 31, she is already the most decorated women's champion in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) history in just her fifth year in the world of sports entertainment.

Flair is the only woman to have held the three currently active WWE titles; NXT, Raw and currently the Smackdown championship, while also being the last ever Divas Champion before that title was retired.

Make no mistake; Charlotte Flair is a superstar of professional wrestling.

All that, however, fails in comparison to her legendary father, 'The Nature Boy' Ric Flair, a 16-time heavyweight champion of the world and regarded by his peers as the greatest professional wrestler in the history of the business.

Ric Flair and Charlotte Flair .
Ric Flair and Charlotte Flair . Photo credit: Getty
Ric Flair at WWE's Hall of Fame ceremony in 2009.
Ric Flair at WWE's Hall of Fame ceremony in 2009. Photo credit: Getty

Charlotte Flair, who has had wrestling in her life since the day she was born, was signed to a WWE development contract in 2013 and was quickly thrown into the bright lights of the companies feeder brand; NXT.

Charlotte recalls almost immediately realising that she was born to be a professional wrestler.

"When I first showed up, I was knew I was right where I belong," she told Newshub.

"I was comfortable having my dad as a wrestler - everything just felt natural.

"I did have doubts about if I would be any good, but I knew I belonged almost immediately. It was a just a matter of the trainers believing in me and identifying that I had the talent to achieve anything."

Tragically, it was the death of her brother Reid, in March 2013, that was the catalyst for Charlotte's one way ticket to wrestling superstardom.

Reid Flair was his father's son - committed to following the legacy of The Nature Boy but ultimately succumbing to his own demons at the age of 25 due to a drug overdose.

Charlotte decided to live Reid's dreams and pursue a career in the squared circle, dedicating her success to him.

Charlotte Flair making her entrance at Wrestlemania 33 in Orlando in March 2017.
Charlotte Flair making her entrance at Wrestlemania 33 in Orlando in March 2017. Photo credit: Getty
Charlotte Flair in action.
Charlotte Flair in action. Photo credit: Getty

Ric Flair's historic career and life was recently the subject of ESPN's 30 for 30 documentary series and for Charlotte, it was hard to relive the passing her younger sibling.

"Things in regards to losing my brother; you put those in the back of your mind and try not to think about it," she told Newshub.

"What I was extremely proud of was the performance of my dad. There is no one in this world that I know who is truer to who they are than my dad.

"That's what I love so much about him. He was so open and honest and 100 percent true to who he is.

"It's great just to see that. He speaks how he feels and he is not sorry for that. That is something for me to aspire too - he is not afraid to admit when he is wrong and that is something I find myself working at all the time."

Charlotte's career has skyrocketed over the last two years and she has been a key component in wrestling's female revolution.

No longer are the female athletes paraded in bra and panties matches or two minute throwaway features in the middle of WWE programming.

This is the era of the women's wrestler and Flair credits her three best friends in the business, Bayley, Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch for putting women at the forefront of the industry.

"I feel that the four of us will always have a special bond from coming up together through NXT, having created so many firsts together," Charlotte said.

"When the four of us were in NXT together we were fighting tooth and nail to make a big difference - to have women mean something in wrestling.

WWE superstar Sasha Banks.
WWE superstar Sasha Banks. Photo credit: Getty

"Sasha and Bayley stealing the show at the first ever NXT event in Brooklyn. It was amazing.

"Together we have had all these amazing moments, and I know personally for me those three women are who I looked up to when I started because I wanted to be as good at this as them.

"The four of us will always share those moments we had."

As for what's next - well, how about a Wrestlemania main event against former UFC champion Ronda Rousey? The 30-year-old former Olympian is heavily rumoured to be heading to the WWE.

Rousey is hotly tipped to make her debut at the upcoming Royal Rumble event in January to set up a match with Charlotte Flair for March's wrestling showpiece, Wrestlemania 34 in New Orleans.

Former UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey.
Former UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey. Photo credit: Getty
Ronda Rousey submits Liz Carmouche in 2013 to defend her UFC title.
Ronda Rousey submits Liz Carmouche in 2013 to defend her UFC title. Photo credit: Getty

Flair welcomes the challenge, but also noted that nothing in the world of wrestling should be taken for granted given the current landscape of the women's division.

"Charlotte Flair v Ronda Rousey will create a special Wrestlemania moment, but in saying that another great moment would be my best friend Becky Lynch winning the Royal Rumble and facing me for the title - so many possibilities," Charlotte said.

"I just hope that whoever wins has to face me for the Smackdown women's championship at Wrestlemania.

"With the announcement of the first ever women's Royal Rumble match I feel the women's revolution is complete."

And a high profile match against one of the most prominent female athletes of the last decade in Rousey, will cement Charlotte Flair's own legacy, as she breaks free of the legendary shadow of her famous father.

Newshub.