Charlotte Flair looks back on the events surrounding WWE WrestleMania 37.
In the lead-up to WrestleMania 37, Asuka seemed on track to defend her title against Flair. “The Queen” even announced her intention to make it happen. However, Flair soon disappeared from WWE television.
In Flair’s absence, Rhea Ripley was called up and challenged Asuka at WrestleMania 37. Flair was the subject of criticism on social media after her return. Many mocked her and questioned if she took time off for plastic surgery.
Flair later confirmed that she tested positive for COVID-19, hence her abrupt exit. In a newly written piece for The Players’ Tribute, Flair reiterated this, noting that she was on the sidelines for six weeks due to the Coronavirus.
“I have this memory. It’s about four years ago..…. I just worked my first show in a while: the Raw after WrestleMania 37, after being out six weeks from COVID,” Flair wrote. “It’s extremely hard to live healthy on the road — so while I was off, I did something I’d wanted to do for a long time: I got in the best shape of my life. I lost like 25 pounds, I got leaner, and more toned. I felt so great. I’ve always been pretty self-conscious about my appearance, but I seriously was SO proud of the effort I’d put in, and the results I’d achieved. And I remember feeling really good about how I’d looked at that night’s show…
Charlotte Flair reacts to toxic criticism she’s faced
“Then I checked my phone after. I literally had thousands of notifications on Twitter — most of it, people speculating about what kind of plastic surgery I’d gotten. Then I checked my phone after. I literally had thousands of notifications on Twitter — most of it, people speculating about what kind of plastic surgery I’d gotten. ‘OK. What the f* happened to Charlotte Flair?!’ ‘Holy s* her whole body is fake.’ ‘You KNOW she got work done……’ ‘She looks like her DAD in a WIG.’”
Charlotte has dealt with those insults her whole career and tries not to take it personally. However, she also questions why fans are getting “smarter,” yet they forget the basic concept that she’s not really Charlotte Flair. She’s Ashley, and she doesn’t win constantly like fans claim her on-air persona does.
“[Charlotte is] a bad f***ing bitch. But I’m not her. Not always, anyway. I know that a lot of people want me to be her. I know that sometimes even I want me to be her. But I’m not. When that camera turns off, I’m just Ashley Fliehr. Unlike Charlotte, Ashley is not always supremely confident. And sometimes she does get rattled. And she doesn’t win constantly.”
Charlotte pointed out some of the ways Ashley has come up short and knows she’s not very relatable as a public figure, but she’s still human.
In her April 12, 2021 return on WWE Raw, Flair interrupted the rematch between Asuka and Ripley, who claimed the title at WrestleMania 37. In doing so, Flair caused the referee to rule the bout a no-contest. A triple threat championship match was then ordered for WrestleMania Backlash, with Ripley again retaining.
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