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USA Today
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Charlotte Flair is having fun, even without being in the WWE Women's Championship picture
For the first time in her career, Charlotte Flair is having fun. That's not to say there weren't fun moments. After all, she is a 14-time WWE Women's Champion – 16-time if you count the two NXT Women's Championships – a former Women's Tag Team Champion, and the only woman to win the Royal Rumble twice. Plus, she's one of five women to ever main event WrestleMania. But all those accolades came with immense pressure. How can it not with the Flair last name? It's weighed on her ever since she first stepped in a WWE ring in 2013. The burden of having to be better than the best, all while dealing with constant criticism anytime she found success. It could break anybody in the same shoes. It almost happened to her. 'I always feel – no matter what the segment is – the pressure to be perfect and kind of letting that perfectionism of the Queen character not unravel,' Flair told USA TODAY Sports. Now, Flair's shoulders seem lighter. The pressure that has followed every step of her career has come off. For the first time, we're seeing a different side of Flair in WWE. One that's more authentic, vulnerable and far from the jet-flying, limousine-riding, high-profile character that's been in the main event scene for the past decade. And she's loving every part of it. 'She's kind of goofy,' Flair said of herself. Teaming with Alexa Bliss Of course, Flair is still chasing gold – just not the one she's sought for the majority of her career. After losing to Tiffany Stratton for the WWE Women's Championship at WrestleMania 41, she's now in the tag team scene, teaming up with fellow veteran Alexa Bliss to form an unusual pairing. But despite the contrasting styles, the two have worked, and they'll go for the Women's Tag Team Championship in a fatal four-way tag team bout at Evolution on Sunday, July 13. Bliss deserves credit for bringing out 'a softer side' of Flair, she said. The two have had their careers intertwined ever since they were both part of Triple H's WrestleMania 30 entrance in 2014. Flair has high respect for Bliss personally and professionally in seeing how her career has evolved, from being 'Twisted Bliss' to 'the Goddess' to working with Bray Wyatt, and returning to WWE in January as a mother. Flair is part of the legendary Four Horsewomen group alongside Bayley, Becky Lynch and Mercedes Mone that led the women's revolution in the 2010s, and she said to her, Bliss 'was the fifth horsewoman.' 'Don't tell her this, but I adore her,' Flair said. With all the layers to Bliss' character, Flair is eager to see how that will affect her. 'I think trying to blend the two will just add layers to the queen that we've seen so stoic for so many years,' she said. 'Pushing myself to get outside of my comfort zone of what the queen is and what does that look like? Is it the mad queen? Is it the killer queen? Is it the unraveled queen? Is it best friends with Lexi and being a twisted queen?' Whatever direction it goes, it will be something that could very well be close to who Flair really is. For so long, all WWE fans have known is the queen, the daughter of Ric Flair. But ever since she returned in January from her devastating knee injury, Flair has been more vulnerable than she ever has been. She peeled back the curtain – and we've learned she is far different than what the WWE universe sees. The day Flair spoke to USA TODAY Sports, she released an article in The Player's Tribune, 'How Am I Going to Be Charlotte Flair Today?' She wrote it under her actual name, Ashley Fliehr. In the piece, Flair admitted she isn't an overtly confident person. She gets rattled just like any other human who consistently feels the pressure. Now, she can show that unguarded version of herself on television. Flair isn't at the top of the women's division, and she does actually lose, so there isn't as much of a need to be this very prestigious person. When Charlotte Flair is on screen, Ashley Fliehr can show up too. A career on her own terms One thing that has troubled her is the pressure of being a woman in wrestling, where it feels like there's a clock on how long a career can last before it expires – willingly or not. At age 39, she's at a point where it's rare for women talent to continue a career. However, she's enjoying where her career is and where it is headed. She doesn't know what's happening next in her career, but she knows one thing: she wants to play out her career, not age out of it. And she has no plans of stopping the joyous ride anytime soon. 'Taking that minute in that moment and realizing I don't know what the future looks like, but that it's definitely going to be on my terms,' Flair said. 'When you love what you do, you never want to think that there's an expiration date. 'I won't go down without a fight,' she said. Besides, she still has some other goals on her mind. Even though Flair has no problems not being in the main event picture, beating her dad's record of world title reigns still lingers in the back of her head. John Cena did already break it with his 17th reign, but Flair would want to best her father. But that's a topic for another time. Right now, the most important thing for Flair is finding layers for her character and what it develops into. She could become a tag team champion soon or not. She could end up never winning another title. And that's no problem when you're having fun. 'How do I push myself as a performer to take what I've done to the next step, and whether that means winning gold or not winning gold? I'm okay with that,' Flair said. 'I just want to challenge myself, because I do love this.'
Newsweek
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Newsweek
Fans React To WWE Star Tiffany Stratton's Wild First Pitch
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. WWE Women's World Champion Tiffany Stratton threw the first pitch at Thursday's New York Mets home game against the Washington Nationals. Her toss was compared to some of the most infamous celebrity MLB first pitches. Stratton's throw sailed over the left-handed batters' box and one-hopped the backstop, well out of reach for Mets outfielder Jared Young, who was the ceremonial catcher. The Mets chose Stratton to throw the first pitch after her recent successful title defense as the WWE Women's Champion. She won the title in January and has made many successful defenses. The former United States national team gymnast joined the SmackDown brand in 2024 after a dominant run in NXT. Stratton debuted in WWE in November 2021 after winning weightlifting and bodybuilding championships following her gymnastics career. Infamous Celebrity First Pitches Stratton's throw brought to mind other ceremonial first pitches that went wrong. One of the most infamous also happened at a Mets home game at Citi Field. Rapper 50 Cent missed the plate by an unbelievable margin when he threw the first pitch at a May 2014 game in Queens. That gaffe remains a major celebrity lowlight on the mound a decade later. LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 19: Tiffany Stratton holds up her belt as she celebrates her victory over Charlotte Flair in their WWE Women's Championship match during WrestleMania 41 at Allegiant Stadium on April 19,... LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - APRIL 19: Tiffany Stratton holds up her belt as she celebrates her victory over Charlotte Flair in their WWE Women's Championship match during WrestleMania 41 at Allegiant Stadium on April 19, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. More More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation You can see how social media reacted below: She can do moonsault but struggle to throw a ball. Make it make sense. 😂🤷🏻♂️ — Francisco (@fciscol7) June 12, 2025 You can wrestle just not throw a good first pitch — Nicholas Abel (@Voltron_1973) June 12, 2025 — MY OH MY Sports Cards and Collectibles (@MYOHMYCards) June 12, 2025 She still Throws better than she Wrestles — Brody Alphonso (@AlphonsoBrody) June 12, 2025 It's Whiffy Time 😆 🤣 😂 — RONAMAN ☘️☘️🎺🪗🩺🏀 (@ronaman35) June 12, 2025 105 velocity 20 control — Jahmeir D. ✭ (@JDCowboys2) June 12, 2025 Might need more practice ⚾ — Evan Guthrie (@EvanGuthrie) June 12, 2025 Tiffany Stratton joins the list of all-time bad MLB ceremonial first pitches. Not quite Baba Booey but not far off, either. At least it was at a Mets game. They're used to seeing throws like that. 😂 — Eh, what's up Doc (@rabbitSZN2) June 12, 2025 While 50 Cent's throw is a benchmark for bad ceremonial first pitches, he is not alone. "Call Me, Maybe" singer Carly Rae Jepsen spiked a ball directly into the turf in 2013 at Tropicana Field before a Tampa Bay Rays game. Other Sports Stars and Celebrities Miss the Mark Stratton is not the only combat sports star to go viral for a bad first pitch. UFC legend Conor McGregor had a moment to forget at Wrigley Field in 2021. He launched a fastball to the backstop, far beyond the right-handed batters' box. The throw bounced off the brick wall and sharply towards the first base dugout. On international soil, five-time Grammy Award winner Mariah Carey tossed a ball into the turf well in front of the plate in 2008. Wearing high heels and 2000s attire, Carey threw the first pitch at the Tokyo Dome before a game between the Yomiuri Giants and Rakuten Eagles. Her offering did not even make it halfway to the catcher. Ceremonial first pitches come with significant pressure, and some celebrities handle the moment better than others. More WWE News: For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Charlotte Flair's personal life: Husband, dating history & love life update
(Image Via X) WWE superstar Charlotte Flair came into prominence and won millions of WWE fans' hearts, as she went on to clinch the WWE Royal Rumble match in 2025, securing a spot at WrestleMania 41. However, things did not turn well for her at the recently held Show of Shows, in Las Vegas as she had to face a major defeat in the hands of Tiffany Stratton. Earlier, after a year-long hiatus due to a knee injury, Charlotte made a triumphant return to WWE by winning the 2025 Women's Royal Rumble. However, she had to face defeat against Tiffany Stratton to retain her WWE Women's Champion title, all thanks to the Prettiest Moonsault ever. Currently, Flair seems to be a bit rocky both in terms of her professional life and personal life. After Charlotte Flair announced a divorce from her husband, Andrade, after two years of marriage, fans are currently speculating that she is currently dating former baseball shortstop Alex Rodriguez. But let's take a look at the former relationship that Charlotte Flair had with her former husband Andrade. Looking back at Charlotte Flair and Andrade's relationship Charlotte Flair and Andrade announced their relationship in 2019. After dating each other for a brief period, the duo got engaged in 2020 and eventually married in 2022. The wrestling couple tied the knot in a grand wedding in Mexico, in the presence of their loved ones and some great wrestling legends. The WWE duo seemed a power couple when Andrade partnered with Ric Flair for his legendary 'Last Match' on July 31, 2022. Andrade was also seen supporting Charlotte Flair during her knee injury recovery. But little did we know that behind the scenes, cracks were forming in the relationship, which ultimately resulted in the end of their marriage. However, Charlotte Flair announced a divorce from her husband, Andrade, after two years of marriage. The WWE stars ended their marriage in July 2024, with court records confirming that the divorce was finalized in October 2024. The shocking split of the WWE stars stirred conversations among fans and the wrestling community, as they were caught quite off guard when they announced the end of their marriage. Charlotte Flair's love life update As per the report, there are no official court records found mentioning the cause of Andrade and Flair's separation. Although the couple has not confirmed it yet, there are speculations that adultery may have played a role in the sudden break, even though the official cause is still unknown. Now, it seems the Queen of WWE has finally decided to move on from her past relationship and start things fresh. Flair was recently spotted at the NBA Playoffs with former American baseball star Alex Rodriguez, sparking potential dating rumors. Also Read : Paul Heyman shares a heartwarming moment with fitness model Daniella Chavez on TikTok | WWE News - The Times of India Recently, Alex Rodriguez and Charlotte Flair were spotted together at the Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Lakers game. But there is no confirmation yet from either party about this link-up.
