Ric Flair fought to keep his persona as WWE sought his name

Ric Flair said he fought to keep the rights to his wrestling persona while he was gravely ill in 2017, telling a podcast audience that WWE sought to acquire his name during his recovery and that an agent stole money he says was meant for him. Speaking on the Games with Names podcast hosted by Julian Edelman, the wrestling hall of famer described being on life support for 14 days and said he later sued WWE to reclaim control of his likeness.

Flair recounted a cascade of medical emergencies in 2017, including a ruptured intestine, kidney failure, sepsis, respiratory and heart failure, and pneumonia. He said that while he was hospitalized, he learned people close to him and the company he had worked with were attempting to profit from his incapacitation. "When I was dying, I was on life support for 14 days, everybody cashed in," he said. He also said an agent stole $150,000, explaining that had he died the funds would have become subject to estate proceedings.

The wrestler said that upon recovering he discovered letters from WWE asking him to sign over his intellectual property. "I read the letters; WWE was writing me, wanting me to sign them while I was assigning my intellectual...