WWE News: Signing Ric Flair's Daughter Must Lead to Legend's Return to Company

According to the Wrestling Observer (via WrestleZone.com), the WWE has signed the daughter of WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair to a developmental contract. Ashley Fliehr Johnson will report to FCW this summer, but the bigger question is what this means for her father.

Flair was given a fantastic sendoff by the WWE in 2008 as he was inducted into the Hall of Fame and wrestled Shawn Michaels in a classic encounter at WrestleMania XXIV. It wasn't long before Flair was in need of money, though, and that led him to sign with TNA.

He has been appearing regularly with the company since 2010, mostly in a non-wrestling capacity. At the age of 63, Flair is obviously limited in what he can do as a wrestler, but he is still a great talker. That alone should make him attractive to the WWE and perhaps the signing of his daughter has set the wheels in motion.

The Four Horsemen were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame just last month, and despite Flair's status as a member of the TNA roster, he was allowed to appear. You can draw a lot of conclusions from that fact, including that maybe the WWE inducted the Horseman as a means of bringing Flair back into the fold and ultimately signing him.

It's no secret that TNA is a highly-flawed company with a microscopic following compared to the WWE, so it's quite sad to see a legend like Flair toiling away there. He is constantly involved in embarrassing storylines, and he simply isn't used to his potential. I feel as though the WWE would do a much better job of that by making him an authority figure of some sort.

Flair is one of the greatest performers the business has ever seen, and he deserves to be a part of the premier wrestling company in the world rather than some second-rate sideshow. Flair is obviously best known for his time in the NWA and WCW, but he had some great moments in the WWE as well. What's more, since the WWE absorbed WCW, it is essentially Flair's rightful home.

Fliehr Johnson is currently a personal trainer who played Division-I volleyball at Appalachian State University. While she has an athletic background, she doesn't appear to have much wrestling experience, if any. That is what makes the signing a curious one with the most logical explanation being that it will eventually lead to Flair's return.

Even though the WWE has signed Fliehr Johnson to a developmental contract, it doesn't necessarily mean that she will ever make the big time. Plenty of talent has come and gone in the FCW and previously OVW without ever appearing on WWE television. The WWE seems to be increasing FCW's exposure, though, so her odds probably aren't too bad.

If the WWE really feels that Fliehr Johnson is a talented performer with some potential, you certainly can't fault the company. Even if the signing is just a way to lure Flair back to the WWE, that may not be a bad move either.

A lot of people would prefer that the WWE not feature older superstars in an effort to get the younger guys over, but in the right capacity, Flair can still be an asset. Anytime the WWE can bring in a guy with as many accomplishments as Flair, it can only be considered a good thing. Hopefully the securing of Flair's daughter will make that a reality.

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