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When Ric Flair accompanied his daughter, Charlotte, to the ring on the January 4 episode of WWE RAW, WWE launched a new storyline for the duo.
"The Nature Boy" was at the show because it was Legends Night. But he came to the ring to support Charlotte during a tag team match against Peyton Royce and Lacey Evans.
The original finish of the match reportedly called for Ric to trip Royce in an effort to help his daughter emerge victorious. But it seemed like something went wrong, as Ric instead tripped Charlotte and cost her the match.
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After the bout, Charlotte yelled at her father, as she was clearly upset by his interference. From there, WWE turned what looked like a botch into a storyline.
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Throughout the match itself, Evans made a few advances toward "The Nature Boy." At first, many fans thought Evans was just trying to mess with Charlotte Flair. But in recent weeks, it's become clear that she's involved in an actual romance.
Ric proved that he enjoyed being the object of Evans' affection the following week on WWE RAW. "The Nature Boy" interrupted a singles match between Evans and his daughter, but this time, he intentionally helped Evans win.
A few weeks later, the alliance has benefitted Ric, Evans, and the company as a whole. Here's a look at five positives that have already emerged from this storyline.
#5 WWE itself has benefitted from the Ric Flair and Lacey Evans on-screen relationship
The date that the on-screen relationship between Ric Flair and Lacey Evans became official (January 11) is quite notable for a different reason. It's the same day that WWE announced the news that Drew McIntyre had tested positive for COVID-19.
Of course, this development was worrisome for the reigning WWE Champion on a personal level. It also left the company without one of its most prominent Superstars on the RAW brand.
Because The Fiend was also (temporarily) written off of television, WWE found itself desperately short on big stars. For this reason, the company even called on Triple H for a special appearance on the January 11 episode of RAW.
But it's fair to say that WWE has benefitted from its decision to regularly feature Ric Flair on WWE RAW. By bringing back a Hall of Fame name as recognizable and beloved as "The Nature Boy," the red brand has gained a star with some much-needed name value.
Thankfully, McIntyre has been given a clean bill of health, and he is due to return to WWE RAW this week. Still, the Ric Flair and Lacey Evans partnership has given WWE a new, engaging storyline to develop while its roster has been severely depleted.
#4 The Ric Flair and Lacey Evans angle can add some storyline depth to the Royal Rumble Match
The Ric Flair and Lacey Evans relationship might play into the story of the Women's Royal Rumble Match this weekend.
Of course, the winner of the 30-Superstar battle royal will earn the right to challenge the champion of their choosing at WrestleMania 37. But the Royal Rumble Match is also important for other reasons.
The marquee match typically contains multiple plotlines within the match itself. As of this writing, Evans has not officially entered the match. But it would be a major surprise if she doesn't compete in the battle royal. Charlotte declared herself for the match on the January 4 episode of WWE RAW.
Assuming that Evans does participate, Ric Flair will not be far from her side. Here, most fans would expect Charlotte and "The Southern Belle" to cross paths during the Royal Rumble Match itself.
Charlotte has competed in two Royal Rumble Matches during her career, and she has never finished below the runners-up spot. "The Queen" was the last Superstar eliminated by Becky Lynch in 2019. Charlotte Flair won last year's match by dumping Shayna Baszler out of the ring.
If Charlotte fails to win this year's Royal Rumble Match, Ric Flair and Lacey Evans could cause her elimination from the match. This development would allow the feud to continue, as it would set up a definitive blow-off match between the two stars.
#3 Lacey Evans has benefited from her on-screen partnership with Ric Flair
Lacey Evans has undoubtedly benefitted from her recent pairing with Ric Flair on WWE television. Since she first joined the main roster as part of the RAW brand in 2019, Evans has had a mixed run with the company.
Evans challenged for the SmackDown Women's Championship at WrestleMania last year. She also competed in the main event of the Extreme Rules 2019 pay-per-view. On that night, she teamed with Baron Corbin to take on the duo of Seth Rollins and Becky Lynch.
Despite those opportunities, Evans hasn't won a title in WWE. "The Sassy Southern Bell" has struggled to command long-term attention as a key player in the WWE women's division. She has often been reduced to the role of a supporting player.
Her new association with Ric Flair is a major positive for Evans. Flair is one Superstar who has never struggled to hold the audience's attention. By joining forces with Flair, Evans' stock quickly rose on the red brand.
Prior to the angle that saw her placed with Flair, Evans was teaming with Peyton Royce in a tag team that felt like an afterthought most of the time.
Evans is a very capable performer in her own right, and she only stands to gain from her association with Flair. Plus, feuding with Charlotte also puts her in the spotlight on Monday nights.
#2 Ric Flair himself has benefitted from his new association with Lacey Evans
Ric Flair has always loved the spotlight. The former 16-time world champion thrives in his role as "The Dirtiest Player In The Game." This newly-formed partnership with Lacey Evans is a perfect fit for him.
Flair has been a ladies' man throughout his legendary career. As a result, there are very few men who could believably turn on their own family for the affections of a woman. But "The Nature Boy" is the exception to the rule.
Though he has spent almost 50 years in the professional wrestling business, Ric Flair's passion for what he does remains undiminished. The winner of the 1992 Royal Rumble Match brings that passion and his unmistakable energy to every appearance that he makes on RAW.
His role alongside Lacey Evans gives Flair a genuine purpose on WWE television. This storyline is not just the company's way of trotting out a legend for the sake of nostalgia. It's clear that this storyline has helped elevate Evans, and it has also granted another run to a WWE legend who simply loves to perform.
#1 The Ric Flair and Lacey Evans relationship has given Charlotte a storyline focus
Before Ric Flair began his latest WWE run earlier this month, Charlotte had actually made her own return just a few weeks earlier at the TLC pay-per-view in December.
Charlotte made a surprise appearance as Asuka's mystery partner. They challenged Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler for the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships at the event.
Charlotte and Asuka won the titles at TLC 2020, but WWE seemingly had no plans to book an immediate rematch for Jax and Baszler.
Instead, the company teased some tension between the two former champions, and this direction left Charlotte in an awkward spot.
Before she won the tag team gold, Asuka already held the WWE RAW Women's Championship. Her pairing with Charlotte was never going to be the sole focus for "The Empress Of Tomorrow."
Charlotte's issues with both her dad and Lacey Evans have provided her with a noteworthy feud on WWE RAW. This storyline has kept Charlotte on WWE programming, as the feud continues to unfold every week.
Given that Charlotte is one of the biggest female Superstars in the company, WWE typically looks for ways to put the "The Queen" on TV. This storyline has helped the company do that in a compelling way.
